The Galloper Wind Farm Order 2013

Pre-construction monitoring

16.—(1) The undertaker shall, in discharging condition 10(2)(a), submit details for approval by the MMO of proposed pre-construction surveys, including methodologies and timings, and a proposed format and content for a pre-construction baseline report. The survey proposals shall specify each survey’s objectives and explain how it will assist in either informing a useful and valid comparison with the post-construction position and/or will enable the validation or otherwise of key predictions in the environmental statement. The baseline report proposals shall ensure that the outcome of the agreed surveys together with existing data and reports are drawn together to present a valid statement of the pre-construction position, with any limitations, and shall make clear what post-construction comparison is intended and the justification for this being required.

(2) The pre-construction surveys shall comprise, in outline—

(a) a survey to determine the location, extent and composition of any benthic habitats of conservation and or economic importance (including Annex I habitats);

(b) a high resolution acoustic and debris survey of the areas within the offshore Order limits in which it is proposed to carry out construction works, including a 500 metre buffer area;

(c) an ornithological survey covering the areas within the offshore Order limits in which it is proposed to carry out construction works, and any wider areas where appropriate, which is required to test predictions in the environmental statement concerning key ornithological interests of relevance to the authorised scheme; and

(d) a fish resource survey covering the areas within the offshore Order limits in which it is proposed to carry out construction works, and any wider areas where appropriate, which is required to test predictions in the environmental statement concerning key fish resource interests of relevance to the authorised scheme.

(3) The undertaker shall carry out the surveys approved under paragraph (1) and provide the baseline report to the MMO for approval four months prior to construction in the agreed format, unless otherwise agreed by the MMO, in consultation with Natural England and JNCC.