Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ssi/2017/115/body/made
Timestamp: 2018-04-24 09:13:45
Document Index: 687203177

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 4', 'art 4', 'art 4', 'arts 5', 'art 9', 'ART 3', 'arts 5', 'art 9', 'ART 8', 'ART 9', 'ART 10', 'ART 12']

“the 2010 Act” means the Marine (Scotland) Act 2010(1);
supplementary information required in accordance with regulation 21(2); or
any other information provided by the applicant which, in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers, is substantive information about a matter to be included in the EIA report in accordance with regulation 6(2);
“applicant”—
means in relation to an application for a regulatory approval, the applicant; and
for the purposes of regulations 10, 11, 14 and 15, includes a person who is minded to make an application for a regulatory approval;
“application for multi-stage regulatory approval” means an application for approval, consent or agreement required by a condition included in a regulatory approval where (in terms of the condition) that approval, consent or agreement must be obtained from the Scottish Ministers before all or part of the works permitted by the regulatory approval may be begun;
“application website” means a website maintained by the applicant for the purpose of making publicly available information relating to applications to which these Regulations apply;
“consenting authority” means, in relation to a project, any authority whose consent to any activity to be undertaken in the course of the project is required under any enactment;
any relevant local planning authority;
Scottish Natural Heritage, established under section 1 of the Natural Heritage (Scotland) Act 1991(2);
the Scottish Environment Protection Agency, established under section 20 of the Environment Act 1995(3);
Historic Environment Scotland, established by section 1 of the Historic Environment (Scotland) Act 2014(4); and
“decision notice” has the meaning given in regulation 23;
“EIA application” means an application for a regulatory approval for an EIA project;
“EIA project” means works which are either—
schedule 1 works; or
schedule 2 works likely to have significant effects on the environment by virtue of factors such as their nature, size or location;
“EIA report” has the meaning given in regulation 6;
“electronic communication” has the meaning given in section 15(1) of the Electronic Communications Act 2000(6);
“environmental impact assessment” has the meaning given in regulation 5;
the EIA report submitted in respect of the proposed works;
any additional information submitted in respect of the works;
any representations made by any consultation body, or other public body, consulted in respect of the works in accordance with these Regulations; and
any representations duly made by any other person about the environmental effects of the works;
“environmental statement” has the meaning given in the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2007(7) as those Regulations had effect immediately prior to the date on which these Regulations came into force;
“exempt works” means works in respect of which either—
the Scottish Ministers have made a direction under regulation 8; or
the Scottish Ministers have, under regulation 9, determined that an environmental impact assessment is not required;
“marine licence” means a marine licence granted under Part 4 of the 2010 Act;
by a designation order made by the Scottish Ministers under section 67 of the 2010 Act;
“multi-stage regulatory approval” means an approval, consent or agreement given pursuant to an application for multi-stage regulatory approval;
“regulated activity” means an activity for which a regulatory approval is required;
a marine licence granted under Part 4 of the 2010 Act; or
a variation under said Part 4 of such a marine licence;
“relevant assessment” means, in relation to proposed works, an assessment, or verification, of effects on the environment carried out pursuant to national legislation which is relevant to the assessment of the environmental impacts of the proposed works;
where a regulated activity is likely to have a significant effect on the environment of Northern Ireland, or the Northern Ireland inshore region (within the meaning of section 322 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009(8)), the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs in Northern Ireland; or
where a regulated activity is likely to have a significant effect on the environment of England or the English offshore region (within the meaning of section 322 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009), the Marine Management Organisation or, as the case may be, the Secretary of State;
“relevant local planning authority” means—
any authority that is a planning authority for the purposes of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997(9) in or adjacent to whose area the regulated activity is prepared to be carried out; and
where the regulated activity is carried out in or adjacent to a National Park(10), the National Park authority for the National Park;
“Scottish marine protection area” has the meaning given in section 65 of the 2010 Act;
“schedule 1 works” means works, other than exempt works, of a description set out in schedule 1;
“schedule 2 works” means works, other than exempt works, of a description set out in column 1 of schedule 2 where—
any part of the works is to be carried out in a sensitive area; or
any applicable threshold or criterion in the corresponding part of column 2 of that table is respectively exceeded or met in relation to the works;
“screening opinion” means an opinion adopted by the Scottish Ministers as to whether works are, or are not, an EIA project;
land in respect of which an order has been made under section 23 of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004(11);
a European site within the meaning of regulation 10 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994(12);
a property appearing in the World Heritage List kept under article 11(2) of the 1972 UNESCO Convention for the Protection of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage(13);
a scheduled monument within the meaning of the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979(14);
a National Scenic Area as designated by a direction made by the Scottish Ministers under section 263A(15) of the Town and Country Planning (Scotland) Act 1997;
an area designated as a National Park; and
“site of special scientific interest” has the meaning given in section 58(1) of the Nature Conservation (Scotland) Act 2004(16);
“works” means the carrying out of activities for which a regulatory approval is required, unless the context otherwise requires;
(2) Expressions used both in these Regulations and in the Directive (whether or not also used in the 2010 Act) have the same meaning for the purposes of these Regulations as they have for the purposes of the Directive.
