Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Shetland HVDC Connection

Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Summary

Project Overview The Shetland High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)1 Connection is planned to provide a high capacity electricity connection between the GB Transmission System and renewable energy projects on Shetland most notably the proposed wind farm being promoted by the Viking Energy Partnership (the Viking Wind Farm project) which will comprise some 150 wind turbines producing a total of approximately 550 megawatts (MW) of electricity Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited (SHETL) as a holder of an electricity Transmission Licence has statutory obligations under The Electricity Act 1989 that require it to develop this connection and deliver it if the wind farm is consented

The overall Shetland HVDC Connection comprises converter stations at Upper Kergord Shetland and at Blackhillock near Keith Moray on the Scottish mainland where alternating current (AC)2 from the wind farm will be changed to direct current (DC) to minimise transmission losses on the circuit The two converter stations will be connected by underground and subsea HVDC cable

Following a screening request TMC considered that formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not required because it did not consider that the converter station would have potential for significant effects However as an environmentally responsible company SHETL has undertaken an Environmental Appraisal (EA) of the Moray underground HVDC cable and converter station An EA has also been carried out for the subsea cable The Upper Kergord converter station on Shetland is subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)3

This summary relates only to the EA of the Moray underground HVDC cable and converter station It accompanies an application for outline planning permission for the converter station submitted to The Moray Council (TMC) under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 The underground HVDC cable is Permitted Development under Class 40 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1991 as amended

Figure 1 shows the key elements of the overall Shetland HVDC Connection with the location of the proposed converter station at Blackhillock shown in Figure 2 and the proposed alignment of the HVDC cable on Moray also shown in Figure 2

The Project Location and Layout The site on which the Moray converter station is proposed is situated adjacent to the existing Blackhillock Substation as shown in Figure 3 The HVDC cables installed underground and comprising two cables per HVDC circuit will extend from the shoreline at Portgordon where they join up with the subsea HVDC cable circuits connecting to the Shetland Islands (some 320km to the north) for some 17km to the

1 A high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power in contrast with the more common alternating current systems For long-distance point to point transmission HVDC systems are less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses

2 Alternating current is the more familiar form of electricity used in transmission and distribution systems worldwide

3 The Shetland HVDC Connection ndash Upper Kergord Converter Station Environmental Statement prepared by Entec UK Ltd for SHETL 2009

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

proposed converter station site The converter station site is privately owned and is in agricultural use as grazing land

The proposed converter station will comprise

bull A level development platform with a total area including surrounding slopes of up to 125 hectares created by a balanced cut and fill operation This approach will minimise the need for import or export of material but some blasting may be required to allow excavation to create the platform Natural drainage will be encouraged by the establishment of a free draining base to the converter station site The total construction work area will be up to 22 hectares

bull Transformers and related electrical plant which will be enclosed in a large metal-clad building up to 150 metres (m) long by 40m wide and 22m in height One building is required for each of the two proposed HVDC circuits These buildings will be orientated east west for aesthetic design reasons and

bull A storage building for a spare converter transformer

Access Vehicular access to the converter station is to be from the existing road to the Blackhillock Substation off the A96 The new access will be built prior to the construction of the converter station

Related Development The platform of the converter station will be of sufficient size to accommodate works to upgrade the wider electricity transmission network in the Blackhillock and Keith area in which a new 275 kilovolt (kV) substation will be built adjacent to the existing 275kV substation that will be decommissioned The new 400kV substation and relocation of the existing 275kV substation at Blackhillock that are required to reinforce the main interconnected transmission system are being developed under a separate project and will be subject to a separate future environmental consenting process

The developments have not been appraised themselves in the EA but have been taken into account when considering the impacts of the converter station and underground HVDC cable with those other projects (lsquocumulative effectsrsquo)

Services and Drainage The converter station site will be connected to mains electricity water supplies and fouls drainage with all services expected to be provided through underground connections to the existing services at the adjacent substation

Some temporary and permanent modifications of a watercourse which currently runs through the site will be required The details of the drainage design concept will be finalised as part of the detailed design and submitted with the subsequent detailed planning application All works will be carried out in accordance with Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and other best practice guidance In principle the drainage concept is as follows

bull Deviation of the existing man made watercourse through the proposed site around the southern edge of the development platform and

bull Formation of temporary interception ditches and attenuation ponds at spoil storage areas

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

The deviation of the watercourse would be designed to be retained as the permanent drainage arrangements on completion of construction and site restoration work It is expected that the interception ditches and attenuation ponds at spoil storage areas will be removed on completion of construction

Security Health and Safety The converter station site will be enclosed by security fencing of between 18m and 25m height Security and safety considerations also require the installation of signage around the perimeter of the converter station development platform It is expected that the main gate to the converter station site will be of similar size and appearance to the fencing

Lighting will be provided at the converter station to allow safe working during poor light and darkness but the site will not be permanently lit during darkness and the orientation of lighting will prevent lights shining out of the site

Operational performance and safety of the Shetland HVDC Connection will be constantly monitored with an immediate shutdown triggered should any significant problem arise meaning there will be no operational risk to human health

Building Finish and Landscaping It is expected that the main buildings of the converter station will be finished in metal cladding of an olive colour (either a single colour or alternatively grading from dark at lower levels to lighter upper colours) subject to the approval of TMC

The exposed slopes around the development platform will be restored and vegetation established It is anticipated that soils excavated during the formation of the development platform will be re-used both in the restoration of the slopes created to raise the platform and elsewhere within the site development boundary to restore the site on completion of construction works to restore habitat

Screening by existing woodland will be strengthened by additional woodland planting with mixed woodland and shelterbelts to integrate with the existing features

Construction Programme and Working Hours Table 1 identifies the assumed programme for the procurement and delivery of the overall Shetland HVDC Connection to meet the requirement for the project to be operational by the third quarter of 2013 (the assumed requirement for the Viking project although this is dependent on the statutory processes and the appropriate consents being achieved within the identified timescales)

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Table 1 ndash Shetland HVDC Connection - Overall Indicative Project Programme

2009 Quarter

2010 Quarter

2011 Quarter

2012 Quarter

2013 Quarter

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Tendering Process Application for Consents Tender Assessments Obtain Consents Place Contracts Detailed Design Manufacturing Environmental Surveys Converter Civil Works Converter Installation Subsea Cable Installation Land Cable Installation Site Restoration Indicated timescale is best estimate and is driven by market demands at time of placing the contract

Construction working hours have been agreed with TMC Environmental Health as

bull 8am-8pm Monday to Friday

bull 8am-6pm Saturday (no loud noise until 9am) and

bull 9am-6pm Sunday (no loud noise until 10am)

Additionally any unusual events or out of hours working will be agreed in advance with TMC Environmental Health Service

Construction Wastes Wastes may arise during the course of the construction activities Those which cannot be safely re-used on site will be either recycled through appropriate recycling providers or disposed of to appropriately licensed facilities

As indicated above reuse of all material excavated during platform creation and cable installation is expected for site restoration or landscaping purposes though this will be explored further as part of the full design once a detailed ground investigation has been completed and the quantity of material is confirmed

Underground HVDC Cable Two HVDC circuits will be laid in a trench at approximately 1m depth with the circuits separated by approximately 5m The cables will be laid following a standard sequence of events involving establishment of an approximately 20m wide working corridor excavation of sections of trench and bays in which the sections of cables will be joined together placement of cables in the trench and backfilling of the trench This will be followed by restoration of the working corridor Detailed design of the cable trench and its fill materials will depend on local ground conditions to ensure appropriate heat conduction and cable protection Maximum re-use of excavated material is expected in most areas though there is the potential for a backfill material (locally sourced) to be required immediately around the cable for its protection

Lengths of cable of 700m to 1000m as well as any backfill material will be delivered by heavy goods vehicle (HGV) using the public road network The bays where the lengths of cable will be joined together must be clean and dry and these will be formed by building a concrete floor (or similar) in the base of the trenches of

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

approximately 10m by 5m with a temporary cover to create the required conditions Once the joints are finished the joint bays will be buried with no structure visible at the ground surface

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Full compliance with legal standards (set by the Health Protection Agency) in respect of EMF is achieved for all elements of the Shetland HVDC Connection and there are no health risks EMF within the converter station is controlled both by design of the equipment and the building with any remaining EMF having dissipated to negligible levels at the site boundary The bipolar configuration of each HVDC cable circuit involves one cable that is positively charged and the other negatively charged which substantially reduces the effect of any magnetic field to below that of the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field levels Any residual magnetic field is static (as opposed to that of AC which alternates) and is similar to the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field in nature

Maintenance The converter station will be inspected regularly by SHETL and maintenance on each circuit will take place on a planned basis at a frequency of between one and six years Periodic maintenance of the wider converter station site and any habitats created during the construction and construction restoration phases will also be undertaken

The underground HVDC cables will be installed such that they do not require maintenance except in the unlikely event of a technical problem requiring attention Experience suggests a rate of one failure every 130 years on the Moray section of the cable If a fault occurs the required section of the cable will need to be uncovered repaired and the cable re-installed as originally

Operational performance of the Shetland HVDC Connection will be constantly monitored

Project Development and Alternatives Considered A range of environmental studies have been undertaken to identify the route for the HVDC Connection and its component elements Various sites for the converter station on the Scottish mainland were considered including at Dounreay at Peterhead Substation and at Blackhillock Substation A converter station sited at Blackhillock was the preferred option because it was free from landscape ecology and heritage designations and because it could be sited to benefit from screening by topography and woodland which limited the potential for it to be visible to residents and road users Dounreay and Peterhead both had limitations on onward AC transmission capacity that would require significant investment to overcome

SHETL submitted a formal request for an EIA Screening Opinion4 from TMC in November 2008 TMCrsquos Screening Opinion confirmed that EIA was not required for the proposed Moray converter station

Consultation Following best practice the design development process has involved extensive consultation with the relevant statutory bodies and non-statutory organisations and with the local communities affected by the project The means to comment on the planning application and the EA are identified at the end of this document

4 Screening describes the process where a consenting authority determines whether a particular development proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment (on account of factors such as its nature scale or location) and if so that EIA is required

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Planning Policy The proposed HVDC converter station and underground HVDC cable are critical elements in the infrastructure required to exploit a significant renewable energy resource on Shetland

National and local development plan policy in general supports sustainable development and the construction of infrastructure to support the production of electricity by renewable means provided that there are no overriding significant adverse effects expected on the environment The converter station location site layout and environmental protection measures that will be implemented as part of the project mean that no such overriding effects are predicted from the development

Approach to EA Environmental appraisal provides a means for establishing and reporting the potential environmental effects of proposals where inherently (following screening ndash see above) no effects considered to be significant in the context of the EIA regulations are predicted from the proposals though minor effects may occur in respect of some issues Conclusions about the significance of effects on people environmental features and resources (collectively termed lsquoreceptorsrsquo) that may be affected are identified with reference to the project description and the environmental mitigation measures that will be adopted to avoid or reduce potential effects within the context that even where they occur they are not significant

Professional judgement data collection site visits and consultation in combination with recognised best practice guidance all inform the scope of the environmental effects to be considered and the appraisal of the interaction of the sensitivity to change of the people or other receptors with the magnitude of change arising from the proposed development Computer modelling may also be undertaken to predict or demonstrate the nature of any change

The EA conclusions are summarised by topic below

Community (Socio-economics Land use and Recreation) Some positive socio-economic effects are predicted during the construction phase with likely use of at least some local construction workers and an increased demand on local services and the benefits these will provide to local employment and the economy However in the context of the wider Moray economy this is not considered significant

There will be a permanent loss of up to 125 hectares of land used for grazing and temporary impacts on a further 10 hectares during construction works at the converter station site Temporary impacts will also occur along the underground HVDC cable corridor The land permanently lost is not prime agricultural land (ie it is not the best quality nor specifically protected) though some temporary impact on prime land will occur along an approximately 25km section of the cable route but this will be quickly restored using the excavated material replaced in the order removed and no long term impact will arise Overall effects are not considered significant

Geology and Soils All rock and soils extracted are expected to be reused in the formation of the platform for the converter station for site restoration or as backfill This will minimise the loss of any materials and no significant effect on these resources is predicted

The potential for impacts on the feature (shingle ridges) for which Spey Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has been designated have been identified To fully protect this feature directional drilling will be used (where a drill rig is established on land set back from the shoreline and designated area and will be used to drill under

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

the SSSI emerging at sea) to lay the cable completely under Spey Bay SSSI at the site of the cable landfall to the west of Portgordon Work for the project indicates that this method of construction will have no impact on the designated area (ABPmer 2009)5 and there will therefore be no significant effect on the interests of the designated site

No potential for the disturbance of contaminants or their release has been identified at the site of the converter station or along the working corridor of the underground HVDC cable The potential for unknown contaminants to be encountered remains but will be appropriately mitigated by implementation of usual on site best practice measures and potential impacts will not be significant The adoption of construction best practice (for example in respect of the storage of fuels and refuelling) will address the low level of contamination risk inherent in any construction work

Landscape and Visual Amenity The converter station has been located to reduce the potential landscape and visual effects to the minimum possible Measures to be adopted include an architectural strategy to address the colour of the converter station and security fencing (olive is proposed) and a planting plan to strengthen existing woodland screening No designated landscapes will be affected by the converter station A computer visualisation of the anticipated appearance of the converter station site following construction and restoration is provided in Figure 4

During the approximate 18 month construction period an adverse but not significant temporary effect on landscape character is predicted in the immediate vicinity of the converter station due to the extent and nature of construction activity Following restoration of the construction area the converter station buildings will present a simpler form The landscape has the capacity to accommodate such a development due to the existing activity in the area the topography as well as the screening provided by the existing and strengthened woodland planting

The existing screening will restrict views of construction activity at the converter station site and for residents and road users effects will be temporary and not-significant Views of the cable installation will in places be less screened but the relatively limited level and duration of activity mean that no significant effects are predicted on residents or road users Walkers on the Speyside Way will have closer views of the directional drilling activity but given the location of the works at the edge of the existing development and short duration the effect is not considered significant

The operational converter station will be visible from three residential properties present within 1km of the development The colour scheme proposed location and partial screening with landform and building plus screening from existing strengthened and new planting will all mitigate the impact of the new development so that effects are minor but not significant No effects on tourists and people using the area for recreation are predicted nor on users of lsquoArsquo and lsquoBrsquo class roads The cable route will be fully reinstated and will not be visible in the long term

Freshwaters The converter station is located away from any major watercourses The adoption of tried and tested protection measures will minimise the potential for silt laden water runoff to watercourses These measures include the diversion of runoff water through settling ponds to remove excess suspended solids before discharge to surface watercourses and wetting down of excavated soils roads etc to minimise windblown dust Best management practices will be implemented on site to protect

5 ABP mer 2009 Coastal Processes Impact Assessment in Relation to the Shetland HVDC Link

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

watercourses from the risk of pollution With these measures in place the effects of the construction and operation of the converter station on both water quality and aquatic ecology including fish are considered negligible and not significant

The relatively short period when cable trenches will be open will substantially control any flow of water into trenches excavated for the underground cable and any effect on drainage or the surrounding water table will be temporary and not significant

The placement of the converter station on otherwise vegetated surfaces will change the runoff characteristics of the land used However the station represents a small area and no change in flood risk is predicted

Potential impacts where the underground cable route requires watercourse crossings have been investigated and it is concluded that except for the River Isla the use of dams with over pumping to allow a dry trench to be excavated across the watercourses is suitable and would have no significant effect The Deveron Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust (DBIRT) support the use of an open cut installation method for the River Isla subject to further consultation at detailed design stage A detailed method statement will be drawn up and agreed with SEPA and DBIRT prior to the works Provided such measures are successfully implemented no significant effects will occur

Terrestrial Ecology A wide range of field surveys have been completed to identify important habitats the presence and activity of protected species and species of nature conservation importance including otter bats badger and breeding birds

The construction of the converter station will affect grazing land and a small area of the recently felled Cairds Wood (an area currently being invaded by a mix of nettles thistles and some scrub and of no particular nature conservation value) Along the underground HVDC cable there will be a loss of 01 hectares of semi natural broadleaved woodland and some impacts on other habitats though vegetation from these habitats will be stored carefully and replaced Overall effects on habitats are not considered significant

