Name of project or plan:
Installation of a piped river crossing in the Ballyboe
River at Malin in connection with the development of
a sewer network for the Malin Sewerage Scheme(FS
5760,MS51/15/607A)
Name and location of Natura 2000
site:
North Inishowen Coast Special Area of Conservation
(SAC) Site No 2012. The proposed pipeline crossing
is contained within this SAC.
The North Inishowen Coast SAC stretches from
Crummies Bay in the west up to Malin Head and
back down to Inishowen Head to the east. It
encompasses an excellent variety of coastal habitats
including high rocky cliffs, offshore islands, sand
dunes, saltmarsh, a large intertidal bay, and rocky,
shingle and sand beaches. There are excellent
raised beaches along the east coast including the
oldest and best preserved late-glacial fossil coast in
Ireland (between Ineuran Bay and Esky Bay). Indeed
it is the only well preserved such coast in Europe
and so is of international importance. Also of
geomorphological interest is the small area of stone
polygons near Malin Tower. The site is a Special
Area of Conservation (SAC) selected for the
following habitats and/or species listed on Annex I / II
of the E.U. Habitats Directive (* = priority; numbers in
brackets are Natura 2000 codes):
[1140] Tidal Mudflats and Sandflats
[1220] Perennial Vegetation of Stony Banks
[1230] Vegetated Sea Cliffs
[2130] Fixed Dunes (Grey Dunes)*
[21A0] Machairs*
[4030] Dry Heath
[1014] Narrow-mouthed
angustior)
Whorl
Snail
(Vertigo
[1355] Otter (Lutra lutra)
Sea cliffs are a feature of the site, with the best
examples found in the west of the site (Dunree to
Leenan Head and Dunaff Head) and in the area to
the north-west of Glengad Head. Cliffs are often less
than 50 m in height, though they reach over 200 m at
Dunaff and to the north-west of Glengad Head.
Shingle beaches are well represented at the site,
with
the
best
examples
at
Rockstown
harbour/Tullagh Point and along the north-western
shoreline of Malin Head promontory. These areas
contain good examples of raised beaches,
characterised by large mounds of shingle, which may
be interspersed by low cliffs (as seen at Tullagh
Point).
Sand dune systems occur within the site at several
locations, with good examples of fixed dunes and
machair. The dune habitat at the Isle of Doagh is by
far the most extensive. Shifting dunes and fixed
dunes also occur above the rocky shore at
Meallalaghtra/ Lenan Head..
Significant areas of dry heath occur in the site at
both low and high altitudes. The best-developed and
most extensive areas are to be found at Dunaff
Head, Binnion Hill and in the Urris Hills from Mamore
Gap, south-west to Lough Fad and beyond to
Crockfadda.
Trawbreaga Bay is a very sheltered sea bay with a
narrow strait to the open sea at the north end. It is
fed by a number of small rivers or streams. An
estimated 80% of the bay area is exposed at each
low tide to expose a mixture of mudflats, sandbanks
and stony/rocky substrates. In the inner reaches of
the bay, the substrate consists of muddy sand and
coarse sediments with an infaunal community of
polychaetes, oligochaetes and crustaceans. Within
the narrow strait, the community is comprised of
bivalves and polychaetes within a sandy substrate.
Otter are regularly seen along the shoreline and may
breed within the site. Otter is a species listed on
Annex II of the E.U. Habitats Directive. Another
Annex II species, the tiny whorl snail Vertigo
angustior, is also known from this site
This site has important bird interests. An
internationally important population of Barnacle
Goose occurs in the area, with Trawbreaga Bay their
most important haunt. Barnacle Goose is listed on
Annex I of the E.U. Birds Directive. A range of other
waterfowl species winter at Trawbreaga Bay, with an
internationally important population of Brent Goose
Other species which occur in regionally or locally
important numbers include Wigeon, Mallard,
Oystercatcher, Ringed Plover, Dunlin, Curlew and
Redshank. Two Annex I E.U. Birds Directive species
breed within the site. There are up to 12 breeding
territories of Peregrine and 12 pairs of Chough. Both
of these species are associated with the rocky sea
cliffs, with the Choughs utilising the heath and sandy
habitats for feeding. Several species of seabird
breed on the cliffs and islets. These include Fulmar
Cormorant, Shag, Kittiwake, Guillemots, Razorbills
and Black Guillemots. The machair and dunes at
Doagh Isle and elsewhere support breeding waders.
Of particular note is the presence of good examples
of two E.U. Habitats Directive Annex I priority
habitats, fixed dunes and machair. Very good
examples of several other Annex I habitats are
found, notably sea cliffs, vegetated shingle banks,
dry heath and intertidal sand and mudflats. There are
two legally protected plant species and a range of
scarce species. The diversity of bird species is of
particular note, with wintering waterfowl, breeding
seabirds
and
breeding
waders.
Important
populations of three E.U. Birds Directive Annex I
species occur namely Barnacle Goose, Peregrine
and Chough.
The Conservation Objectives of the SAC1are:
To maintain or restore the favourable conservation
condition of the Annex I habitat(s) and/or the Annex
II species for which the SAC has been selected:
1

