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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Potential impacts <strong>and</strong> mitigration measures<br />
the UK’s territorial waters is provided by the Protection <strong>of</strong> Wrecks Act 1983. More<br />
recently, the Natural Heritage Act (2002) has enabled English Heritage to assume<br />
responsibility for maritime archaeology in English coastal waters. Specifically<br />
the Joint Nautical Archaeology Policy Committee (JNAPC) brings together a<br />
wide range <strong>of</strong> organisations with a direct <strong>and</strong> active interest <strong>and</strong> expertise in the<br />
marine historic environment.<br />
Relevant guidance provided by English Heritage <strong>and</strong> others includes:<br />
●<br />
●<br />
●<br />
●<br />
●<br />
Engl<strong>and</strong>’s Coastal Heritage;<br />
Identifying <strong>and</strong> Protecting Palaeolithic Remains: Archaeological Guidance for<br />
Planning Authorities <strong>and</strong> Developers;<br />
Military Aircraft Crash Sites: archaeological guidance on their significance<br />
<strong>and</strong> future management;<br />
Joint Nautical Archaeology Policy Committee, 2006, Maritime Cultural<br />
Heritage <strong>and</strong> Seabed Development JNAPC Code <strong>of</strong> Practice for Seabed<br />
Development; <strong>and</strong><br />
Wessex Archaeology (in consultation, 2006) Historic Environment Guidance<br />
Note for the Offshore Renewable Energy Sector.<br />
5.10.1 POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS<br />
Direct loss or disturbance<br />
Cable installation activities including the anchoring <strong>of</strong> vessels can disturb the<br />
seabed in ways which could damage or destroy historic artefacts <strong>and</strong> submerged<br />
archaeological sites <strong>and</strong> features. In addition, indirect disturbance may occur<br />
from the longer term changes in the scouring <strong>and</strong> sedimentation patterns arising<br />
from cable installation <strong>and</strong> cable protection methods, exposing previously<br />
buried sites to degradation, destabilisation <strong>and</strong> corrosion.<br />
Archaeological remains <strong>and</strong> artefacts are a finite <strong>and</strong> non-renewable resource<br />
<strong>and</strong>, as such, cannot be replaced or recover from damage caused to physical<br />
properties or archaeological context. All direct impacts upon archaeology would<br />
be permanent <strong>and</strong>, therefore, <strong>of</strong> significance. However, the scale <strong>of</strong> significance<br />
would depend upon the strength <strong>of</strong> the impact ranging from low, if the material<br />
is simply dislodged from its resting place, to high, if the material is crushed or<br />
damaged by the installation equipment.<br />
Unlike aggregate extraction where the sediment is brought to the surface<br />
increasing the likelihood <strong>of</strong> identifying archaeological finds, the excavated<br />
sediment from cable burial machines is not brought to the surface. The sediment<br />
is ploughed or jetted to the side <strong>of</strong> the trench <strong>and</strong> thus there is no opportunity,<br />
at present, to investigate the occurrence <strong>of</strong> archaeological remains during cable<br />
installation activities, unless they are identified by the sonar systems, cable<br />
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