From: Carl Johnson [mailto ] Sent: 05 August 2014 22:53 To: Swansea Tidal Cc: STEVEN CAMPBELL-KELLY; Carl Johnson Subject: TLSB - Record of submission by RWG to Open Floor Hearing 29 July 14 Dear Sirs, Enquiry re Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Record of submission by Rhossili Working Group (RWG) to Open floor Hearing on 29th July 2014 Please find several attachments: 1. Our submission as a word document 2. Link to WWF (2012) Protecting the harbour porpoise in UK waters 3. Link to CCW Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales 2nd edition (2012) 4. Link to Dahne et al (2013) Effects of pile driving on harbour porpoises at the first offshore wind farm in Germany 5. Paper by RWG: Porpoise in the Outer Bristol Channel 6. Paper by RWG: Pierpoint We also forward two emails from DEFRA and NRW under separate but contemporaneous cover. Yours faithfully, Carl Johnson Rhossili Working Group record of submission

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the WWF report

http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/protecting_the_harbour_porpoise_in_uk_seas_aug2012.pdf CCW Atlas of the marine mammals of Wales http://www.ccgc.gov.uk/idoc.ashx?docid=0985dadf-790b-4b87-8008... the Dahne report http://iopscience.iop.org/1748-9326/8/2/025002/pdf/1748-9326_8_2_025002.pdf RWG paper re porpoise in the Bristol Channel

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Rhossili Working Group Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay: Written summary from contribution at Open Hearing of 29th July 2014 The following presents the burden of evidence presented by RWG at the Open Floor Hearing held on 29th July 2014. General The Group sees tidal energy as a most promising source of green energy, perhaps the best in many aspects of all the forms of green energy currently available. The Group is generally in favour of this development provided all the legal issues and environmental concerns are properly and fully addressed. Pierpoint 2008a Pierpoint C (2008a) A two-year pre-construction baseline of harbour porpoise activity at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm. Report to E.ON Renewables and DONG Energy by RPS Group This report is still not publicly available. However, reference to this report pervades the entire Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Environmental Statement and other associated environmental assessments, in relation both to harbour porpoise, as in Environmental Statement Chapter 10 page 12: 10.4.2.10; and to other marine mammals as in Habitat Regulations Assessment Appendix 3 page 9, paragraph (a). If the applicant has had access to, and drawn directly from Pierpoint 2008a in preparing the Environmental Statement, then the applicant is remiss in not presenting the report as supporting evidence to the enquiry. If the applicant does not have access to Pierpoint 2008a, then the evidence presented is hearsay and may be considered invalid. From the subsequent response of the applicant at the hearing, it would seem that the applicant does not have access to Pierpoint 2008a. Also in response to the applicant: if the applicant has used Pierpoint 2008a as evidence in support of the Environmental Statement, it is the responsibility of the applicant to produce this report or withdraw the evidence. It is not the duty of Rhossili Working Group to provide this report. However, the evidence from Pierpoint 2008a is so pertinent to an enquiry regarding marine mammals, in particular the harbour porpoise, in Swansea Bay and the Bristol Channel, that any environmental statement which does not contain its information must be deemed inadequate, thus creating a sort of ‘Catch 22’ situation. Note: Rhossili Working Group has conversed with a current holder of Pierpoint 2008a. We are thereby informed that the contents of the final report, Pierpoint 2008a, are similar to the contents of the Interim report Pierpoint 2006.

The report: Pierpoint C (2006) Pre-construction monitoring of harbour porpoise at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm, SW Wales: First Interim Report Report to E.ON UK Renewables and Energi E2 by RPS Energy, Woking was initially released into the public domain, and can be available, though with copyright restrictions. Enquiries could be made to Natural Resources Wales (NRW), previously Countryside Council for Wales (CCW). Note: Rhossili Working Group holds a copy of Pierpoint 2006 (Interim) European Legal Action The Infringement Unit of the Directorate General – Environment of the European Commission began legal proceedings against the UK Government on 21st June 2013 in respect of the failure of the UK Government to create Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) in UK waters for the harbour porpoise. The European Commission in a letter to Porthcawl Environment Trust report that they make direct reference to the Outer Bristol Channel in relation to harbour porpoise and possibly damaging developments being considered – though at the time this was in relation to proposed offshore wind farm development. The action is on-going. Please see correspondence of 9th and 24th July 2014 from DEFRA and NRW respectively, which for ease of reference is forwarded again under separate but contemporary email correspondence. Potential SAC status for the Outer Bristol Channel A letter from DEFRA of 9th July 2014 states: “More generally, all cetaceans (including harbour porpoise) are fully protected in UK waters under the EU Habitats Directive, irrespective of whether they are likely to be present within or outside a SAC. The level of protection is high,and enforced by law, and includes the prevention of disturbance that could have an adverse effect on the population and its conservation status. An assessment of potential adverse effects on harbour porpoise is therefore an essential element of the environmental impact assessment process for marine developments, whether there is a SAC present or not.” The Whale and Dolphin Conservation (WDC) in their response of 30th December 2013 to TLSB draft Environmental Statement consider that there has been insufficient investigation of the potential adverse effects of the proposed development on the local harbour porpoise population. They state: “However, as no dedicated surveys were undertaken it [draft Environmental Statement] fails to provide any acceptable assessment of impacts on the local porpoise population. In our letter of 29th July WDC made it clear that the proposed development is in an area of critical habitat for porpoise and that baseline data would be required to enable an understanding of the importance of the area and therefore potential impacts from the development…..At this site it was already known that the area was important for porpoise therefore we cannot understand why detailed surveys were not undertaken.”

There is a wealth of research information which shows that Swansea Bay, which includes Scarweather Sands and is set in the porpoise social range of the Outer Bristol Channel, is an important area for a local population of harbour porpoise. Pierpoint 2008a and Pierpoint 2006 (Interim) further provide specific data on the high incidence of mothers with calves at Scarweather Sands and show this to be an important international nursery area. Baines and Evans (CCW Atlas 2012 page 68) state that juvenile to adult ratios of 25-50% have been reported in this sea area, cf with 14% at Sylt-Amrum, north Germany, which is already selected as a SAC primarily as a nursery ground for porpoise. Given the importance of the area of Swansea Bay as a ‘critical’ (WDC) habitat for the harbour porpoise, and given the level of protection required for a European protected species, as stated in the DEFRA letter, it may be appropriate to deem the area to have quasi-SAC status with the application of appropriate safeguards and licence requirements. The potential adverse effects from piling need to be carefully assessed, and percussive piling avoided, unless with strict conditions which might include seasonal piling. In this respect, we note that the developers in their considerations have still not included the following report (link attached) which suggests the avoidance radius of porpoise to piling is probably much further than hitherto accepted: Dahne, Gilles, Lucke, Peschko, Adler, Krugel, Sundermeyer, Siebert (2013) Effects of pile-driving on harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) at the first offshore wind farm in Germany IOP Science Any proposed mitigation measures need to have been thoroughly researched and independently evaluated for their efficacy. Further questioning In responses, we attempted to clarify the sea areas recommended for SAC status by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). These, as primary consideration, include the Outer Bristol Channel, encompassing Swansea Bay and the location of the proposed tidal lagoon. To this end we attach links to the following reports: Evans and Prior (2012) Protecting the harbour porpoise in UK seas: Identifying a network of draft SAC’s for the harbour porpoise in the UK. A report to WWF UK. - Please refer to the summary map on page 38 and the specimen application for the Outer Bristol Channel on pages 67-70. Baines ME and Evans PGH (2012) Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales CCW Marine Monitoring Report no. 68 2nd Edition

- Please refer to the distribution maps on pages 54-55, figs 41-44.

