comhairle contae maigh eo mayo county council permitting of energy projects a local authority...

Comhairle Contae Maigh EoMayo County Council

PERMITTING OF ENERGY PROJECTS

A Local Authority Perspective

Iain DouglasSenior Planner

Engineers Ireland CPD Seminar 20/10/2014


“May you live in interesting times”

• Gas Terminal

• Onshore/Offshore Gas pipelines

• BGE Pipeline Bellanaboy – Galway

• Windfarms Non-SID & SID

• Biomass CHP Plant

• Electricity Transmission Lines Non-SID & SID

• 2 Gas Powered Peaking Plants


“ Its complicated…. “

• Mayo County Council• An Bord Pleanala• Health & Safety Authority• Environmental Protection Agency• DCNER• CER• NPWS• DoEHLG

to name but a few !!


Where do you go to get planning permission ?

• An Bord Pleanala - Major energy projects SID• Electricity Transmission Lines• Strategic Gas Pipelines• Section 1 - Seventh Schedule P&D Act

• Local Authorities• Any energy project not SID

• Exempt Development - No permission required• Electricity Distribution Lines• Domestic renewable energy technologies


Applications to the Local Authority

• Planning & Development Acts 2000-2014• Planning & Development Regulations 2001-2014

• EIA Directive 2011/92/EU (as amended)

• Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC

• Birds Directive 79/409/EEC


Planning & Development Regulations 2001-2014

• Part 4 – Control of Development• Documentation with Application

• Part 10 Environmental Impact Assessment

• Part 18 Strategic Infrastructure Development

• Part 20 Appropriate Assessment


• Schedule 5 – Development requiring EIA

• Schedule 6 – Information to be contained in an EIS

• Schedule 7 – Criteria for significant effects


The Planning Application

• Pre-Planning Meeting Request - Section 247• Formal – Minuted/Recorded available after

application lodged• Regulations• Development Plan Objectives• Requirement for Sub-threshold screening

• Map/Drawing scales – Large projects usually need variation • Fees


Environmental Impact Assessment

• EIA Directive 2014/52/EU - amendment to original

• Environmental Impact Assessment Report

• Reasoned Conclusion by competent authority

• Reasoned Conclusion integrated into decision

• Changes to form & content of Schedules 6 & 7


Environmental Impact Assessment

• EIA for Energy Projects – Schedule 5 P&D Regs.• Part 1 EIA Mandatory• Part 2 Mandatory with thresholds

• Screening also for sub-threshold energy projects

• Option to request for scoping of EIS (EIAR) from LA Article 95 P&D Regs.


Appropriate Assessment

• Article 6(3) Habitats Directive 92/43/EEC

• Separate & Distinct from EIA • Natura 2000 Sites• Conservation Objectives

• Adverse impact on Natura 2000

• IROPI (Imperative Reasons of Over-riding Public Interest)


Appropriate Assessment

Stage 1Screening

Stage 2AA

Stage 3Alternatives

Stage 4IROPI

• Significant effects “likely”, “possible”, “uncertain”

• In combination with other projects

• AA required – carried out by Local Authority

• Developer submits NIS (Natura Impact Statement)


Planning Application Process

• Severe Time constraints on LA

• Decision within 8 weeks EIA & Non-EIA

• If FI requested - 8 weeks EIA & 4 weeks Non-EIA

• Applicant has 6 months to reply to FI + option of further 3 months if requested within the initial 6 month period


• Exception if Major Accidents Directive applies Time stops until HSA advice is received then 4 weeks

• 3rd Party Submissions available during process

• Planning Report for EIA development – EU Court Case C-50/09 Planning

EIAAA

• Planning decision – Executive Function


Even then it is not finished !!

• Post permission monitoring:-

• Most large scale projects will have a PMC (Project Monitoring Committee)• LA• Developer• Community• Relevant Statutory Agencies


• Corrib Gas Project currently has 4 PMCs• Terminal - MCC• On-shore Pipeline – DCNER• Off-shore Pipeline – DCNER (S40 Consent)• Foreshore Licence – DoECLG


Some Closing Thoughts

• Plan for the long haul

• Consult early & often with • LA• Community• Statutory Agencies

• EIS & NIS the best that they can be

• Develop a Community Benefit mentality & Scheme as part of EIS

comhairle contae maigh eo mayo county council permitting of energy projects a local authority...

Documents