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<p>Consent is required from the Marine Management Organisation (MMO) to construct,
extend or operate any offshore generating stations with a generating capacity of between
1 and 100 megawatts (MW). Stations which would generate more than 100MW are classed
as <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/marine-licensing-nationally-significant-infrastructure-projects"
target="_blank">nationally significant infrastructure projects</a> and require a development
consent order granted by the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial
Strategy.</p><p> </p><p>Some electricity generating works may be subject to regulation
under the <a href="http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2000/1927/contents/made" target="_blank">Electricity
Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2000 (as amended)</a>
and require an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) to be submitted to the MMO alongside
the main application. EIAs are required to include a description of the likely significant
effects of the development on the environment, including any effects on seabirds,
marine mammals and other coastal wildlife.</p><p> </p><p>In addition, offshore wind
farms are required to have pre and post consent monitoring plans which are managed
by the MMO. For example, a Marine Mammal Mitigation Plan (MMMP) lists the appropriate
mitigation measures that should be utilised during offshore activities that are likely
to produce underwater noise and vibration levels capable of potentially causing injury
and disturbance to marine mammals.</p><p> </p><p>Any environmental assessment, including
EIAs and MMMPs, submitted as part of any application are available online via the
<a href="https://infrastructure.planninginspectorate.gov.uk/projects/register-of-applications/"
target="_blank">Planning Inspectorate’s national register of applications</a> and
the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/check-marine-licence-register" target="_blank">MMO’s
public register</a>.</p><p> </p><p> </p><p> </p>
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