Construction activity at the converter station will also lead to some loss of bat foraging habitat but there is ample alternative foraging areas nearby Some potential for foraging habitat loss or disturbance to foraging otter is also predicted during construction of the converter station but other watercourses and drains nearby offer at least as good foraging habitat Some potential for disturbance of otter at watercourse crossings has also been identified but the temporary nature of the work and alternative habitat available means this is not considered significant Some potential for disturbance to badger exists but following a pre-construction survey and the implementation of a project level mitigation plan (agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)) impacts will be minimised Foraging geese may also be affected by cable installation works but any effect will be temporary not dissimilar to disturbance from farming activities and considerable areas of alternative foraging habitat are available in the locality Measures are proposed to minimise the potential for effects on birds at the converter station site and along the underground HVDC cable route including avoiding starting works in the breeding season (without confirming absence) and pre-construction nesting surveys Overall no significant effects on these or other species are predicted

There are no significant effects predicted during the operational period on habitats or species since activity during this time will generally be limited to the converter station and it is envisaged that species will adapt to the presence of the structure Any required maintenance at the converter station or along the cable route will be required to comply with relevant legislation and will be dealt with through the

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

application of SHETLrsquos normal procedures for environmental management which can be expected to provide appropriate protection

Cultural Heritage Construction of the converter station will have no direct impact on any recorded or visible archaeological remains However construction of the underground HVDC cable is likely to involve some disturbance to archaeological remains (cropmarks identified from aerial photos) which appear to form part of an area of prehistoric settlement within land to the south of Portgordon There is potential for the presence of as yet unknown archaeology under the surface of the ground and thus for adverse effects from construction at the converter station and along the route of the underground HVDC cable Mitigation measures to address these effects include a programme of archaeological field investigation and preservation to ensure the identification and recording of features This approach has been agreed with Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service There is however no evidence to suggest that any as yet unknown remains would be of more than local importance and with the measures implemented no significant effect is predicted

Traffic and Transportation The construction of the converter station will require deliveries of plant and equipment and travel to the site by construction workers Average daily numbers are low and predicted to comprise up to four Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) (two travelling to the site and then away from the site) and up to 150 light vehicles (cars and vans comprising 75 trips to the site and then away) Measures implemented by the contractor to encourage car share could reduce the number of light vehicles

Vehicle movements for construction of the underground HVDC cable will also be needed and predicted to comprise 16 HGVs per day (eight travelling to and then away from the site) and 40 light vehicles (20 travelling to and then away from the site) These movements will affect different areas as the cable construction area moves along the cable route but are predicted to occur in any one area over only a few weeks

Whilst some maintenance activity will be required at the converter station this will be infrequent and the number of vehicles travelling to the site low Maintenance along the cable is not expected but even if required will be of limited scale and duration

In addition to the identification of vehicle access routes a range of measures will be adopted to reduce or avoid the potential for effects from traffic Measures such as the use of wheel wash facilities sheeting of loads damping down of surfaces and road sweeping if required will reduce the potential for mud to be deposited on the highway or dust to be generated by traffic movements The timing of deliveries will be agreed with TMC as will any traffic management that may be required at road access or for the cable crossings but no road closures are proposed Dedicated parking areas will be identified during construction to avoid vehicles parking on road verges

With these measures successfully implemented there will be no adverse effects from construction traffic on existing road users from the construction of the converter station or installation of the underground HVDC cable

Noise and Vibration The construction and operation of the converter station as well as the installation of the underground cable will involve activities that will generate some noise The potential for this to affect amenity has been considered by establishing existing background noise levels experienced by people at residential properties and comparing predicted noise levels against current guideline levels

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Summary

Project Overview The Shetland High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC)1 Connection is planned to provide a high capacity electricity connection between the GB Transmission System and renewable energy projects on Shetland most notably the proposed wind farm being promoted by the Viking Energy Partnership (the Viking Wind Farm project) which will comprise some 150 wind turbines producing a total of approximately 550 megawatts (MW) of electricity Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited (SHETL) as a holder of an electricity Transmission Licence has statutory obligations under The Electricity Act 1989 that require it to develop this connection and deliver it if the wind farm is consented

The overall Shetland HVDC Connection comprises converter stations at Upper Kergord Shetland and at Blackhillock near Keith Moray on the Scottish mainland where alternating current (AC)2 from the wind farm will be changed to direct current (DC) to minimise transmission losses on the circuit The two converter stations will be connected by underground and subsea HVDC cable

Following a screening request TMC considered that formal Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was not required because it did not consider that the converter station would have potential for significant effects However as an environmentally responsible company SHETL has undertaken an Environmental Appraisal (EA) of the Moray underground HVDC cable and converter station An EA has also been carried out for the subsea cable The Upper Kergord converter station on Shetland is subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)3

This summary relates only to the EA of the Moray underground HVDC cable and converter station It accompanies an application for outline planning permission for the converter station submitted to The Moray Council (TMC) under the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997 The underground HVDC cable is Permitted Development under Class 40 of the Town and Country Planning (General Permitted Development) (Scotland) Order 1991 as amended

Figure 1 shows the key elements of the overall Shetland HVDC Connection with the location of the proposed converter station at Blackhillock shown in Figure 2 and the proposed alignment of the HVDC cable on Moray also shown in Figure 2

The Project Location and Layout The site on which the Moray converter station is proposed is situated adjacent to the existing Blackhillock Substation as shown in Figure 3 The HVDC cables installed underground and comprising two cables per HVDC circuit will extend from the shoreline at Portgordon where they join up with the subsea HVDC cable circuits connecting to the Shetland Islands (some 320km to the north) for some 17km to the

1 A high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electric power transmission system uses direct current for the bulk transmission of electrical power in contrast with the more common alternating current systems For long-distance point to point transmission HVDC systems are less expensive and suffer lower electrical losses

2 Alternating current is the more familiar form of electricity used in transmission and distribution systems worldwide

3 The Shetland HVDC Connection ndash Upper Kergord Converter Station Environmental Statement prepared by Entec UK Ltd for SHETL 2009

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

proposed converter station site The converter station site is privately owned and is in agricultural use as grazing land

The proposed converter station will comprise

bull A level development platform with a total area including surrounding slopes of up to 125 hectares created by a balanced cut and fill operation This approach will minimise the need for import or export of material but some blasting may be required to allow excavation to create the platform Natural drainage will be encouraged by the establishment of a free draining base to the converter station site The total construction work area will be up to 22 hectares

bull Transformers and related electrical plant which will be enclosed in a large metal-clad building up to 150 metres (m) long by 40m wide and 22m in height One building is required for each of the two proposed HVDC circuits These buildings will be orientated east west for aesthetic design reasons and

bull A storage building for a spare converter transformer

Access Vehicular access to the converter station is to be from the existing road to the Blackhillock Substation off the A96 The new access will be built prior to the construction of the converter station

Related Development The platform of the converter station will be of sufficient size to accommodate works to upgrade the wider electricity transmission network in the Blackhillock and Keith area in which a new 275 kilovolt (kV) substation will be built adjacent to the existing 275kV substation that will be decommissioned The new 400kV substation and relocation of the existing 275kV substation at Blackhillock that are required to reinforce the main interconnected transmission system are being developed under a separate project and will be subject to a separate future environmental consenting process

The developments have not been appraised themselves in the EA but have been taken into account when considering the impacts of the converter station and underground HVDC cable with those other projects (lsquocumulative effectsrsquo)

Services and Drainage The converter station site will be connected to mains electricity water supplies and fouls drainage with all services expected to be provided through underground connections to the existing services at the adjacent substation

Some temporary and permanent modifications of a watercourse which currently runs through the site will be required The details of the drainage design concept will be finalised as part of the detailed design and submitted with the subsequent detailed planning application All works will be carried out in accordance with Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and other best practice guidance In principle the drainage concept is as follows

bull Deviation of the existing man made watercourse through the proposed site around the southern edge of the development platform and

bull Formation of temporary interception ditches and attenuation ponds at spoil storage areas

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

The deviation of the watercourse would be designed to be retained as the permanent drainage arrangements on completion of construction and site restoration work It is expected that the interception ditches and attenuation ponds at spoil storage areas will be removed on completion of construction

Security Health and Safety The converter station site will be enclosed by security fencing of between 18m and 25m height Security and safety considerations also require the installation of signage around the perimeter of the converter station development platform It is expected that the main gate to the converter station site will be of similar size and appearance to the fencing

Lighting will be provided at the converter station to allow safe working during poor light and darkness but the site will not be permanently lit during darkness and the orientation of lighting will prevent lights shining out of the site

Operational performance and safety of the Shetland HVDC Connection will be constantly monitored with an immediate shutdown triggered should any significant problem arise meaning there will be no operational risk to human health

Building Finish and Landscaping It is expected that the main buildings of the converter station will be finished in metal cladding of an olive colour (either a single colour or alternatively grading from dark at lower levels to lighter upper colours) subject to the approval of TMC

The exposed slopes around the development platform will be restored and vegetation established It is anticipated that soils excavated during the formation of the development platform will be re-used both in the restoration of the slopes created to raise the platform and elsewhere within the site development boundary to restore the site on completion of construction works to restore habitat

Screening by existing woodland will be strengthened by additional woodland planting with mixed woodland and shelterbelts to integrate with the existing features

Construction Programme and Working Hours Table 1 identifies the assumed programme for the procurement and delivery of the overall Shetland HVDC Connection to meet the requirement for the project to be operational by the third quarter of 2013 (the assumed requirement for the Viking project although this is dependent on the statutory processes and the appropriate consents being achieved within the identified timescales)

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Table 1 ndash Shetland HVDC Connection - Overall Indicative Project Programme

2009 Quarter

2010 Quarter

2011 Quarter

2012 Quarter

2013 Quarter

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Tendering Process Application for Consents Tender Assessments Obtain Consents Place Contracts Detailed Design Manufacturing Environmental Surveys Converter Civil Works Converter Installation Subsea Cable Installation Land Cable Installation Site Restoration Indicated timescale is best estimate and is driven by market demands at time of placing the contract

Construction working hours have been agreed with TMC Environmental Health as

bull 8am-8pm Monday to Friday

bull 8am-6pm Saturday (no loud noise until 9am) and

bull 9am-6pm Sunday (no loud noise until 10am)

Additionally any unusual events or out of hours working will be agreed in advance with TMC Environmental Health Service

Construction Wastes Wastes may arise during the course of the construction activities Those which cannot be safely re-used on site will be either recycled through appropriate recycling providers or disposed of to appropriately licensed facilities

As indicated above reuse of all material excavated during platform creation and cable installation is expected for site restoration or landscaping purposes though this will be explored further as part of the full design once a detailed ground investigation has been completed and the quantity of material is confirmed

Underground HVDC Cable Two HVDC circuits will be laid in a trench at approximately 1m depth with the circuits separated by approximately 5m The cables will be laid following a standard sequence of events involving establishment of an approximately 20m wide working corridor excavation of sections of trench and bays in which the sections of cables will be joined together placement of cables in the trench and backfilling of the trench This will be followed by restoration of the working corridor Detailed design of the cable trench and its fill materials will depend on local ground conditions to ensure appropriate heat conduction and cable protection Maximum re-use of excavated material is expected in most areas though there is the potential for a backfill material (locally sourced) to be required immediately around the cable for its protection

Lengths of cable of 700m to 1000m as well as any backfill material will be delivered by heavy goods vehicle (HGV) using the public road network The bays where the lengths of cable will be joined together must be clean and dry and these will be formed by building a concrete floor (or similar) in the base of the trenches of

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

approximately 10m by 5m with a temporary cover to create the required conditions Once the joints are finished the joint bays will be buried with no structure visible at the ground surface

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Full compliance with legal standards (set by the Health Protection Agency) in respect of EMF is achieved for all elements of the Shetland HVDC Connection and there are no health risks EMF within the converter station is controlled both by design of the equipment and the building with any remaining EMF having dissipated to negligible levels at the site boundary The bipolar configuration of each HVDC cable circuit involves one cable that is positively charged and the other negatively charged which substantially reduces the effect of any magnetic field to below that of the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field levels Any residual magnetic field is static (as opposed to that of AC which alternates) and is similar to the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field in nature

Maintenance The converter station will be inspected regularly by SHETL and maintenance on each circuit will take place on a planned basis at a frequency of between one and six years Periodic maintenance of the wider converter station site and any habitats created during the construction and construction restoration phases will also be undertaken

The underground HVDC cables will be installed such that they do not require maintenance except in the unlikely event of a technical problem requiring attention Experience suggests a rate of one failure every 130 years on the Moray section of the cable If a fault occurs the required section of the cable will need to be uncovered repaired and the cable re-installed as originally

Operational performance of the Shetland HVDC Connection will be constantly monitored

Project Development and Alternatives Considered A range of environmental studies have been undertaken to identify the route for the HVDC Connection and its component elements Various sites for the converter station on the Scottish mainland were considered including at Dounreay at Peterhead Substation and at Blackhillock Substation A converter station sited at Blackhillock was the preferred option because it was free from landscape ecology and heritage designations and because it could be sited to benefit from screening by topography and woodland which limited the potential for it to be visible to residents and road users Dounreay and Peterhead both had limitations on onward AC transmission capacity that would require significant investment to overcome

SHETL submitted a formal request for an EIA Screening Opinion4 from TMC in November 2008 TMCrsquos Screening Opinion confirmed that EIA was not required for the proposed Moray converter station

Consultation Following best practice the design development process has involved extensive consultation with the relevant statutory bodies and non-statutory organisations and with the local communities affected by the project The means to comment on the planning application and the EA are identified at the end of this document

4 Screening describes the process where a consenting authority determines whether a particular development proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment (on account of factors such as its nature scale or location) and if so that EIA is required

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Planning Policy The proposed HVDC converter station and underground HVDC cable are critical elements in the infrastructure required to exploit a significant renewable energy resource on Shetland

National and local development plan policy in general supports sustainable development and the construction of infrastructure to support the production of electricity by renewable means provided that there are no overriding significant adverse effects expected on the environment The converter station location site layout and environmental protection measures that will be implemented as part of the project mean that no such overriding effects are predicted from the development

Approach to EA Environmental appraisal provides a means for establishing and reporting the potential environmental effects of proposals where inherently (following screening ndash see above) no effects considered to be significant in the context of the EIA regulations are predicted from the proposals though minor effects may occur in respect of some issues Conclusions about the significance of effects on people environmental features and resources (collectively termed lsquoreceptorsrsquo) that may be affected are identified with reference to the project description and the environmental mitigation measures that will be adopted to avoid or reduce potential effects within the context that even where they occur they are not significant

Professional judgement data collection site visits and consultation in combination with recognised best practice guidance all inform the scope of the environmental effects to be considered and the appraisal of the interaction of the sensitivity to change of the people or other receptors with the magnitude of change arising from the proposed development Computer modelling may also be undertaken to predict or demonstrate the nature of any change

The EA conclusions are summarised by topic below

Community (Socio-economics Land use and Recreation) Some positive socio-economic effects are predicted during the construction phase with likely use of at least some local construction workers and an increased demand on local services and the benefits these will provide to local employment and the economy However in the context of the wider Moray economy this is not considered significant

There will be a permanent loss of up to 125 hectares of land used for grazing and temporary impacts on a further 10 hectares during construction works at the converter station site Temporary impacts will also occur along the underground HVDC cable corridor The land permanently lost is not prime agricultural land (ie it is not the best quality nor specifically protected) though some temporary impact on prime land will occur along an approximately 25km section of the cable route but this will be quickly restored using the excavated material replaced in the order removed and no long term impact will arise Overall effects are not considered significant

Geology and Soils All rock and soils extracted are expected to be reused in the formation of the platform for the converter station for site restoration or as backfill This will minimise the loss of any materials and no significant effect on these resources is predicted

The potential for impacts on the feature (shingle ridges) for which Spey Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has been designated have been identified To fully protect this feature directional drilling will be used (where a drill rig is established on land set back from the shoreline and designated area and will be used to drill under

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

the SSSI emerging at sea) to lay the cable completely under Spey Bay SSSI at the site of the cable landfall to the west of Portgordon Work for the project indicates that this method of construction will have no impact on the designated area (ABPmer 2009)5 and there will therefore be no significant effect on the interests of the designated site

No potential for the disturbance of contaminants or their release has been identified at the site of the converter station or along the working corridor of the underground HVDC cable The potential for unknown contaminants to be encountered remains but will be appropriately mitigated by implementation of usual on site best practice measures and potential impacts will not be significant The adoption of construction best practice (for example in respect of the storage of fuels and refuelling) will address the low level of contamination risk inherent in any construction work

