Public consultation on application for consent for site clearance surveys of the Kinsale Head

(including South West Kinsale & Ballycotton) and Seven Heads Gasfields by PSE Kinsale Energy Limited who currently hold the Kinsale Head Petroleum Lease (OPL 1) and the Seven Heads Petroleum Lease

An application for consent for seabed clearance surveys of the Kinsale Head (including South West Kinsale & Ballycotton) and Seven Heads Gasfields locations was initially received by the Geoscience Regulation Office of the Department of the Environment, Climate and Communications on 14 February 2022 and following subsequent receipt of all required documentation it completed validation on 28 February 2022.

The application has been received from PSE Kinsale Energy Limited, who operate the Kinsale Head Petroleum Lease (OPL 1) and the Seven Heads Petroleum Lease, granted by the Minister for the Environment, Climate and Communications pursuant to Section 13 of the Petroleum and Other Minerals Development Act 1960.

The surveys are required to confirm seabed status on various sites following completion of decommissioning of subsea wells and associated facilities.

The public are invited to make submissions in relation to this application.

Submissions can be sent to GSRO@decc.gov.ie

This application was posted on the website on 4 March 2022 and any submission received by close of business on 20 April 2022 will be considered by the Minister.

EIA Screening: Further Information Received

Further to the Department's request, the Applicant has provided additional information so that an EIA Screening Assessment can be carried out. This additional information was published on gov.ie on 30 May 2022.

The public are invited to make submissions in relation to the additional information until 15 June 2022, which will be taken into account in carrying out an EIA screening assessment of the application.

Submissions should be sent to EAU@decc.gov.ie

AA Screening: Further Information Received

Further to the Department's request, the Applicant has provided additional information so that an AA Screening Assessment can be carried out. This additional information was published on gov.ie on 30 May 2022.

The public are invited to make submissions in relation to the additional information until 15 June 2022, which will be taken into account in carrying out an AA screening assessment of the application.

Submissions should be sent to EAU@decc.gov.ie

EIA Screening: Further Information Received

Further to the Department request, the Applicant has provided additional information so that an EIA Screening Assessment can be carried out. This additional information has been published on the Department's website on 20 July 2022.

The public are invited to make submissions in relation to the additional information until 4 August 2022, which will be taken into account in carrying out an EIA screening assessment of the application. Submissions should be sent to EAU@decc.gov.ie

AA Screening: Further Information Received

The public are invited to make submissions in relation to the additional information until 4 August 2022, which will be taken into account in carrying out an AA screening assessment of the application. Submissions should be sent to EAU@decc.gov.ie

EIA Screening Determination

On 25 August 2022 an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening determination was made in accordance with Directive 2011/92/EU, as amended by Directive 2014/52/EU (EIA Directive) that the proposed site clearance surveys the subject of the PSE application is not likely to have significant effects on the environment and, consequently, an Environmental Impact Assessment is not required, subject to the mitigation measures included in the EIA Screening Determination being included as conditions in any consent that may be granted in respect of the application.

AA Screening Determination

On 24 August 2022, a determination was made, following screening under Regulation 42 of the European Communities (Birds and Natural Habitats) Regulations 2011 (S.I. 477 of 2011) (as amended), that a Stage 2 Appropriate Assessment is not required in respect of the proposed site clearance survey activities, as it can be excluded on the basis of objective scientific information that the proposed site clearance works, individually or in combination with other plans or projects, will not have a significant effect on a European Site. No likely significant effects on European sites have been identified, having regard to the potential connectivity with sites, relevant conservation objectives and the potential for in combination effects and will not cause significant disturbance to Annex IV species described.

Vessel(s) Approval

The applicant must seek prior approval from DECC for the vessel(s) to be used, in which case confirmation of equivalence will be required and that the nature and extent of the proposed activities described in the EIA Screening and AA Screening Reports have not materially changed.

Next Steps

The application has now been returned to the Geoscience Regulation Office in the Department who will make a recommendation to the Minister regarding whether consent should be given for the activities applied for.

Inspection of Determinations

The application and relevant documents may be also inspected free of charge or purchased on payment of a specified charge (not exceeding the reasonable cost of making a copy) by arrangement by emailing EAU@decc.gov.ie

We are committed to engaging with stakeholders in a clear, open and transparent manner. Any person or organisation can make a submission in relation to this consultation. All submissions and feedback will be considered before the final decision is made.

Please note that responses to this consultation are subject to the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act 2014 (FOI), Access to Information on the Environment Regulations 2007-2018 (AIE) and the Data Protection Act 2018.

Please also note that we intend to publish the contents of all submissions received to our consultations on our website. We will redact personal data prior to publication. In responding to this consultation, parties should clearly indicate where their responses contain personal information, commercially sensitive information or confidential information which they would not wish to be released under FOI, AIE or otherwise published.

We would like to draw your attention to our Data Privacy Notice which explains how and when we collect personal data, why we do so and how we treat this information. It also explains your rights in relation to the collection of personal information and how you can exercise those rights.

The Department accepts petitions from the public. However, where petitions are submitted, each Petition Organiser should be aware that details provided by petition signatories when signing the petition (e.g. names, addresses, email addresses, telephone numbers etc) is categorised as ‘personal data’ which is subject to GDPR (EU Regulation 2016/679 ‘General Data Protection Regulation 2018’). Petition Organisers are Data Controller in respect of any personal data provided by petition signatories. Accordingly, where petitions are submitted you are required to confirm in your submission that:

all individuals whose personal data is provided in the Petition have consented to the processing of their personal data by the Petition Holder and the Department (as outlined in our Privacy Statement above),

OR

that you otherwise have a legal basis (please specify) for providing such personal data to the Department for the purposes of participation in this consultation.

• Application Decision
• Decision Documentation