(3) In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires, references to a relevant local planning authority in relation to works in, on, over or under sea, are references to such planning authority or planning authorities as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate in respect of the proposed works.
(4) In these Regulations, where an applicant submits a revised or a supplementary EIA report (or a report which that person refers to as such) any reference to an EIA report is to be treated as including a reference to that revised or supplementary EIA report.
3.—(1) The Scottish Ministers may require an applicant to pay them reasonable fees in respect of relevant expenses.
(2) In paragraph (1) “relevant expenses” means administrative and other expenses which the Scottish Ministers reasonably incur under these Regulations in their capacity as a consenting authority (including any expenses in respect of any examination or test carried out in that capacity), but does not include any expenses in respect of which a fee may be charged under any other provision of these Regulations.
(3) The determination of the amount of a reasonable fee incurred in the performance of a function under—
(a)regulation 9, 10 or 11;
(b)regulation 14; or
(c)regulation 24,
must be made by the Scottish Ministers.
(4) Before determining the amount of a fee under paragraph (3), the Scottish Ministers must consult such organisations as appear to them to represent persons who are likely to apply for a marine licence.
Prohibition on granting a regulatory approval without an environmental impact assessment
4. Subject to regulation 8, the Scottish Ministers must not grant a regulatory approval for an EIA project unless an environmental impact assessment has been carried out in respect of that project and in carrying out such assessment the Scottish Ministers must take the environmental information into account.
5.—(1) An environmental impact assessment is a process consisting of—
(b)the carrying out of consultation, publication and notification as required by Parts 5, 6, 7 and, where relevant, Part 9;
(d)the reasoned conclusion by the Scottish Ministers on the significant effects of the works on the environment, taking into account the results of the examination referred to in sub-paragraph (c) and, where appropriate, their own supplementary examination; and
(e)the integration of the Scottish Ministers’ reasoned conclusion into the decision notice in accordance with regulation 23.
(2) The environmental impact assessment must identify, describe and assess in an appropriate manner, in light of the circumstances relating to the proposed works, the direct and indirect significant effects of the proposed works on the factors specified in paragraph (3) and the interaction between those factors.
(b)biodiversity, and in particular species and habitats protected under Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora(17) and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds(18);
(4) The effects to be identified, described and assessed under paragraph (2) include the expected effects deriving from the vulnerability of the works to risks, so far as relevant to the works, of major accidents and disasters.
(5) Unless paragraph (6) applies, the environmental impact assessment to be carried out in relation to the determination of an application for a regulatory approval for an EIA project must identify the likely significant effects of the proposed works on the environment before a decision to grant a regulatory approval for those works is made.
(a)are minded to grant a regulatory approval for an EIA project, subject to a condition that all or part of the proposed works must not commence before certain matters in implementation of that authorisation have been approved by the Scottish Ministers; and
(b)consider that the likely significant effects of the works on the environment are not fully identifiable at the time of their determination of the application for a regulatory approval.
