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Map credit:   DECC Habitats Regulations Assessments of 14th Onshore Oil and Gas Licencing Round
(Maps are in the Appendix E link at the bottom of the DECC page)
See also this map prepared for Frack Free Chew Valley which includes Ancient Woodlands,
Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty and Groundwater Protection Zones in the area.

ST35b is part of PEDL321
Licence Operator   South Western
Partner South Western Energy Limited

Other blocks in licence ST25b, ST34
Licence type Shale
Commitments 1 well
Drill Or Drop clause None

The licence in this area covers several blocks, including this one. The listed commitments are for the whole licence area, not per block.

Administrative areas covered by licence
Somerset
North Somerset

Parliamentary constituencies and MPs
Wells  James Heappy         Conservative
Weston-Super-Mare            John Penrose           Conservative

European areas overlapping with licence block
  Mendip Limestone Grasslands SAC
North Somerset and Mendip Bats SAC
Severn Estuary SAC
Severn Estuary SPA
Severn Estuary RAMSAR

European areas outside block which could be adversely affected
  Somerset Levels and Moors SPA
Somerset Levels and Moors RAMSAR

Wildlife Trust sites overlapping with block
Hellenge Hill (Avon Wildlife Trust)
Purn Hill (Avon Wildlife Trust)
Walborough (Avon Wildlife Trust)

Sensitivity concerns     Bats, Birds, Coastal habitat, Vibration effects from nearby drilling

Conditions
Stage A, B, C and D activities will be prohibited at or near to the surface within the boundaries of all European sites in this block

Advice
This block has European sites within it, or within 1km of the block boundary. In general, land within approximately 1km of a European site is considered to be of a potentially sensitive nature (due to its proximity to the European site) such that mitigation and/or alternative siting may be required by authorities further considering HRA issues for specific project-level operations. .- In some instances, bird species that are associated with SPAs and some Ramsar sites may rely on non-designated habitats beyond the European site boundaries, and so could be vulnerable to activities occurring outside the designated site itself. Land within 10kmof an SPA, or a Ramsar site designated for its bird populations, is therefore considered to be of a potentially sensitive nature (due to its proximity to the European site) such that mitigation and/or alternative siting may be required by authorities further considering HRA issues for specific project-level operations. The European sites potentially vulnerable in or near this block are Severn Estuary Ramsar, Somerset Levels & Moors Ramsar, Somerset Levels and Moors SPA, Severn Estuary SPA.- Coastal or marine habitat features could be vulnerable to any changes in coastal processes that occur due to activities occurring along the coastline. Land located along the coastline (i.e. within 1km of the mean low water level), and which is also within 10km of a European site with coastal habitats, is therefore considered to be of a potentially sensitive nature (due to its potential connectivity to a European site) such that mitigation and/or alternative siting may be required by authorities further considering HRA issues forspecific project-level operations. The European sites potentially vulnerable in or near this block are Severn Estuary Ramsar, Severn Estuary/Môr Hafren SAC.- Bat species usually rely on non-designated habitats beyond the European site boundaries (bats can commute and forage for many kilometres beyond their core habitat), and so could be vulnerable to activities occurring outside the designated site itself. Land withinthe 10km of an SAC designated for its bat populations is considered to be of a potentially sensitive nature (due to its proximity to the European site) such that mitigation and/or alternative siting may be required by authorities further considering HRA issues for specific project-level operations. The European sites potentially vulnerable in or near this block are North Somerset and Mendip Bats SAC, Mendip Limestone Grasslands SAC.- Some of European site interest features (e.g. birds species; fish; marine mammals) are potentially sensitive to noise or vibration effects associated with Stage A activities (as well as Stage B, C and D activities). Land within approximately 1km of a European site supporting noise or vibration sensitive features is considered to be of a potentially sensitive nature (due to its proximity to the European site) such that mitigation and/or alternative siting may be required by authorities further considering HRA issues for specific project-level operations. The European sites with features potentially vulnerable to this in or near this block are Severn Estuary Ramsar, Somerset Levels & Moors Ramsar, Somerset Levels and Moors SPA, Severn Estuary SPA, Severn Estuary/Môr Hafren SAC.

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