Statement of case in support of a Determination that a statutory EIA is not required

This is a relevant project in terms of section 55A(16) of the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 as it is a project for the improvement of a road which includes a scheme location which is greater than 1ha in area, and the completed works (together with any area occupied by apparatus, equipment, machinery, materials, plant, spoil heaps, or other such facilities or stores required during the period of construction) are all situated in whole in the Moidart and Ardgour Special Protection Area (SPA) which is a sensitive area within the meaning of regulation 2(1) of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Scotland) Regulations 1999.

The project has been subject to screening using the Annex III criteria to determine whether a formal Environmental Impact Assessment is required under the Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (as amended by The Roads (Scotland) Act 1984 (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017). Screening using Annex III criteria, reference to consultations undertaken and review of available information has not identified the need for a statutory EIA.

The project will not have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as:

Characteristics of the scheme:

• Construction activities are restricted to the three individual scheme locations (two of which are less than 1ha in area and one of which is greater), along an approximate 10km length of the A830 carriageway.
• Works are not expected to result in significant disturbance to nearby receptors or protected species that may be present in the wider area.
• The risk of major accidents or disasters is considered to be low.
• Any potential impacts of the works are expected to be temporary, short-term, non-significant, and limited to the construction phase.
• Residual impacts are considered to be beneficial for the travelling public which may use this stretch of carriageway. In addition, improved road surface will reduce the road noise levels and in turn will reduce disruption to the receptor located in proximity to the scheme.

Location of the scheme:

• The project fully lies within the existing A830 trunk road boundary and lies fully within the Moidart and Ardgour SPA. Due to the localised, minor nature of the works and mitigation measures, no AESI are predicted on the qualifying features of the SPA, as concluded in the HRA.
• The scheme does not lie within or adjacent to any other protected areas.

Characteristics of potential impacts of the scheme:

• Any potential impacts of the works are expected to be temporary, short-term, non-significant, and limited to the construction phase.
• Measures will be in place to ensure appropriate removal and disposal of waste.
• No impacts on the environment are expected during the operational phase as a result of works. The works are expected to result in positive impacts on road users, ecological and human receptors during the operational phase.
• As the works will be limited to the like-for-like replacement there is no change to the vulnerability of the road to the risk or severity of major accidents/disasters that would impact on the environment.

Mitigation measures detailed above (and in the SEMP) will be put in place with the objective to prevent and, if required, subsequently control any potential impacts on sensitive receptors.