EIR/202400427083 · FOI/EIR · partially withheld
Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Environmental Statement: EIR release
Information requested
Access to the confidential badger appendices from the Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route Environmental Statement.
Response
An exception under regulation 10 (5) (g) of the EIRs (protection of the environment) applies to some of the information requested because it would make public the exact locations of badger setts. Badgers are a protected species under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, as amended by the Wildlife and Natural Environment (Scotland) Act 2011.
This exception is subject to the ‘public interest test’. In this instance we consider that while there may be a public interest in disclosing this information, as it may contribute to the transparency of decision making on the application in question, this interest is outweighed by the public interest arising from the obligation to uphold the protected status of this species and the potential risk that would arise from publishing exact sett and foraging locations, which could lead to disturbance, obstruction or destruction or setts, or other forms of persecution.
Please see Annexes A, B and C to this response. Any illustrative information related to the appendices are also withheld under the regulation (10(5)(g) as it cannot be redacted to remove the sensitive locational information.
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Detected exemption language
Response An exception under regulation 10 (5) (g) of the EIRs (protection of the environment) applies to some of the information requested because it would make public the exact locations of badger setts.