Hunterston Coal Terminal – Coal Migration Inspection Report

Hunterston Coal Terminal – Coal Migration Inspection Report

September 2017

Hunterston Coal Terminal – Coal Migration Inspection Report

Client: Peel Ports Group

Document number: 7829 Project number: 169928j Status: Final

Author: C Fleming Reviewer: Emma Cormack

Date of issue: 11 September 2017 Filename: Hunterston Coal Migration Report

Glasgow Aberdeen Inverness Edinburgh

Craighall Business Park 8 Eagle Street Glasgow G4 9XA 0141 341 5040 [email protected] www.envirocentre.co.uk

Banchory Business Centre Burn O’Bennie Road Banchory AB31 5ZU 01330 826 596

Alder House Cradlehall Business Park Inverness IV2 5GH 01463 794 212

Suite 114 Gyleview House 3 Redheughs Rigg Edinburgh EH12 9DQ 0131 516 9530

This report has been prepared by EnviroCentre Limited with all reasonable skill and care, within the terms of the Contract with Peel Ports Group (“the Client”). The report is confidential to the Client, and EnviroCentre Limited accepts no responsibility of whatever nature to third parties to whom this report may be made known.

No part of this document may be reproduced or altered without the prior written approval of EnviroCentre Limited.

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.envirocentre.co.uk/

Peel Ports Group September 2017 Hunterston Coal Terminal – Coal Migration; Inspection Report

i

Contents 1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Terms of Reference ................................................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Former Coal Operations at Hunterston................................................................................................... 1 1.3 The Southannan Sands SSSI .................................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Structure of Report ................................................................................................................................. 2

2 Intertidal Area Walkover ................................................................................................................................. 3 3 Yard Area Walkover ......................................................................................................................................... 4 4 Discussion and Recommendations .................................................................................................................. 5

4.1 Synopsis of Observations on Site ............................................................................................................ 5 4.2 Potential Toxicity of Coal ......................................................................................................................... 5 4.3 Recommendations .................................................................................................................................. 5

Appendices A Drawings B Intertidal Area Photographs C Yard Area Photographs

Figures 169414_001 Survey Areas and Features 169414_002 Intertidal Area Photograph Locations 169414_003 Yard InspectionPhotograph Locations and Features

Tables Table 2.1: Intertidal Area Target Notes ................................................................................................................... 3 Table 3.1: Site Boundary Character Types .............................................................................................................. 4


1

1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Terms of Reference

EnviroCentre were commissioned by Peel Ports Group to investigate reports of coal on the foreshore adjacent to their Hunterston Coal Terminal. The elements EnviroCentre were commissioned to undertake are as follows:

• Walkover of foreshore to confirm presence/absence and nature of any coal on the foreshore; • Inspection of yard areas to establish the potential for ongoing input of coal to the foreshore; • Provide a note on water pollution potential of coal; and • Provide recommendations as to any remedial measures that may be required arising from the

observations on site.

1.2 Former Coal Operations at Hunterston

As we understand, the coal handling at Hunterston was split between two operations as follows:

• Bulk handling of coal by Clydeport Operations under permit from SEPA involving the import, storage and export from the site by rail of coal to customers remote from the site. This mainly occurred some distance from the foreshore and SSSI; and

• Screening and processing of coal to provide coal products to the more local area, with exports being taken off site by HGV. This was undertaken by Fergusons on an area of land adjacent to the foreshore, leased from Clydeport (Peel Ports) and operated under their own permit issued by SEPA.

The general areas over which these operations took place are shown in Drawing 169928j_001. Both operations have now ceased. Fergusons operations are known to have been active for over ten years, with the main Hunterston coal terminal being over an even longer period.

1.3 The Southannan Sands SSSI

The Scottish Natural Heritage Citation for the Southannan Sands Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) describes the notified features and provides a description of the site. Narrative extracted from the SNH citation is copied below.

‘NOTIFIED NATURAL FEATURES Biological: Intertidal marine habitats and saline lagoons: Sandflats

DESCRIPTION Southannan Sands comprises a coastal section, subdivided into three discrete areas, which together support one of the best examples of intertidal sandflats habitat within the coastal cell covering the entire Clyde coastline. The sandflats extend for over 4km along the coast, and are subdivided by Hunterston industrial developments. The marine construction yard and the coal terminal conveyor extend beyond the Mean Low Water Springs and subdivide the sandflats into three discrete areas: Hunterston Sands, Southannan Sands and Fairlie Sands. The sandflats are mainly composed of fine to medium sheltered sands, with a small area of mud/silt at Fairlie Sands. Extensive areas of the nationally scarce dwarf eelgrass Zostera noltei are a biologically and structurally important component of the intertidal sediment flats at this site.’

