The Dogger Bank Teesside A and B Offshore Wind Farm Order 2015

Pre-construction monitoring

18.—(1) The undertaker must, in discharging Condition 13(b), and the requirement to prepare a detailed construction and monitoring programme, include details for written approval by the MMO of proposed pre-construction surveys, including methodologies and timings, and a proposed format and content for a pre-construction baseline report. The survey proposals must be in accordance with the principles set out in the offshore in principle monitoring plan and must specify each survey’s objectives and explain how it assists in either informing a useful and valid comparison with the post-construction position or enables the validation or otherwise of key predictions in the environmental statement. The baseline report proposals must ensure that the outcome of the agreed surveys together with existing data and reports are drawn together to present a valid statement of the pre-construction position, with any limitations, and must make clear what post construction comparison is intended and the justification for this being required.

(2) Subject to receipt from the undertaker of specific proposals pursuant to this Condition, where appropriate and necessary it is expected that the pre-construction surveys will comprise—

(a) an appropriate survey to determine the location and reasonable extent of any benthic habitats of conservation, ecological or economic importance including (Annex 1 habitats) in whole or in part inside the areas within the Order limits in which it is proposed to carry out construction works; and

(b) appropriate high-resolution bathymetric surveys undertaken to International Hydrographic Organisation Order IA standard and side-scan surveys of the areas within Work Nos. 1B and 2B within the Order limits in which it is proposed to carry out construction works. This must include the identification of sites of historic or archaeological interest (A1 and A3 receptors) and any unidentified anomalies larger than 5 metres in diameter (A2 receptors), which may require the refinement, removal or introduction of archaeological exclusion zones and to confirm project-specific micro-siting requirements (for A2 receptors).

(3) The undertaker must carry out and complete the surveys to be undertaken under sub-paragraph (1) in a timescale agreed by the MMO.