Ecological surveys of onshore wind farm site

Summary

The requester asked for a list of ecological licences issued to Manx Utilities Authority for the Earystane and Scard wind farm, but the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture confirmed it holds no such information as no licences were issued.

Key Facts

• The Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture has not issued any licences to the Manx Utilities Authority for the requested wind farm project.
• The authority does not hold the information requested regarding surveys deemed not needing a licence.
• Some related information is available via a previous Freedom of Information request (reference 4572065).
• The Disclosure Log was noted as currently unavailable at the time of response.
• The request was formally closed on 9 May 2025.

Data Disclosed

• 4588208
• 2025-04-15
• 2025-05-09
• 4572065
• 01624 685854
• 01624 685851
• IM4 3AS

Exemptions Cited

• Section 20 – Information accessible to applicant by other means

Original Request

A full dated list of licences issued to the Manx Utilities Authority regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Earystane and Scard proposed onshore wind farm location. Details on what each licence relates to and why it is required. In addition, details of any surveys DEFA have deemed as not needing a licence.

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: 4588208 9 May 2025

Dear ###

We write further to your request received 15 April 2025, which states:

"A full dated list of licences issued to the Manx Utilities Authority regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment of the Earystane and Scard proposed onshore wind farm location.

Details on what each licence relates to and why it is required.

In addition, details of any surveys DEFA have deemed as not needing a licence."

While our aim is to provide information whenever possible, in this instance the public authority does not hold or cannot, after taking reasonable steps to do so, find the information that you have requested. This is because the Department of Environment, Food and Agriculture have not issued any licences to the Manx Utilities Authority.

Section 20 – Information accessible to applicant by other means 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.

Some of the information you have requested is already reasonably accessible to you and is available in a previous Freedom of Information request which can be found by searching “4572065” here: https://services.gov.im/freedom-of-information/search

The Department are aware that the Disclosure Log is currently unavailable and therefore, to offer advice and assistance, I have attached a copy of the response for your reference.

Please quote the reference number 4588208 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.