The Rampion Offshore Wind Farm Order 2014

Pre-construction plans and documentation

7.—(1) No part of the works at paragraph 2(2) of Part 1 (licensed marine activities) of this licence shall commence until the following (as relevant to that Part) have been submitted to and approved in writing by the MMO—

(a) subject to paragraph (2), a design plan at a scale of between 1:25,000 and 1:50,000, including detailed representation on the most suitably scaled admiralty chart, which shows—

(i) the length and arrangement and location of all cables comprising Work No. 3A;

(ii) any archaeological exclusion zones identified under sub-paragraph(g)(iv); and

(iii) any exclusion zones/micrositing requirements identified in any mitigation scheme pursuant to sub-paragraph (h); and

(iv) in plan form, the indicative programming of particular works as set out in the indicative written construction programme to be provided under sub-paragraph (b)(iv),

to ensure conformity with the description of Work No. 3A and compliance with condition 1 above;

(b) a construction and monitoring programme to include details of—

(i) the proposed construction start date;

(ii) proposed timings for mobilisation of plant, delivery of materials and installation works;

(iii) proposed pre-construction surveys, baseline report format and content, construction monitoring, post-construction monitoring and related reporting in accordance with conditions 7(1)(h), 11, 12 and 13, and the pre-construction survey programme and pre-construction survey methodologies shall be submitted to the MMO for written approval by the MMO, in consultation with Natural England and JNCC, at least four months prior to the commencement of any survey works detailed within; and

(iv) an indicative written construction programme for all cables comprised in the works at paragraph 2(2) of Part 1 (licensed marine activities) of this licence (insofar as not shown in (ii) above);

(c) a construction method statement in accordance with the construction methods assessed in the environmental statement and including details of—

(i) cable installation, including cable landfall;

(ii) contractors;

(iii) vessels and vessels transit corridors;

(iv) proposals to reduce the impacts of noise and vibration from construction works;

(v) a protocol for routeing vessels to and from the wind farm to minimise impacts on marine mammals and marine users;

(vi) associated works;

(vii) areas within the Order limits in which construction activity will take place; and

(viii) a schedule of planned maintenance (to be updated every three years to reflect any revised maintenance schedules, technologies or techniques);

(d) a project environmental management and monitoring plan to include details of—

(i) a marine pollution contingency plan to address the risks, methods and procedures to deal with any spills and collision incidents during construction and operation of the authorised scheme in relation to all activities carried out;

(ii) a chemical risk assessment to include information regarding how and when chemicals are to be used, stored and transported in accordance with recognised best practice guidance;

(iii) waste management plan and disposal arrangements;

(iv) the appointment and responsibilities of a fisheries liaison officer and an environmental liaison officer; and

(v) a fisheries liaison plan (in accordance with the outline fisheries liaison strategy) to ensure relevant fishing fleets are notified of commencement of licensed activities pursuant to condition 2 and to address the interaction of the licensed activities with fishing activities during construction and operation;

(e) a scour protection management and cable armouring plan, in accordance with the outline scour protection management and cable armouring plan, providing details of the need, type, sources, quantity and installation methods for scour protection;

(f) a cable specification and installation plan (in accordance with the outline cable specification and installation plan), to include—

(i) technical specification of offshore cables below MHWS, including a desk-based assessment of attenuation of electro-magnetic field strengths, shielding and cable burial depth in accordance with industry good practice;

(ii) a detailed cable burial plan for the Order limits seaward of MHWS, incorporating a burial risk assessment to ascertain suitable burial depths and cable laying techniques;

(iii) appropriate methods such as a trawl or drift net to be deployed along the offshore subsea export cables between the array and mean low water mark, following the survey referred to in condition 13(3)(a) to assess any seabed obstructions resulting from burial of the export cables; and

(iv) proposals to minimise impacts on cuttlefish spawning;

(g) a written scheme of archaeological investigation in relation to the Order limits seaward of mean low water in accordance with the outline offshore written scheme of archaeological investigation, industry good practice and after consultation with English Heritage (and, if relevant West Sussex County Council) to include—

(i) details of responsibilities of the undertaker, archaeological consultant and contractor;

(ii) a methodology for any further site investigation including any specifications for geophysical, geotechnical and diver or remotely operated vehicle investigations;

(iii) analysis and reporting of survey data, and timetable, which is to be submitted to the MMO within four months of any survey being completed;

(iv) delivery of any mitigation including, where necessary, archaeological exclusion zones;

(v) monitoring during and post construction, including a conservation programme for finds;

(vi) archiving of archaeological material, inclusive of any completed and agreed archaeological reports produced through the written scheme of archaeological investigation which are to be deposited by the undertaker within a public archive in accordance with the OASIS (Online AccesS to the Index of archaeological investigationS’) system;

(vii) a reporting and recording protocol, including reporting of any wreck or wreck material during construction, operation and decommissioning of the authorised scheme; and

(viii) provision for a plan showing, in relation to the plan agreed pursuant to condition 7(1)(a), the indicative proposed location of installation vessels for construction of Work No. 3A; and

(h) a mitigation scheme for any Annex 1 Habitat identified by the survey referred to in condition 11(2)(a).

(2) Before approving the design plan required to be submitted under paragraph (1)(a), the MMO must consult with Trinity House and the MCA.