Landscape and Visual Amenity The converter station has been located to reduce the potential landscape and visual effects to the minimum possible Measures to be adopted include an architectural strategy to address the colour of the converter station and security fencing (olive is proposed) and a planting plan to strengthen existing woodland screening No designated landscapes will be affected by the converter station A computer visualisation of the anticipated appearance of the converter station site following construction and restoration is provided in Figure 4

During the approximate 18 month construction period an adverse but not significant temporary effect on landscape character is predicted in the immediate vicinity of the converter station due to the extent and nature of construction activity Following restoration of the construction area the converter station buildings will present a simpler form The landscape has the capacity to accommodate such a development due to the existing activity in the area the topography as well as the screening provided by the existing and strengthened woodland planting

The existing screening will restrict views of construction activity at the converter station site and for residents and road users effects will be temporary and not-significant Views of the cable installation will in places be less screened but the relatively limited level and duration of activity mean that no significant effects are predicted on residents or road users Walkers on the Speyside Way will have closer views of the directional drilling activity but given the location of the works at the edge of the existing development and short duration the effect is not considered significant

The operational converter station will be visible from three residential properties present within 1km of the development The colour scheme proposed location and partial screening with landform and building plus screening from existing strengthened and new planting will all mitigate the impact of the new development so that effects are minor but not significant No effects on tourists and people using the area for recreation are predicted nor on users of lsquoArsquo and lsquoBrsquo class roads The cable route will be fully reinstated and will not be visible in the long term

Freshwaters The converter station is located away from any major watercourses The adoption of tried and tested protection measures will minimise the potential for silt laden water runoff to watercourses These measures include the diversion of runoff water through settling ponds to remove excess suspended solids before discharge to surface watercourses and wetting down of excavated soils roads etc to minimise windblown dust Best management practices will be implemented on site to protect

5 ABP mer 2009 Coastal Processes Impact Assessment in Relation to the Shetland HVDC Link

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

watercourses from the risk of pollution With these measures in place the effects of the construction and operation of the converter station on both water quality and aquatic ecology including fish are considered negligible and not significant

The relatively short period when cable trenches will be open will substantially control any flow of water into trenches excavated for the underground cable and any effect on drainage or the surrounding water table will be temporary and not significant

The placement of the converter station on otherwise vegetated surfaces will change the runoff characteristics of the land used However the station represents a small area and no change in flood risk is predicted

Potential impacts where the underground cable route requires watercourse crossings have been investigated and it is concluded that except for the River Isla the use of dams with over pumping to allow a dry trench to be excavated across the watercourses is suitable and would have no significant effect The Deveron Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust (DBIRT) support the use of an open cut installation method for the River Isla subject to further consultation at detailed design stage A detailed method statement will be drawn up and agreed with SEPA and DBIRT prior to the works Provided such measures are successfully implemented no significant effects will occur

Terrestrial Ecology A wide range of field surveys have been completed to identify important habitats the presence and activity of protected species and species of nature conservation importance including otter bats badger and breeding birds

The construction of the converter station will affect grazing land and a small area of the recently felled Cairds Wood (an area currently being invaded by a mix of nettles thistles and some scrub and of no particular nature conservation value) Along the underground HVDC cable there will be a loss of 01 hectares of semi natural broadleaved woodland and some impacts on other habitats though vegetation from these habitats will be stored carefully and replaced Overall effects on habitats are not considered significant

Construction activity at the converter station will also lead to some loss of bat foraging habitat but there is ample alternative foraging areas nearby Some potential for foraging habitat loss or disturbance to foraging otter is also predicted during construction of the converter station but other watercourses and drains nearby offer at least as good foraging habitat Some potential for disturbance of otter at watercourse crossings has also been identified but the temporary nature of the work and alternative habitat available means this is not considered significant Some potential for disturbance to badger exists but following a pre-construction survey and the implementation of a project level mitigation plan (agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)) impacts will be minimised Foraging geese may also be affected by cable installation works but any effect will be temporary not dissimilar to disturbance from farming activities and considerable areas of alternative foraging habitat are available in the locality Measures are proposed to minimise the potential for effects on birds at the converter station site and along the underground HVDC cable route including avoiding starting works in the breeding season (without confirming absence) and pre-construction nesting surveys Overall no significant effects on these or other species are predicted

There are no significant effects predicted during the operational period on habitats or species since activity during this time will generally be limited to the converter station and it is envisaged that species will adapt to the presence of the structure Any required maintenance at the converter station or along the cable route will be required to comply with relevant legislation and will be dealt with through the

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

application of SHETLrsquos normal procedures for environmental management which can be expected to provide appropriate protection

Cultural Heritage Construction of the converter station will have no direct impact on any recorded or visible archaeological remains However construction of the underground HVDC cable is likely to involve some disturbance to archaeological remains (cropmarks identified from aerial photos) which appear to form part of an area of prehistoric settlement within land to the south of Portgordon There is potential for the presence of as yet unknown archaeology under the surface of the ground and thus for adverse effects from construction at the converter station and along the route of the underground HVDC cable Mitigation measures to address these effects include a programme of archaeological field investigation and preservation to ensure the identification and recording of features This approach has been agreed with Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service There is however no evidence to suggest that any as yet unknown remains would be of more than local importance and with the measures implemented no significant effect is predicted

Traffic and Transportation The construction of the converter station will require deliveries of plant and equipment and travel to the site by construction workers Average daily numbers are low and predicted to comprise up to four Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) (two travelling to the site and then away from the site) and up to 150 light vehicles (cars and vans comprising 75 trips to the site and then away) Measures implemented by the contractor to encourage car share could reduce the number of light vehicles

Vehicle movements for construction of the underground HVDC cable will also be needed and predicted to comprise 16 HGVs per day (eight travelling to and then away from the site) and 40 light vehicles (20 travelling to and then away from the site) These movements will affect different areas as the cable construction area moves along the cable route but are predicted to occur in any one area over only a few weeks

Whilst some maintenance activity will be required at the converter station this will be infrequent and the number of vehicles travelling to the site low Maintenance along the cable is not expected but even if required will be of limited scale and duration

In addition to the identification of vehicle access routes a range of measures will be adopted to reduce or avoid the potential for effects from traffic Measures such as the use of wheel wash facilities sheeting of loads damping down of surfaces and road sweeping if required will reduce the potential for mud to be deposited on the highway or dust to be generated by traffic movements The timing of deliveries will be agreed with TMC as will any traffic management that may be required at road access or for the cable crossings but no road closures are proposed Dedicated parking areas will be identified during construction to avoid vehicles parking on road verges

With these measures successfully implemented there will be no adverse effects from construction traffic on existing road users from the construction of the converter station or installation of the underground HVDC cable

Noise and Vibration The construction and operation of the converter station as well as the installation of the underground cable will involve activities that will generate some noise The potential for this to affect amenity has been considered by establishing existing background noise levels experienced by people at residential properties and comparing predicted noise levels against current guideline levels

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

proposed converter station site The converter station site is privately owned and is in agricultural use as grazing land

The proposed converter station will comprise

bull A level development platform with a total area including surrounding slopes of up to 125 hectares created by a balanced cut and fill operation This approach will minimise the need for import or export of material but some blasting may be required to allow excavation to create the platform Natural drainage will be encouraged by the establishment of a free draining base to the converter station site The total construction work area will be up to 22 hectares

bull Transformers and related electrical plant which will be enclosed in a large metal-clad building up to 150 metres (m) long by 40m wide and 22m in height One building is required for each of the two proposed HVDC circuits These buildings will be orientated east west for aesthetic design reasons and

bull A storage building for a spare converter transformer

Access Vehicular access to the converter station is to be from the existing road to the Blackhillock Substation off the A96 The new access will be built prior to the construction of the converter station

Related Development The platform of the converter station will be of sufficient size to accommodate works to upgrade the wider electricity transmission network in the Blackhillock and Keith area in which a new 275 kilovolt (kV) substation will be built adjacent to the existing 275kV substation that will be decommissioned The new 400kV substation and relocation of the existing 275kV substation at Blackhillock that are required to reinforce the main interconnected transmission system are being developed under a separate project and will be subject to a separate future environmental consenting process

The developments have not been appraised themselves in the EA but have been taken into account when considering the impacts of the converter station and underground HVDC cable with those other projects (lsquocumulative effectsrsquo)

Services and Drainage The converter station site will be connected to mains electricity water supplies and fouls drainage with all services expected to be provided through underground connections to the existing services at the adjacent substation

Some temporary and permanent modifications of a watercourse which currently runs through the site will be required The details of the drainage design concept will be finalised as part of the detailed design and submitted with the subsequent detailed planning application All works will be carried out in accordance with Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and other best practice guidance In principle the drainage concept is as follows

bull Deviation of the existing man made watercourse through the proposed site around the southern edge of the development platform and

bull Formation of temporary interception ditches and attenuation ponds at spoil storage areas

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

The deviation of the watercourse would be designed to be retained as the permanent drainage arrangements on completion of construction and site restoration work It is expected that the interception ditches and attenuation ponds at spoil storage areas will be removed on completion of construction

Security Health and Safety The converter station site will be enclosed by security fencing of between 18m and 25m height Security and safety considerations also require the installation of signage around the perimeter of the converter station development platform It is expected that the main gate to the converter station site will be of similar size and appearance to the fencing

Lighting will be provided at the converter station to allow safe working during poor light and darkness but the site will not be permanently lit during darkness and the orientation of lighting will prevent lights shining out of the site

Operational performance and safety of the Shetland HVDC Connection will be constantly monitored with an immediate shutdown triggered should any significant problem arise meaning there will be no operational risk to human health

Building Finish and Landscaping It is expected that the main buildings of the converter station will be finished in metal cladding of an olive colour (either a single colour or alternatively grading from dark at lower levels to lighter upper colours) subject to the approval of TMC

The exposed slopes around the development platform will be restored and vegetation established It is anticipated that soils excavated during the formation of the development platform will be re-used both in the restoration of the slopes created to raise the platform and elsewhere within the site development boundary to restore the site on completion of construction works to restore habitat

Screening by existing woodland will be strengthened by additional woodland planting with mixed woodland and shelterbelts to integrate with the existing features

Construction Programme and Working Hours Table 1 identifies the assumed programme for the procurement and delivery of the overall Shetland HVDC Connection to meet the requirement for the project to be operational by the third quarter of 2013 (the assumed requirement for the Viking project although this is dependent on the statutory processes and the appropriate consents being achieved within the identified timescales)

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Table 1 ndash Shetland HVDC Connection - Overall Indicative Project Programme

2009 Quarter

2010 Quarter

2011 Quarter

2012 Quarter

2013 Quarter

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Tendering Process Application for Consents Tender Assessments Obtain Consents Place Contracts Detailed Design Manufacturing Environmental Surveys Converter Civil Works Converter Installation Subsea Cable Installation Land Cable Installation Site Restoration Indicated timescale is best estimate and is driven by market demands at time of placing the contract

Construction working hours have been agreed with TMC Environmental Health as

bull 8am-8pm Monday to Friday

bull 8am-6pm Saturday (no loud noise until 9am) and

bull 9am-6pm Sunday (no loud noise until 10am)

Additionally any unusual events or out of hours working will be agreed in advance with TMC Environmental Health Service

Construction Wastes Wastes may arise during the course of the construction activities Those which cannot be safely re-used on site will be either recycled through appropriate recycling providers or disposed of to appropriately licensed facilities

As indicated above reuse of all material excavated during platform creation and cable installation is expected for site restoration or landscaping purposes though this will be explored further as part of the full design once a detailed ground investigation has been completed and the quantity of material is confirmed

Underground HVDC Cable Two HVDC circuits will be laid in a trench at approximately 1m depth with the circuits separated by approximately 5m The cables will be laid following a standard sequence of events involving establishment of an approximately 20m wide working corridor excavation of sections of trench and bays in which the sections of cables will be joined together placement of cables in the trench and backfilling of the trench This will be followed by restoration of the working corridor Detailed design of the cable trench and its fill materials will depend on local ground conditions to ensure appropriate heat conduction and cable protection Maximum re-use of excavated material is expected in most areas though there is the potential for a backfill material (locally sourced) to be required immediately around the cable for its protection

Lengths of cable of 700m to 1000m as well as any backfill material will be delivered by heavy goods vehicle (HGV) using the public road network The bays where the lengths of cable will be joined together must be clean and dry and these will be formed by building a concrete floor (or similar) in the base of the trenches of

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

approximately 10m by 5m with a temporary cover to create the required conditions Once the joints are finished the joint bays will be buried with no structure visible at the ground surface

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Full compliance with legal standards (set by the Health Protection Agency) in respect of EMF is achieved for all elements of the Shetland HVDC Connection and there are no health risks EMF within the converter station is controlled both by design of the equipment and the building with any remaining EMF having dissipated to negligible levels at the site boundary The bipolar configuration of each HVDC cable circuit involves one cable that is positively charged and the other negatively charged which substantially reduces the effect of any magnetic field to below that of the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field levels Any residual magnetic field is static (as opposed to that of AC which alternates) and is similar to the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field in nature

Maintenance The converter station will be inspected regularly by SHETL and maintenance on each circuit will take place on a planned basis at a frequency of between one and six years Periodic maintenance of the wider converter station site and any habitats created during the construction and construction restoration phases will also be undertaken

The underground HVDC cables will be installed such that they do not require maintenance except in the unlikely event of a technical problem requiring attention Experience suggests a rate of one failure every 130 years on the Moray section of the cable If a fault occurs the required section of the cable will need to be uncovered repaired and the cable re-installed as originally

Operational performance of the Shetland HVDC Connection will be constantly monitored

Project Development and Alternatives Considered A range of environmental studies have been undertaken to identify the route for the HVDC Connection and its component elements Various sites for the converter station on the Scottish mainland were considered including at Dounreay at Peterhead Substation and at Blackhillock Substation A converter station sited at Blackhillock was the preferred option because it was free from landscape ecology and heritage designations and because it could be sited to benefit from screening by topography and woodland which limited the potential for it to be visible to residents and road users Dounreay and Peterhead both had limitations on onward AC transmission capacity that would require significant investment to overcome

SHETL submitted a formal request for an EIA Screening Opinion4 from TMC in November 2008 TMCrsquos Screening Opinion confirmed that EIA was not required for the proposed Moray converter station

Consultation Following best practice the design development process has involved extensive consultation with the relevant statutory bodies and non-statutory organisations and with the local communities affected by the project The means to comment on the planning application and the EA are identified at the end of this document

4 Screening describes the process where a consenting authority determines whether a particular development proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment (on account of factors such as its nature scale or location) and if so that EIA is required

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Planning Policy The proposed HVDC converter station and underground HVDC cable are critical elements in the infrastructure required to exploit a significant renewable energy resource on Shetland

National and local development plan policy in general supports sustainable development and the construction of infrastructure to support the production of electricity by renewable means provided that there are no overriding significant adverse effects expected on the environment The converter station location site layout and environmental protection measures that will be implemented as part of the project mean that no such overriding effects are predicted from the development

Approach to EA Environmental appraisal provides a means for establishing and reporting the potential environmental effects of proposals where inherently (following screening ndash see above) no effects considered to be significant in the context of the EIA regulations are predicted from the proposals though minor effects may occur in respect of some issues Conclusions about the significance of effects on people environmental features and resources (collectively termed lsquoreceptorsrsquo) that may be affected are identified with reference to the project description and the environmental mitigation measures that will be adopted to avoid or reduce potential effects within the context that even where they occur they are not significant

Professional judgement data collection site visits and consultation in combination with recognised best practice guidance all inform the scope of the environmental effects to be considered and the appraisal of the interaction of the sensitivity to change of the people or other receptors with the magnitude of change arising from the proposed development Computer modelling may also be undertaken to predict or demonstrate the nature of any change

The EA conclusions are summarised by topic below

Community (Socio-economics Land use and Recreation) Some positive socio-economic effects are predicted during the construction phase with likely use of at least some local construction workers and an increased demand on local services and the benefits these will provide to local employment and the economy However in the context of the wider Moray economy this is not considered significant

There will be a permanent loss of up to 125 hectares of land used for grazing and temporary impacts on a further 10 hectares during construction works at the converter station site Temporary impacts will also occur along the underground HVDC cable corridor The land permanently lost is not prime agricultural land (ie it is not the best quality nor specifically protected) though some temporary impact on prime land will occur along an approximately 25km section of the cable route but this will be quickly restored using the excavated material replaced in the order removed and no long term impact will arise Overall effects are not considered significant

Geology and Soils All rock and soils extracted are expected to be reused in the formation of the platform for the converter station for site restoration or as backfill This will minimise the loss of any materials and no significant effect on these resources is predicted

