What routine and non-routine dredging operations take place in the Firth of Forth; which public authority is responsible for consenting to …

Forth Ports plc, as statutoryharbour authority under the Forth Ports Authority Order Confirmation Act 1969, isthe main organisation carrying out dredging operations in the Firth of Forth. Incertain cases, e.g. when dredging within 50 yards of a bridge, pipe, submarine cableetc, Forth Ports is obliged to provide interested organisations with no less than28 days written notice of its intention to do so. If such operations involve thesea disposal of dredge material then a licence is also required under Part II of the Food and Environment Protection Act 1985 (Deposits in the Sea) (FEPA). FisheriesResearch Services, Marine Laboratory at Aberdeen (FRS) acts as the FEPA licensingauthority on behalf of the Scottish ministers. While there is no requirement forpublic consultation under FEPA, FRS routinely consults Scottish Natural Heritage,the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and local fishermen via the ScottishFisheries Protection Agency about all applications received.
Information is not held centrallyon the full range of dredging operations undertaken. Depending on the nature of the method used, some dredging operations may not fall under FEPA and so will notcome to the attention of FRS. Such operations are however likely to be very localisedand small in scale.
Over the past three years therehave been 10 routine (maintenance dredging) and two non-routine (capital dredging)licensed operations involving the sea disposal of dredge material within the Firthof Forth. FEPA sea disposal licences are usually issued for a period of one calendaryear. Details of dredge material disposal operations within the Firth of Forth thathave been licensed over the past three years are given in the following table:
Starting Date of Licence
| Licensee/
Applicant (if Different)
| Place of Production
| Licensed -Actual Tonnage
| Nature of Dredge Spoil
| Disposal Site Name

01-08-2003
| Buchanan Laird Ltd/
Forth Ports
| Granton Harbour
| 311,383-
91585
| Capital dredgings
| Oxcars

10-10-2003
| Forth Ports
| Grangemouth
| 1,150,000-
850,309
| Maintenance dredgings
| Bo’ness

01-02-2004
| Forth Ports
| Leith
| 531,750-
47,576
| Maintenance dredgings
| Narrow Deep

17-05-2004
| Forth Ports
| Rosyth
| 130,000-
114,297
| Maintenance dredgings
| Oxcars

17-08-2004
| Fife Council
| Anstruther
| 42,638-
29,434
| Maintenance dredgings
| Anstruther

10-10-2004
| Forth Ports
| Grangem