Core Planning Reasoning
The proposed development's assessment is deemed inconclusive and incomplete as it fails to rule out, beyond reasonable scientific doubt, that the project would not cause a deterioration in the water quality status of the River Boyne or jeopardize the attainment of good surface water status under the Water Framework Directive.
Decision Maker's Conclusion
- The results of the Assimilative Capacity Assessment and Mixing Models are inconclusive due to reliance on distant historical low-frequency data and the exclusion of significant upstream pollution sources and site-specific hydrological variations.
- Potential detrimental impacts on hydrology and aquatic ecology, including impacts on Qualifying Interests such as Atlantic Salmon, River Lamprey, and Kingfisher, cannot be ruled out due to insufficient impact characterization and data gaps.
- The assessment of the impacts on hydrology is considered incomplete because it lacks a pre-consent Method Statement for instream works and fails to adequately account for the effects of weirs and pool habitats near the outfall location.
Cited Policies (CDP)
RD POL 51RD POL 52
Decision Document Summary
The proposal involves an extension to an existing wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) for Dawn Meats Ireland in Co. Meath, featuring a new 7.2km treated wastewater rising main to a discharge point at the River Boyne. The site context is sensitive, as the River Boyne is a 'Nutrient Sensitive Water' and 'At Risk' of not achieving good WFD status, while also supporting protected species within a Natura 2000 site. The Inspector's consultant argues that the applicant's modeling is flawed due to signifi...SOURCE PDFOpen Original
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