Supplementary 1 With regard to the extensive heavy metal contamination of the sediments in the location of the lagoon: we note the positive contribution at the hearing of Dr Muirhead in relation to the close chemical binding, and thus stabilisation, of mercury with the silicates in the sediments. We ask that close scrutiny also be given to the chemical and physical behaviour of the other heavy metals identified at the site. Supplementary 2 We add an appendix to this paper which lists some of the reports which are relevant to harbour porpoise in the area of Swansea Bay and the Outer Bristol Channel. We also attach two papers to the covering email which were prepared by Rhossili Working Group on the subject of porpoise, and the Pierpoint reports. These were written as papers for the erstwhile planning enquiry into the proposed Atlantic Array Wind Farm, now aborted. Although the focus was on the wind farm development, the contents may be appropriate to this enquiry. Appendix Surveys and reports relating to harbour porpoise:

- Penrose R and Pierpoint C (1999) The Use of Welsh Coastal Habitats as Calving and Nursery Grounds for the Harbour Porpoise Contract Science Report no.378

- Reid J, Evans PGH, Northridge SP, (2003) Cetacean Distribution Atlas Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough

- Watkins H and Colley R (2004) Harbour Porpoise Occurrence Carmarthen

Bay – Gower Peninsula – Swansea Bay Gower Marine Mammals Project

- Pierpoint C (2006) Pre-construction monitoring of harbour porpoise at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm, SW Wales: First Interim Report NB: The exact status of this report is unclear to us: it may have been initially released into the public domain and later withdrawn Pierpoint C (2008a) A two-year pre-construction baseline of harbour porpoise activity at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm. Report to E.ON Renewables and DONG Energy by RPS Group NB: Withheld report: this report is NOT in the public domain

Solandt J-L (2007) Marine Conservation Society Outer Bristol Channel Megafauna Surveys The Environment Agency and The Marine Conservation Society - NB: please note recommendations on page 16

- Baines ME and Evans PGH (2009) Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales

CCW Marine Monitoring Report no. 68

- Baines ME and Evans PGH (2012) Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales CCW Marine Monitoring Report no. 68 2nd Edition

- Pierpoint C (2011) Marine Mammals at Atlantic Array – Interim Report Report to Npower Renewables Ltd by RPS Energy, Woking

- RWE npower renewables / Channel Energy Limited (2012) Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm Draft Environmental Statement Volume 1 Chapter 9 and Vol 3 Annex 9.1: Marine Mammals Channel Energy Limited, Swindon

- References within RWE npower renewables Draft Environmental

Statement (June 2012) to Pierpoint C (2008a) A two-year pre-construction baseline of harbour porpoise activity at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm Report to E.ON Renewables and DONG Energy by RPS Group

- Evans and Prior (2012) Protecting the harbour porpoise in UK seas:

Identifying a network of draft SAC’s for the harbour porpoise in the UK A report to WWF UK

- Dahne, Gilles, Lucke, Peschko, Adler, Krugel, Sundermeyer, Siebert (2013)

Effects of pile-driving on harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) at the first offshore wind farm in Germany IOP Science

Carl Johnson Rhossili Working Group 5th August 2014

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Harbour Porpoise Draft: Final 1 

Harbour Porpoise in Swansea Bay and the Outer Bristol Channel  With particular reference to the proposed Atlantic Array wind farm and drawing evidence from Atlantic Array Draft Environmental Statement 2012  Annex 9 of the Draft Environmental Statement (2012) is the baseline survey of marine mammals at the site of the proposed Atlantic array Wind Farm. Both Chapter 9 and Annex 9.1 are littered with references to high levels of harbour porpoise activity in Swansea Bay and the Outer Bristol Channel. “Acoustic encounter rates during towed hydrophone surveys [during Atlantic Array Baseline Survey] were substantially higher than that recorded in the Celtic Sea as a whole during SCANS‐II, indicating that the Outer Bristol Channel supports aggregations of harbour porpoise”1. “Encounters with harbour porpoise [during Atlantic Array Baseline Survey] were widespread with concentrations on the eastern side of Atlantic Array [towards Swansea Bay] and close to the northern periphery of the survey area [towards coast of Gower and Carmarthen Bay]”2   ‘It was evident from these [CPOD] data that the harbour porpoise is a full‐time inhabitant of the Outer Bristol Channel’3. “Sighting rates of harbour porpoise were in accordance to those previously reported by the [CCW] Atlas for the Outer Bristol Channel”4.   The evidence of harbour porpoise distribution points to there being identifiable local aggregations. The maps relating to harbour porpoise in CCW Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales Report No. 68, 2nd Edition (2012) (Baines and Evans), figures 41 to 44, and figures 66 to 75, are a record of the extensive presence of harbour porpoise in the Bristol Channel from 1990 to 2009, including quarterly seasonal variations. The maps are also an immediate visual record of regional variation showing distinct densities in different parts of the Welsh coastline. Earlier information available at the time of compiling the DES (2012) are given in CCW Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales Report No. 68 (2009), figures 7 to 12, which show comparable variation and regional densities. The indication is of discrete aggregations at Anglessey, Lleyn Peninsula, Southern Cardigan Bay, Pembrokeshire Islands (Pembrokeshire Marine) and the Outer Bristol Channel.  In Pierpoint C, Pre­Construction Monitoring of Harbour Porpoise at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm SW Wales, First Interim Report (2006)5, Pierpoint gives school sizes for the different locations: “Many porpoise sightings were recorded in Swansea Bay during the June towed hydrophone survey for example….The uncorrected sighting rate for June (3.4 schools / 10 km) was very similar to that recorded …during July elsewhere in SW Wales: Pembrokeshire Islands (3.3 

                                                        1 Draft Environmental Statement Vol 3 Annex 9.1 Marine Mammals  S.6 2 Draft ES Vol 3 Annex 9.1  S.7 3 Draft ES Vol 3 Annex 9.1  4.10 4 Draft ES Vol 3 Annex 9.1  3.19 5 Pierpoint C, Pre­Construction Monitoring of Harbour Porpoise at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm SW Wales, First Interim Report (2006) page 43. 