Vertigo angustior

Mudflats and sandflats not covered by
seawater at low tide

Perennial vegetation of stony banks

Vegetated sea cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic
coasts

Lutra lutra
NPWS (2011) Conservation objectives for North Inishowen Coast SAC [002012]. Generic Version
3.0. Department of Arts, Heritage & the Gaeltacht.
Description of the project or plan

Fixed coastal dunes with
vegetation ("grey dunes")

Machairs (* in Ireland)

European dry heaths
herbaceous
The proposed works are shown in detail on Drawing
No’s 3154/FS/001 and 3154/FS/002 and also with
particular reference to OS Maps No 0020B entitled
(1 )Foreshore Licence Map and (2) ‘’Development
Map ‘’ (foreshore licence areas delineated in red
outline on both these maps) accompanying the
application
The proposed works involves the installation of a
300mm diameter ductile iron gravity sewer across
the Ballyboe River to be supported on precast
concrete piles at 5m centres. The pipeline will be
buried along its length with a minimum cover of
500mm and shall be installed using trench
excavation techniques. The material from the trench
excavation that is to be used to cover the pipe shall
be sown with grass seed to stabilise it. The pipeline
design features are as follows
Crossing length :
135m ( ref OS Map No 0020B –‘’Development Map’’
Areas A and B combined )
Pipe Diameter :
300mm
Foreshore Lease Area : 0.19ha( ref OS Map No
0020B-‘’Development Map ‘’Areas A and B
combined including a sterile working way leave
over buried pipe of 15m width)
Works shall be carried out within the period MaySeptember and are to be confined to the tidal cycle
i.e. during the period from HW to LW
The river crossing is part of the Malin Sewage
Scheme, designed as a collector system which will
deliver sewage to the Carndonagh WWTP for
treatment. This plant was opened in Feb 2005 and
provides secondary and tertiary treatment to both
municipal and industrial wastewater. The treatment
also includes UV Disinfection of the final effluent to
protect designated shellfish growing waters in
Trewbreaga Bay into which the effluent discharges.
In April 2010 a Waste Water Discharge Permit in
respect of this WWTP was issued by the EPA.
Is the project or plan directly No.
connected with or necessary to the
management of the site (provide
details)?
Are there other projects or plans There are no other known or proposed
that together with the project or plan developments in planning that would have a
being assessed could affect the site cumulative effect.
(provide details)?
Describe how the project or plan The works could potentially;
(alone or in combination) is likely to
 Impact on macro-invertebrate communities in
affect the Natura 2000 site.
river/estuarine environments as a result of the
installation
 Disturb and displace bird species due to
construction noise
 Introduce pollutants into the water column
during the works
 Increase water column turbidity and cause
sediment re suspension during excavation
works
 Cause potential smothering of important
habitats by siltation resulting from sediment
plume settlement during excavation works
Explain why these effects are not The foreshore area in question is 0.19ha and thus
considered significant.
the proposed works will result in a very small area of
interaction with the seabed of estuarine habitat and a
smaller area of intertidal mudflat habitat. Any impacts
will be minor, localised and temporary. Similarly any
increase in water column turbidly will be temporary,
localised and within the natural range of variability
caused by current induced sediment resuspension.
There will be no direct discharges onto the foreshore
or into the marine environment during the works (the
gravity sewer will be buried under the foreshore and
will connect to the Carndonagh WWTP). While the
work site and all associated activity will be located
within the North Inishowen Coast SAC the area of
footprint taken up is not significant in the context of
the overall area of the SAC. Any potential impacts
will be temporary, localised and will not be
significant. In this regard it is noted that the
Mitigation Measures as described in the
‘’Assessment of the Impact of the Proposed Malin
Sewerage Scheme’’-ref 1979-049.doc (Sections 6.1
‘’Construction Phase’’ and 6.2 ‘’Operation Phase’’)
shall be strictly adhered to. The full implementation
of these Mitigation Measures, will minimise any
potential noise related impacts and disturbance to
birds and wildlife during the construction phase.
As the pipeline will be will be installed at a minimum
depth of 500mm below the bed of the river there will
be no impacts on the SAC post installation. In the
event of any maintenance or pipe repairs the
Mitigation Measures as mentioned above in relation
to the ‘Operation Phase’’ shall minimise any potential
impact to the SAC
There will be no direct or indirect impact on a priority
habitat (Machair) and no direct or indirect impact on
Perennial vegetation of stony banks, Vegetated sea
cliffs of the Atlantic and Baltic coasts," grey dunes" or
European dry heaths habitats. Disturbance to otters
as a result of the works may affect their distribution
locally but the disturbance will be temporary and it is
not anticipated that the population structure, range or
distribution in the SAC will be affected. There will not
be significant disturbance to key habitats or species.
Additionally there will be no habitat or species
fragmentation and the overall integrity of the site will
not be affected.
On the basis of the above it is it is concluded that
there are not likely to be significant effects as a result
of the installation of the 300mm diameter pipeline
across the Ballyboe River on the Conservation
Objectives of the North Inishowen Coast Special
Area of Conservation (SAC) Site No 2012
Who carried out the assessment?
Department of Environment and Local Government
and Marine Licence Vetting Committee,29TH January
2015