Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process by which environmental information is collected, incorporated in design, published and taken into account in reaching a decision on a relevant planning application.

A key part of the EIA process is the collection of environmental information, (including the assessment of the likely effects of the development on the environment) and the subsequent publication of this information in the form of an Environmental Statement (ES). The ES is one of the documents submitted as part of the application to construct and operate the windfarm.

The legislation requires the assessment and description of the likely significant environmental effects of the development and any mitigation measures to reduce, prevent and offset significant effects.

EIA for Kilgallioch Windfarm

A scoping exercise was undertaken in December 2008 in order to identify key significant issues at an early stage and allow these to be considered in the EIA process. Following this the EIA process and collection of environmental information was progressed.

Topics included in the assessment were:
• Ecology and nature conservation
• Traffic and transport
• Archaeology and cultural heritage
• Hydrology and hydrogeology
• Landscape and visual amenity
• Noise
• Telecommunications
• Tourism and recreation
• Socio economic and land use
• Aviation
• Air and climate

Feedback obtained from scoping and ongoing consultation, together with information gathered during the environmental assessment, were used to guide the most appropriate design and layout of the windfarm and its associated infrastructure.

Following the submission of the original application, in March 2010, further consultations were held with a number of consultees, and further revisions were made to refine the layout and to address the issues raised.

Any effects identified as significant in the previous EIA were re-assessed for the amended layout and any change in their significance was reported in the ES Addendum.