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schools / 10 km), north Pembrokeshire  (3.2 schools / 10 km) and southern Cardigan Bay (3.4 schools / 10 km) (Pierpoint 2001).”  Swansea Bay would seem to be an important breeding location for the harbour porpoise. Quoting from RWE’s DES (2012): “In Swansea Bay and off the Gower coast detection rates were lowest from early January to April each year….An increase in activity in April and May then produced a distinct spring‐time peak in harbour porpoise activity. Porpoise activity generally increased through the course of the summer. Highest activity was recorded in autumn and early winter with highest detection rates recorded in November and December”6. It is suggested that this data is fully consistent with Swansea Bay being a significant breeding and nursery area. “Calving occurs mainly in May and June; copulation and conception mainly in July and August (Lockyer 1995)”7. “A high proportion of schools in Swansea Bay included calves during summer: 29% in June of Year 1 and 31% in July of Year 2 (Pierpoint 2008a)”8  The prevalence of calves in Swansea Bay, as compared with Atlantic Array, “suggests a preference of females [sic] porpoise nursing young animals for specific coastal sites”9.  It is important to acknowledge the importance of the above statement: “A high proportion of schools in Swansea Bay included calves during summer: 29% in June of Year 1 and 31% in July of Year 2 (Pierpoint 2008a)”. This quotation is from the report commissioned by E.ON10 which has still not been released to the public domain, but confirms and develops the information provided in Pierpoint C, First Interim Report (2006): “Average school size [in Swansea Bay] from May to November was 1.67 animals, but peaked in August at 2.45 animals when group sizes were bolstered by a high proportion of calves (calves were recorded in 7 of 11 schools in August). Overall, calves were recorded in 26% of a total of 86 schools…. The presence of porpoises with neonate calves in Swansea Bay suggests therefore, that calving takes place locally.”11 This is reiterated in RWE’s DES (2012): “Swansea Bay and the coast of the Gower peninsula for example include high‐use habitat for harbour porpoise that also appear to be important for female porpoise with calves.”12  Thus the evidence is indicative of Swansea Bay being the location of an established and highly significant breeding and nursery area. Other surveys and reports show the Outer Bristol Channel and Carmarthen Bay to be the ranging grounds for feeding and social activities. There seems to be very little movement eastwards from Scarweather Bank in Swansea Bay13.  

                                                        6 Draft ES Vol 3 Annex 9.1  4.12 7 Draft ES Vol 3 Annex 9.1  4.14 8 Draft ES Vol 3  Annex 9.1 4.14 9 Draft ES Vol 3  Annex 9.1  S.8 10 Pierpoint C (2008a) A two­year pre­construction baseline of harbour porpoise activity at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm 11 Pierpoint C (2006) [Scarweather Sands] First Interim Report page 43 12 Draft ES Vol1 Chapter 9  9.146 13 Draft ES Vol 1 Chapter 9  9.263 

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Surveys and reports relating to this article include:  

‐ Penrose R and Pierpoint C  (1999) The Use of Welsh Coastal Habitats as Calving and Nursery Grounds for the Harbour Porpoise Contract Science Report no.378  

‐ Reid J, Evans PGH, Northridge SP, (2003) Cetacean Distribution Atlas Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough 

 ‐ Watkins H and Colley R (2004) Harbour Porpoise Occurrence Carmarthen 

Bay – Gower Peninsula – Swansea Bay Gower Marine Mammals Project  

‐ Pierpoint C (2006) Pre­construction monitoring of harbour porpoise at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm, SW Wales: First Interim Report NB: The exact status of this report is unclear to us: it may have been initially released into the public domain and later withdrawn  Pierpoint C (2008a) A two­year pre­construction baseline of harbour porpoise activity at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm. Report to E.ON Renewables and DONG Energy by RPS Group NB: Withheld report: this report is NOT in the public domain  Solandt J‐L (2007) Marine Conservation Society Outer Bristol Channel Megafauna Surveys The Environment Agency and The Marine Conservation Society ‐ NB: please note recommendations on page 16 

 ‐ Baines ME and Evans PGH (2009) Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales 

CCW Marine Monitoring Report no. 68  

‐ Baines ME and Evans PGH (2012) Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales CCW Marine Monitoring Report no. 68 2nd Edition  

‐ Pierpoint C (2011) Marine Mammals at Atlantic Array – Interim Report Report to Npower Renewables Ltd by RPS Energy, Woking  

‐ RWE npower renewables / Channel Energy Limited (2012) Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm Draft Environmental Statement Volume 1 Chapter 9 and Vol 3 Annex 9.1: Marine Mammals Channel Energy Limited, Swindon 

 ‐ References within RWE npower renewables Draft Environmental 

Statement (June 2012) to Pierpoint C (2008a) A two­year pre­construction baseline of harbour porpoise activity at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm Report to E.ON Renewables and DONG Energy by RPS Group 

 ‐ Evans and Prior (2012) Protecting the harbour porpoise in UK seas: 

Identifying a network of draft SAC’s for the harbour porpoise in the UK        A report to WWF UK 

 

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‐ Dahne, Gilles, Lucke, Peschko, Adler, Krugel, Sundermeyer, Siebert (2013) Effects of pile­driving on harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) at the first offshore wind farm in Germany IOP Science 

 The evidence taken together strongly suggests that the area of Swansea Bay and the Outer Bristol Channel is a ‘local’ habitat for the harbour porpoise, with Swansea Bay as the breeding and calving grounds, and the area of the Outer Bristol Channel and Carmarthen Bay as the feeding and social grounds. In the WWF report PGH Evans and JS Prior: Protecting the harbour porpoise in UK seas (August 2012), the Outer Bristol Channel is one of six sites in the UK recommended for designation as a draft Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for the harbour porpoise14. The European Commission is currently awaiting the response of the UK Government on this issue.   Geographic Location  It is important to understand the geographic location of this ‘local’ breeding habitat. The Outer Bristol Channel is effectively the opening of the Severn Estuary. Moving westwards from Nash Point in Glamorgan / Selworthy Beacon in Somerset, the estuary encompasses Swansea Bay before slowly broadening to meet the open sea between Hartland Point and Carmarthen Bay just beyond the Worms Head on the Gower Peninsula.  The breeding and calving grounds in Swansea Bay are therefore up‐channel. The porpoise range from here westwards to the Outer Bristol Channel and beyond to Carmarthen Bay for their feeding and social grounds (Watkins and Colley (2004)).  The location of the Atlantic Array is at the choke point of the estuary as it opens to the Celtic Seas. It is probably unique as a proposed location for a wind farm: no other location for a wind farm is known to us which would create such a potential barrier between the breeding and feeding grounds of the porpoise, a EU listed protected species.   The dangers of noise to the harbour porpoise  The harbour porpoise, like dolphins and whales, uses echo‐location for all aspects of its life – navigation, feeding, social behaviour. Its hearing is particularly sensitive. Loud noise close by can kill the animal outright; slightly further, and the effects become debilitating leading to death; at a greater distance, noise can cause distress and interfere with its patterns of behaviour. The porpoise will therefore seek to flee from sources of noise in order to protect itself and its well‐being.    

