Bog protection to calm windfarm?

European Union protection directives prohibiting the location of largescale wind turbines on raised bog has raised serious questions about plans for a €100m 45-turbine project in West Clare, a local lobby group has claimed.

The Rural Protection Group has predicted that Clare Coastal Wind Power will be asked to make even more significant alterations to its plans following the recommended omission or relocation of five wind turbines on raised bog in the Doonbeg area.

Wind turbines can’t be located on active raised bog, which is a protected Habitats Directive Annex One habitat, and the group has claimed that the majority of the wind turbines will be subjected to this protection.
If their assertion is verified in further ecological studies, the developers will be forced to omit more turbines or find alternative, more suitable land, which could result in the project being shelved.

The company is seeking planning permission from An Bord Pleanála to develop a 45-turbine windfarm with a hub height of 85m and a rotor diameter of 82m at Carrowmore South, Einagh, Monmore North, Doonbeg, Shragh, Mountrivers and Drumillihy. It has declined to comment on the opposition group’s claims.

A botanical and bryological survey and bog condition assessment of five proposed turbine locations at Shragh Bog concluded they supported the Annex One Habitats active raised bog and degraded raised bog, which is still capable of regeneration.

Denyer Ecology, who conducted the survey for Paul Murphy, EirCo Environmental Consultants, on behalf of the developers, found the five sites varied in habitat quality depending on their history of peat cutting, drainage and burning.

“Three sites,” he said, “were considered to support raised bog of high or moderate-to-high ecological value, within a larger, intact bog complex.”
The remaining two sites, he added, were considered of only moderate ecological value. At these sites the bog is degraded and, given the size and isolated nature of the remaining bog, the sites are unlikely to increase in ecological value.

“Much of the area comprises raised bog that has been cut-over by hand cutting or machine cutting. There is little intact blanket bog on the site and much of the cutover peat now supports improved agricultural grassland and marshy grassland.

“The site is an example of a western raised bog, although indicators of western raised bogs are scarce due to extensive peat-cutting, draining and past burning,” the report stated.

An Bord Pleanála has requested the company’s consulting engineers, Jennings O’Donovan and Partners, to respond to the recommendation of the Department of Arts, Heritage and Gaeltacht to remove turbines in sensitive peat areas.

The consulting engineers will have to submit all relevant information, if alterations to the site layout are proposed and to clarify why the rest of the windfarm site didn’t warrant further detailed examination by Denyer Ecology.

The appeals board also issued a significant further information request to address six other key points, including the requirement to address concerns by the department concerning the drainage capacity and design and the potential impact on ecology arising from construction and operation of the proposed development.

Jennings O’Donovan recently requested an extension of time from Friday March 1 until July 1, 2012 to address the board’s request for further information.
The engineers explained the further information regarding the freshwater pearl mussel surveys required works to be carried out during seasonally low flow conditions between April and May, while a licence for extra electro fishing surveys wouldn’t be granted until May 1.

Consultations have already started with the National Parks and Wildlife Service and Inland Fisheries Ireland while sub-consultant work is ongoing relating to ecology, noise and site drainage, a consolidated schedule of mitigation measures, shadow flicker and house surveys.

“Our client is fully committed to proceeding with this development and is mindful of the fact that this must be done taking all appropriate planning and environmental considerations into account,” the engineers’ report stated.

Acknowledging the significant additional information being sought from the developer for the second time, the appeals board warned this had the potential to disadvantage other parties if it only became public during the oral hearing, which would result in further delays.

A spokesperson for the Rural Protection Group claimed the majority of the wind turbines on the farm were located on raised bog and asked why the sites containing the other 40 turbines weren’t surveyed.

“The main Kilrush to Doonbeg road splits Shragh bog to the left and Tullyaher bog to the right. Turf cutting is already banned on Tullyaher bog so it is reasonable to expect similar protection across the road,” the spokesperson stated.

In its submission to the board, the Department of Heritage stated the bog at the site is raised bog, not blanket bog as outlined in the company’s Environmental Impact Statement.