6.—(1) An application for a regulatory approval for an EIA project must be accompanied by an environmental impact assessment report (referred to in these Regulations as an “EIA report”).
(a)a description of the works comprising information on the site, design, size and other relevant features of the works;
(b)a description of the likely significant effects of the works on the environment;
(c)a description of the features of the works and any measures envisaged in order to avoid, prevent or reduce and, if possible, offset likely significant adverse effects on the environment;
(d)a description of the reasonable alternatives studied by the applicant, which are relevant to the works and its specific characteristics, and an indication of the main reasons for the option chosen, taking into account the effects of the works on the environment;
(f)any other information specified in schedule 4 relevant to the specific characteristics of the works or of the types of works in question and to the environmental features likely to be affected.
(3) Where a scoping opinion is adopted, the EIA report must be based on that scoping opinion and must include the information that may reasonably be required for reaching a reasoned conclusion on the significant effects of the works on the environment, taking into account current knowledge and methods of assessment.
(b)the EIA report must be accompanied by a statement from the applicant outlining the relevant expertise or qualifications of those experts.
PART 3PROCEDURES CONCERNING APPLICATIONS FOR REGULATORY APPROVALS
12.—(1) This regulation applies where it appears to the Scottish Ministers that—
(a)an application for a regulatory approval which is before them for determination is an application to carry out schedule 1 works or an application to carry out schedule 2 works;
(b)the works in question have not been the subject of a screening opinion; and
(c)the application is not accompanied by a report referred to by the applicant as an EIA report.
(2) Where this regulation applies the Scottish Ministers must adopt a screening opinion in respect of the proposed works to which the application for a regulatory approval relates.
(3) If it appears to the Scottish Ministers that the application for a regulatory approval is an application to carry out schedule 2 works but the Scottish Ministers do not consider that the information submitted by the applicant in connection with the application includes all the information referred to in regulation 10(2), the Scottish Ministers must seek from the applicant such information as they consider remains to be provided by giving notice to the applicant describing that information.
13.—(1) This regulation applies where an EIA application which is before the Scottish Ministers for determination is not accompanied by a report referred to by the applicant as an EIA report.
(2) Where this regulation applies the Scottish Ministers must notify the applicant, in writing, that the submission of an EIA report is required.
(a)within 3 weeks beginning with the date on which the application is made; or
(b)where the Scottish Ministers adopt a screening opinion after the date on which the application is made under regulation 12(2), within 7 days beginning with the date of making of that screening opinion.
(4) An applicant who receives notice under paragraph (2) may, within the period of 3 weeks beginning with the date of the notice, write to the Scottish Ministers stating that an EIA report will be provided and may under regulation 14 ask the Scottish Ministers to adopt a scoping opinion.
(5) If the applicant does not write by virtue of paragraph (4), the Scottish Ministers are under no duty to deal with the application and, within the period of 3 weeks beginning with the date of the notice under paragraph (2), the Scottish Ministers must inform the applicant, in writing, that no further action is being taken on the application.
(6) If the applicant writes in accordance with paragraph (4), but does not provide an EIA report to the Scottish Ministers, then the Scottish Ministers are to determine the application only by refusing regulatory approval.
14.—(1) An applicant may request the Scottish Ministers to adopt a scoping opinion.
(a)a description of the location of the works, including a plan sufficient to identify the area in which the works are proposed to be sited;
(b)a brief description of the nature and purpose of the works and their likely impact on the environment; and
(3) If the Scottish Ministers consider that they have not been provided with sufficient information to adopt a scoping provision they must, within the period of 3 weeks beginning with the date of the request under paragraph (1), notify the applicant of the points on which they require further information.
(b)any other public body which the Scottish Ministers consider is likely to have an interest in the proposed works by reason of that body’s specific environmental responsibilities or local and regional competencies.
(5) The consultation period under paragraph (4) is either—
(a)30 days beginning with the date on which the Scottish Ministers contact the bodies referred to in paragraph (4) by virtue of that paragraph; or
(b)where the Scottish Ministers and any such body have agreed a longer period, such longer period.