                                                        14 Evans and Prior (2012) Protecting the harbour porpoise in UK seas pp. 67‐70 

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  Barrier Effect  Gower is 23km from the site of the Atlantic Array, Swansea Bay 25km, Lundy 13 km and Devon 16 km (revisions of March 2013). The proposed site is effectively mid‐channel almost totally in inshore waters. There will be significant impact noise created during construction of the Atlantic Array; it is even proposed that pile‐driving will occur at two opposed locations in the site area simultaneously15. This raises serious concern. It is suggested in Chapter 9 of the Draft ES that mortality and Permanent Threshold Shift (permanently damaged hearing) are unlikely to occur as the porpoise will flee the area. However, “harbour porpoise are very sensitive as they hear over a broad bandwidth of frequencies and also their range of perception starts at a much lower sound pressure level…”16   The hearing perception of marine mammals is loosely divided into three categories of sound frequency ranges, Low (LF), Mid (MF), and High (HF).  “The harbour porpoise is a HF cetacean; the hearing bandwidth of this group encompasses 200 Hz – 180 kHz.”17 However: “Based on studies of seismic airgun pulses, and supported by field observations of harbour porpoise during the construction of Horns Rev offshore wind farm in Denmark, Lucke et al (2009) suggested that the generic HF cetacean group criteria are not suitable for use with harbour porpoise, since both injury and disturbance may occur at greater distances from the sound source than for other HF cetaceans.”18  “Avoidance of piling operations by harbour porpoise may take place over a wider area: an effect radius of up to 24km when pile driving using a 1,400 kJ hammer energy is taking place… With a 2,100 kJ hammer strike the effect radius is greater and could extend up to 29km”19. These distances could clearly encompass the waters right across the Outer Bristol Channel from Devon to Gower and into the Swansea Bay breeding area, making this a no‐go noise barrier for the duration of construction.   It is not only the displacement effect of direct noise which would affect the well‐being of the harbour porpoise. The north‐west corner of the proposed site is an important habitat for their prey. This and other similar areas would become no‐go areas for feeding because of the need to avoid even low levels of noise. “The loss of access to key areas or a seasonally important prey resource, may affect the fitness of individuals. Conceivably, subsequent effects on health, fecundity and resistance to disease for example, may result in impacts at a population level (NRC, 2005).”20   

                                                        15 Draft ES Vol1 Chapter 9  9.143 16 Draft ES Vol 1 Chapter 9  9.20 17 Draft ES Vol 1 Chapter 9  9.21 18 Draft ES Vol 1 Chapter 9  9.30 19 Draft ES Vol 1 Chapter 9  9.140 20 Draft ES Vol 1 Chapter 9  9.144 

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In the Draft Environmental Statement (2012), the developers indicated the possibility of phasing the construction of the Array over eleven years. This is approximately the lifespan of the harbour porpoise. Displacement over this time span could result in a generational loss of memory for this breeding population.  As we write: a very recent report Dahne et al (2013) Effects of pile­driving on harbour porpoises at the first offshore wind farm in Germany considers the effects of the pile driving of foundations for (just) twelve wind turbines in 2008‐9 at Borkum Reef, 45 km off the German coast (effectively in relatively open seas). The abstract (p.1) states: ‘”The spatial distribution pattern recorded on two aerial surveys three weeks before and exactly during pile‐driving points towards a strong avoidance response within 20km distance of the noise source…..Increased  detection rates were found at two positions at 25 and 50 km distance suggesting that porpoises were displaced towards these positions. A pile‐driving related behavioural reaction could thus be detected using SAM at a much larger distance than a pure avoidance radius would suggest.” This would seem to corroborate the findings of Lucke et al (2009), footnote 18.  The report also suggests that repeated pile‐driving activities impacting on a preferred site could cause a “reduction in fitness of individual animals, and due to possible disturbance during feeding and mating, to a reduction of fitness of the population in places of high abundance where prey availability, but also the competition for food, is higher.”21 This corroborates the earlier information given in the NRC (2005) report, footnote 20.  The report concludes that it is unclear which is worse: multiple exposure in close vicinity to shorter pile‐driving times and breaks which leads to decreased fitness due to multiple flight reactions and energy expenditure; or prolonged absence from the pile‐driving site which can result in considerable temporal habitat loss.22  What this shows is that in the very latest research assessments, the effect of pile driving activities on harbour porpoise over a very large radius is profound but the potential adverse effects are still not fully understood or quantified. What is clear is that porpoise will avoid even low thresholds of noise, possibly moving between 25km and 50km from the source as suggested in the report by Dahne et al. This displacement can effect feeding and behaviour. The noise of pile‐driving will almost certainly extend fully across the Outer Bristol Channel creating a noise barrier between established breeding grounds and feeding/social grounds.   If this is the case, there are strict legal implications. The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010) state that it is an offence to deliberately disturb the habitat of a listed species; this includes any disturbance “which is likely to 

                                                        21 Dahne et al (2013) p. 13 22 Dahne et al (2013) p. 14 

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impair their ability to survive, to breed or reproduce, ….. or to affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species to which they belong.”23    These are serious concerns, and must be considered at their full potential impact in a ‘worst‐case’ scenario approach as required by planning guidelines.     Appendix The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations (2010) as amended by The Conservation of Habitats and Species (Amended) Regulations (2012) places responsibility for not disrupting the life cycle of local populations of listed species on the individual as follows:  Protection of certain wild animals: offences 

41.— (1) A person who— 

     (a) deliberately captures, injures or kills any wild animal of a European   protected species,      (b) deliberately disturbs wild animals of any such species,      (c) deliberately takes or destroys the eggs of such an animal, or      (d) damages or destroys a breeding site or resting place of such an animal, is guilty of an offence.  (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), disturbance of animals includes in particular any disturbance which is likely—      (a) to impair their ability—           (i) to survive, to breed or reproduce, or to rear or nurture their young, or           (ii) in the case of animals of a hibernating or migratory species, to hibernate or migrate; or      (b)to affect significantly the local distribution or abundance of the species to which they belong.    Note: we have made every effort to reference our information; readers are invited to ascertain the veracity of statements from the original sources themselves.   CJ Rhossili Working Group 29th August 2013 