The potential for impacts on the feature (shingle ridges) for which Spey Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has been designated have been identified To fully protect this feature directional drilling will be used (where a drill rig is established on land set back from the shoreline and designated area and will be used to drill under

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

the SSSI emerging at sea) to lay the cable completely under Spey Bay SSSI at the site of the cable landfall to the west of Portgordon Work for the project indicates that this method of construction will have no impact on the designated area (ABPmer 2009)5 and there will therefore be no significant effect on the interests of the designated site

No potential for the disturbance of contaminants or their release has been identified at the site of the converter station or along the working corridor of the underground HVDC cable The potential for unknown contaminants to be encountered remains but will be appropriately mitigated by implementation of usual on site best practice measures and potential impacts will not be significant The adoption of construction best practice (for example in respect of the storage of fuels and refuelling) will address the low level of contamination risk inherent in any construction work

Landscape and Visual Amenity The converter station has been located to reduce the potential landscape and visual effects to the minimum possible Measures to be adopted include an architectural strategy to address the colour of the converter station and security fencing (olive is proposed) and a planting plan to strengthen existing woodland screening No designated landscapes will be affected by the converter station A computer visualisation of the anticipated appearance of the converter station site following construction and restoration is provided in Figure 4

During the approximate 18 month construction period an adverse but not significant temporary effect on landscape character is predicted in the immediate vicinity of the converter station due to the extent and nature of construction activity Following restoration of the construction area the converter station buildings will present a simpler form The landscape has the capacity to accommodate such a development due to the existing activity in the area the topography as well as the screening provided by the existing and strengthened woodland planting

The existing screening will restrict views of construction activity at the converter station site and for residents and road users effects will be temporary and not-significant Views of the cable installation will in places be less screened but the relatively limited level and duration of activity mean that no significant effects are predicted on residents or road users Walkers on the Speyside Way will have closer views of the directional drilling activity but given the location of the works at the edge of the existing development and short duration the effect is not considered significant

The operational converter station will be visible from three residential properties present within 1km of the development The colour scheme proposed location and partial screening with landform and building plus screening from existing strengthened and new planting will all mitigate the impact of the new development so that effects are minor but not significant No effects on tourists and people using the area for recreation are predicted nor on users of lsquoArsquo and lsquoBrsquo class roads The cable route will be fully reinstated and will not be visible in the long term

Freshwaters The converter station is located away from any major watercourses The adoption of tried and tested protection measures will minimise the potential for silt laden water runoff to watercourses These measures include the diversion of runoff water through settling ponds to remove excess suspended solids before discharge to surface watercourses and wetting down of excavated soils roads etc to minimise windblown dust Best management practices will be implemented on site to protect

5 ABP mer 2009 Coastal Processes Impact Assessment in Relation to the Shetland HVDC Link

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

watercourses from the risk of pollution With these measures in place the effects of the construction and operation of the converter station on both water quality and aquatic ecology including fish are considered negligible and not significant

The relatively short period when cable trenches will be open will substantially control any flow of water into trenches excavated for the underground cable and any effect on drainage or the surrounding water table will be temporary and not significant

The placement of the converter station on otherwise vegetated surfaces will change the runoff characteristics of the land used However the station represents a small area and no change in flood risk is predicted

Potential impacts where the underground cable route requires watercourse crossings have been investigated and it is concluded that except for the River Isla the use of dams with over pumping to allow a dry trench to be excavated across the watercourses is suitable and would have no significant effect The Deveron Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust (DBIRT) support the use of an open cut installation method for the River Isla subject to further consultation at detailed design stage A detailed method statement will be drawn up and agreed with SEPA and DBIRT prior to the works Provided such measures are successfully implemented no significant effects will occur

Terrestrial Ecology A wide range of field surveys have been completed to identify important habitats the presence and activity of protected species and species of nature conservation importance including otter bats badger and breeding birds

The construction of the converter station will affect grazing land and a small area of the recently felled Cairds Wood (an area currently being invaded by a mix of nettles thistles and some scrub and of no particular nature conservation value) Along the underground HVDC cable there will be a loss of 01 hectares of semi natural broadleaved woodland and some impacts on other habitats though vegetation from these habitats will be stored carefully and replaced Overall effects on habitats are not considered significant

Construction activity at the converter station will also lead to some loss of bat foraging habitat but there is ample alternative foraging areas nearby Some potential for foraging habitat loss or disturbance to foraging otter is also predicted during construction of the converter station but other watercourses and drains nearby offer at least as good foraging habitat Some potential for disturbance of otter at watercourse crossings has also been identified but the temporary nature of the work and alternative habitat available means this is not considered significant Some potential for disturbance to badger exists but following a pre-construction survey and the implementation of a project level mitigation plan (agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)) impacts will be minimised Foraging geese may also be affected by cable installation works but any effect will be temporary not dissimilar to disturbance from farming activities and considerable areas of alternative foraging habitat are available in the locality Measures are proposed to minimise the potential for effects on birds at the converter station site and along the underground HVDC cable route including avoiding starting works in the breeding season (without confirming absence) and pre-construction nesting surveys Overall no significant effects on these or other species are predicted

There are no significant effects predicted during the operational period on habitats or species since activity during this time will generally be limited to the converter station and it is envisaged that species will adapt to the presence of the structure Any required maintenance at the converter station or along the cable route will be required to comply with relevant legislation and will be dealt with through the

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

application of SHETLrsquos normal procedures for environmental management which can be expected to provide appropriate protection

Cultural Heritage Construction of the converter station will have no direct impact on any recorded or visible archaeological remains However construction of the underground HVDC cable is likely to involve some disturbance to archaeological remains (cropmarks identified from aerial photos) which appear to form part of an area of prehistoric settlement within land to the south of Portgordon There is potential for the presence of as yet unknown archaeology under the surface of the ground and thus for adverse effects from construction at the converter station and along the route of the underground HVDC cable Mitigation measures to address these effects include a programme of archaeological field investigation and preservation to ensure the identification and recording of features This approach has been agreed with Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service There is however no evidence to suggest that any as yet unknown remains would be of more than local importance and with the measures implemented no significant effect is predicted

Traffic and Transportation The construction of the converter station will require deliveries of plant and equipment and travel to the site by construction workers Average daily numbers are low and predicted to comprise up to four Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) (two travelling to the site and then away from the site) and up to 150 light vehicles (cars and vans comprising 75 trips to the site and then away) Measures implemented by the contractor to encourage car share could reduce the number of light vehicles

Vehicle movements for construction of the underground HVDC cable will also be needed and predicted to comprise 16 HGVs per day (eight travelling to and then away from the site) and 40 light vehicles (20 travelling to and then away from the site) These movements will affect different areas as the cable construction area moves along the cable route but are predicted to occur in any one area over only a few weeks

Whilst some maintenance activity will be required at the converter station this will be infrequent and the number of vehicles travelling to the site low Maintenance along the cable is not expected but even if required will be of limited scale and duration

In addition to the identification of vehicle access routes a range of measures will be adopted to reduce or avoid the potential for effects from traffic Measures such as the use of wheel wash facilities sheeting of loads damping down of surfaces and road sweeping if required will reduce the potential for mud to be deposited on the highway or dust to be generated by traffic movements The timing of deliveries will be agreed with TMC as will any traffic management that may be required at road access or for the cable crossings but no road closures are proposed Dedicated parking areas will be identified during construction to avoid vehicles parking on road verges

With these measures successfully implemented there will be no adverse effects from construction traffic on existing road users from the construction of the converter station or installation of the underground HVDC cable

Noise and Vibration The construction and operation of the converter station as well as the installation of the underground cable will involve activities that will generate some noise The potential for this to affect amenity has been considered by establishing existing background noise levels experienced by people at residential properties and comparing predicted noise levels against current guideline levels

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

The deviation of the watercourse would be designed to be retained as the permanent drainage arrangements on completion of construction and site restoration work It is expected that the interception ditches and attenuation ponds at spoil storage areas will be removed on completion of construction

Security Health and Safety The converter station site will be enclosed by security fencing of between 18m and 25m height Security and safety considerations also require the installation of signage around the perimeter of the converter station development platform It is expected that the main gate to the converter station site will be of similar size and appearance to the fencing

Lighting will be provided at the converter station to allow safe working during poor light and darkness but the site will not be permanently lit during darkness and the orientation of lighting will prevent lights shining out of the site

Operational performance and safety of the Shetland HVDC Connection will be constantly monitored with an immediate shutdown triggered should any significant problem arise meaning there will be no operational risk to human health

Building Finish and Landscaping It is expected that the main buildings of the converter station will be finished in metal cladding of an olive colour (either a single colour or alternatively grading from dark at lower levels to lighter upper colours) subject to the approval of TMC

The exposed slopes around the development platform will be restored and vegetation established It is anticipated that soils excavated during the formation of the development platform will be re-used both in the restoration of the slopes created to raise the platform and elsewhere within the site development boundary to restore the site on completion of construction works to restore habitat

Screening by existing woodland will be strengthened by additional woodland planting with mixed woodland and shelterbelts to integrate with the existing features

Construction Programme and Working Hours Table 1 identifies the assumed programme for the procurement and delivery of the overall Shetland HVDC Connection to meet the requirement for the project to be operational by the third quarter of 2013 (the assumed requirement for the Viking project although this is dependent on the statutory processes and the appropriate consents being achieved within the identified timescales)

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Table 1 ndash Shetland HVDC Connection - Overall Indicative Project Programme

2009 Quarter

2010 Quarter

2011 Quarter

2012 Quarter

2013 Quarter

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Tendering Process Application for Consents Tender Assessments Obtain Consents Place Contracts Detailed Design Manufacturing Environmental Surveys Converter Civil Works Converter Installation Subsea Cable Installation Land Cable Installation Site Restoration Indicated timescale is best estimate and is driven by market demands at time of placing the contract

Construction working hours have been agreed with TMC Environmental Health as

bull 8am-8pm Monday to Friday

bull 8am-6pm Saturday (no loud noise until 9am) and

bull 9am-6pm Sunday (no loud noise until 10am)

Additionally any unusual events or out of hours working will be agreed in advance with TMC Environmental Health Service

Construction Wastes Wastes may arise during the course of the construction activities Those which cannot be safely re-used on site will be either recycled through appropriate recycling providers or disposed of to appropriately licensed facilities

As indicated above reuse of all material excavated during platform creation and cable installation is expected for site restoration or landscaping purposes though this will be explored further as part of the full design once a detailed ground investigation has been completed and the quantity of material is confirmed

Underground HVDC Cable Two HVDC circuits will be laid in a trench at approximately 1m depth with the circuits separated by approximately 5m The cables will be laid following a standard sequence of events involving establishment of an approximately 20m wide working corridor excavation of sections of trench and bays in which the sections of cables will be joined together placement of cables in the trench and backfilling of the trench This will be followed by restoration of the working corridor Detailed design of the cable trench and its fill materials will depend on local ground conditions to ensure appropriate heat conduction and cable protection Maximum re-use of excavated material is expected in most areas though there is the potential for a backfill material (locally sourced) to be required immediately around the cable for its protection

Lengths of cable of 700m to 1000m as well as any backfill material will be delivered by heavy goods vehicle (HGV) using the public road network The bays where the lengths of cable will be joined together must be clean and dry and these will be formed by building a concrete floor (or similar) in the base of the trenches of

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

approximately 10m by 5m with a temporary cover to create the required conditions Once the joints are finished the joint bays will be buried with no structure visible at the ground surface

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Full compliance with legal standards (set by the Health Protection Agency) in respect of EMF is achieved for all elements of the Shetland HVDC Connection and there are no health risks EMF within the converter station is controlled both by design of the equipment and the building with any remaining EMF having dissipated to negligible levels at the site boundary The bipolar configuration of each HVDC cable circuit involves one cable that is positively charged and the other negatively charged which substantially reduces the effect of any magnetic field to below that of the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field levels Any residual magnetic field is static (as opposed to that of AC which alternates) and is similar to the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field in nature

Maintenance The converter station will be inspected regularly by SHETL and maintenance on each circuit will take place on a planned basis at a frequency of between one and six years Periodic maintenance of the wider converter station site and any habitats created during the construction and construction restoration phases will also be undertaken

The underground HVDC cables will be installed such that they do not require maintenance except in the unlikely event of a technical problem requiring attention Experience suggests a rate of one failure every 130 years on the Moray section of the cable If a fault occurs the required section of the cable will need to be uncovered repaired and the cable re-installed as originally

Operational performance of the Shetland HVDC Connection will be constantly monitored

Project Development and Alternatives Considered A range of environmental studies have been undertaken to identify the route for the HVDC Connection and its component elements Various sites for the converter station on the Scottish mainland were considered including at Dounreay at Peterhead Substation and at Blackhillock Substation A converter station sited at Blackhillock was the preferred option because it was free from landscape ecology and heritage designations and because it could be sited to benefit from screening by topography and woodland which limited the potential for it to be visible to residents and road users Dounreay and Peterhead both had limitations on onward AC transmission capacity that would require significant investment to overcome

SHETL submitted a formal request for an EIA Screening Opinion4 from TMC in November 2008 TMCrsquos Screening Opinion confirmed that EIA was not required for the proposed Moray converter station

Consultation Following best practice the design development process has involved extensive consultation with the relevant statutory bodies and non-statutory organisations and with the local communities affected by the project The means to comment on the planning application and the EA are identified at the end of this document

4 Screening describes the process where a consenting authority determines whether a particular development proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment (on account of factors such as its nature scale or location) and if so that EIA is required

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Planning Policy The proposed HVDC converter station and underground HVDC cable are critical elements in the infrastructure required to exploit a significant renewable energy resource on Shetland

National and local development plan policy in general supports sustainable development and the construction of infrastructure to support the production of electricity by renewable means provided that there are no overriding significant adverse effects expected on the environment The converter station location site layout and environmental protection measures that will be implemented as part of the project mean that no such overriding effects are predicted from the development

Approach to EA Environmental appraisal provides a means for establishing and reporting the potential environmental effects of proposals where inherently (following screening ndash see above) no effects considered to be significant in the context of the EIA regulations are predicted from the proposals though minor effects may occur in respect of some issues Conclusions about the significance of effects on people environmental features and resources (collectively termed lsquoreceptorsrsquo) that may be affected are identified with reference to the project description and the environmental mitigation measures that will be adopted to avoid or reduce potential effects within the context that even where they occur they are not significant

Professional judgement data collection site visits and consultation in combination with recognised best practice guidance all inform the scope of the environmental effects to be considered and the appraisal of the interaction of the sensitivity to change of the people or other receptors with the magnitude of change arising from the proposed development Computer modelling may also be undertaken to predict or demonstrate the nature of any change

The EA conclusions are summarised by topic below

Community (Socio-economics Land use and Recreation) Some positive socio-economic effects are predicted during the construction phase with likely use of at least some local construction workers and an increased demand on local services and the benefits these will provide to local employment and the economy However in the context of the wider Moray economy this is not considered significant

There will be a permanent loss of up to 125 hectares of land used for grazing and temporary impacts on a further 10 hectares during construction works at the converter station site Temporary impacts will also occur along the underground HVDC cable corridor The land permanently lost is not prime agricultural land (ie it is not the best quality nor specifically protected) though some temporary impact on prime land will occur along an approximately 25km section of the cable route but this will be quickly restored using the excavated material replaced in the order removed and no long term impact will arise Overall effects are not considered significant

Geology and Soils All rock and soils extracted are expected to be reused in the formation of the platform for the converter station for site restoration or as backfill This will minimise the loss of any materials and no significant effect on these resources is predicted

The potential for impacts on the feature (shingle ridges) for which Spey Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has been designated have been identified To fully protect this feature directional drilling will be used (where a drill rig is established on land set back from the shoreline and designated area and will be used to drill under

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

the SSSI emerging at sea) to lay the cable completely under Spey Bay SSSI at the site of the cable landfall to the west of Portgordon Work for the project indicates that this method of construction will have no impact on the designated area (ABPmer 2009)5 and there will therefore be no significant effect on the interests of the designated site

No potential for the disturbance of contaminants or their release has been identified at the site of the converter station or along the working corridor of the underground HVDC cable The potential for unknown contaminants to be encountered remains but will be appropriately mitigated by implementation of usual on site best practice measures and potential impacts will not be significant The adoption of construction best practice (for example in respect of the storage of fuels and refuelling) will address the low level of contamination risk inherent in any construction work

