Abstract
Purpose and Objectives of the Plan
This Project Environmental Monitoring Programme (PEMP) has been prepared to address the specific requirements of the relevant conditions attached to the Section 36 (S36) consent and Marine Licences (collectively referred to as ‘offshore consent conditions’) issued to Moray Offshore Windfarm (West) Limited (Moray West).
The overall objective of the PEMP is to outline and define the approach Moray West, its survey contractors and advisors will take with respect to the environmental monitoring of the Moray West Offshore Wind Farm and Offshore Transmission Infrastructure (OfTI) (collectively referred to as ‘the Development’) required under the offshore consent conditions.
Scope of the Plan
The PEMP provides:
- details on the environmental monitoring proposed for the pre-construction, construction and post-construction (if considered appropriate by Scottish Ministers) monitoring or data collection of the Development of the following receptors:
- birds
- marine mammals
- commercial fisheries
- socio-economic
- benthic communities;
- the objectives and methodologies for the monitoring surveys;
- evidence of consultation on and approval of monitoring approach and surveys methodology; and
- the programme for proposed monitoring surveys and reporting.
Structure of the Plan
The PEMP is structured as follows:
Section 1 provides an overview of the Development and specifies the scope and objectives of the PEMP.
Sections 2 to 6 summarise the monitoring approach for each of the environmental receptors identified in the S36 Consent and Marine Licences PEMP conditions.
Plan Audience
The PEMP is intended to be referred to by personnel involved in the pre-construction, construction and operation of the Development, including Moray West personnel and Contractors.
This PEMP is intended to summarise Moray West’s environmental monitoring programme for stakeholders and the Licensing Authority.
Compliance with this PEMP will be monitored by the Moray West Development team, Moray West’s Environmental Clerk of Works (ECoW), and Marine Scotland Licensing Operations Team (MS-LOT).
Plan Locations
The latest version of this PEMP can be obtained from Moray West’s document management system, Viewpoint For Projects and from Marine Scotland website. Copies of the PEMP are also to be held in the following locations:
- Moray West’s main project office in Edinburgh;
- with the ECoW(s).