Pre-construction monitoring and surveysE+W
17.—(1) The undertaker must in discharging condition 13(1)(f) submit a monitoring plan or plans in accordance with an in-principle monitoring plan for written approval by the MMO in consultation with the relevant statutory bodies, which shall contain details of proposed surveys, including methodologies and timings, and a proposed format and content for a pre-construction baseline report and;
(a)the survey proposals must be in general accordance with the principles set out in the in-principle monitoring plan and must specify each survey's objectives and explain how it will assist in either informing a useful and valid comparison with the post-construction position or will enable the validation or otherwise of key predictions in the environmental statement; and
(b)the baseline report proposals must ensure that the outcome of the agreed surveys together with existing data and reports are drawn together to present a valid statement of the preconstruction position, with any limitations, and must make clear what post-construction comparison is intended and the justification for this being required.
(2) Subject to receipt from the undertaker of specific proposals pursuant to this Condition, the pre-construction surveys must comprise, in outline—
(a)a high-resolution swath bathymetric survey to include a 100% coverage and a side-scan sonar survey of the parts of the offshore Order limits within which it is proposed to carry out construction works and disposal activities under this licence, to—
(i)determine the location, extent and composition of any biogenic or geogenic reef features, as set out within the in-principle monitoring plan;
(ii)inform future navigation risk assessments as part of the cable specification and installation plan;
(iii)inform the identification of any archaeological exclusion zone and post consent monitoring of any such archaeological exclusion zone; and
(iv)to identify and characterise any preferred sandeel habitat.
(b)any marine mammal monitoring required by the plan for marine mammal monitoring submitted in accordance with condition 13(1)(k); and
(c)any ornithological monitoring required by the Ornithological Monitoring Plans submitted in accordance with condition 13(1)(l).
(3) The undertaker must carry out the surveys specified within the monitoring plan or plans in accordance with that plan or plans, unless otherwise agreed in writing by the MMO in consultation with the relevant statutory nature conservation body.
Commencement Information
I1Sch. 11 Pt. 2 para. 17 in force at 22.1.2021, see art. 1