                                                        23 Conservation of Habitat and Species Regulations (2010), section 41‐1(b) & ‐2(a)(b) 

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The Pierpoint Saga – a story with porpoise  This is the story of the confirmation of a breeding site for harbour porpoise in the Outer Bristol Channel and the non‐release of this information.   This story begins in 2003 with the proposal by E.ON, one of the giant German energy companies, to build an offshore wind farm on Scarweather Sands off Porthcawl in Swansea Bay. The meteorological mast, erected as preparatory work, is still visible from the M4 Motorway near junction 37.  As part of the environmental impact assessments, E.ON commissioned a survey of marine mammals at the site, undertaken by Chris Pierpoint, a respected marine biologist who had already published earlier reports on porpoise location.  The research, conducted between 2005 and 2007, confirmed what the locals had long suspected, that porpoise were living in large numbers at the site; moreover, there was a high incidence of mothers with calves, including newly born, which indicated that this was a breeding and calving location. The number of schools of porpoise in Swansea Bay, together with the high incidence of mothers with calves is amongst the highest in Welsh waters.   The first results were duly produced in 2006 as an interim report:  Pierpoint C (2006) Pre­construction monitoring of harbour porpoise at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm, SW Wales: First Interim Report. The status of the report is not clear: it may have been initially published and then withdrawn. It does not seem to be currently available on the web. However, there is a letter from the European Commission1 in 2007 which states that the ‘UK authorities’ had indicated that the report was in the public domain.   In the 2006 report, Pierpoint gives school sizes for the different locations in Wales: “Many porpoise sightings were recorded in Swansea Bay during the June towed hydrophone survey.”2…… “Average school size peaked in August at 2.45 animals when group sizes were bolstered by a high proportion of calves. …. The presence of porpoises with neonate calves in Swansea Bay suggests therefore, that calving takes place locally.”3 [our bold type].[Extended quotation given in Appendix 1.]  E.ON postponed development before withdrawing from the Scarweather Sands wind farm proposal in 2009, citing, amongst other reasons, unfavourable seabed conditions. The planning application has now been totally withdrawn.  What should have happened at this stage is that the UK Government should have declared a possible Special Area of Conservation (SAC) for the harbour porpoise for the Outer Bristol Channel. The UK was and is signatory to the European 

                                                        1 Appendix 4  2 Pierpoint (2006) page 43 3 Pierpoint (2006) page 43 

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Habitats Directive (1992) which has since been transposed into UK statute in the Conservation of Habitats and Species (2010). The harbour porpoise is a listed ‘vulnerable’ protected species. The legislation demands that when a breeding site of a protected species is discovered, the authorities must declare a potential area of protection whilst further studies are undertaken to confirm or deny the situation. No conservation area was declared.  Chris Pierpoint completed his research and report and submitted it as: Pierpoint C (2008a) A two­year pre­construction baseline of harbour porpoise activity at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm. Report to E.ON Renewables and DONG Energy by RPS Group. The developers withheld the report from the public domain, although it is reported in correspondence that information was fed into the Joint Cetacean Protocol (JCP), a collaborative project led by JNCC, the Government’s environmental advisory body. However, still no candidate SAC was nominated. In September 2012, RWE reported that E.ON were still not prepared to release Pierpoint 2008a into the public domain.  Nevertheless, traces of Pierpoint 2008a are there to find. In RWE’s Draft Environmental Statement (2012) for the Atlantic Array proposals, RWE quotes directly from Pierpoint 2008a: “A high proportion of schools in Swansea Bay included calves during summer: 29% in June of Year 1 and 31% in July of Year 2 (Pierpoint 2008a)”. 4 It has also been suggested that the data from  Pierpoint (2008a) has informed maps of harbour porpoise distribution in the CCW Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales Monitoring Report No. 68 (2009) (Baines and Evans) figures 7 to 12, and the revised edition CCW Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales Monitoring Report No 68 2nd Edition (2012) (Baines and Evans), figures 41 to 44, and figures 66 to 75. Reference to this Atlas will demonstrate the high incidence of harbour porpoise activity in Swansea Bay and the Outer Bristol Channel.  In 2009, Porthcawl Environment Trust (PET) made a formal complaint to the Infringement Office of the European Commision against the Welsh Government;  the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) made a separate similar formal complaint to the EC against the UK Government: both cited the failure of the UK authorities to nominate Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) which list the harbour porpoise as a primary qualifying feature.  WWF meanwhile set about producing its own survey. The interim report was published in 2011, and the final, peer‐reviewed document was published in October 2012: Evans and Prior (2012) Protecting the harbour porpoise in UK seas: Identifying a network of draft SACs for the harbour porpoise in the UK  A report to WWF UK. In the report, WWF identify six sites around the UK as candidate SACs,  all graded as A or B. In the report, WWF go so far as to fill in the application form nominating the Outer Bristol Channel as a SAC for the harbour porpoise.5 

                                                        4 Atlantic Array Draft ES Vol 3  Annex 9.1  4.14  5 Evans and Prior (2012) Protecting the harbour porpoise pages 67‐70 

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 Still the UK authorities did not act to protect the harbour porpoise. In November 2012, the Infringement Office of the Environment Directorate of the EC wrote to the UK to request engagement in a ten‐week ‘pilot dialogue’ to resolve the omission. It is not known if there was any response but it has been suggested that, in January 2013, DEFRA may have requested a two‐month extension.  It is believed that Joint National Conservancy Council (JNCC) have commissioned a new desk survey from a little known Danish water company, DHI Water Environments Ltd, to run from 23rd March 2013 to September 23rd 2013, but this is not expected to be published until 2014, possibly after the decision has been taken on the Atlantic Array planning application.  A Freedom Of Information (FOI) request was made to DEFRA on 22nd March for both Pierpoint 2006 and Pierpoint 2008a. This request has been refused on the grounds that the reports are not published by DEFRA (Appendix 3). However, the reports have been freely used by RWE in Atlantic Array documentation. And we would again refer to the 2007 letter from the European Commission (Appendix 4).  Meanwhile, the proposal to build a giant wind farm in the outer Bristol Channel has continued apace, and on June 14th 2013, RWE submitted its application for a Development Consent Order to build the Atlantic Array Wind Farm comprising up to 240 wind turbines up to 220 metres high covering an area 200 square kilometres in the middle of the outer Bristol Channel. The porpoise uses highly sensitive echo‐location for all aspects of its life; it can be killed by high levels of noise close by, so will flee any area impacted by noise. The noise of pile‐driving, which could last for eleven years, at times will extend 29 km, creating a barrier effect between the harbour porpoise breeding area in Swansea Bay and the associated feeding, mating and social grounds of Carmarthen Bay and the Outer Bristol Channel. Results from a recent German study6 suggest that the avoidance radius from an intense sound source may be greater than previously thought, perhaps as far as an area 25km to 50km from the source.  (Anecdotally, when the meteorological mast for the Scarweather project was being erected, residents 5 miles/ 8km distant not only heard the noise, but “felt the vibration associated with every stroke.” The constituency MP made a complaint, and United Utilities apologized.)  On June 21st 2013, the Environment Directorate‐General of the EC wrote a formal notice to the UK Government to begin formal legal proceedings regarding the failure of the UK Government to establish areas of conservation for the harbour porpoise, specifically mentioning the Outer Bristol Channel. In the letter, the EC also raised concerns that the delay in nominating an SAC for the Outer Bristol 

                                                        6 Dahne, Gilles, Lucke, Peschko, Adler, Krugel, Sundermeyer, Siebert (2013) Effects of pile­driving on harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) at the first offshore wind farm in Germany IOP Science  

