Section 9 Monitoring Measures

Proposed Amendment No. 2 of the Callan Local Area Plan 2009-2020
Dúnta15 Ean, 2016, 9:00am - 26 Fea, 2016, 4:30pm

9.1        Introduction

The SEA Directive requires that the significant environmental effects of the implementation of plans and programmes are monitored. This section details the measures which will be used in order to monitor the likely significant effects of implementing the Plan.

Monitoring can enable, at an early stage, the identification of unforeseen adverse effects and the undertaking of appropriate remedial action.

9.2        Indicators and Targets

Monitoring is based around indicators which allow quantitative measures of trends and progress over time relating to the Strategic Environmental Objectives identified in Section 4 and used in the evaluation. Each indicator to be monitored is accompanied by the target(s) which were identified with regard to the relevant strategic actions.

Table 10.1 overleaf shows the indicators and targets which have been selected for monitoring the likely significant environmental effects of implementing the Plan, if unmitigated.

The Monitoring Programme may be updated to deal with specific environmental issues - including unforeseen effects - as they arise. Such issues may be identified by the Council or identified to the Council by other agencies.

9.3        Sources

Measurements for indicators generally come from existing monitoring sources. Existing monitoring sources include those maintained by the Council and the relevant authorities e.g. the Environmental Protection Agency, the National Parks and Wildlife Service and the Central Statistics Office.

Internal monitoring of the environmental effects of grants of permission in the Council will provide monitoring of various indicators and targets on a grant of permission by grant of permission[18] basis. Where significant adverse effects - including positive, negative, cumulative and indirect - have the potential to occur upon, for example, entries to the RMP, entries to the RPS or ecological networks as a result of the undertaking of individual projects or multiple individual projects such instances should be identified and recorded and should feed into the monitoring evaluation.

9.4        Reporting

A stand-alone Monitoring Report on the significant environmental effects of implementing the Plan will be prepared before in advance of the beginning of the review of the Plan. This report should address the indicators set out below.

The Council is responsible for the ongoing review of indicators and targets, collating existing relevant monitored data, the preparation of monitoring evaluation report(s), the publication of these reports and, if necessary, the carrying out of corrective action.

9.5        Thresholds

Thresholds at which corrective action will be considered include:

  • The occurrence of flood events;
  • Court cases taken by the Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht regarding impacts upon archaeological heritage including entries to the RMP;
  • Complaints received from statutory consultees regarding avoidable environmental impacts resulting from development which is granted permission under the Plan;
  • Boil notices on drinking water; and
  • Fish kills.

 

 

Table 9.1 Selected Indicators, Targets and Monitoring Sources

Environmental Component

Selected Indicator(s)

Selected Target(s)

Source (Frequency)

Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna

B1i: Conservation status of habitats and species as assessed under Article 17 of the Habitats Directive

B1i: Maintenance of favourable conservation status for all habitats and species protected under national and

international legislation to be unaffected by implementation of the Plan as amended[19]. 

. 

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

·          Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht report of the implementation of the measures contained in the Habitats Directive - as required by Article 17 of the Directive (every 6 years).

·          Consultations with the NPWS (at monitoring evaluation - see Section 9.4).

B1ii: Number of significant impacts on relevant habitats and species

B1ii: Avoid significant impacts on relevant habitats and species.

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

·          CORINE mapping resurvey (every c. 5 years).

B1iii: Number of significant impacts on the protection of species listed on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Act 1976.

B1iii: No significant impacts on the protection of species listed

on Schedule 5 of the Wildlife Act 1976

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

·          Consultations with the NPWS (at monitoring evaluation - see Section 9.4).

Population and Human Health

P1: Occurrence (any) of a spatially concentrated deterioration in human health arising from environmental factors resulting from development provided for by the Plan, as identified by the Health Service Executive and Environmental Protection Agency

No spatial concentrations of health problems arising from environmental factors as a result of implementing the Plan. 

·          Consultations with EPA and Health Service Executive (at monitoring evaluation - see Section 9.4).

Soil

S1: Soil extent and hydraulic connectivity

To minimise reductions in soil extent and hydraulic connectivity.

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

Environmental Component

Selected Indicator(s)

Selected Target(s)

Source (Frequency)

Water

W1i: Groundwater Quality Standards and Threshold Values under Directive 2006/118/EC

Not to affect the ability of groundwaters to comply with Groundwater Quality Standards and Threshold Values under Directive 2006/118/EC

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

·          Data issued under the Water Framework Directive Monitoring Programme for Ireland.

W2: Groundwater Quality Standards and Threshold Values under Directive 2006/118/EC

Minimise developments granted permission on lands which pose - or are likely to pose in the future - a significant flood risk in compliance with The Planning System and Flood Risk Management Guidelines for Planning Authorities

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

·          Data issued under the Water Framework Directive Monitoring Programme for Ireland (multi-annual).

W3: Classification of Overall Status (comprised of ecological and chemical status) under the European Communities Environmental Objectives (Surface Waters) Regulations 2009 (SI No. 272 of 2009)

W3:         Not to cause deterioration in the status of any surface water or affect the ability of any surface water to achieve ‘good status’ by 2015

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

Material Assets

M1: Number of new developments granted permission which can be adequately and appropriately served with waste water treatment over the lifetime of the Plan

M1: All new developments granted permission to be connected to and adequately and appropriately served by waste water treatment over the lifetime of the Plan

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

M2: Number of non-compliances with the 48 parameters identified in the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations (No. 2) 2007 which present a potential danger to human health as a result of implementing the Plan

M2: No non-compliances with the 48 parameters identified in the European Communities (Drinking Water) Regulations (No. 2) 2007 which present a potential danger to human health as a result of implementing the Plan

·          EPA The Provision and Quality of Drinking Water in Ireland reports (multi-annual).

