Cair Vie Windfarm EIA criteria

Summary

The requester asked for specific criteria and internal guidance regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Cair Vie Wind Farm. The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture refused to provide the information, stating it was already reasonably accessible via published scoping reports.

Key Facts

• The request concerned the Cair Vie Wind Farm project's Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) criteria.
• The authority cited Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 to refuse the request.
• The department directed the requester to a scoping report and scoping opinion available on the government website.
• The outcome was classified as 'No information sent - all held but exempt'.
• The response was issued on 2 May 2025, closing the request.

Data Disclosed

• 4566685
• 2025-04-04
• 2025-05-02
• 2024
• Section 20
• Freedom of Information Act 2015

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015 (Information reasonably accessible)

Original Request

Please provide: 1. A list of any defined criteria, thresholds, or benchmarks that DEFA has required or recommended the developer to use in evaluating the significance of environmental impacts in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Cair Vie Wind Farm project. 2. Clarification on whether these assessment criteria were: a) Prescribed or approved by DEFA; b) Based on independent or internationally recognised standards; or c) To be determined at the developer's discretion. 3. Any internal guidance, policy documents, or correspondence held by DEFA that explain how criteria for assessing significance are selected or validated, especially where there is no statutory framework in Manx law. 4. Confirmation as to whether DEFA will review or validate the significance criteria proposed by the developer before the Environmental Statement is accepted.

Data Tables (1)

Full Response Text

Freedom of Information Co-ordinator Corporate Services Directorate Thie Slieau Whallian, Foxdale Road, St John’s, Isle of Man, IM4 3AS Tel no (01624) 685854 Fax no (01624 685851 Email: defa@gov.im www.gov.im

Our ref: 4566685 02 May 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request, received 4 April 2025, which states:

"Please provide:

1. A list of any defined criteria, thresholds, or benchmarks that DEFA has required or recommended the developer to use in evaluating the significance of environmental impacts in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for the Cair Vie Wind Farm project.

2. Clarification on whether these assessment criteria were:

a) Prescribed or approved by DEFA;

b) Based on independent or internationally recognised standards; or

c) To be determined at the developer's discretion.

1. Any internal guidance, policy documents, or correspondence held by DEFA that explain how criteria for assessing significance are selected or validated, especially where there is no statutory framework in Manx law.

2. Confirmation as to whether DEFA will review or validate the significance criteria proposed by the developer before the Environmental Statement is accepted."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, under section 20 of the Act, we are not required to provide information in response to a request if it is already reasonably accessible to you, whether free of charge or on payment of a fee. The information that you have requested is available within the scoping report and the scoping opinion, which can be found here: https://www.gov.im/news/2024/jul/19/pre- application-advice-on-the-cair-vie-wind-farm-project/ To offer advice and assistance Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used to assess the significant effects of a project or development proposal on the environment. EIAs make sure that project decision makers think about the likely

effects on the environment at the earliest possible time and aim to avoid, reduce or offset those effects. The EIA/Environmental Statement will be submitted with the planning application at which time the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture will review the information provided and it will be open to public consultation. Please quote the reference number 4566685 in any future communications.

Your right to request a review

If you are unhappy with this response to your freedom of information request, you may ask us to carry out an internal review of the response, by completing a complaint form and submitting it electronically or by delivery/post.

An electronic version of our complaint form can be found by going to our website at https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/Review . If you would like a paper version of our complaint form to be sent to you by post, please contact me and I will be happy to arrange for this. Your review request should explain why you are dissatisfied with this response, and should be made as soon as practicable. We will respond as soon as the review has been concluded.

If you are not satisfied with the result of the review, you then have the right to appeal to the Information Commissioner for a decision on; 1. Whether we have responded to your request for information in accordance with Part 2 of the Freedom of Information Act 2015; or 2. Whether we are justified in refusing to give you the information requested.
In response to an application for review, the Information Commissioner may, at any time, attempt to resolve a matter by negotiation, conciliation, mediation or another form of alternative dispute resolution and will have regard to any outcome of this in making any subsequent decision. More detailed information on your right to a review can be found on the Information Commissioner’s website at www.inforights.im. Should you have any queries concerning this letter, please do not hesitate to contact me. Further information about freedom of information requests can be found at www.gov.im/foi.

I will now close your request as of this date.