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Channel had allowed development proposals to progress, including windfarm proposals, potentially without sufficient regard to the needs of the protection of the species. The UK Government has two months to respond – ie, by the end of August.  Our understanding of the significance of SAC status is this: without SAC status, the Planning Inspectorate can only consider the wind farm proposal as it stands – this proposal, in this location. With SAC status, the Planning Inspectorate has to consider all alternatives – alternative locations, alternative technologies. The Habitats Directive  states: “Authorisation can only be granted to plans and projects that would not adversely affect the integrity of the site concerned.”7 The Marine Management Organisation(MMO) gives detailed guidance on the decision‐making process8. With case law established, and offshore construction now possible in deeper waters, it would make it more difficult to obtain planning consent for such a development as the Atlantic Array in this sensitive location.   As a footnote: Pierpoint (2008a) is quoted several times in the Environmental Statement (2013). For example, in Annex 9.1: Marine Mammal Technical Report, again: “A high proportion of schools in Swansea Bay included calves during summer: 29% in June of Year 1 and 31% in July of Year 2 (Pierpoint 2008a)”9. However, this report has now been dropped from the list of references at the end of both Annex 9.1 and Chapter 9. Is it not a requirement that quoted reports should be referenced and made publicly available? RWE also continue to use the CCW 2009 map of harbour porpoise distribution in Swansea Bay, BUT with the land masses redrawn over, and thereby obliterating, the harbour porpoise data (see Appendix 2).  Here we present a conundrum. The reports Pierpoint Interim (2006) and Pierpoint (2008a) specifically confirm the high incidence and breeding grounds of the harbour porpoise in Swansea Bay and the Bristol Channel, and are supported by several other reports – see Appendix 5. The specific, necessary, research would seem to have been done, and would seem to be highly indicative that this area should become a Special Area of Conservation. However, the Pierpoint reports are not presently in the public domain. The European Commission is currently pursuing the omission of SAC status for harbour porpoise in relation to several sea areas including the Bristol Channel. If SAC status were applied to the Bristol Channel in respect of the harbour porpoise, the assessment of the planning application of the Atlantic Array Wind Farm would need to proceed on a fundamentally different basis.   NOTE: we present the information here as we understand it from the documents at our disposal, which we publish or reference.   CJ                               20th August 2013, revised and extended 14th September 2013

                                                        7 Habitats Directive (1992) Article 6.3 8 Marine Management Organisation Guidance on imperative reasons of overriding public interest under the Habitats Directive 9 RWE Atlantic Array Environmental Statement Vol 3 Annex 9.1 section 4.14 

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Appendices  Appendix 1  “Many porpoise sightings were recorded in Swansea Bay during the June towed hydrophone survey for example….The uncorrected sighting rate for June (3.4 schools / 10 km) was very similar to that recorded …during July elsewhere in SW Wales: Pembrokeshire Islands (3.3 schools / 10 km), north Pembrokeshire  (3.2 schools / 10 km) and southern Cardigan Bay (3.4 schools / 10 km) (Pierpoint 2001).”10…… “Average school size [in Swansea Bay] from May to November was 1.67 animals, but peaked in August at 2.45 animals when group sizes were bolstered by a high proportion of calves (calves were recorded in 7 of 11 schools in August). Overall, calves were recorded in 26% of a total of 86 schools…. The presence of porpoises with neonate calves in Swansea Bay suggests therefore, that calving takes place locally.”11    Appendix 2  The developer has ‘redrawn’ maps sourced from the CCW Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales (2009). The reader is invited to compare the original maps with the ‘redrawn’ maps:  

1. Atlantic Array Draft Environmental Statement (2012) Volume 3 Annex 9.1: Marine Mammals page 17, Figure 3.7 

Harbour porpoise distribution, ‘redrawn’ after Baines and Evans (2009). The land has been redrawn over the harbour porpoise data.   2. The original map in Baines and Evans CCW Atlas of the Marine Mammals of 

Wales (2009) page 34 Figure 7(a).  

3. Atlantic Array Environmental Statement (2013) Volume 3: Offshore Annexes Annex 9.1: Marine Mammal Technical Report page 17, Figure 3.7 The developers have repeated the ‘redrawn’ map from the 2009 Atlas. 

 4. The updated map in the revised edition of Baines and Evans CCW Atlas of 

the Marine Mammals of Wales (2012) page 54 Figure 41.  In response to the charges of publishing misleading information, the developer of the Atlantic Array, RWE, state that they have not changed the data. We do not suggest the data has been changed, rather it has been over‐written. Readers are invited to judge the import of the information for themselves.     

                                                        10 Pierpoint (2006) page 43 11 Pierpoint (2006) page 43 

  6 

Appendix 3 Email: Refusal by DEFRA to supply requested reports. _______ Dear Mr Johnson Thank you for your email to the Defra Helpline. We have not treated your request as an FOI, and cannot send these reports to you as they are not published by Defra, and attach links to the reports, which you may find useful. http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/mediablob/en/1522168/data/1524102/1/rwe-innogy/sites/wind-offshore/developing-sites/atlantic-array-offshore-wind-farm/consultation-documents/Annex-9.1-Marine-Mammal-Technical-Report.pdf http://www.rwe.com/web/cms/mediablob/en/1522162/data/1524102/1/rwe-innogy/sites/wind-offshore/developing-sites/atlantic-array-offshore-wind-farm/consultation-documents/Annex-8.1-Fish-and-Shellfish.pdf Regards Jane Defra Helpline From: CJ Sent: 22 March 2013 13:09 To: CCU Correspondence (AHEG) Cc: Rhossili Community Council Subject: Re: Response to your Query : - Ref:DWOE000303003 - Fwd: Response to your Query : - Ref:DWOE000294423 - Nomination of SAC's Dear Miss Briggs, Thank you for your email and attached letter. Please forgive us if our frustrations were on show on 1st March - you will understand that from an initial enquiry on 7th December 2012, until your reply on the 13th March 2013 (over three months! ), we had not received a substantive response to our concerns. Thank you now. Further to your letter, we should like to request copies of two reports under the Freedom of information Act: Pierpoint C. (2006) Pre-Construction Monitoring of Harbour Porpoise at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm, SW Wales: First Interim Report: RPS Energy Pierpoint C. (2008a) A Two-year Pre-construction Baseline of Harbour Porpoise Activity at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind farm. Report to E.ON Renewables and DONG Energy by RPS Group We are willing to pay all reasonable charges and costs that you may incur. Thank you for your assistance. Yours sincerely, Carl Johnson Rhossili Working Group 

  7 

Appendix 4  Letter from European Commission of 22nd October 2007 wherein the ‘UK authorities’ indicate that Pierpoint (2006) is in the public domain.    