(6) The Scottish Ministers, when adopting a scoping opinion, must take into account—
(a)the information provided by the applicant, in particular information in respect of the specific characteristics of the works, including their location and technical capacity, and their likely impact on the environment; and
(7) The Scottish Ministers must, within the period of 5 weeks beginning with the date by which any body consulted under paragraph (4) is required to make representations, or within such longer period as the Scottish Ministers require, adopt a scoping opinion and send a copy to the applicant.
(8) The adoption of a scoping opinion by the Scottish Ministers does not preclude the Scottish Ministers from requiring of the applicant information in connection with any report that may be submitted by that person as an EIA report in connection with an application for a regulatory approval for the same works as referred to in the scoping opinion.
(9) Where the applicant has, at the same time as making a request for a screening opinion under regulation 10(1), made a request under paragraph (1), and the Scottish Ministers have adopted a screening opinion to the effect that the works are an EIA project, the Scottish Ministers must begin the procedures relating to scoping on the date on which they give the screening opinion.
(10) The Scottish Ministers may at their own volition adopt a scoping opinion and paragraphs (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) apply in relation to the adoption of such a scoping opinion as they apply where a request is made under paragraph (1).
15.—(1) An applicant who intends to submit an EIA report to the Scottish Ministers under these Regulations may give notice of that intention, in writing, to the Scottish Ministers under this paragraph.
(2) A notice under paragraph (1) must include the information necessary to identify the location, nature and purpose of the works, and must indicate the main environmental consequences to which the applicant proposes to refer in the EIA report.
(3) Where the Scottish Ministers receive notice under paragraph (1), or a written statement made by virtue of regulation 13(4), they must—
(a)notify the consultation bodies and any other public body which the Scottish Ministers consider is likely to have an interest in the proposed works by reason of that body’s specific environmental responsibilities or local and regional competencies, in writing, of—
(i)the name and address of the applicant; and
(ii)the duty imposed on those bodies by paragraph (4) to make information available to that person; and
(b)inform the applicant, in writing, of the names and addresses of the bodies so notified.
(4) Subject to paragraphs (5) and (6), any body notified in accordance with paragraph (3) must, if requested by the applicant—
(a)enter into consultation with the applicant to determine whether the body has in its possession any information which that body or the applicant considers to be relevant to the preparation of the EIA report; and
(b)if the body has any such information, the body must make that information available to the applicant.
(a)may refuse to disclose under regulation 10(1) of the Environmental Information (Scotland) Regulations 2004(19); or
(a)may refuse to disclose under regulation 12(1) of the Environmental Information Regulations 2004(20); or
21.—(1) This regulation applies where the Scottish Ministers are considering an EIA application (including an application for multi-stage regulatory approval).
(2) In order to ensure the completeness and quality of the EIA report, the Scottish Ministers must (having regard in particular to current knowledge and methods of assessment) seek from the applicant supplementary information about any matter mentioned in schedule 4 which in the opinion of the Scottish Ministers is directly relevant to reaching a reasoned conclusion on the significant effects of the works on the environment.
(3) The applicant must provide that supplementary information.
(4) The Scottish Ministers may, in writing, require to be produced to them such evidence, in respect of any EIA report or additional information as they may reasonably call for to verify any information contained in the EIA report or such additional information, as the case may be.
22.—(1) Where additional information is provided to the Scottish Ministers, the applicant must publish a notice in accordance with paragraph (2) containing the information required by paragraph (3).
(b)in one or more newspapers circulating in the locality in which the works are situated (or, in relation to proposed works in, on, over or under the sea, in such newspapers as are likely to come to the attention of those likely to be affected by the proposed works); and
(c)on the application website.
(3) A notice under paragraph (1) must—
(a)describe the EIA application and the proposed works;
(g)provide details of the arrangements for public participation in the decision making procedure, including a description of how notice is to be given of any subsequent submission by the applicant of additional information and how representations in relation to that additional information may be made; and
(4) The applicant must serve a copy of the additional information on any person to whom a copy of the EIA report was supplied under regulation 18(1) together with a copy of the notice published under paragraph (1).