Landscape and Visual Amenity The converter station has been located to reduce the potential landscape and visual effects to the minimum possible Measures to be adopted include an architectural strategy to address the colour of the converter station and security fencing (olive is proposed) and a planting plan to strengthen existing woodland screening No designated landscapes will be affected by the converter station A computer visualisation of the anticipated appearance of the converter station site following construction and restoration is provided in Figure 4

During the approximate 18 month construction period an adverse but not significant temporary effect on landscape character is predicted in the immediate vicinity of the converter station due to the extent and nature of construction activity Following restoration of the construction area the converter station buildings will present a simpler form The landscape has the capacity to accommodate such a development due to the existing activity in the area the topography as well as the screening provided by the existing and strengthened woodland planting

The existing screening will restrict views of construction activity at the converter station site and for residents and road users effects will be temporary and not-significant Views of the cable installation will in places be less screened but the relatively limited level and duration of activity mean that no significant effects are predicted on residents or road users Walkers on the Speyside Way will have closer views of the directional drilling activity but given the location of the works at the edge of the existing development and short duration the effect is not considered significant

The operational converter station will be visible from three residential properties present within 1km of the development The colour scheme proposed location and partial screening with landform and building plus screening from existing strengthened and new planting will all mitigate the impact of the new development so that effects are minor but not significant No effects on tourists and people using the area for recreation are predicted nor on users of lsquoArsquo and lsquoBrsquo class roads The cable route will be fully reinstated and will not be visible in the long term

Freshwaters The converter station is located away from any major watercourses The adoption of tried and tested protection measures will minimise the potential for silt laden water runoff to watercourses These measures include the diversion of runoff water through settling ponds to remove excess suspended solids before discharge to surface watercourses and wetting down of excavated soils roads etc to minimise windblown dust Best management practices will be implemented on site to protect

5 ABP mer 2009 Coastal Processes Impact Assessment in Relation to the Shetland HVDC Link

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

watercourses from the risk of pollution With these measures in place the effects of the construction and operation of the converter station on both water quality and aquatic ecology including fish are considered negligible and not significant

The relatively short period when cable trenches will be open will substantially control any flow of water into trenches excavated for the underground cable and any effect on drainage or the surrounding water table will be temporary and not significant

The placement of the converter station on otherwise vegetated surfaces will change the runoff characteristics of the land used However the station represents a small area and no change in flood risk is predicted

Potential impacts where the underground cable route requires watercourse crossings have been investigated and it is concluded that except for the River Isla the use of dams with over pumping to allow a dry trench to be excavated across the watercourses is suitable and would have no significant effect The Deveron Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust (DBIRT) support the use of an open cut installation method for the River Isla subject to further consultation at detailed design stage A detailed method statement will be drawn up and agreed with SEPA and DBIRT prior to the works Provided such measures are successfully implemented no significant effects will occur

Terrestrial Ecology A wide range of field surveys have been completed to identify important habitats the presence and activity of protected species and species of nature conservation importance including otter bats badger and breeding birds

The construction of the converter station will affect grazing land and a small area of the recently felled Cairds Wood (an area currently being invaded by a mix of nettles thistles and some scrub and of no particular nature conservation value) Along the underground HVDC cable there will be a loss of 01 hectares of semi natural broadleaved woodland and some impacts on other habitats though vegetation from these habitats will be stored carefully and replaced Overall effects on habitats are not considered significant

Construction activity at the converter station will also lead to some loss of bat foraging habitat but there is ample alternative foraging areas nearby Some potential for foraging habitat loss or disturbance to foraging otter is also predicted during construction of the converter station but other watercourses and drains nearby offer at least as good foraging habitat Some potential for disturbance of otter at watercourse crossings has also been identified but the temporary nature of the work and alternative habitat available means this is not considered significant Some potential for disturbance to badger exists but following a pre-construction survey and the implementation of a project level mitigation plan (agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)) impacts will be minimised Foraging geese may also be affected by cable installation works but any effect will be temporary not dissimilar to disturbance from farming activities and considerable areas of alternative foraging habitat are available in the locality Measures are proposed to minimise the potential for effects on birds at the converter station site and along the underground HVDC cable route including avoiding starting works in the breeding season (without confirming absence) and pre-construction nesting surveys Overall no significant effects on these or other species are predicted

There are no significant effects predicted during the operational period on habitats or species since activity during this time will generally be limited to the converter station and it is envisaged that species will adapt to the presence of the structure Any required maintenance at the converter station or along the cable route will be required to comply with relevant legislation and will be dealt with through the

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

application of SHETLrsquos normal procedures for environmental management which can be expected to provide appropriate protection

Cultural Heritage Construction of the converter station will have no direct impact on any recorded or visible archaeological remains However construction of the underground HVDC cable is likely to involve some disturbance to archaeological remains (cropmarks identified from aerial photos) which appear to form part of an area of prehistoric settlement within land to the south of Portgordon There is potential for the presence of as yet unknown archaeology under the surface of the ground and thus for adverse effects from construction at the converter station and along the route of the underground HVDC cable Mitigation measures to address these effects include a programme of archaeological field investigation and preservation to ensure the identification and recording of features This approach has been agreed with Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service There is however no evidence to suggest that any as yet unknown remains would be of more than local importance and with the measures implemented no significant effect is predicted

Traffic and Transportation The construction of the converter station will require deliveries of plant and equipment and travel to the site by construction workers Average daily numbers are low and predicted to comprise up to four Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) (two travelling to the site and then away from the site) and up to 150 light vehicles (cars and vans comprising 75 trips to the site and then away) Measures implemented by the contractor to encourage car share could reduce the number of light vehicles

Vehicle movements for construction of the underground HVDC cable will also be needed and predicted to comprise 16 HGVs per day (eight travelling to and then away from the site) and 40 light vehicles (20 travelling to and then away from the site) These movements will affect different areas as the cable construction area moves along the cable route but are predicted to occur in any one area over only a few weeks

Whilst some maintenance activity will be required at the converter station this will be infrequent and the number of vehicles travelling to the site low Maintenance along the cable is not expected but even if required will be of limited scale and duration

In addition to the identification of vehicle access routes a range of measures will be adopted to reduce or avoid the potential for effects from traffic Measures such as the use of wheel wash facilities sheeting of loads damping down of surfaces and road sweeping if required will reduce the potential for mud to be deposited on the highway or dust to be generated by traffic movements The timing of deliveries will be agreed with TMC as will any traffic management that may be required at road access or for the cable crossings but no road closures are proposed Dedicated parking areas will be identified during construction to avoid vehicles parking on road verges

With these measures successfully implemented there will be no adverse effects from construction traffic on existing road users from the construction of the converter station or installation of the underground HVDC cable

Noise and Vibration The construction and operation of the converter station as well as the installation of the underground cable will involve activities that will generate some noise The potential for this to affect amenity has been considered by establishing existing background noise levels experienced by people at residential properties and comparing predicted noise levels against current guideline levels

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Table 1 ndash Shetland HVDC Connection - Overall Indicative Project Programme

2009 Quarter

2010 Quarter

2011 Quarter

2012 Quarter

2013 Quarter

1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 Tendering Process Application for Consents Tender Assessments Obtain Consents Place Contracts Detailed Design Manufacturing Environmental Surveys Converter Civil Works Converter Installation Subsea Cable Installation Land Cable Installation Site Restoration Indicated timescale is best estimate and is driven by market demands at time of placing the contract

Construction working hours have been agreed with TMC Environmental Health as

bull 8am-8pm Monday to Friday

bull 8am-6pm Saturday (no loud noise until 9am) and

bull 9am-6pm Sunday (no loud noise until 10am)

Additionally any unusual events or out of hours working will be agreed in advance with TMC Environmental Health Service

Construction Wastes Wastes may arise during the course of the construction activities Those which cannot be safely re-used on site will be either recycled through appropriate recycling providers or disposed of to appropriately licensed facilities

As indicated above reuse of all material excavated during platform creation and cable installation is expected for site restoration or landscaping purposes though this will be explored further as part of the full design once a detailed ground investigation has been completed and the quantity of material is confirmed

Underground HVDC Cable Two HVDC circuits will be laid in a trench at approximately 1m depth with the circuits separated by approximately 5m The cables will be laid following a standard sequence of events involving establishment of an approximately 20m wide working corridor excavation of sections of trench and bays in which the sections of cables will be joined together placement of cables in the trench and backfilling of the trench This will be followed by restoration of the working corridor Detailed design of the cable trench and its fill materials will depend on local ground conditions to ensure appropriate heat conduction and cable protection Maximum re-use of excavated material is expected in most areas though there is the potential for a backfill material (locally sourced) to be required immediately around the cable for its protection

Lengths of cable of 700m to 1000m as well as any backfill material will be delivered by heavy goods vehicle (HGV) using the public road network The bays where the lengths of cable will be joined together must be clean and dry and these will be formed by building a concrete floor (or similar) in the base of the trenches of

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

approximately 10m by 5m with a temporary cover to create the required conditions Once the joints are finished the joint bays will be buried with no structure visible at the ground surface

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Full compliance with legal standards (set by the Health Protection Agency) in respect of EMF is achieved for all elements of the Shetland HVDC Connection and there are no health risks EMF within the converter station is controlled both by design of the equipment and the building with any remaining EMF having dissipated to negligible levels at the site boundary The bipolar configuration of each HVDC cable circuit involves one cable that is positively charged and the other negatively charged which substantially reduces the effect of any magnetic field to below that of the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field levels Any residual magnetic field is static (as opposed to that of AC which alternates) and is similar to the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field in nature

Maintenance The converter station will be inspected regularly by SHETL and maintenance on each circuit will take place on a planned basis at a frequency of between one and six years Periodic maintenance of the wider converter station site and any habitats created during the construction and construction restoration phases will also be undertaken

The underground HVDC cables will be installed such that they do not require maintenance except in the unlikely event of a technical problem requiring attention Experience suggests a rate of one failure every 130 years on the Moray section of the cable If a fault occurs the required section of the cable will need to be uncovered repaired and the cable re-installed as originally

Operational performance of the Shetland HVDC Connection will be constantly monitored

Project Development and Alternatives Considered A range of environmental studies have been undertaken to identify the route for the HVDC Connection and its component elements Various sites for the converter station on the Scottish mainland were considered including at Dounreay at Peterhead Substation and at Blackhillock Substation A converter station sited at Blackhillock was the preferred option because it was free from landscape ecology and heritage designations and because it could be sited to benefit from screening by topography and woodland which limited the potential for it to be visible to residents and road users Dounreay and Peterhead both had limitations on onward AC transmission capacity that would require significant investment to overcome

SHETL submitted a formal request for an EIA Screening Opinion4 from TMC in November 2008 TMCrsquos Screening Opinion confirmed that EIA was not required for the proposed Moray converter station

Consultation Following best practice the design development process has involved extensive consultation with the relevant statutory bodies and non-statutory organisations and with the local communities affected by the project The means to comment on the planning application and the EA are identified at the end of this document

4 Screening describes the process where a consenting authority determines whether a particular development proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment (on account of factors such as its nature scale or location) and if so that EIA is required

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Planning Policy The proposed HVDC converter station and underground HVDC cable are critical elements in the infrastructure required to exploit a significant renewable energy resource on Shetland

National and local development plan policy in general supports sustainable development and the construction of infrastructure to support the production of electricity by renewable means provided that there are no overriding significant adverse effects expected on the environment The converter station location site layout and environmental protection measures that will be implemented as part of the project mean that no such overriding effects are predicted from the development

Approach to EA Environmental appraisal provides a means for establishing and reporting the potential environmental effects of proposals where inherently (following screening ndash see above) no effects considered to be significant in the context of the EIA regulations are predicted from the proposals though minor effects may occur in respect of some issues Conclusions about the significance of effects on people environmental features and resources (collectively termed lsquoreceptorsrsquo) that may be affected are identified with reference to the project description and the environmental mitigation measures that will be adopted to avoid or reduce potential effects within the context that even where they occur they are not significant

Professional judgement data collection site visits and consultation in combination with recognised best practice guidance all inform the scope of the environmental effects to be considered and the appraisal of the interaction of the sensitivity to change of the people or other receptors with the magnitude of change arising from the proposed development Computer modelling may also be undertaken to predict or demonstrate the nature of any change

The EA conclusions are summarised by topic below

Community (Socio-economics Land use and Recreation) Some positive socio-economic effects are predicted during the construction phase with likely use of at least some local construction workers and an increased demand on local services and the benefits these will provide to local employment and the economy However in the context of the wider Moray economy this is not considered significant

There will be a permanent loss of up to 125 hectares of land used for grazing and temporary impacts on a further 10 hectares during construction works at the converter station site Temporary impacts will also occur along the underground HVDC cable corridor The land permanently lost is not prime agricultural land (ie it is not the best quality nor specifically protected) though some temporary impact on prime land will occur along an approximately 25km section of the cable route but this will be quickly restored using the excavated material replaced in the order removed and no long term impact will arise Overall effects are not considered significant

Geology and Soils All rock and soils extracted are expected to be reused in the formation of the platform for the converter station for site restoration or as backfill This will minimise the loss of any materials and no significant effect on these resources is predicted

The potential for impacts on the feature (shingle ridges) for which Spey Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has been designated have been identified To fully protect this feature directional drilling will be used (where a drill rig is established on land set back from the shoreline and designated area and will be used to drill under

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

the SSSI emerging at sea) to lay the cable completely under Spey Bay SSSI at the site of the cable landfall to the west of Portgordon Work for the project indicates that this method of construction will have no impact on the designated area (ABPmer 2009)5 and there will therefore be no significant effect on the interests of the designated site

No potential for the disturbance of contaminants or their release has been identified at the site of the converter station or along the working corridor of the underground HVDC cable The potential for unknown contaminants to be encountered remains but will be appropriately mitigated by implementation of usual on site best practice measures and potential impacts will not be significant The adoption of construction best practice (for example in respect of the storage of fuels and refuelling) will address the low level of contamination risk inherent in any construction work

Landscape and Visual Amenity The converter station has been located to reduce the potential landscape and visual effects to the minimum possible Measures to be adopted include an architectural strategy to address the colour of the converter station and security fencing (olive is proposed) and a planting plan to strengthen existing woodland screening No designated landscapes will be affected by the converter station A computer visualisation of the anticipated appearance of the converter station site following construction and restoration is provided in Figure 4

During the approximate 18 month construction period an adverse but not significant temporary effect on landscape character is predicted in the immediate vicinity of the converter station due to the extent and nature of construction activity Following restoration of the construction area the converter station buildings will present a simpler form The landscape has the capacity to accommodate such a development due to the existing activity in the area the topography as well as the screening provided by the existing and strengthened woodland planting

The existing screening will restrict views of construction activity at the converter station site and for residents and road users effects will be temporary and not-significant Views of the cable installation will in places be less screened but the relatively limited level and duration of activity mean that no significant effects are predicted on residents or road users Walkers on the Speyside Way will have closer views of the directional drilling activity but given the location of the works at the edge of the existing development and short duration the effect is not considered significant

The operational converter station will be visible from three residential properties present within 1km of the development The colour scheme proposed location and partial screening with landform and building plus screening from existing strengthened and new planting will all mitigate the impact of the new development so that effects are minor but not significant No effects on tourists and people using the area for recreation are predicted nor on users of lsquoArsquo and lsquoBrsquo class roads The cable route will be fully reinstated and will not be visible in the long term

Freshwaters The converter station is located away from any major watercourses The adoption of tried and tested protection measures will minimise the potential for silt laden water runoff to watercourses These measures include the diversion of runoff water through settling ponds to remove excess suspended solids before discharge to surface watercourses and wetting down of excavated soils roads etc to minimise windblown dust Best management practices will be implemented on site to protect

5 ABP mer 2009 Coastal Processes Impact Assessment in Relation to the Shetland HVDC Link

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

watercourses from the risk of pollution With these measures in place the effects of the construction and operation of the converter station on both water quality and aquatic ecology including fish are considered negligible and not significant

The relatively short period when cable trenches will be open will substantially control any flow of water into trenches excavated for the underground cable and any effect on drainage or the surrounding water table will be temporary and not significant

The placement of the converter station on otherwise vegetated surfaces will change the runoff characteristics of the land used However the station represents a small area and no change in flood risk is predicted

Potential impacts where the underground cable route requires watercourse crossings have been investigated and it is concluded that except for the River Isla the use of dams with over pumping to allow a dry trench to be excavated across the watercourses is suitable and would have no significant effect The Deveron Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust (DBIRT) support the use of an open cut installation method for the River Isla subject to further consultation at detailed design stage A detailed method statement will be drawn up and agreed with SEPA and DBIRT prior to the works Provided such measures are successfully implemented no significant effects will occur

