011-03-490.2 - Provision of Environmental Review of Applications for Consents to Construct Gas Pipelines or to Lay Electricity Lines

Descriptions

The CRU currently wishes to contract for consultancy support to provide independent environmental advice and assistance particularly in regard to its consenting functions. Specifically, the successful tenderer will assess whether applicants applying for Section 39A gas pipeline consents have adequately addressed all of the relevant environmental requirements as well as reviewing environmental assessments submitted with some applications for consent under section 48 and section 49 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended.Under Section 39A of the Gas Act 1976 as amended, any person wishing to construct a downstream natural gas pipeline in Ireland must obtain the consent of the CRU. The CRU is seeking consultancy report to review these applications to check their compliance with relevant environmental requirements. The CRU is also seeking consultancy support to assist in reviewing environmental aspects of applications under section 48 and section 49 of the Electricity Regulation Act 1999, as amended (ERA). Under these sections of the ERA, the CRU may issue consents to holders of an authorisation or the holder of a direct line to exercise the powers, which have been conferred on the ESB by the Electricity (Supply) Act 1927, as amended, to lay electric lines across, or under any street, road, railway, tramway or above or below ground across any land. For some applications for consents under section 48 and 49 of the ERA, applicants will submit an Appropriate Assessment Screening which needs to be reviewed. (While it is envisaged that Appropriate Assessment Screening will only be submitted in respect of these consents, there may be instances where other environmental assessments are submitted which will also need to be reviewed). It is this review that we are seeking support for in relation to the section 48 and section 49 applications.The CRU is seeking to engage a consultant to assist it in processing applications for projects seeking a 39A consent, as well environmental assessments required in respe