Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
activity, particularly breeding information, for the original proposed Camilty site 3 , plus a
surrounding buffer of 2 km.
12.2.7 At the outset of the Ecological Impact Assessment survey programme SNH were consulted
by letter on 4 October 2011 for their agreement and advice on the proposed survey
programme and associated methodologies. Vivienne Grey (Lothians Planning Operations
Officer) responded by letter on 1 November 2011, in which she confirmed that SNH were
content with the proposed survey programme. She also made reference to SNH’s published
guidance on ornithological surveys for wind farm developments and provided advice on the
minimum number of hours effort which should be expended during Flight Activity/Vantage
Point Surveys to adequately capture bird flight activity at the site through the seasons.
12.2.8 In July 2012 SNH, RSPB Scotland and West Lothian Council were each sent a Scoping
Report and invited to comment on the ornithological issues surrounding the proposed
development and the suitability of the baseline survey, analysis and assessment methods
proposed, as discussed in Chapter 2: The Environmental Impact Assessment and Scoping
Process.
12.2.9 Details of the relevant Scoping consultation responses received and where the points raised
are addressed within this chapter are presented in Table 12.1.
Table 12.1 Scoping Consultation Responses
Consultee Contact Response Section of
chapter where
point(s)
addressed
Scottish
Natural
Heritage
(SNH)
28 August
2012 letter
from Megan
Jones,
Operations
Officer
General comments:
SNH is content with the scope and methodologies
presented in the Scoping Report.
All survey results must be clearly presented as per
SNH guidance, with maps showing flight paths
presented on separate sheets if the initial map is too
cluttered for easy interpretation.
The proposal is approximately 8 km north-west of
Westwater Special Protection Area (SPA). The SPA
supports over 20,000 roosting waterfowl in winter
and an internationally important winter population of
pink-footed goose. Westwater is also designated as
a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) for its
waterfowl assemblage and pink-footed goose
population and as a Wetland of International
Importance (Ramsar Site).
The Firth of Forth SPA, Ramsar Site and SSSI is
approximately 19 km north of the proposal site. The
SPA is also notified for over wintering wildfowl and
pink-footed geese. The foraging range of the geese
extends to 20 km, therefore the proposal site is
within their range.
Should initial surveys demonstrate that there is
connectivity with Westwater SPA or Firth of Forth
SPA and therefore that the proposal is likely to have
Consideration of
European
designated sites is
given throughout
this Chapter with
particular
coverage in the
Baseline
Information (12.3),
Receptor
Sensitivity
(12.3.31 –
12.3.37) and
Impact
Assessment
(12.7) Sections
3
The original Camilty site was larger than that which is currently under consideration – covering the 14 turbine layout (Initial
Design) in Chapter 3: Design Evolution.
March 2013 12-4 ES Chapter 12
Ornithology
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