Terrestrial Ecology A wide range of field surveys have been completed to identify important habitats the presence and activity of protected species and species of nature conservation importance including otter bats badger and breeding birds

The construction of the converter station will affect grazing land and a small area of the recently felled Cairds Wood (an area currently being invaded by a mix of nettles thistles and some scrub and of no particular nature conservation value) Along the underground HVDC cable there will be a loss of 01 hectares of semi natural broadleaved woodland and some impacts on other habitats though vegetation from these habitats will be stored carefully and replaced Overall effects on habitats are not considered significant

Construction activity at the converter station will also lead to some loss of bat foraging habitat but there is ample alternative foraging areas nearby Some potential for foraging habitat loss or disturbance to foraging otter is also predicted during construction of the converter station but other watercourses and drains nearby offer at least as good foraging habitat Some potential for disturbance of otter at watercourse crossings has also been identified but the temporary nature of the work and alternative habitat available means this is not considered significant Some potential for disturbance to badger exists but following a pre-construction survey and the implementation of a project level mitigation plan (agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)) impacts will be minimised Foraging geese may also be affected by cable installation works but any effect will be temporary not dissimilar to disturbance from farming activities and considerable areas of alternative foraging habitat are available in the locality Measures are proposed to minimise the potential for effects on birds at the converter station site and along the underground HVDC cable route including avoiding starting works in the breeding season (without confirming absence) and pre-construction nesting surveys Overall no significant effects on these or other species are predicted

There are no significant effects predicted during the operational period on habitats or species since activity during this time will generally be limited to the converter station and it is envisaged that species will adapt to the presence of the structure Any required maintenance at the converter station or along the cable route will be required to comply with relevant legislation and will be dealt with through the

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

application of SHETLrsquos normal procedures for environmental management which can be expected to provide appropriate protection

Cultural Heritage Construction of the converter station will have no direct impact on any recorded or visible archaeological remains However construction of the underground HVDC cable is likely to involve some disturbance to archaeological remains (cropmarks identified from aerial photos) which appear to form part of an area of prehistoric settlement within land to the south of Portgordon There is potential for the presence of as yet unknown archaeology under the surface of the ground and thus for adverse effects from construction at the converter station and along the route of the underground HVDC cable Mitigation measures to address these effects include a programme of archaeological field investigation and preservation to ensure the identification and recording of features This approach has been agreed with Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service There is however no evidence to suggest that any as yet unknown remains would be of more than local importance and with the measures implemented no significant effect is predicted

Traffic and Transportation The construction of the converter station will require deliveries of plant and equipment and travel to the site by construction workers Average daily numbers are low and predicted to comprise up to four Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) (two travelling to the site and then away from the site) and up to 150 light vehicles (cars and vans comprising 75 trips to the site and then away) Measures implemented by the contractor to encourage car share could reduce the number of light vehicles

Vehicle movements for construction of the underground HVDC cable will also be needed and predicted to comprise 16 HGVs per day (eight travelling to and then away from the site) and 40 light vehicles (20 travelling to and then away from the site) These movements will affect different areas as the cable construction area moves along the cable route but are predicted to occur in any one area over only a few weeks

Whilst some maintenance activity will be required at the converter station this will be infrequent and the number of vehicles travelling to the site low Maintenance along the cable is not expected but even if required will be of limited scale and duration

In addition to the identification of vehicle access routes a range of measures will be adopted to reduce or avoid the potential for effects from traffic Measures such as the use of wheel wash facilities sheeting of loads damping down of surfaces and road sweeping if required will reduce the potential for mud to be deposited on the highway or dust to be generated by traffic movements The timing of deliveries will be agreed with TMC as will any traffic management that may be required at road access or for the cable crossings but no road closures are proposed Dedicated parking areas will be identified during construction to avoid vehicles parking on road verges

With these measures successfully implemented there will be no adverse effects from construction traffic on existing road users from the construction of the converter station or installation of the underground HVDC cable

Noise and Vibration The construction and operation of the converter station as well as the installation of the underground cable will involve activities that will generate some noise The potential for this to affect amenity has been considered by establishing existing background noise levels experienced by people at residential properties and comparing predicted noise levels against current guideline levels

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

approximately 10m by 5m with a temporary cover to create the required conditions Once the joints are finished the joint bays will be buried with no structure visible at the ground surface

Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) Full compliance with legal standards (set by the Health Protection Agency) in respect of EMF is achieved for all elements of the Shetland HVDC Connection and there are no health risks EMF within the converter station is controlled both by design of the equipment and the building with any remaining EMF having dissipated to negligible levels at the site boundary The bipolar configuration of each HVDC cable circuit involves one cable that is positively charged and the other negatively charged which substantially reduces the effect of any magnetic field to below that of the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field levels Any residual magnetic field is static (as opposed to that of AC which alternates) and is similar to the earthrsquos natural geomagnetic field in nature

Maintenance The converter station will be inspected regularly by SHETL and maintenance on each circuit will take place on a planned basis at a frequency of between one and six years Periodic maintenance of the wider converter station site and any habitats created during the construction and construction restoration phases will also be undertaken

The underground HVDC cables will be installed such that they do not require maintenance except in the unlikely event of a technical problem requiring attention Experience suggests a rate of one failure every 130 years on the Moray section of the cable If a fault occurs the required section of the cable will need to be uncovered repaired and the cable re-installed as originally

Operational performance of the Shetland HVDC Connection will be constantly monitored

Project Development and Alternatives Considered A range of environmental studies have been undertaken to identify the route for the HVDC Connection and its component elements Various sites for the converter station on the Scottish mainland were considered including at Dounreay at Peterhead Substation and at Blackhillock Substation A converter station sited at Blackhillock was the preferred option because it was free from landscape ecology and heritage designations and because it could be sited to benefit from screening by topography and woodland which limited the potential for it to be visible to residents and road users Dounreay and Peterhead both had limitations on onward AC transmission capacity that would require significant investment to overcome

SHETL submitted a formal request for an EIA Screening Opinion4 from TMC in November 2008 TMCrsquos Screening Opinion confirmed that EIA was not required for the proposed Moray converter station

Consultation Following best practice the design development process has involved extensive consultation with the relevant statutory bodies and non-statutory organisations and with the local communities affected by the project The means to comment on the planning application and the EA are identified at the end of this document

4 Screening describes the process where a consenting authority determines whether a particular development proposal is likely to have significant effects on the environment (on account of factors such as its nature scale or location) and if so that EIA is required

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Planning Policy The proposed HVDC converter station and underground HVDC cable are critical elements in the infrastructure required to exploit a significant renewable energy resource on Shetland

National and local development plan policy in general supports sustainable development and the construction of infrastructure to support the production of electricity by renewable means provided that there are no overriding significant adverse effects expected on the environment The converter station location site layout and environmental protection measures that will be implemented as part of the project mean that no such overriding effects are predicted from the development

Approach to EA Environmental appraisal provides a means for establishing and reporting the potential environmental effects of proposals where inherently (following screening ndash see above) no effects considered to be significant in the context of the EIA regulations are predicted from the proposals though minor effects may occur in respect of some issues Conclusions about the significance of effects on people environmental features and resources (collectively termed lsquoreceptorsrsquo) that may be affected are identified with reference to the project description and the environmental mitigation measures that will be adopted to avoid or reduce potential effects within the context that even where they occur they are not significant

Professional judgement data collection site visits and consultation in combination with recognised best practice guidance all inform the scope of the environmental effects to be considered and the appraisal of the interaction of the sensitivity to change of the people or other receptors with the magnitude of change arising from the proposed development Computer modelling may also be undertaken to predict or demonstrate the nature of any change

The EA conclusions are summarised by topic below

Community (Socio-economics Land use and Recreation) Some positive socio-economic effects are predicted during the construction phase with likely use of at least some local construction workers and an increased demand on local services and the benefits these will provide to local employment and the economy However in the context of the wider Moray economy this is not considered significant

There will be a permanent loss of up to 125 hectares of land used for grazing and temporary impacts on a further 10 hectares during construction works at the converter station site Temporary impacts will also occur along the underground HVDC cable corridor The land permanently lost is not prime agricultural land (ie it is not the best quality nor specifically protected) though some temporary impact on prime land will occur along an approximately 25km section of the cable route but this will be quickly restored using the excavated material replaced in the order removed and no long term impact will arise Overall effects are not considered significant

Geology and Soils All rock and soils extracted are expected to be reused in the formation of the platform for the converter station for site restoration or as backfill This will minimise the loss of any materials and no significant effect on these resources is predicted

The potential for impacts on the feature (shingle ridges) for which Spey Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has been designated have been identified To fully protect this feature directional drilling will be used (where a drill rig is established on land set back from the shoreline and designated area and will be used to drill under

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

the SSSI emerging at sea) to lay the cable completely under Spey Bay SSSI at the site of the cable landfall to the west of Portgordon Work for the project indicates that this method of construction will have no impact on the designated area (ABPmer 2009)5 and there will therefore be no significant effect on the interests of the designated site

No potential for the disturbance of contaminants or their release has been identified at the site of the converter station or along the working corridor of the underground HVDC cable The potential for unknown contaminants to be encountered remains but will be appropriately mitigated by implementation of usual on site best practice measures and potential impacts will not be significant The adoption of construction best practice (for example in respect of the storage of fuels and refuelling) will address the low level of contamination risk inherent in any construction work

Landscape and Visual Amenity The converter station has been located to reduce the potential landscape and visual effects to the minimum possible Measures to be adopted include an architectural strategy to address the colour of the converter station and security fencing (olive is proposed) and a planting plan to strengthen existing woodland screening No designated landscapes will be affected by the converter station A computer visualisation of the anticipated appearance of the converter station site following construction and restoration is provided in Figure 4

During the approximate 18 month construction period an adverse but not significant temporary effect on landscape character is predicted in the immediate vicinity of the converter station due to the extent and nature of construction activity Following restoration of the construction area the converter station buildings will present a simpler form The landscape has the capacity to accommodate such a development due to the existing activity in the area the topography as well as the screening provided by the existing and strengthened woodland planting

The existing screening will restrict views of construction activity at the converter station site and for residents and road users effects will be temporary and not-significant Views of the cable installation will in places be less screened but the relatively limited level and duration of activity mean that no significant effects are predicted on residents or road users Walkers on the Speyside Way will have closer views of the directional drilling activity but given the location of the works at the edge of the existing development and short duration the effect is not considered significant

The operational converter station will be visible from three residential properties present within 1km of the development The colour scheme proposed location and partial screening with landform and building plus screening from existing strengthened and new planting will all mitigate the impact of the new development so that effects are minor but not significant No effects on tourists and people using the area for recreation are predicted nor on users of lsquoArsquo and lsquoBrsquo class roads The cable route will be fully reinstated and will not be visible in the long term

Freshwaters The converter station is located away from any major watercourses The adoption of tried and tested protection measures will minimise the potential for silt laden water runoff to watercourses These measures include the diversion of runoff water through settling ponds to remove excess suspended solids before discharge to surface watercourses and wetting down of excavated soils roads etc to minimise windblown dust Best management practices will be implemented on site to protect

5 ABP mer 2009 Coastal Processes Impact Assessment in Relation to the Shetland HVDC Link

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

watercourses from the risk of pollution With these measures in place the effects of the construction and operation of the converter station on both water quality and aquatic ecology including fish are considered negligible and not significant

The relatively short period when cable trenches will be open will substantially control any flow of water into trenches excavated for the underground cable and any effect on drainage or the surrounding water table will be temporary and not significant

The placement of the converter station on otherwise vegetated surfaces will change the runoff characteristics of the land used However the station represents a small area and no change in flood risk is predicted

Potential impacts where the underground cable route requires watercourse crossings have been investigated and it is concluded that except for the River Isla the use of dams with over pumping to allow a dry trench to be excavated across the watercourses is suitable and would have no significant effect The Deveron Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust (DBIRT) support the use of an open cut installation method for the River Isla subject to further consultation at detailed design stage A detailed method statement will be drawn up and agreed with SEPA and DBIRT prior to the works Provided such measures are successfully implemented no significant effects will occur

Terrestrial Ecology A wide range of field surveys have been completed to identify important habitats the presence and activity of protected species and species of nature conservation importance including otter bats badger and breeding birds

The construction of the converter station will affect grazing land and a small area of the recently felled Cairds Wood (an area currently being invaded by a mix of nettles thistles and some scrub and of no particular nature conservation value) Along the underground HVDC cable there will be a loss of 01 hectares of semi natural broadleaved woodland and some impacts on other habitats though vegetation from these habitats will be stored carefully and replaced Overall effects on habitats are not considered significant

Construction activity at the converter station will also lead to some loss of bat foraging habitat but there is ample alternative foraging areas nearby Some potential for foraging habitat loss or disturbance to foraging otter is also predicted during construction of the converter station but other watercourses and drains nearby offer at least as good foraging habitat Some potential for disturbance of otter at watercourse crossings has also been identified but the temporary nature of the work and alternative habitat available means this is not considered significant Some potential for disturbance to badger exists but following a pre-construction survey and the implementation of a project level mitigation plan (agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)) impacts will be minimised Foraging geese may also be affected by cable installation works but any effect will be temporary not dissimilar to disturbance from farming activities and considerable areas of alternative foraging habitat are available in the locality Measures are proposed to minimise the potential for effects on birds at the converter station site and along the underground HVDC cable route including avoiding starting works in the breeding season (without confirming absence) and pre-construction nesting surveys Overall no significant effects on these or other species are predicted

There are no significant effects predicted during the operational period on habitats or species since activity during this time will generally be limited to the converter station and it is envisaged that species will adapt to the presence of the structure Any required maintenance at the converter station or along the cable route will be required to comply with relevant legislation and will be dealt with through the

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

application of SHETLrsquos normal procedures for environmental management which can be expected to provide appropriate protection

Cultural Heritage Construction of the converter station will have no direct impact on any recorded or visible archaeological remains However construction of the underground HVDC cable is likely to involve some disturbance to archaeological remains (cropmarks identified from aerial photos) which appear to form part of an area of prehistoric settlement within land to the south of Portgordon There is potential for the presence of as yet unknown archaeology under the surface of the ground and thus for adverse effects from construction at the converter station and along the route of the underground HVDC cable Mitigation measures to address these effects include a programme of archaeological field investigation and preservation to ensure the identification and recording of features This approach has been agreed with Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service There is however no evidence to suggest that any as yet unknown remains would be of more than local importance and with the measures implemented no significant effect is predicted

Traffic and Transportation The construction of the converter station will require deliveries of plant and equipment and travel to the site by construction workers Average daily numbers are low and predicted to comprise up to four Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) (two travelling to the site and then away from the site) and up to 150 light vehicles (cars and vans comprising 75 trips to the site and then away) Measures implemented by the contractor to encourage car share could reduce the number of light vehicles

Vehicle movements for construction of the underground HVDC cable will also be needed and predicted to comprise 16 HGVs per day (eight travelling to and then away from the site) and 40 light vehicles (20 travelling to and then away from the site) These movements will affect different areas as the cable construction area moves along the cable route but are predicted to occur in any one area over only a few weeks

Whilst some maintenance activity will be required at the converter station this will be infrequent and the number of vehicles travelling to the site low Maintenance along the cable is not expected but even if required will be of limited scale and duration

In addition to the identification of vehicle access routes a range of measures will be adopted to reduce or avoid the potential for effects from traffic Measures such as the use of wheel wash facilities sheeting of loads damping down of surfaces and road sweeping if required will reduce the potential for mud to be deposited on the highway or dust to be generated by traffic movements The timing of deliveries will be agreed with TMC as will any traffic management that may be required at road access or for the cable crossings but no road closures are proposed Dedicated parking areas will be identified during construction to avoid vehicles parking on road verges

With these measures successfully implemented there will be no adverse effects from construction traffic on existing road users from the construction of the converter station or installation of the underground HVDC cable

Noise and Vibration The construction and operation of the converter station as well as the installation of the underground cable will involve activities that will generate some noise The potential for this to affect amenity has been considered by establishing existing background noise levels experienced by people at residential properties and comparing predicted noise levels against current guideline levels

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Planning Policy The proposed HVDC converter station and underground HVDC cable are critical elements in the infrastructure required to exploit a significant renewable energy resource on Shetland