·          EPA Remedial Action List (every quarter).

Minimise increases in and, where possible, reduce household waste generation

Maximise increases in packaging recovered (t) by self-complying packagers

·          EPA National Waste Reports

·          EPA Ireland’s Environment Reports

Air and Climatic Factors

C1: Percentage of population travelling to work, school or college by non-mechanical means

C1: An increase in the percentage of the population travelling to work, school or college by public transport or non-mechanical means

·          CSO Population Data (every c. 5 years).

Environmental Component

Selected Indicator(s)

Selected Target(s)

Source (Frequency)

Cultural Heritage

H1 Percentage of entries to the Record of Monuments and Places protected from significant adverse effects arising from new development granted permission under the Plan.

H1 Protect the zone of archaeological heritage and entries to the Record of Monuments and Places  from significant adverse effects arising from new development granted permission under the Plan

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

·          Consultation with Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (at monitoring evaluation - see Section 9.4).

H2 Percentage of entries to the Record of Protected Structures and Architectural Conservation Area and their context protected from significant adverse effects arising from new development granted permission under the Plan

H2 Protect entries to the Record of Protected Structures and Architectural Conservation Area and their context from significant adverse effects arising from new development granted permission under the Plan. 

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

·          Consultation with Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht (at monitoring evaluation - see Section 9.4).

Landscape

L1: Number of complaints received from statutory consultees regarding avoidable impacts on the landscape - especially with regard to landscapes which are most valuable and Scenic Routes and Scenic Views - resulting from development which is granted permission under the Plan

L1: No developments permitted which result in avoidable adverse visual impacts on the landscape from development which is granted permission under the Plan.

·          Internal monitoring of environmental effects of grants of permission (grant by grant).

 

 

 

 

[1] Except as provided for in Section 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, viz. There must be:

(a) no alternative solution available;

(b) imperative reasons of overriding public interest for the plan to proceed; and

(c) adequate compensatory measures in place.

[2] These components comprise biodiversity, fauna, flora, population, human health, soil, water, air, climatic factors, material assets, cultural heritage including architectural and archaeological heritage, landscape and the interrelationship between the above factors.

[3] The following authorities were notified: Environmental Protection Agency; Department of Communications, Energy and Natural Resources; Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food; Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government; Department of Arts, Heritage and the Gaeltacht; and adjoining planning authorities whose areas are contiguous to the administrative area of Kilkenny County Council.

 

[5] CORINE Land Cover (CLC) is a map of the European environmental landscape based on interpretation of satellite images. Land cover is the observed physical cover, as seen from the ground or through remote sensing, including for example natural or planted vegetation, water and human constructions which cover the earth's surface. Because of the scale of the CORINE data and the method by which it was collected there are likely to be a number of inaccuracies at the local level. It is noted, however, that the land cover shown on the maps is generally accurate.

[6] Sustainable Energy Ireland (2014) Energy in Ireland 1990 – 2012

[7] EPA (2014) Ireland's Greenhouse Gas Emissions in 2012

[8] O’Drosceoil, Cóilín (2014) ‘Historic Landscape Assessment Report: Westcourt Demesne, Callan, Co. Kilkenny’. 

[9] With regard to Natura 2000 sites there should be no significant effects except as provided for in Section 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, There must be:

(a) no alternative solution available;

(b) imperative reasons of overriding public interest for the plan to proceed; and

(c) adequate compensatory measures in place.

[10] ‘Annexed habitats and species’ refers to those listed under Annex I, II & IV of the EU Habitats Directive and Annex I of the EU Birds Directive.

[11] These effects include secondary, cumulative, synergistic, short, medium and long-term permanent and temporary, positive and negative effects.

[12] See Section 5 for a description of Strategic Environmental Objectives.

[13] The Plan already contributes towards the protection of landscape components. The landscape at the site will change overtime as a result of natural changes in vegetation cover combined with new developments, where these are permitted.

[14] The Plan already contributes towards the protection of landscape components. The landscape at the site will change overtime as a result of natural changes in vegetation cover combined with new developments, where these are permitted.

[15] The Plan already contributes towards the protection of landscape components. The landscape at the site will change overtime as a result of natural changes in vegetation cover combined with new developments, where these are permitted.

[16] Except as provided for in Section 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, viz. There must be:

(a) no alternative solution available;

(b) imperative reasons of overriding public interest for the plan to proceed; and

(c) adequate compensatory measures in place.

[17] ibid

[18] The likely significant effects of development proposals on environmental sensitivities are further determined during the development management process. By documenting this determination (e.g. whether a proposed development will impact upon a Protected Structure or whether a proposed development can be adequately served with water services) while granting permissions, or at a later date, the requirement to monitor the effects of implementing the Plan can be achieved.

[19] With regard to Natura 2000 sites there should be no significant effects except as provided for in Section 6(4) of the Habitats Directive, There must be:

(a) no alternative solution available;

(b) imperative reasons of overriding public interest for the plan to proceed; and

(c) adequate compensatory measures in place.

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