 

  8 

 

  9 

Appendix 5 Research reports relevant to this article  

‐ Penrose R and Pierpoint C  (1999) The Use of Welsh Coastal Habitats as Calving and Nursery Grounds for the Harbour Porpoise Contract Science Report no.378  

‐ Reid J, Evans PGH, Northridge SP, (2003) Cetacean Distribution Atlas Joint Nature Conservation Committee, Peterborough 

 ‐ Watkins H and Colley R (2004) Harbour Porpoise Occurrence Carmarthen Bay – 

Gower Peninsula – Swansea Bay Gower Marine Mammals Project  

‐ Pierpoint C (2006) Pre­construction monitoring of harbour porpoise at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm, SW Wales: First Interim Report NB: The exact status of this report is unclear to us: it may have been initially released into the public domain and later withdrawn  Pierpoint C (2008a) A two­year pre­construction baseline of harbour porpoise activity at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm. Report to E.ON Renewables and DONG Energy by RPS Group NB: Withheld report: this report is NOT in the public domain  Solandt J‐L (2007) Marine Conservation Society Outer Bristol Channel Megafauna Surveys The Environment Agency and The Marine Conservation Society ‐ NB: please note recommendations on page 16 

 ‐ Baines ME and Evans PGH (2009) Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales CCW 

Marine Monitoring Report no. 68  

‐ Baines ME and Evans PGH (2012) Atlas of the Marine Mammals of Wales CCW Marine Monitoring Report no. 68 2nd Edition  

‐ Pierpoint C (2011) Marine Mammals at Atlantic Array – Interim Report Report to Npower Renewables Ltd by RPS Energy, Woking  

‐ RWE npower renewables / Channel Energy Limited (2012) Atlantic Array Offshore Wind Farm Draft Environmental Statement Volume 1 Chapter 9 and Vol 3 Annex 9.1: Marine Mammals Channel Energy Limited, Swindon 

 ‐ References within RWE npower renewables Draft Environmental Statement 

(June 2012) to Pierpoint C (2008a) A two­year pre­construction baseline of harbour porpoise activity at Scarweather Sands Offshore Wind Farm Report to E.ON Renewables and DONG Energy by RPS Group 

 ‐ Evans and Prior (2012) Protecting the harbour porpoise in UK seas: Identifying a 

network of draft SAC’s for the harbour porpoise in the UK        A report to WWF UK  

‐ Dahne, Gilles, Lucke, Peschko, Adler, Krugel, Sundermeyer, Siebert (2013) Effects of pile­driving on harbour porpoises (Phocoena phocoena) at the first offshore wind farm in Germany IOP Science 

 

From: Carl Johnson [mailto ] Sent: 05 August 2014 22:59 To: Swansea Tidal Cc: STEVEN CAMPBELL-KELLY; Carl Johnson Subject: Fwd: 577/14 Planning Inspectorate request for information EN010049 re Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay copy of email from DEFRA re European legal action and potential SAC status for the Outer Bristol Channel CJ Rhossili Working Group Begin forwarded message: From: "Clarke, Nicola (Defra)" <nicola.clarke@DEFRA.GSI.GOV.UK> Date: 9 July 2014 16:35:06 BST To: <cj.hampstead@gmail.com> Cc: "Helpline, Defra (CCU)" <defra.helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk>, "Njau, Mary (Defra)" <mary.njau@DEFRA.GSI.GOV.UK> Subject: RE: 577/14 Planning Inspectorate request for information EN010049 Dear Mr Johnson Please find attached a response to your request. Best Regards Nicola Clarke From: Carl Johnson [mailto:cj.hampstead@gmail.com] Sent: 27 June 2014 15:22 To: Helpline, Defra (CCU) Cc: Swansea Tidal; STEVEN CAMPBELL-KELLY Subject: 577/14 Planning Inspectorate request for information EN010049 Dear Sirs, Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay: EN010049 Planning Inspectorate request for information The Preliminary Meeting for the application for development of Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay was held on 10th June 2014. The Planning Inspectorate subsequently published its revised timetable http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/document/2547217 and Panel's First Round of Wriiten Questions: http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/document/2546916 One of the Inspectorate's questions was addressed to Rhossili Working Group: question 5.10 (page 28).

Question 1.18 (page 7) is also relevant to our requests. We therefore seek the following information: 1. What is the current position regarding the legal action started by the European Commission on 21st June 2013 in respect of the UK Government's failure to nominate SACs for the harbour porpoise in UK waters? Note: On 21st June 2013 the Infringement Unit of the Directorate General Environment of the European Commission began formal legal proceedings against the UK Government in respect of the UK Government's failure to nominate SACs in UK waters for the protection of the harbour porpoise, a European protected species. I attach below a redacted copy of the letter sent by the Commission to Porthcawl Environment Trust informing them of this action. 2. What is the current position on progress towards establishing SAC's for the harbour porpoise in UK waters, particularly the establishment of the Outer Bristol Channel as a SAC for the harbour porpoise? You will note that the Planning Inspectorate have asked for replies by Wednesday 9th July 2014. It would be greatly appreciated if we could receive your response by this date. Thank you for your assistance, Yours faithfully, Carl Johnson Rhossili Working Group

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra)

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T: 08459 33 55 77 helpline@defra.gsi.gov.uk www.defra.gov.uk

Your ref: Our ref: RFI 6691 Date: 9 July 2014

Dear Mr Johnson

REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: Special Areas of Conservation for Harbour Porpoise

Thank you for your e-mail of 27 June 2014 requesting information in response to questions raised by the Planning Inspectorate regarding the proposed development in Swansea Bay.

Defra has handled your request under the Environmental Information Regulations 2004 (EIRs). The EIRs apply to requests for environmental information, which is a broad category of information defined in regulation 2 of the EIRs. Public authorities are required to handle requests for environmental information under the EIRs. They give similar access rights to the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (FOIA).

Firstly, you asked about the current position regarding the legal action started by the European Commission on 21 June 2013. The UK received, and has responded to, a Letter of Formal Notice (dated 20 June 2013) from the European Commission, which outlined their concern about a lack of Special Areas of Conservation (SACs) for harbour porpoise in the UK under the EU Habitats Directive. To date, we have not received any further correspondence from the European Commission regarding this specific case, which therefore remains open. Secondly, you asked about the current position on progress towards establishing SACs for harbour porpoise in UK waters, particularly the establishment of the Outer Bristol Channel as a SAC for harbour porpoise. The UK has already submitted harbour porpoise as a qualifying feature of the Skerries and Causeway SAC. In line with our commitments under the Habitats Directive, we continue to work to identify other potential sites for harbour porpoise. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee (JNCC) has been undertaking work to analyse the most up-to-date and extensive dataset on harbour porpoise with the aim of determining whether any further areas suitable for designation as a SAC are present in UK waters. If potential SACs for harbour porpoise are identified through this analysis, standard consultation processes would follow, and would be led by the relevant UK Administration for the proposed location of the SAC. However, at this time I should be clear that we are still in the stages of data analysis, and no decisions on specific sites have yet been made.

Any further questions relating to harbour porpoise in Welsh waters fall within the remit of the Welsh Government, and as the relevant authority, you should direct your enquiries to them. Any further enquiries about the proposed development should be directed to the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC).

More generally, all cetaceans (including harbour porpoise) are fully protected in UK waters under the EU Habitats Directive, irrespective of whether they are likely to be present within or outside a SAC. The level of protection is high, and enforced by law, and includes the prevention of disturbance that could have an adverse effect on the population and its conservation status. An assessment of potential adverse effects on harbour porpoise is therefore an essential element of the environmental impact assessment process for marine developments, whether there is a SAC present or not.

