Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable
Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable
Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable
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5 Potential impacts <strong>and</strong><br />
mitigation measures<br />
5.1 Introduction<br />
This section addresses the potential environmental impacts that could be<br />
experienced during cable installation activities, together with possible mitigation<br />
measures that can be used to minimise the magnitude <strong>and</strong> significance <strong>of</strong><br />
effects. Although the length <strong>of</strong> the corridor for cable installation impacts can be<br />
long, the footprint <strong>of</strong> impact is narrow, generally restricted to 2-3m width, with<br />
certain methods <strong>of</strong> installation requiring the use <strong>of</strong> anchors (see Section 3.9.1).<br />
The main impact associated with cable installation relates to the disturbance <strong>of</strong><br />
sediment (Section 4.3) <strong>and</strong> the subsequent creation <strong>of</strong> a sediment plume. The<br />
disturbance is restricted to the area described above <strong>and</strong> the generation <strong>of</strong> a<br />
plume <strong>and</strong> subsequent settlement is localised, with the area affected dependent<br />
on geological <strong>and</strong> hydrodynamic characteristics. Although the scale <strong>of</strong> effect will<br />
be site specific it is important that the impact should be put into context with<br />
natural perturbations resulting from storm activity <strong>and</strong> other activities occurring<br />
in the vicinity including fisheries, aggregate extraction, <strong>and</strong> other sediment<br />
plume generating activities.<br />
Impacts <strong>and</strong> mitigation measures are described <strong>and</strong> discussed for:<br />
●<br />
●<br />
●<br />
●<br />
●<br />
●<br />
●<br />
●<br />
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Subtidal ecology;<br />
Intertidal habitats;<br />
Natural fish resource;<br />
Fisheries;<br />
Marine mammals;<br />
Ornithology;<br />
Shipping <strong>and</strong> navigation;<br />
Seascape <strong>and</strong> visual character; <strong>and</strong><br />
Marine <strong>and</strong> coastal archaeology.<br />
Discussion <strong>of</strong> impacts is divided into two categories:<br />
●<br />
●<br />
Potentially significant impacts – which are considered relevant to the<br />
installation <strong>of</strong> cables <strong>and</strong> could result in significant environmental effects;<br />
<strong>and</strong> where relevant<br />
Other impacts – which may be considered to be impacts by stakeholders but,<br />
are unlikely to cause significant effects.<br />
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