AMETS Foreshore Lease Application - Public Consultation Introduction
For the Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) to be developed a foreshore lease is first required for the project. As part of the consenting process surrounding the application for a foreshore lease an Environmental Impact Assessment is undertaken for which SEAI is required to provide an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). During 2010 and 2011 SEAI carried out the relevant on and off-shore surveys that provided the basis for the EIS. In December 2011, following the conclusion of these surveys and preparation of the EIS, the foreshore lease application and EIS were submitted to the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government.
As part of the next stage in the consenting process an 8 week public consultation period on the AMETS proposal is currently underway. Submissions, comments in relation to the AMETS proposal may therefore be made in writing during this 8 week period to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government.
Contact details for submissions and comments:
- Please quote Ref: MS 51/13/426 in all correspondence
In writing to: Foreshore Unit, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Newtown Road, Wexford, Co. Wexford
or by e-mail to foreshore@environ.ie
Closing date for all submissions:17:30, 22/05/2012
Full text of Public Notice of Application for a Foreshore Consent
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland
Foreshore Consent Application in respect of a Wave Energy Converter Test Site
Notice is hereby given pursuant to Section 19A of the Foreshore Act 1933 (as amended), that the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Wilton Park House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2 has applied for consent under the Foreshore Acts to occupy an area of foreshore for the proposed Atlantic Marine Energy Test Site (AMETS) at Annagh Head, Co. Mayo and includes the following elements:
- The offshore Wave Energy Converters (WECs) Test Sites and their anchorages, and
- The submarine electrical cables connecting the Wave Energy Converter (WEC) arrays and the cable extending from the WEC Test Sites in a south easterly direction towards the cable landfall Belderra Strand
An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) has been prepared in respect of this proposal. The foreshore application, EIS, associated documents, all relevant maps, site plans and drawings may be inspected at the following locations:
- Belmullet Garda Station, Béal an Mhuirthead, Co. Mayo (24 Hour Garda Station)
- Mayo Public Library, Civic Centre, Béal an Mhuirthead, Co. Mayo (Tues, Wed & Sat during the hours 11:00 – 16:00; Fri during the hours 14:00 – 19:00)
- Mayo County Council, Belmullet Area Office, Church Street, Belmullet, Co Mayo (Mon – Fri during the hours 09:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 17:00)
A hard copy of the Environmental Impact Statement may be purchased from the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI), Wilton Park House, Wilton Place, Dublin 2 at €130 per copy. A Non Technical Summary may be obtained free of charge.
CDs that include the Environmental Impact Statement, maps, site plans and drawings, and a copy of the foreshore application are available free of charge from the applicant at the address stated above or by emailing info@seai.ie.
The application may also be viewed on the following dedicated website: www.seai.ie/foreshorelease and on the Department’s website ( http://www.environ.ie/en/Foreshore/ApplicationsandDeterminations/)
The Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government is responsible for making a decision on this application and he may either grant, approve or consent to the application with or without covenants, conditions or agreements, where applicable, or refuse the application.
Section 19C of the Foreshore Act does not apply to this application.
Submissions, comments in relation to the proposal may be made in writing within 8 weeks from the publication of this notice to the Minister for the Environment, Community and Local Government at Foreshore Unit, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Newtown Road, Wexford, Co. Wexford or by e-mail to foreshore@environ.ie (Quoting Ref: MS 51/13/426). The closing date for the receipt of written submissions, comments or questions is therefore 17:30 on 22/05/2012.
Within 8 weeks from the publication of this notice, a copy of the application, the environmental impact statement and any other relevant report or information (including copies of any submissions, comments, or questions received by the appropriate Minister) may be inspected free of charge Foreshore Unit, Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government, Newtown Road, Wexford, Co. Wexford during the hours 10:00 to 13:00 and 14:00 to 17:00 Monday to Friday. All of this material, including submissions from the public, will also be published on the website of the Department of the Environment, Community and Local Government at: http://www.environ.ie/en/Foreshore/ApplicationsSubjecttoEIA/.
Dated: 27th March 2012
Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland,
Wilton Park House, Wilton Place,
Dublin 2
