PEIR-Ch4-Approach-to-EIA-artifacted.pdf — PaddleOCR-VL (Baidu)

4.4 Environmental Baseline

4.4.1 In undertaking an EIA for any project, it is important to identify the environmental baseline for the potential receptors which may be affected. This has allowed the effects of the Project to be compared and/or combined with the existing baseline in order to ensure an informed assessment of the potential effects of the Project and to allow the identification of the most appropriate mitigation which could be employed to minimise any identified likely significant adverse effects.

4.4.2 To establish the baseline, a study area that is appropriate for each assessment topic is identified which takes into consideration the surrounding context and the likely scale and range of potential significant effects. Next, a range of environmental data has been gathered from a combination of sources in respect of the study area in order to inform the preliminary assessment. This has included:

Documentary information on the Project Site, Gas Connection and Electrical Connection, and their surroundings within each relevant study area, including information available from the previous EIA work for other projects;
Field survey information, including: Phase 2 ecological surveys; landscape character assessments; background noise levels; ground conditions/contaminated land assessments, location of sensitive receptors and traffic levels on the road network; and
Data held by both statutory and non-statutory consultees.

4.4.3 It is anticipated that the construction of the Project will commence in early 2020. The assessment has therefore used a '2020 baseline' to provide a future baseline against which the assessment is undertaken. As such a number of developments are considered in the assessment of effects, where those already have planning permission and are expected to be constructed in the next three years. Cumulative Projects have been agreed with CCS and are listed in Table 4-6.

4.5 Realistic Worst Case Scenario for Assessment

4.5.1 In accordance with PINS Advice Note 9 (Rochdale Envelope) (Ref. 4.2), the assessments presented in the PEIR are based on an assessment of the realistic 'worst case' scenario arising from the Project parameters described in Table 3-3. This allows flexibility for APL whilst ensuring that the likely significant environmental effects are identified and adequately assessed. The realistic worst case scenario is set out in each topic chapter for clarity and transparency.

4.5.2 Taking the above into consideration, it has been determined that for all topic areas to be addressed in the EIA except air quality, the highest stack height (45 m) represents the 'worst case'. For air quality the minimum stack heights of 35 m represent the 'worst case' due to lower dispersion. The PEIR contains an explanation in each chapter of why the scenario assessed represents the worst case for that topic.