Welsh Region
Point Briwet, Gwynedd
Application for Consent to Undertake Marine Works
Maps
Method Statement
Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 Part II
Coast Protection Act: Section 34
Licensing of Deposits at Sea for the Purposes of Construction
The Marine and Fisheries Agency has received an application for a licence under Part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act (FEPA) and for a consent under Section 34 of the Coast Protection Act (CPA) from GWYNEDD CONSULTANCY which is summarised in the attached annex.
I would be grateful for any views that you may have regarding the significance of these works taking into account the:
- protection of the marine environment, in particular fish resources;
- prevention of interference with other legitimate uses of the sea
- the minimisation of noise and nuisance
- potential impacts on navigation, such as obstruction or endangerment.
- And the need for any special lighting or markings.
In accordance with our responsibilities under national and European legislation, your advice should also take into account the following provisions:
Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007
To comply with the requirements of the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007, the Agency, on behalf of the Secretary of State for the Environment, is consulting the bodies whom it considers have an interest in the project by reason of their environmental responsibilities, in order that we can determine whether the proposed works constitute a “relevant project” as described within Annex I or Annex II of the Directive. You may wish to refer to our guidance at http://www.mfa.gov.uk/environment/works/process-eia.htm.
If you take the view that the Directive is applicable, please indicate the Annex that the works fall within (screening opinion) and advise the Agency of the specific information that you would expect the Environmental Statement to include (scoping opinion). Should your organisation have received an application in respect of these proposals (or a component of them) it would be helpful if you could advise whether an Environmental Statement has been submitted and, if so, if this has been made available for consultation, and the current status of that application.
Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994
In our opinion the site of the proposed work lies within or adjacent to the boundary of an area designated as a European site of conservation importance under the provisions of the Conservation (Natural Habitats &c.) Regulations 1994. In accordance with these powers the Consenting Authorities, as ‘competent authorities’, are required to consider whether the proposal, either alone or in combination with other projects, is likely to have a significant effect on the site and, if necessary, to carry out an Appropriate Assessment of the implications for the site having regard to its conservation objectives. The purpose of the Appropriate Assessment will be to determine whether the proposal will adversely affect the integrity of the European site.
To assist in making the judgement of likely significant effect, I would appreciate your views on whether this project is likely to have a significant effect on the European site either alone, or in combination with other plans or projects and, if so, whether an Appropriate Assessment will be required.
If you consider an Appropriate Assessment is necessary, please indicate what species and/or features are likely to be affected and any potential measures to mitigate the impact.
Alternatively, you may be of the opinion that the proposal is unlikely to present a significant risk to the integrity of the European site, or that any such risk would be substantially mitigated by attaching certain conditions to any licence or consent granted in due course. If the latter, please advise what conditions you consider would be necessary.
Comments on the Proposal by 10/03/2009
I would therefore be grateful for your advice in deciding whether or not to permit the proposed operations, and if so what (if any) conditions should be included in the consents by 10/03/2009.
Should you have substantive comments to offer, but are unable to meet this date we will consider a written request to extend the consultation period. If we have had no reply by the due date we hall assume you have no comment to make and proceed to determine the application.
If you have had to re-direct this request to a colleague, could you please advise me so that our records can be amended.
Should you wish to discuss any aspect of this application please do not hesitate to contact me quoting reference number 34313/090122.
Thank you for your assistance.
Yours sincerely
Martyn Youell
Annex Summary Details of Licence Application
34313/090122
Applicant: |
GWYNEDD CONSULTANCY
GWYNEDD COUNCIL
COUNCIL OFFICES
CAERNARFON
GWYNEDD
LL55 1SH |
Outline of Proposed Work: |
A geotechnical survey is required to investigate the feasibility of constructing a new replacement bridge alongside and downstream of the existing bridge. Pont Briwet, which spans the Afon Dwyryd immediately south east of the village of Penrhyndeudraeth - see Figure 1. The survey will need to be carried out within the channel of the Afon Dwyryd and at locations between high and low water mark.
The geotechnical survey will consist of approximately 12 boreholes and 15 static cone penetrometer tests located in the area shown on drawing numbers 644/M1/1. As described in Gwynedd Consultancy's application dated 19 December 2008 to the Agency. |
Method Statement: |
The depth of drilling will be up to approximately 35 metres, through drift/overburden soils and into bedrock.
The boring/coring will be carried out from a mobile over-water drilling platform which will probably be a jack-up platform. Dependent on the type of platform available this may be launched locally and manoeuvred into position close to or at high tide.
The boring operation will be by conventional light cable percussion techniques. The boreholes will be commenced using a maximum 300mm casing with the casing diameter reducing with depth.
The leading length of casing will be pushed into the upper layers of sediment for approximately 1.0 metres before boring and sampling commences to reduce the disturbance of silt at river bed level.
Within drift/overburden soils the borehole will be fully cased which will prevent the escape of silt generated by the boring process.
On encountering bedrock the technique will change to rotary coring at a probable diameter of 100mm or less using a drill string located within the casing used for the light cable percussion boring. This may be a carried out using conventional top drive rotary coring equipment or possibly a wire-line system.
On completion of the boring a decision will be made, dependent on the ground conditions encountered, on the need for and type of backfilling required. If back fill is required the aim would be to backfill the borehole with material of a similar permeability to the stratum encountered at that depth and could be e.g. cement/bentonite grout within rock, bentonite within clay soils, sand and/or gravel within granular soils.
Static cone penetration testing (CPT) will also be required and will be carried out from the same or a similar platform or where required between, above or close to high water levels, access may be obtained from land, if an acceptable access method can be agreed. The CPT test is acheived by driving a small diameter (approximately 30mm) probe into the ground which is withdrawn on completion of the test without the need to backfill the probe hole. |
Location / Co-ordinates: |
CONSTRUCTION SITE 1
PONT BRIWET, AFON DWYRYD
52 55.482 N - 04 03.407 W
52 39.064 N - 04 02.484 W |
Intended Start date: |
01 January 2010 |
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