(5) A reasonable charge reflecting printing and distribution costs may be made in relation to the supply of a copy of the additional information to any person but the copies served under paragraph (4) are to be supplied free of charge.
(a)the information is provided for the purposes of an inquiry held under the 2010 Act;
(c)the information must be published as part of that inquiry.
23.—(1) Where an EIA application is determined by the Scottish Ministers, the notification of the decision to be given to the applicant (referred to in these Regulations as “the decision notice”) must include the information specified in paragraph (2).
(a)a description of the works;
(ii)the results of the consultations and information gathered pursuant to Parts 5 and 6 and, where relevant, Part 9 and how those results, in particular comments received from an EEA State pursuant to consultation under regulation 30, have been incorporated or otherwise addressed;
(f)if the decision is to grant a regulatory approval—
(ii)the reasoned conclusion referred to in regulation 5(1)(d);
(iv)a description of any features of any mitigation measures; and
(3) Where regulation 5(6) applies, the decision notice must describe the matters in respect of which the Scottish Ministers consider that the effects of the works are not fully identifiable at the time of their determination of the EIA application.
(4) For the purposes of paragraph (2)(f)(iii), the reasoned conclusion referred to in regulation 5(1)(d) is still up to date if the Scottish Ministers are satisfied, having regard to current knowledge and methods of assessment, that the reasoned conclusion addresses the likely significant effects of the works on the environment.
(5) In this regulation and in regulation 24—
“mitigation measures” means any features of the works and any measures envisaged in order to avoid, prevent or reduce and, if possible, offset likely significant adverse effects on the environment including any such features or measures required by virtue of a condition imposed on the grant of regulatory approval; and
“monitoring measures” means measures requiring the monitoring of any significant adverse effects on the environment of the proposed works including any such measures required by virtue of a condition imposed on the grant of regulatory approval.
24.—(1) Where an EIA application is determined by the Scottish Ministers and the decision is to grant a regulatory approval, the Scottish Ministers must consider whether it is appropriate to require monitoring measures to be carried out.
(a)whether monitoring measures are proportionate to the nature, location and size of the proposed works and the significance of their effects on the environment having regard in particular to the type of parameters to be monitored and the duration of the monitoring;
(4) Where mitigation measures or monitoring measures are required by a condition imposed on the grant of a regulatory approval the Scottish Ministers must take steps to ensure that those measures are implemented.
25.—(1) Where an EIA application is determined by the Scottish Ministers they must—
(a)send the decision notice to the applicant;
(b)notify the consultation bodies, and such other bodies consulted under regulation 18(1), of their decision by sending a copy of the decision notice to such bodies; and
(c)publish a notice containing the information specified in paragraph (3)(a) to (c) on a website.
(2) The applicant must, as soon as reasonably practicable after receiving the decision notice under paragraph (1)(a), notify the public of the decision, and of where a copy of decision notice may be inspected, by publishing a notice in accordance with paragraph (3)(d).
(3) A notice under paragraphs (1) and (2) must—
(a)describe the works;
(b)state the terms of the decision;
(c)state the times and places at which, and the means by which, a copy of the decision notice is available for inspection; and
(d)be published—
(i)in The Edinburgh Gazette;
(ii)in one or more newspapers circulating in the locality in which the proposed works are situated (or in relation to the proposed works situated in, on, over or under the sea, such newspapers as are likely to come to the attention of those likely to be affected by the proposed works); and
(iii)on the application website.
PART 8MULTI-STAGE REGULATORY APPROVALS
Prohibition on granting a multi-stage regulatory approval without an environmental impact assessment
26. The Scottish Ministers must not grant an application for multi-stage regulatory approval in respect of an EIA project unless an environmental impact assessment has been carried out in respect of that project and in carrying out such assessment the Scottish Ministers have taken the environmental information into account.