National and local development plan policy in general supports sustainable development and the construction of infrastructure to support the production of electricity by renewable means provided that there are no overriding significant adverse effects expected on the environment The converter station location site layout and environmental protection measures that will be implemented as part of the project mean that no such overriding effects are predicted from the development

Approach to EA Environmental appraisal provides a means for establishing and reporting the potential environmental effects of proposals where inherently (following screening ndash see above) no effects considered to be significant in the context of the EIA regulations are predicted from the proposals though minor effects may occur in respect of some issues Conclusions about the significance of effects on people environmental features and resources (collectively termed lsquoreceptorsrsquo) that may be affected are identified with reference to the project description and the environmental mitigation measures that will be adopted to avoid or reduce potential effects within the context that even where they occur they are not significant

Professional judgement data collection site visits and consultation in combination with recognised best practice guidance all inform the scope of the environmental effects to be considered and the appraisal of the interaction of the sensitivity to change of the people or other receptors with the magnitude of change arising from the proposed development Computer modelling may also be undertaken to predict or demonstrate the nature of any change

The EA conclusions are summarised by topic below

Community (Socio-economics Land use and Recreation) Some positive socio-economic effects are predicted during the construction phase with likely use of at least some local construction workers and an increased demand on local services and the benefits these will provide to local employment and the economy However in the context of the wider Moray economy this is not considered significant

There will be a permanent loss of up to 125 hectares of land used for grazing and temporary impacts on a further 10 hectares during construction works at the converter station site Temporary impacts will also occur along the underground HVDC cable corridor The land permanently lost is not prime agricultural land (ie it is not the best quality nor specifically protected) though some temporary impact on prime land will occur along an approximately 25km section of the cable route but this will be quickly restored using the excavated material replaced in the order removed and no long term impact will arise Overall effects are not considered significant

Geology and Soils All rock and soils extracted are expected to be reused in the formation of the platform for the converter station for site restoration or as backfill This will minimise the loss of any materials and no significant effect on these resources is predicted

The potential for impacts on the feature (shingle ridges) for which Spey Bay Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) has been designated have been identified To fully protect this feature directional drilling will be used (where a drill rig is established on land set back from the shoreline and designated area and will be used to drill under

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

the SSSI emerging at sea) to lay the cable completely under Spey Bay SSSI at the site of the cable landfall to the west of Portgordon Work for the project indicates that this method of construction will have no impact on the designated area (ABPmer 2009)5 and there will therefore be no significant effect on the interests of the designated site

No potential for the disturbance of contaminants or their release has been identified at the site of the converter station or along the working corridor of the underground HVDC cable The potential for unknown contaminants to be encountered remains but will be appropriately mitigated by implementation of usual on site best practice measures and potential impacts will not be significant The adoption of construction best practice (for example in respect of the storage of fuels and refuelling) will address the low level of contamination risk inherent in any construction work

Landscape and Visual Amenity The converter station has been located to reduce the potential landscape and visual effects to the minimum possible Measures to be adopted include an architectural strategy to address the colour of the converter station and security fencing (olive is proposed) and a planting plan to strengthen existing woodland screening No designated landscapes will be affected by the converter station A computer visualisation of the anticipated appearance of the converter station site following construction and restoration is provided in Figure 4

During the approximate 18 month construction period an adverse but not significant temporary effect on landscape character is predicted in the immediate vicinity of the converter station due to the extent and nature of construction activity Following restoration of the construction area the converter station buildings will present a simpler form The landscape has the capacity to accommodate such a development due to the existing activity in the area the topography as well as the screening provided by the existing and strengthened woodland planting

The existing screening will restrict views of construction activity at the converter station site and for residents and road users effects will be temporary and not-significant Views of the cable installation will in places be less screened but the relatively limited level and duration of activity mean that no significant effects are predicted on residents or road users Walkers on the Speyside Way will have closer views of the directional drilling activity but given the location of the works at the edge of the existing development and short duration the effect is not considered significant

The operational converter station will be visible from three residential properties present within 1km of the development The colour scheme proposed location and partial screening with landform and building plus screening from existing strengthened and new planting will all mitigate the impact of the new development so that effects are minor but not significant No effects on tourists and people using the area for recreation are predicted nor on users of lsquoArsquo and lsquoBrsquo class roads The cable route will be fully reinstated and will not be visible in the long term

Freshwaters The converter station is located away from any major watercourses The adoption of tried and tested protection measures will minimise the potential for silt laden water runoff to watercourses These measures include the diversion of runoff water through settling ponds to remove excess suspended solids before discharge to surface watercourses and wetting down of excavated soils roads etc to minimise windblown dust Best management practices will be implemented on site to protect

5 ABP mer 2009 Coastal Processes Impact Assessment in Relation to the Shetland HVDC Link

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

watercourses from the risk of pollution With these measures in place the effects of the construction and operation of the converter station on both water quality and aquatic ecology including fish are considered negligible and not significant

The relatively short period when cable trenches will be open will substantially control any flow of water into trenches excavated for the underground cable and any effect on drainage or the surrounding water table will be temporary and not significant

The placement of the converter station on otherwise vegetated surfaces will change the runoff characteristics of the land used However the station represents a small area and no change in flood risk is predicted

Potential impacts where the underground cable route requires watercourse crossings have been investigated and it is concluded that except for the River Isla the use of dams with over pumping to allow a dry trench to be excavated across the watercourses is suitable and would have no significant effect The Deveron Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust (DBIRT) support the use of an open cut installation method for the River Isla subject to further consultation at detailed design stage A detailed method statement will be drawn up and agreed with SEPA and DBIRT prior to the works Provided such measures are successfully implemented no significant effects will occur

Terrestrial Ecology A wide range of field surveys have been completed to identify important habitats the presence and activity of protected species and species of nature conservation importance including otter bats badger and breeding birds

The construction of the converter station will affect grazing land and a small area of the recently felled Cairds Wood (an area currently being invaded by a mix of nettles thistles and some scrub and of no particular nature conservation value) Along the underground HVDC cable there will be a loss of 01 hectares of semi natural broadleaved woodland and some impacts on other habitats though vegetation from these habitats will be stored carefully and replaced Overall effects on habitats are not considered significant

Construction activity at the converter station will also lead to some loss of bat foraging habitat but there is ample alternative foraging areas nearby Some potential for foraging habitat loss or disturbance to foraging otter is also predicted during construction of the converter station but other watercourses and drains nearby offer at least as good foraging habitat Some potential for disturbance of otter at watercourse crossings has also been identified but the temporary nature of the work and alternative habitat available means this is not considered significant Some potential for disturbance to badger exists but following a pre-construction survey and the implementation of a project level mitigation plan (agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)) impacts will be minimised Foraging geese may also be affected by cable installation works but any effect will be temporary not dissimilar to disturbance from farming activities and considerable areas of alternative foraging habitat are available in the locality Measures are proposed to minimise the potential for effects on birds at the converter station site and along the underground HVDC cable route including avoiding starting works in the breeding season (without confirming absence) and pre-construction nesting surveys Overall no significant effects on these or other species are predicted

There are no significant effects predicted during the operational period on habitats or species since activity during this time will generally be limited to the converter station and it is envisaged that species will adapt to the presence of the structure Any required maintenance at the converter station or along the cable route will be required to comply with relevant legislation and will be dealt with through the

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

application of SHETLrsquos normal procedures for environmental management which can be expected to provide appropriate protection

Cultural Heritage Construction of the converter station will have no direct impact on any recorded or visible archaeological remains However construction of the underground HVDC cable is likely to involve some disturbance to archaeological remains (cropmarks identified from aerial photos) which appear to form part of an area of prehistoric settlement within land to the south of Portgordon There is potential for the presence of as yet unknown archaeology under the surface of the ground and thus for adverse effects from construction at the converter station and along the route of the underground HVDC cable Mitigation measures to address these effects include a programme of archaeological field investigation and preservation to ensure the identification and recording of features This approach has been agreed with Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service There is however no evidence to suggest that any as yet unknown remains would be of more than local importance and with the measures implemented no significant effect is predicted

Traffic and Transportation The construction of the converter station will require deliveries of plant and equipment and travel to the site by construction workers Average daily numbers are low and predicted to comprise up to four Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) (two travelling to the site and then away from the site) and up to 150 light vehicles (cars and vans comprising 75 trips to the site and then away) Measures implemented by the contractor to encourage car share could reduce the number of light vehicles

Vehicle movements for construction of the underground HVDC cable will also be needed and predicted to comprise 16 HGVs per day (eight travelling to and then away from the site) and 40 light vehicles (20 travelling to and then away from the site) These movements will affect different areas as the cable construction area moves along the cable route but are predicted to occur in any one area over only a few weeks

Whilst some maintenance activity will be required at the converter station this will be infrequent and the number of vehicles travelling to the site low Maintenance along the cable is not expected but even if required will be of limited scale and duration

In addition to the identification of vehicle access routes a range of measures will be adopted to reduce or avoid the potential for effects from traffic Measures such as the use of wheel wash facilities sheeting of loads damping down of surfaces and road sweeping if required will reduce the potential for mud to be deposited on the highway or dust to be generated by traffic movements The timing of deliveries will be agreed with TMC as will any traffic management that may be required at road access or for the cable crossings but no road closures are proposed Dedicated parking areas will be identified during construction to avoid vehicles parking on road verges

With these measures successfully implemented there will be no adverse effects from construction traffic on existing road users from the construction of the converter station or installation of the underground HVDC cable

Noise and Vibration The construction and operation of the converter station as well as the installation of the underground cable will involve activities that will generate some noise The potential for this to affect amenity has been considered by establishing existing background noise levels experienced by people at residential properties and comparing predicted noise levels against current guideline levels

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

the SSSI emerging at sea) to lay the cable completely under Spey Bay SSSI at the site of the cable landfall to the west of Portgordon Work for the project indicates that this method of construction will have no impact on the designated area (ABPmer 2009)5 and there will therefore be no significant effect on the interests of the designated site

No potential for the disturbance of contaminants or their release has been identified at the site of the converter station or along the working corridor of the underground HVDC cable The potential for unknown contaminants to be encountered remains but will be appropriately mitigated by implementation of usual on site best practice measures and potential impacts will not be significant The adoption of construction best practice (for example in respect of the storage of fuels and refuelling) will address the low level of contamination risk inherent in any construction work

Landscape and Visual Amenity The converter station has been located to reduce the potential landscape and visual effects to the minimum possible Measures to be adopted include an architectural strategy to address the colour of the converter station and security fencing (olive is proposed) and a planting plan to strengthen existing woodland screening No designated landscapes will be affected by the converter station A computer visualisation of the anticipated appearance of the converter station site following construction and restoration is provided in Figure 4

During the approximate 18 month construction period an adverse but not significant temporary effect on landscape character is predicted in the immediate vicinity of the converter station due to the extent and nature of construction activity Following restoration of the construction area the converter station buildings will present a simpler form The landscape has the capacity to accommodate such a development due to the existing activity in the area the topography as well as the screening provided by the existing and strengthened woodland planting

The existing screening will restrict views of construction activity at the converter station site and for residents and road users effects will be temporary and not-significant Views of the cable installation will in places be less screened but the relatively limited level and duration of activity mean that no significant effects are predicted on residents or road users Walkers on the Speyside Way will have closer views of the directional drilling activity but given the location of the works at the edge of the existing development and short duration the effect is not considered significant

The operational converter station will be visible from three residential properties present within 1km of the development The colour scheme proposed location and partial screening with landform and building plus screening from existing strengthened and new planting will all mitigate the impact of the new development so that effects are minor but not significant No effects on tourists and people using the area for recreation are predicted nor on users of lsquoArsquo and lsquoBrsquo class roads The cable route will be fully reinstated and will not be visible in the long term

Freshwaters The converter station is located away from any major watercourses The adoption of tried and tested protection measures will minimise the potential for silt laden water runoff to watercourses These measures include the diversion of runoff water through settling ponds to remove excess suspended solids before discharge to surface watercourses and wetting down of excavated soils roads etc to minimise windblown dust Best management practices will be implemented on site to protect

5 ABP mer 2009 Coastal Processes Impact Assessment in Relation to the Shetland HVDC Link

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

watercourses from the risk of pollution With these measures in place the effects of the construction and operation of the converter station on both water quality and aquatic ecology including fish are considered negligible and not significant

The relatively short period when cable trenches will be open will substantially control any flow of water into trenches excavated for the underground cable and any effect on drainage or the surrounding water table will be temporary and not significant

The placement of the converter station on otherwise vegetated surfaces will change the runoff characteristics of the land used However the station represents a small area and no change in flood risk is predicted

Potential impacts where the underground cable route requires watercourse crossings have been investigated and it is concluded that except for the River Isla the use of dams with over pumping to allow a dry trench to be excavated across the watercourses is suitable and would have no significant effect The Deveron Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust (DBIRT) support the use of an open cut installation method for the River Isla subject to further consultation at detailed design stage A detailed method statement will be drawn up and agreed with SEPA and DBIRT prior to the works Provided such measures are successfully implemented no significant effects will occur

Terrestrial Ecology A wide range of field surveys have been completed to identify important habitats the presence and activity of protected species and species of nature conservation importance including otter bats badger and breeding birds

The construction of the converter station will affect grazing land and a small area of the recently felled Cairds Wood (an area currently being invaded by a mix of nettles thistles and some scrub and of no particular nature conservation value) Along the underground HVDC cable there will be a loss of 01 hectares of semi natural broadleaved woodland and some impacts on other habitats though vegetation from these habitats will be stored carefully and replaced Overall effects on habitats are not considered significant

Construction activity at the converter station will also lead to some loss of bat foraging habitat but there is ample alternative foraging areas nearby Some potential for foraging habitat loss or disturbance to foraging otter is also predicted during construction of the converter station but other watercourses and drains nearby offer at least as good foraging habitat Some potential for disturbance of otter at watercourse crossings has also been identified but the temporary nature of the work and alternative habitat available means this is not considered significant Some potential for disturbance to badger exists but following a pre-construction survey and the implementation of a project level mitigation plan (agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)) impacts will be minimised Foraging geese may also be affected by cable installation works but any effect will be temporary not dissimilar to disturbance from farming activities and considerable areas of alternative foraging habitat are available in the locality Measures are proposed to minimise the potential for effects on birds at the converter station site and along the underground HVDC cable route including avoiding starting works in the breeding season (without confirming absence) and pre-construction nesting surveys Overall no significant effects on these or other species are predicted

There are no significant effects predicted during the operational period on habitats or species since activity during this time will generally be limited to the converter station and it is envisaged that species will adapt to the presence of the structure Any required maintenance at the converter station or along the cable route will be required to comply with relevant legislation and will be dealt with through the

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

application of SHETLrsquos normal procedures for environmental management which can be expected to provide appropriate protection

Cultural Heritage Construction of the converter station will have no direct impact on any recorded or visible archaeological remains However construction of the underground HVDC cable is likely to involve some disturbance to archaeological remains (cropmarks identified from aerial photos) which appear to form part of an area of prehistoric settlement within land to the south of Portgordon There is potential for the presence of as yet unknown archaeology under the surface of the ground and thus for adverse effects from construction at the converter station and along the route of the underground HVDC cable Mitigation measures to address these effects include a programme of archaeological field investigation and preservation to ensure the identification and recording of features This approach has been agreed with Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service There is however no evidence to suggest that any as yet unknown remains would be of more than local importance and with the measures implemented no significant effect is predicted

Traffic and Transportation The construction of the converter station will require deliveries of plant and equipment and travel to the site by construction workers Average daily numbers are low and predicted to comprise up to four Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) (two travelling to the site and then away from the site) and up to 150 light vehicles (cars and vans comprising 75 trips to the site and then away) Measures implemented by the contractor to encourage car share could reduce the number of light vehicles

Vehicle movements for construction of the underground HVDC cable will also be needed and predicted to comprise 16 HGVs per day (eight travelling to and then away from the site) and 40 light vehicles (20 travelling to and then away from the site) These movements will affect different areas as the cable construction area moves along the cable route but are predicted to occur in any one area over only a few weeks

Whilst some maintenance activity will be required at the converter station this will be infrequent and the number of vehicles travelling to the site low Maintenance along the cable is not expected but even if required will be of limited scale and duration

In addition to the identification of vehicle access routes a range of measures will be adopted to reduce or avoid the potential for effects from traffic Measures such as the use of wheel wash facilities sheeting of loads damping down of surfaces and road sweeping if required will reduce the potential for mud to be deposited on the highway or dust to be generated by traffic movements The timing of deliveries will be agreed with TMC as will any traffic management that may be required at road access or for the cable crossings but no road closures are proposed Dedicated parking areas will be identified during construction to avoid vehicles parking on road verges