The Government is committed to the full implementation of the Habitats Directive, and to proposing sites for harbour porpoise where they can be identified in accordance with our obligations under the Directive.

I attach an annex giving contact details should you be unhappy with the service you have received. If you have any queries about this letter, please contact me.

Yours sincerely

Nicola Clarke

Head of Marine Species Conservation

Annex

Complaints

If you are unhappy with the service you have received in relation to your request you may make a complaint or appeal against our decision under section 17(7) of the FOIA or under regulation 18 of the EIRs, as applicable, within 40 working days of the date of this letter. Please write to Mike Kaye, Head of Information Standards, Area 4D, Nobel House, 17 Smith Square, London, SW1P 3JR (email: requestforinfo@defra.gsi.gov.uk) and he will arrange for an internal review of your case. Details of Defra’s complaints procedure are on our website. If you are not content with the outcome of the internal review, section 50 of the FOIA and regulation 18 of the EIRs gives you the right to apply directly to the Information Commissioner for a decision. Please note that generally the Information Commissioner cannot make a decision unless you have first exhausted Defra’s own complaints procedure. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at: Information Commissioner’s Office Wycliffe House Water Lane Wilmslow Cheshire SK9 5AF

From: Carl Johnson [mailto ] Sent: 05 August 2014 23:01 To: Swansea Tidal Cc: STEVEN CAMPBELL-KELLY; Carl Johnson Subject: Fwd: You have been forwarded an enquiry from the First Point of Contact Centre. CRM:0009014 Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Copy of email from Natural Resources Wales re European legal action and potential SAC status for the Outer bristol Channel CJ Rhossili working Group Begin forwarded message: From: "Lowcock James, Richard (SF - NRF-AFM Marine & Fisheries)" <Richard.LowcockJames@Wales.GSI.Gov.UK> Date: 24 July 2014 08:09:40 BST To: " '" < > Cc: Customer Help <CustomerHelp@Wales.GSI.Gov.UK> Subject: FW: You have been forwarded an enquiry from the First Point of Contact Centre. CRM:0009014 Dear Mr Johnson Thank you for your recent e-mail to the Welsh Government in which you asked two specific questions about the current status of infraction proceedings against the UK over the lack of Special Area of Conservation (SACs) in UK waters for the Harbour Porpoise, and what progress has been made in establishing SACs for the Harbour Porpoise in UK waters (particularly in the outer Bristol Channel). The UK received, and responded to, a Letter of Formal Notice (dated 20 June 2013) from the European Commission, which outlined its concern about a lack of SACs for harbour porpoise in the UK under the EU Habitats Directive. To date we have not received any further correspondence from the European Commission regarding this specific case. Therefore we are of the understanding that the case remains open. The current position on progress towards establishing SACs for harbour porpoise in UK waters is that we continue to work to identify potential sites for harbour porpoise. The Joint Nature Conservation Committee is continuing analysis of the most up-to-date and extensive dataset on harbour porpoise, with the aim of determining whether any further areas suitable for designation as a SAC are present in UK waters. At this time we are still in the stages of data analysis, and therefore no decisions regarding specific sites have yet been made. I hope this addresses your queries. Please feel free to contact me directly if I can be of any further help. Yours sincerely

Richard Lowcock James Y Gangen Cadwraeth Morol/Marine Conservation Branch Is-adran y Môr a Physgodfeydd/Marine and Fisheries Division Amaeth, Bwyd a'r Môr/Agriculture, Food and Marine Llywodraeth Cymru/Welsh Government Ffôn/Phone: 029 2082 3241 Ffacs/Fax: 029 2082 6168 www.cymru.gov.uk www.wales.gov.uk Dylai'r datganiadau neu'r sylwadau uchod gael eu trin fel rhai personol ac nid o reidrwydd fel datganiadau neu sylwadau gan Lywodraeth Cymru, unrhyw ran ohono neu unrhyw gorff sy'n gysylltiedig ag ef. Any of the statements or comments made above should be regarded as personal and not necessarily those of the Welsh Government, any constituent part or connected body.

Enquiry:

Fwd: Planning Inspectorate request for information EN010049

[corrected email address] Begin forwarded message: From: Carl Johnson Date: 27 June 2014 15:58:33 BST To: Welsh Government Llywodraeth Cymru , mcu@wales.gsi.gov.uk Cc: Swansea Tidal , STEVEN CAMPBELL-KELLY , edwina.Hart@Wales.gov.uk,

martin.caton.mp@parliament.uk Subject: Planning Inspectorate request for information EN010049 Dear Sirs, Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay: EN010049 Planning Inspectorate request for information The Preliminary Meeting for the application for development of Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay was held on 10th June 2014. The Planning Inspectorate subsequently published its revised timetable http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/document/2547217 and Panel's First Round of Wriiten Questions: http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/document/2546916 One of the Inspectorate's questions was addressed to Rhossili Working Group: question 5.10 (page 28). Question 1.18 (page 7) is also relevant to our requests.

We therefore seek the following information: 1. What is the current position regarding the legal action started by the European Commission on 21st June 2013 in respect of the UK Government's failure to nominate SACs for the harbour porpoise in UK waters? Note: On 21st June 2013 the Infringement Unit of the Directorate General Environment of the European Commission began formal legal proceedings against the UK Government in respect of the UK Government's failure to nominate SACs in UK waters for the protection of the harbour porpoise, a European protected species. I attach below a redacted copy of the letter sent by the Commission to Porthcawl Environment Trust informing them of this action. 2. What is the current position on progress towards establishing SAC's for the harbour porpoise in UK waters, particularly the establishment of the Outer Bristol Channel as a SAC for the harbour porpoise? You will note that the Planning Inspectorate have asked for replies by Wednesday 9th July 2014. It would be greatly appreciated if we could receive your response by this date. Thank you for your assistance, Yours faithfully, Carl Johnson Rhossili Working Group

Begin forwarded message: From: Swansea Tidal Date: 16 June 2014 14:34:00 BST To: " " Subject: EN010049: Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Dear Sir/Madam EN010049: Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay Your reference: 10026533 Please follow the link below to view the letter: Rule 8 letter, including a link to the Examining Authority’s First Round of Written Questions: http://infrastructure.planningportal.gov.uk/document/2547217

If this link does not open automatically, please cut and paste it into your browser. Yours faithfully Tidal Lagoon Swansea Bay team 3/18 Eagle Wing The Planning Inspectorate Temple Quay House Temple Quay Bristol BS1 6PN Email: swanseatidal@infrastructure.gsi.gov.uk Helpline: 0303 444 5000 Web: www.planningportal.gov.uk/planninginspectorate (Planning Inspectorate casework and appeals) Web: www.planningportal.gov.uk/infrastructure (Planning Inspectorate's National Infrastructure Planning portal) This communication does not constitute legal advice. Please view our Information Charter before sending information to the Planning Inspectorate.

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