Application for a multi-stage regulatory approval where EIA report previously provided
(a)an application for a multi-stage regulatory approval which is before the Scottish Ministers for determination relates to regulatory approval for an EIA project;
(b)an EIA report has previously been submitted by the applicant in relation to the works;
(c)it appears to the Scottish Ministers that the works, or the part of the works to which the application for multi-stage regulatory approval relates, as the case may be, may have significant effects on the environment that have not previously been identified; and
(d)the applicant has not submitted additional information in respect of those effects together with the application for multi-stage regulatory approval,
the Scottish Ministers must seek supplementary information from the applicant in accordance with regulation 21(2) in respect of such effects.
Application for a multi-stage regulatory approval without EIA report
(a)it appears to the Scottish Ministers that an application for multi-stage regulatory approval which is before them for determination relates to schedule 1 works;
(c)an EIA report has not been submitted by the applicant in relation to the works,
the Scottish Ministers must adopt a screening opinion in respect of the works.
(a)it appears to the Scottish Ministers that an application for multi-stage regulatory approval which is before them for determination relates to schedule 2 works;
(b)it appears to them that the works in question may have significant effects on the environment that have not previously been identified (whether in an earlier screening opinion or because the works have not been the subject of a screening opinion); and
(3) Where the Scottish Ministers adopt a screening opinion under paragraph (1) or (2) to the effect that the works to which the application for multi-stage regulatory approval relates are an EIA project, the Scottish Ministers must notify the applicant, in writing, that the submission of an EIA report is required.
(4) The Scottish Ministers must notify the applicant in accordance with paragraph (3) within the period of 3 weeks beginning with the date of the screening opinion.
(5) An applicant who receives a notification under paragraph (3) may, within the period of 3 weeks beginning with the date of the notification, write to the Scottish Ministers stating that an EIA report will be provided and may under regulation 14 request the Scottish Ministers to adopt a scoping opinion.
(6) If the applicant does not write in accordance with paragraph (5), the Scottish Ministers are under no duty to deal with the application and, at the end of the 3 week period, the Scottish Ministers must inform the applicant, in writing, that no further action is being taken on the application.
(7) If the applicant writes by virtue of paragraph (5), but does not provide an EIA report to the Scottish Ministers, then the Scottish Ministers are to determine the application only by refusing regulatory approval.
Modification of Regulations relating to an application for multi-stage regulatory approval
29.—(1) These Regulations apply to an application for multi-stage regulatory approval as if—
(a)references to an application for regulatory approval were references to an application for multi-stage regulatory approval;
(b)references to an EIA application were references to an application for multi-stage regulatory approval for an EIA project; and
(c)in regulation 30(5)(b) the reference to “regulatory approval” were a reference to “multi-stage regulatory approval”.
(2) Regulations 23(2)(d), (e) and (g) and 25(1)(b) and (2) apply in respect of the notification of a decision on an application for multi-stage regulatory approval only where an EIA report or additional information has been first submitted or provided by the applicant to the Scottish Ministers in connection with that application.
PART 9PROJECTS WITH SIGNIFICANT TRANSBOUNDARY EFFECTS
(a)it comes to the attention of the Scottish Ministers that works proposed to be carried out in Scotland are the subject of an EIA application and are likely to have significant effects on the environment in an EEA State other than the United Kingdom; or
(b)an EEA State other than the United Kingdom likely to be significantly affected by such works makes a request to the Scottish Ministers under Article 7 of the Directive.
(a)send to the EEA State, as soon as possible and no later than their date of publication in The Edinburgh Gazette referred to in sub‑paragraph (b), the particulars mentioned in paragraph (3) and, if they think fit, the information referred to in paragraph (4);
(b)publish the information referred to in sub-paragraph (a) in a notice placed in The Edinburgh Gazette indicating the address where further information is available; and
(a)a description of the works, together with any available information on their possible significant effect on the environment in another EEA State; and
(4) Where an EEA State indicates in accordance with paragraph (2)(c), that it wishes to participate in the procedure for which these Regulations provide, the Scottish Ministers must, as soon as possible, send to that EEA State the following information:—
(a)a copy of the EIA application concerned;
(b)a copy of the EIA report in respect of the works to which that application relates; and
(a)arrange for the particulars and information referred to in paragraphs (3) and (4) and any additional information submitted by the applicant to be made available, within a reasonable period of time, to the authorities referred to in Article 6(1) of the Directive and the public concerned in the territory of the EEA State likely to be significantly affected; and
(b)ensure that those authorities and the public concerned are given an opportunity, before a regulatory approval is given for the works, to forward to the Scottish Ministers, within a reasonable period of time, their opinion on the information supplied.