With these measures successfully implemented there will be no adverse effects from construction traffic on existing road users from the construction of the converter station or installation of the underground HVDC cable

Noise and Vibration The construction and operation of the converter station as well as the installation of the underground cable will involve activities that will generate some noise The potential for this to affect amenity has been considered by establishing existing background noise levels experienced by people at residential properties and comparing predicted noise levels against current guideline levels

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

watercourses from the risk of pollution With these measures in place the effects of the construction and operation of the converter station on both water quality and aquatic ecology including fish are considered negligible and not significant

The relatively short period when cable trenches will be open will substantially control any flow of water into trenches excavated for the underground cable and any effect on drainage or the surrounding water table will be temporary and not significant

The placement of the converter station on otherwise vegetated surfaces will change the runoff characteristics of the land used However the station represents a small area and no change in flood risk is predicted

Potential impacts where the underground cable route requires watercourse crossings have been investigated and it is concluded that except for the River Isla the use of dams with over pumping to allow a dry trench to be excavated across the watercourses is suitable and would have no significant effect The Deveron Bogie and Isla Rivers Trust (DBIRT) support the use of an open cut installation method for the River Isla subject to further consultation at detailed design stage A detailed method statement will be drawn up and agreed with SEPA and DBIRT prior to the works Provided such measures are successfully implemented no significant effects will occur

Terrestrial Ecology A wide range of field surveys have been completed to identify important habitats the presence and activity of protected species and species of nature conservation importance including otter bats badger and breeding birds

The construction of the converter station will affect grazing land and a small area of the recently felled Cairds Wood (an area currently being invaded by a mix of nettles thistles and some scrub and of no particular nature conservation value) Along the underground HVDC cable there will be a loss of 01 hectares of semi natural broadleaved woodland and some impacts on other habitats though vegetation from these habitats will be stored carefully and replaced Overall effects on habitats are not considered significant

Construction activity at the converter station will also lead to some loss of bat foraging habitat but there is ample alternative foraging areas nearby Some potential for foraging habitat loss or disturbance to foraging otter is also predicted during construction of the converter station but other watercourses and drains nearby offer at least as good foraging habitat Some potential for disturbance of otter at watercourse crossings has also been identified but the temporary nature of the work and alternative habitat available means this is not considered significant Some potential for disturbance to badger exists but following a pre-construction survey and the implementation of a project level mitigation plan (agreed with Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH)) impacts will be minimised Foraging geese may also be affected by cable installation works but any effect will be temporary not dissimilar to disturbance from farming activities and considerable areas of alternative foraging habitat are available in the locality Measures are proposed to minimise the potential for effects on birds at the converter station site and along the underground HVDC cable route including avoiding starting works in the breeding season (without confirming absence) and pre-construction nesting surveys Overall no significant effects on these or other species are predicted

There are no significant effects predicted during the operational period on habitats or species since activity during this time will generally be limited to the converter station and it is envisaged that species will adapt to the presence of the structure Any required maintenance at the converter station or along the cable route will be required to comply with relevant legislation and will be dealt with through the

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

application of SHETLrsquos normal procedures for environmental management which can be expected to provide appropriate protection

Cultural Heritage Construction of the converter station will have no direct impact on any recorded or visible archaeological remains However construction of the underground HVDC cable is likely to involve some disturbance to archaeological remains (cropmarks identified from aerial photos) which appear to form part of an area of prehistoric settlement within land to the south of Portgordon There is potential for the presence of as yet unknown archaeology under the surface of the ground and thus for adverse effects from construction at the converter station and along the route of the underground HVDC cable Mitigation measures to address these effects include a programme of archaeological field investigation and preservation to ensure the identification and recording of features This approach has been agreed with Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service There is however no evidence to suggest that any as yet unknown remains would be of more than local importance and with the measures implemented no significant effect is predicted

Traffic and Transportation The construction of the converter station will require deliveries of plant and equipment and travel to the site by construction workers Average daily numbers are low and predicted to comprise up to four Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) (two travelling to the site and then away from the site) and up to 150 light vehicles (cars and vans comprising 75 trips to the site and then away) Measures implemented by the contractor to encourage car share could reduce the number of light vehicles

Vehicle movements for construction of the underground HVDC cable will also be needed and predicted to comprise 16 HGVs per day (eight travelling to and then away from the site) and 40 light vehicles (20 travelling to and then away from the site) These movements will affect different areas as the cable construction area moves along the cable route but are predicted to occur in any one area over only a few weeks

Whilst some maintenance activity will be required at the converter station this will be infrequent and the number of vehicles travelling to the site low Maintenance along the cable is not expected but even if required will be of limited scale and duration

In addition to the identification of vehicle access routes a range of measures will be adopted to reduce or avoid the potential for effects from traffic Measures such as the use of wheel wash facilities sheeting of loads damping down of surfaces and road sweeping if required will reduce the potential for mud to be deposited on the highway or dust to be generated by traffic movements The timing of deliveries will be agreed with TMC as will any traffic management that may be required at road access or for the cable crossings but no road closures are proposed Dedicated parking areas will be identified during construction to avoid vehicles parking on road verges

With these measures successfully implemented there will be no adverse effects from construction traffic on existing road users from the construction of the converter station or installation of the underground HVDC cable

Noise and Vibration The construction and operation of the converter station as well as the installation of the underground cable will involve activities that will generate some noise The potential for this to affect amenity has been considered by establishing existing background noise levels experienced by people at residential properties and comparing predicted noise levels against current guideline levels

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

application of SHETLrsquos normal procedures for environmental management which can be expected to provide appropriate protection

Cultural Heritage Construction of the converter station will have no direct impact on any recorded or visible archaeological remains However construction of the underground HVDC cable is likely to involve some disturbance to archaeological remains (cropmarks identified from aerial photos) which appear to form part of an area of prehistoric settlement within land to the south of Portgordon There is potential for the presence of as yet unknown archaeology under the surface of the ground and thus for adverse effects from construction at the converter station and along the route of the underground HVDC cable Mitigation measures to address these effects include a programme of archaeological field investigation and preservation to ensure the identification and recording of features This approach has been agreed with Aberdeenshire Archaeology Service There is however no evidence to suggest that any as yet unknown remains would be of more than local importance and with the measures implemented no significant effect is predicted

Traffic and Transportation The construction of the converter station will require deliveries of plant and equipment and travel to the site by construction workers Average daily numbers are low and predicted to comprise up to four Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGVs) (two travelling to the site and then away from the site) and up to 150 light vehicles (cars and vans comprising 75 trips to the site and then away) Measures implemented by the contractor to encourage car share could reduce the number of light vehicles

Vehicle movements for construction of the underground HVDC cable will also be needed and predicted to comprise 16 HGVs per day (eight travelling to and then away from the site) and 40 light vehicles (20 travelling to and then away from the site) These movements will affect different areas as the cable construction area moves along the cable route but are predicted to occur in any one area over only a few weeks

Whilst some maintenance activity will be required at the converter station this will be infrequent and the number of vehicles travelling to the site low Maintenance along the cable is not expected but even if required will be of limited scale and duration

In addition to the identification of vehicle access routes a range of measures will be adopted to reduce or avoid the potential for effects from traffic Measures such as the use of wheel wash facilities sheeting of loads damping down of surfaces and road sweeping if required will reduce the potential for mud to be deposited on the highway or dust to be generated by traffic movements The timing of deliveries will be agreed with TMC as will any traffic management that may be required at road access or for the cable crossings but no road closures are proposed Dedicated parking areas will be identified during construction to avoid vehicles parking on road verges

With these measures successfully implemented there will be no adverse effects from construction traffic on existing road users from the construction of the converter station or installation of the underground HVDC cable

Noise and Vibration The construction and operation of the converter station as well as the installation of the underground cable will involve activities that will generate some noise The potential for this to affect amenity has been considered by establishing existing background noise levels experienced by people at residential properties and comparing predicted noise levels against current guideline levels

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

At Blackhillock the modelling predicts the potential during groundworks under a worst case scenario of all equipment operating close to the property for construction noise levels to exceed the relevant guidelines ( for weekdays and Saturday morning during normal working hours this is less than 65dB(A) lower levels apply at weekends and night time) Similarly exceedance during cable installation is predicted at two properties (at Kirkland and just south of the A98) The guidelines allow for some periods of exceedance (up to 10 days in 15 days or up to 40 days in six months) and as these limits will be complied with no significant effects are predicted from construction noise This does not mean that construction noise will be inaudible but that specific measures are not required to reduce the impacts of construction noise Nonetheless a number of good practice measures will be implemented along with limitations on working hours to reduce the effects

Operational noise emissions from the converter station were assessed for the nearest residential property which is at Blackhillock immediately to the south of the existing Substation As the actual noise emissions from the converter station are not known yet because the detailed design of the converter station is not complete noise limits have been set at the properties so that the converter station will not increase existing background noise levels This control will form part of the procurement contract for the converter station and ensure that the development will be designed to ensure noise remains within an acceptable level The operational underground cable generates no noise

There is potential for construction works and for some of the large items of plant that will operate at the converter station to generate ground-borne vibration However the separation distance between any of the proposed plant and properties (around 200m from the converter station works at closest approach) and the relatively high reduction of vibration levels that occurs with distance mean that no adverse effects are predicted Similarly vibration from HGV vehicle movements on roads close to properties is predicted at such low levels for the converter station or for cable installation (below the threshold in the relevant guidance) that no significant effects will occur Construction equipment for the installation of the HVDC cables (typically a mechanical excavator) and the distance of the cable route from properties (minimum of approximately 30m) will not lead to vibration effects nor any cumulative effects with the construction of the converter station

Some maintenance activity may be required at the converter station (with the potential to generate noise) this will be infrequent and any noisevibration effects will be negligible and not significant This is also the case for the HVDC cable and so there will be no significant cumulative effects

Air Quality The assessment has concluded that the separation between the converter station and properties reduces the potential for dust to arise from the construction works This also applies to the underground cable route where the few properties within 100m of the cable route are upwind relative to the prevailing wind direction so any dust would generally be blown away from them Dust effects may though occur under specific conditions however with the short duration of cable construction at any one location coupled with the construction works themselves being undertaken in a way that will minimise dust dispersion (wetting down of surfaces sheeting of loads etc) no significant effects are predicted from construction works at the converter station or along the underground HVDC cable route

The amount of construction and operational traffic will be low and operating over a wide area for a short duration and will have no significant effect on air quality For the operational traffic associated with the converter station this is likely to be even less and also have no significant effect on air quality

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground HVDC Cable and Converter Station - Summary

Review and Comments Copies of the EA can be purchased (the cost including postage is pound50 for a hard copy of the EA and pound10 for a copy of the EA on CD-ROM A full set of the Shetland Environmental Statement Marine and Moray Environmental Appraisals can be purchased together priced at pound200 for a hard copy and pound20 for a copy on CD-ROM) on request to the following address

Scottish Hydro Electric Transmission Limited Major Projects Support Group Inveralmond House 200 Dunkeld Road Perth PH1 3AQ

This summary the summary of the subsea cable EA and the Environmental Statement for the Upper Kergord converter station can be viewed at (and downloaded from) the Scottish amp Southern Energy website at httpwwwscottishshysoutherncouk and follow the links to Media Centre and Project Portfolio Copies of the summary documents can be obtained free of charge from the above address

Comments on the proposals or their environmental effects can be sent in writing to

Development Control Manager Environmental Services The Moray Council Council Offices High Street Elgin IV30 1BX

Proposed Route

Moray

Moray (Portgordon to Blackhillock)

Shetland (Upper Kergord to Weisdale Voe)

Key

K

Shetland HVDC Connection

Converter Station

Summary

Figure 1Scheme Overview

Key

Shetland HVDC Connection

Converter Station

Summary

Figure 2

DITCH FOR RUNOUT INTO POND ATTENUATION POND

Key

Development Proposals Development Area =217ha

Drainage Channel

Attenuation Pond (Sizes indicative only - to be determined during detailed design)

Batter amp Platform Area = 124ha

East Coast 400kv ProjectArea = 805ha

Shetland HVDC Scheme Project Area = 253ha

ATTENUATION POND

Restoration Proposals Within Converter Station Location

Proposed MixedBroadleaved amp Coniferous Woodland

Existing WoodlandRetained

Reinstated to Semi -Improved Grassland

Woodland Edge Planting

NOT TO SCALE Drawing Size = A4

ACCESS ROAD

OPTION 1 DIVERT BURN DITCH TO ROADSIDE VERGE

AND TIE ON NORTHSIDE OF SITE

(MICROSITE TO AVIOD TREE LOSS

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground Cable and Converter Station Environmental Appraisal Summary

Figure 3Indicative Proposals - Drainage Spoil Storage and Restoration

July 2009

19846-R378indd nelsr

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground Cable and Convertor Station Environmental Appraisal Summary Figure 4 Moray Viewpoint 1

VP1 Minor road near Auchorties

VP1 Minor road near Auchorties Indicative Photomontage (Typical Buildings and Layout only)

Scale 150000 A3

0 1km 2km 3km

Scale 150000 A3

0 1km 2km 3km

July 2009 19846-R379indd nelsr

Key

Shetland HVDC Connection

Converter Station

Summary

Figure 2

DITCH FOR RUNOUT INTO POND ATTENUATION POND

Key

Development Proposals Development Area =217ha

Drainage Channel

Attenuation Pond (Sizes indicative only - to be determined during detailed design)

Batter amp Platform Area = 124ha

East Coast 400kv ProjectArea = 805ha

Shetland HVDC Scheme Project Area = 253ha

ATTENUATION POND

Restoration Proposals Within Converter Station Location

Proposed MixedBroadleaved amp Coniferous Woodland

Existing WoodlandRetained

Reinstated to Semi -Improved Grassland

Woodland Edge Planting

NOT TO SCALE Drawing Size = A4

ACCESS ROAD

OPTION 1 DIVERT BURN DITCH TO ROADSIDE VERGE

AND TIE ON NORTHSIDE OF SITE

(MICROSITE TO AVIOD TREE LOSS

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground Cable and Converter Station Environmental Appraisal Summary

Figure 3Indicative Proposals - Drainage Spoil Storage and Restoration

July 2009

19846-R378indd nelsr

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground Cable and Convertor Station Environmental Appraisal Summary Figure 4 Moray Viewpoint 1

VP1 Minor road near Auchorties

VP1 Minor road near Auchorties Indicative Photomontage (Typical Buildings and Layout only)

Scale 150000 A3

0 1km 2km 3km

Scale 150000 A3

0 1km 2km 3km

July 2009 19846-R379indd nelsr

DITCH FOR RUNOUT INTO POND ATTENUATION POND

Key

Development Proposals Development Area =217ha

Drainage Channel

Attenuation Pond (Sizes indicative only - to be determined during detailed design)

Batter amp Platform Area = 124ha

East Coast 400kv ProjectArea = 805ha

Shetland HVDC Scheme Project Area = 253ha

ATTENUATION POND

Restoration Proposals Within Converter Station Location

Proposed MixedBroadleaved amp Coniferous Woodland

Existing WoodlandRetained

Reinstated to Semi -Improved Grassland

Woodland Edge Planting

NOT TO SCALE Drawing Size = A4

ACCESS ROAD

OPTION 1 DIVERT BURN DITCH TO ROADSIDE VERGE

AND TIE ON NORTHSIDE OF SITE

(MICROSITE TO AVIOD TREE LOSS

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground Cable and Converter Station Environmental Appraisal Summary

Figure 3Indicative Proposals - Drainage Spoil Storage and Restoration

July 2009

19846-R378indd nelsr

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground Cable and Convertor Station Environmental Appraisal Summary Figure 4 Moray Viewpoint 1

VP1 Minor road near Auchorties

VP1 Minor road near Auchorties Indicative Photomontage (Typical Buildings and Layout only)

Scale 150000 A3

0 1km 2km 3km

Scale 150000 A3

0 1km 2km 3km

July 2009 19846-R379indd nelsr

Shetland HVDC Connection Moray Underground Cable and Convertor Station Environmental Appraisal Summary Figure 4 Moray Viewpoint 1

VP1 Minor road near Auchorties

VP1 Minor road near Auchorties Indicative Photomontage (Typical Buildings and Layout only)

Scale 150000 A3

0 1km 2km 3km

Scale 150000 A3

0 1km 2km 3km

July 2009 19846-R379indd nelsr