27.03.2013 Views

Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable

Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable

Review of Cabling Techniques and Environmental Effects Applicable

SHOW MORE
SHOW LESS

You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles

YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.

<strong>Review</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Cabling</strong> <strong>Techniques</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Environmental</strong> <strong>Effects</strong> <strong>Applicable</strong> to the Offshore Wind<br />

Farm Industry – Technical Report<br />

tone trackers or subsea video systems equipment housed on certain installation<br />

devices.<br />

The significance <strong>of</strong> impacts on artefacts <strong>and</strong> submerged archaeological sites<br />

will be similar for all cable installation devices. If artefacts or wrecks lie on or<br />

just beneath the seabed surface, they will be displaced from their resting place,<br />

crushed or compacted by the cabling equipment (i.e. skids or tracks). In contrast,<br />

the significance <strong>of</strong> the impact on artefacts <strong>of</strong> wrecks situated on or just beneath<br />

the seabed surface will vary with the type <strong>of</strong> burial tool used. Rock cutting <strong>and</strong><br />

chain excavating tools will have a more significant impact which rip, slice <strong>and</strong><br />

scrape at the substrata, compared with jetting tools which liquefy or erode<br />

sediments. The impact will be less in cohensionless substrata where relatively<br />

low pressures are required to liquefy the sediments, compared with cohesive<br />

substrata whereby localised erosion <strong>and</strong> scouring <strong>of</strong> the sediments occurs.<br />

Indirect disturbance via changes in sedimentation<br />

During the operational phase, there is the potential for exposure <strong>of</strong> archaeological<br />

material through scour along the cable route. The scale <strong>of</strong> the impact will be site<br />

specific <strong>and</strong> depend on local hydrology <strong>and</strong> geology.<br />

5.10.2 MITIGATION MEASURES<br />

To ensure that comprehensive treatment is afforded to historic environment<br />

interests, it is recommended that early dialogue is initiated with English Heritage<br />

for the subtidal cable route <strong>and</strong> with the local authority (i.e. County Council)<br />

historic environment service for the intertidal <strong>and</strong> terrestrial sections <strong>of</strong> the cable<br />

route. Early negotiation will assist in the evaluation <strong>of</strong> any necessary mitigation<br />

as the project develops.<br />

The basic principle with regard to any known or potential archaeological feature<br />

or site is one <strong>of</strong> avoidance. Where possible, within technical constraints, cable<br />

routes should be grouped together to reduce the area <strong>and</strong> minimise the impacts.<br />

Where avoidance is not possible, the archaeological/historical site should be<br />

investigated prior to cabling activities to determine its importance <strong>and</strong> any suitable<br />

mitigation measures necessary. To effectively mitigate any potential impacts on<br />

known archaeological sites <strong>and</strong> important l<strong>and</strong> <strong>and</strong> seascapes within a study,<br />

all aspects <strong>of</strong> any archaeological work will be detailed by a Written Scheme <strong>of</strong><br />

Investigation (WSI). This provides for all forms <strong>of</strong> archaeological mitigation that<br />

may be required in light <strong>of</strong> pre <strong>and</strong> post-installation investigations, including<br />

archiving <strong>and</strong> dissemination <strong>of</strong> results. It is usually then subject to the approval<br />

<strong>of</strong> the County Archaeologist <strong>and</strong> English Heritage. FEPA conditions usually<br />

stipulate that no works are to take place until a protocol has been submitted to<br />

the Licensing Authority which has been formally agreed with an Archaeologist<br />

representing the County Council adjacent to the site <strong>of</strong> work. The protocol must<br />

detail what action is to be taken to protect any archaeological <strong>and</strong> shipwreck<br />

136

Hooray! Your file is uploaded and ready to be published.

Saved successfully!

Ooh no, something went wrong!