Paragraph 18 Pre-construction monitoring and surveysI1

England and Wales

(1)

The undertaker must submit in discharging condition 14(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)

provide a baseline of the seabed environment and bathymetric conditions against which specific post construction marine process monitoring can be undertaken, as set out within the in-principle monitoring plan;

(ii)

determine the location, extent and composition of any biogenic or geogenic reef features, as set out within the in-principle monitoring plan;

(iii)

inform future navigation risk assessments as part of the cable specification and installation plan;

(iv)

inform the identification of any archaeological exclusion zone and post consent monitoring of any such archaeological exclusion zone; and

(v)

identify and characterise any preferred sandeel habitat; and

(b)

a survey (in the parts of the offshore Order limits in which it is proposed to carry out construction works under this licence) to provide a baseline of the benthic environment within designated sites against which specific post construction benthic monitoring can be undertaken, as set out within the in-principle monitoring plan.

(3)

Any monitoring report compiled in accordance with the monitoring plans provided under this condition must be provided to the MMO no later than four months following completion of the monitoring to which it relates.

Annotations

Commencement

I1: Sch. 12 Pt. 2 para. 18 in force at 22.1.2021, see art. 1

Notes on the whole SI

Textual amendments

F1: Preamble: bracket omitted (21.5.2021) by virtue of The Hornsea Three Offshore Wind Farm (Correction) Order 2021 (S.I. 2021/599), art. 1(2), Sch.