Part of the Southannan Sands therefore lies immediately to the west of the Hunterston Coal Terminal and former Fergusons Operations.


2

1.4 Structure of Report

Given the terms of reference above we have subdivided the remaining sections of this report as follows:

Section 2 – Intertidal Area Walkover

Section 3 – Yard Area Walkover

Section 4 – Discussion and Recommendations


3

2 INTERTIDAL AREA WALKOVER

A walkover of the intertidal area around Fergusons Yard and along the western boundary of the main coal stockyards was undertaken on 26 July 2017 whilst the tide was out. Features observed are noted in the table below with reference locations shown on Drawing 168928j_002.

Table 2.1: Intertidal Area Target Notes Reference No. Description

1 Small inlet with very slow flow. Dark grey sediment 2 Small drain 3 Small coal fragments 4 Fine coal deposits 5 Possible coal deposits and vegetation (eelgrass) 6 Dark grey sand 7 Dark grey-black sediments 8 Clear water 9 Extent of grey sand

10 Rocky foreshore with no coal observed 11 Sub-surface dark grey sediment 12 Briquette 13 Small patch of coal 14 Coal observed 15 Coal observed 16 Furthest find of coal from rock armour 17 Coal observed 18 Large patch of coal 19 Fine deep coal 20 Outfall 21 Clean sand 22 Gravel, dark grey at surface

It is evident that there are deposits of coal around the immediate area of the former Ferguson Yard. These range from fine coal to lump coal. Photographs of each of the above locations are provided in Appendix B.


4

3 YARD AREA WALKOVER

A walkover of Fergusons Yard and the coal terminal boundary to the north of Fergusons Yard was carried out on 17 August 2017. The purpose of this walkover was to establish if there was ongoing potential for coal migration onto the adjacent SSSI.

The boundary to the former Fergusons Yard has variable character. The table below summarises the different types of boundary towards the SSSI. The location of these areas is shown on Drawing 168928j_003. Representative photographs are shown in Appendix C.

Table 3.1: Site Boundary Character Types Area Ref. Description Evident Pathways A Wooden sleepers place in row to block flows. Good vegetation

cover on the edge of the platform. No

B No timber boards but good vegetation cover for most of length. Small 0.3m high bund present on platform edge for most of length.

One small overland flow pathway

C Dense vegetation on platform edge and small bund. No D Concrete retaining wall with one gap but no opportunity for

migration through gap due to topography and dense vegetation. Some lump coal on seaward side of wall but well vegetated on seaward side.

No

E Timber retaining wall area. Some lump coal on seaward side of wall but well vegetated on seaward side.

No

F At least a 30m standoff from edge of platform to coal stockpile areas. Railway line between coal areas and edge of platform provides barrier (especially where on an embankment which is higher at the northern end). Well vegetated at platform edge and patchy grasses in standoff area. Ponding of water around stockpiles area.

No

During the walkover only one small area where overland flow could take place was observed (see Drawing 168928j_003). No other pathways for ongoing migration of coal onto the SSSI were observed from stockpile or yard areas.


5

4 DISCUSSION AND RECOMMENDATIONS

4.1 Synopsis of Observations on Site

In our opinion the following bullet points summarise the key observations during the walkovers of the site:

• There are thin patchy areas of coal on the foreshore in the immediate vicinity of the former Fergusons Yard;

• No coal was observed to the west of the main stockyards; • One location was observed on Fergusons Yard where during heavy rainfall there is potential for small

amounts of fine coal to wash off the platform edge; and • No other overland flow pathways were observed either in Fergusons Yard or on the western boundary

of the former main coal stockyard.

4.2 Water Pollution Potential of Coal

Coal is a predominantly carbon based mineral, although it is known to contain some metals and Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH’s). It is not known to be particularly ‘toxic’ and are not expected to leach metals or PAHs in any significant quantity. Both the Fergusons Yard and the former Clydeport facility had permits to operate issued by Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA). As we understand within these permits the only conditions related to water quality related to suspended solids content of water being discharged, not to chemical quality (any water leaving the site had to have been treated to allow any fine coal to have settled out). It appears therefore that the issue of toxicity of coal was not a concern to SEPA. This is particularly relevant when you consider that hundreds of thousands of tonnes of coal were stored at Hunterston at any one time for many years and coal present on the SSSI is relatively minute in volume.

4.3 Recommendations

The designated feature of the SSSI are the ‘Sandflats’ although dwarf eelgrass is noted as an important feature.

