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 improvement of a road 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 exceed 1 hectare in area.

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

  • The works are restricted to like-for-like replacement of the carriageway surface on the M8 WB carriageway.
  • The works will be undertaken on a rolling schedule, minimising the impact to any one area, and any potential impacts of the works are expected to be temporary, short-term, not significant, and limited to the construction phase.
  • The risk of major accidents or disasters is considered to be low and by removing the carriageway defects, this will provide this section of the M8 WB carriageway with another life cycle, and significantly improve the ride quality, which will result in safer conditions for road users.

Location of the scheme

  • The scheme is not located within 2km of any European designated sites but is located within the buffer zone of qualifying bird species of the Firth of Forth SPA and Ramsar Site, Outer Firth of Forth and St Andrews Bay Complex SPA, and Westwater SPA and Ramsar Site. However, a HRA has been undertaken, which confirmed the works will not result in LSE on any of the qualifying features.
  • The scheme is not located within any areas designated for landscape interests or cultural heritage.
  • The scheme will not require any private land acquisition, and land use will not change as a result of the works.
  • The scheme is not located within a densely populated area.

Characteristics of potential impacts of the scheme

  • A Site Environmental Management Plan (SEMP) will be delivered to all site personnel, detailing all relevant environmental mitigation to be implemented during the works.
  • The waste hierarchy will be followed to reduce waste to landfill.
  • The works will adhere to standard practice pollution prevention measures such as SEPAs Guidance for Pollution Prevention (GPPs) and Environmental Authorisation (Scotland) Regulations (EASR) 2018.
  • The works are programmed to take four nights to complete on a rolling programme, with the aim being to complete the noisiest works by 23:00.