(6) The Scottish Ministers, in accordance with Article 7(4) of the Directive, must—
(a)enter into consultations with the EEA State concerned regarding, amongst other things, the potential significant effects of the works on the environment of that EEA State and the measures envisaged to reduce or eliminate such effects; and
(7) Where an EEA State has been consulted in accordance with paragraph (6), on the determination of the EIA application concerned, the Scottish Ministers must inform the EEA State of the decision and forward to it a statement of—
(c)a description, where necessary, of the main measures to avoid, reduce and, if possible, offset the major adverse effects of the works.
31.—(1) Where the Scottish Ministers receive from an EEA State other than the United Kingdom pursuant to Article 7(2) of the Directive information which that EEA State has gathered from the applicant of a proposed project in that EEA State which is likely to have significant effects on the environment in Scotland, the Scottish Ministers must, in accordance with Article 7(4) of the Directive—
(b)determine in agreement with that EEA State a reasonable period, before a regulatory approval is given for the project, during which members of the public in Scotland may submit to the competent authority in that EEA State representations pursuant to Article 7(3)(b) of the Directive; and
(iii)a description of the main measures to avoid, reduce and, if possible, offset the major adverse effects that have been identified.
(a)arrange for the information referred to in paragraph (1) to be made available, within a reasonable period of time, both to the authorities in Scotland which they consider are likely to be concerned by the project by reason of their specific environmental responsibilities, and to the public concerned in Scotland; and
(b)ensure that those authorities and the public concerned in Scotland are given an opportunity, before a regulatory approval for the project is granted, to forward to the competent authority in the relevant EEA State, within a reasonable time, their opinion on the information supplied.
PART 10OFFENCES
Provision of false etc. information
32.—(1) A person commits an offence if that person, for the purpose of procuring a particular decision on an application to which these Regulations apply—
(4) The Court of Session may, on the application of the Scottish Ministers, the chief constable or any other public body or office-holder having responsibility for enforcing this regulation, declare unlawful any act or omission of the Crown which would but for paragraph (3) be an offence under this regulation.
33.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where—
(a)an offence under regulation 32(1) has been committed by—
(3) In paragraph (1), “relevant individual” means—
34.—(1) In these Regulations, and in relation to the use of electronic communications for any purpose in these Regulations which is capable of being effected electronically—
(2) Paragraphs (3) to (8) apply where an electronic communication is used by a person for the purpose of fulfilling any requirement in these Regulations to give or send any report, statement, notice or other document to any other person (referred to in these Regulations as “the recipient”).
(a)the requirement under regulation 19(1), (2)(a) or (3) to provide copies of a report;
(b)any requirement under regulation 26, including submitting information to an EEA State; and
(c)any requirement under regulation 30, including submitting representations.
(b)at any time during a day which is not a working day, it is deemed to have been received on the next working day,
and for these purposes, “working day” means a day which is not a Saturday, Sunday, Christmas Eve, a bank holiday in Scotland under section 1 and paragraph 2 of schedule 1 of the Banking and Financial Dealings Act 1971(21), a day appointed for public thanksgiving or mourning or any other day which is a local or public holiday in an area in which the electronic communication is received.
(8) Where electronic communication is used by a person for the purpose of fulfilling any requirement in these Regulations (other than under regulation 19(1), (2)(a) or (3), 30 or 31) to give or send any report, statement or document, any such requirement may be complied with by sending one copy only of the report, statement or other document in question.