It should be firstly noted that any proposed remedial activity on the intertidal area would have to be notified to Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and agreed with them.

To avoid any detriment to the SSSI we would not recommend any mechanical excavation of coal present on the intertidal area as this will undoubtedly also remove some sand material. In addition eelgrass is noted growing in the area (see Photograph 5, Appendix B) which would be disturbed by any such works. The volume of coal present is also fairly small and is likely to be moved and potentially dispersed by storm activity during high tides. It is also only present on an extremely small proportion of the overall Southannan Sands SSSI.

It is recommended that the small potential area of overland flow identified at Fergusons Yard is bunded off to prevent drainage of rainfall off the platform edge. This small 0.3m bund should be created from inert material with works carried out in dry weather.

It is also recommended that periodic inspection of the Fergusons Yard and western boundary is carried out by site staff to ensure that no overland flow features develop in the future (through erosion or otherwise) which could allow coal to wash off the platform areas in heavy rainfall.


APPENDICES


A DRAWINGS

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B INTERTIDAL AREA PHOTOGRAPHS

Photograph ID Easting Northing Description 1 219751.417 652505.72 Small inlet with very slow flow. Dark grey sediment. 2 219767.736 652512.324 Small drain 3 219761.637 652515.122 Small coal fragments 4 219727.095 652543.67 Fine coal deposits 5 219694.367 652554.277 Possible coal deposits and vegetation (eelgrass) 6 219607.519 652578.496 Dark grey sand 7 219590.078 652584.755 Dark grey-black sediments 8 219576.725 652589.506 Clear water 9 219560.864 652590.146 Extent of grey sand

10 219548.339 652637.544 Rocky foreshore with no coal observed 11 219548.953 652679.308 Sub-surface dark grey sediment 12 219554.971 652686.432 Briquette 13 219572.895 652712.284 Small patch of coal 14 219579.082 652738.624 Coal observed 15 219609.256 652845.207 Coal observed 16 219629.926 652945.256 Furthest find of coal from rock armour 17 219700.055 652989.782 Coal observed 18 219723.437 652993.418 Large patch of coal 19 219791.218 652980.114 Fine deep coal 20 219792.669 652991.848 Outfall 21 219835.345 653048.082 Clean sand 22 219657.493 652510.971 Gravel, dark grey at surface


Photograph 1

Photograph 2


Photograph 3

Photograph 4


Photograph 5

Photograph 6


Photograph 7

Photograph 8


Photograph 9

Photograph 10


Photograph 11

Photograph 12


Photograph 13

Photograph 14


Photograph 15

Photograph 16


Photograph 17

Photograph 18


Photograph 19

Photograph 20


Photograph 21

Photograph 22


C YARD AREA PHOTOGRAPHS

Area Ref. *

Description Evident Pathways Photograph Number

A Wooden sleepers place in row to block flows. Good vegetation cover on the edge of the platform.

No Y1

B No timber boards but good vegetation cover for most of length. Small 0.3m high bund present on platform edge for most of length.

One small overland flow pathway (see Photograph Y15)

Y2

C Dense vegetation on platform edge and small bund. No Y3 D Concrete retaining wall (Y4) with one gap (Y5) but no

opportunity for migration through gap due to topography and dense vegetation. Some lump coal on seaward side of wall but well vegetated on seaward side (Y6).

No Y4, Y5, Y6

E Timber retaining wall area. Some lump coal on seaward side of wall but well vegetated on seaward side. Made ground also present on seaward side of retaining wall (Y8).

No Y7, Y8

F At least a 30m standoff from edge of platform to coal stockpile areas (Y9). Railway line between coal areas and edge of platform provides barrier. Well vegetated at platform edge and patchy grasses in standoff area. Ponding of water around stockpiles area (Y10).

No Y9, Y10

*For areas location see Drawing 168928j_003.

Additional Photographs

Y11 – View of southern side of Fergusons Yard showing vegetation

Y12 - View of western side of Fergusons Yard showing vegetation

Y13 - View of northern side of Fergusons Yard showing vegetation

Y14 – Representative view of western coal yard platform edge

Y15 – Potential overland flow path during heavy rains located on southern boundary


Photograph Y1

Photograph Y2


Photograph Y3

Photograph Y4


Photograph Y5

Photograph Y6


Photograph Y7

Photograph Y8


Photograph Y9

Photograph Y10


Photograph Y11

Photograph Y12


Photograph Y13

Photograph Y14


Photograph Y15

Hunterston Coal Terminal – Coal Migration Inspection Report

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