Camilty Wind Farm - Partnerships for Renewables

Camilty Wind Farm
2.3.14 For some topics where it is very difficult to value an asset and/or quantify the magnitude of
the effect (e.g. socio-economics or waste) a simple descriptor – beneficial, neutral or adverse
is used to describe the significance of the effect.
Table 2.2 Establishing the Level of Effect
Importance or Sensitivity of Receptor
HIGH MEDIUM LOW NEGLIGIBLE
Magnitude of Change
LARGE
MEDIUM
Very substantial
or substantial
Substantial or
moderate
SMALL Moderate or slight Slight
Substantial or
moderate
Moderate or
slight
Negligible
Moderate Slight Negligible
Slight or
negligible
Negligible
NEGLIGIBLE Negligible Negligible Negligible Negligible
Table 2.3 Generic Level of Effect Criteria
Level of Effect
Very substantial
Substantial
Moderate
Slight
Negligible
Criteria
Only adverse effects are assigned this level of importance as they represent key
factors in the decision-making process. These effects are generally, but not
exclusively, associated with sites and features of international, national or
regional importance that are likely to suffer a most damaging effect and loss of
resource integrity. A major change at a regional or district scale site or feature
may also enter this category.
These beneficial or adverse effects are likely to be very important considerations
at a local or district scale and, if adverse, are potential concerns to the scheme
and may become material in the decision making process.
These beneficial or adverse effects while important at a local scale are not likely
to be key decision making issues. Nevertheless, the cumulative effect of such
issues may influence decision making if they lead to an increase in the overall
adverse effects on a particular area or on a particular resource.
These beneficial or adverse effects may be raised as local factors but are
unlikely to be of critical importance in the decision making process. Nevertheless
they are of relevance in enhancing the subsequent design of the Scheme and
consideration of mitigation or compensation measures.
No discernible effect within the normal bounds of variation or within the margin of
forecasting error. Not normally considered by the decision maker.
2.3.15 While effects are considered to fall into one of five effect categories ranging from ‘negligible’,
‘slight‘, ‘moderate’, ‘substantial’ and ‘very substantial’ in the effects matrix presented in Table
2.2, it is generally only those effects that fall into the ‘moderate’, ‘substantial’ or ‘very
substantial’ category that are considered to be the significant environmental effects
arising from the construction, operation and decommissioning of the development. It
should however be noted that different specialist topics within the ES may use a different
approach to identifying which level of effects are significant.
March 2013 2-21 ES Chapter 2
The EIA and Scoping Process
Copyright Partnerships for Renewables Development Co. Ltd 2013 ©