35.—(1) Any person sending a document using electronic communications is to be taken to have agreed—
(2) Deemed agreement under paragraph (1) subsists until that person gives notice under regulation 36 to revoke the agreement.
36. Where a person is no longer willing to accept the use of electronic communications for any purpose which, under these Regulations, is capable of being carried out using such communications, that person must give notice in writing—
and such withdrawal or revocation will be final, and will take effect on a date specified by the person in the notice, being a date occurring after the period of 7 days, beginning with the date on which the notice is given.
37. Any non‑governmental organisation promoting environmental protection and meeting any requirements under the law is deemed to have an interest for the purposes of Article 11(1)(a) of the Directive and rights capable of being impaired for the purposes of Article 11(1)(b) of the Directive.
38.—(1) Where, in relation to an EIA project there is, in addition to the requirement for an environmental impact assessment to be carried out in accordance with these Regulations, also a requirement to carry out a habitats regulation appraisal, the Scottish Ministers must, where appropriate, ensure that the habitats regulation appraisal and the environmental impact assessment are co-ordinated.
(2) In this regulation, a “habitats regulation appraisal” means an assessment under one, or more, of the following regulations—
(a)regulation 48 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 1994;
(b)regulation 25 of the Offshore Marine Conservation (Natural Habitats, &c.) Regulations 2007(22);
(c)regulation 61 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010(23).
39.—(1) The Scottish Ministers are to perform their duties arising under these Regulations in an objective manner and so as not to find themselves in a situation giving rise to a conflict of interest.
(2) Where the Scottish Ministers are to consider an application for an EIA project they have made, they are to implement within their organisation of administrative competences an appropriate separation between conflicting functions when performing their duties under these Regulations.
PART 12TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS AND REVOCATIONS
Transitional provisions – general
40.—(1) These Regulations, other than regulations 5(4), 6(4) and (5)(b), 8(3), 24 and 38, apply with the modifications specified in paragraph (2) in respect of an application for regulatory approval where the applicant has before 16th May 2017—
(b)made a request for a scoping opinion under regulation 13(1) of the 2007 Regulations in respect of the works to which the application relates.
(b)for the factors specified in regulation 5(3)(a) to (d) there were substituted—
(c)for regulation 6(2) there were substituted—
“(2) An EIA report is a report prepared in accordance with this regulation by the applicant which includes (at least) the information specified in schedule 3 of the 2007 Regulations.”; and
(d)the reference in regulation 21(2) to matters mentioned in schedule 4 of these Regulations were a reference to the matters mentioned in schedule 3 of the 2007 Regulations.
(a)a request for a scoping opinion under regulation 13(1) of the 2007 Regulations is made before 16th May 2017; and
(b)the Scottish Ministers have not adopted the scoping opinion before that date,
that request is to be treated as having been made under regulation 14(1) but when adopting the scoping opinion the Scottish Ministers are to assess the scope and level of detail of information to be contained in the EIA report by reference only to the scope and level of detail of information which immediately before 16th May 2017 had to be included in an environmental statement in accordance with regulation 12(2) and schedule 3 of the 2007 Regulations.
(4) References in this regulation and in regulation 41 to provisions of the 2007 Regulations are references to such provisions as they had effect immediately before 16th May 2017.
41. These Regulations, other than regulations 9(1)(b) and 10(2) to (4), apply in respect of a request for a screening opinion made under regulation 11(1) of the 2007 Regulations before 16th May 2017 as they apply to a request for a screening opinion made under 10(1) of these Regulations on or after that date as if—
(a)the reference in regulation 11(4) to items or information required to be contained in or accompany a request in accordance with regulation 10(2) of these Regulations were a reference to items or information required to accompany a request for a screening opinion in accordance with sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of paragraph 1 of schedule 2 of the 2007 Regulations; and
(b)the reference in regulation 9(1)(a)(i) and (2)(a) to the criteria set out in schedule 3 of these Regulations were a reference to the criteria set out in schedule 1 of the 2007 Regulations.
42. The following instruments are revoked:—
(a)the 2007 Regulations;
(b)the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2011(24); and
(c)the Marine Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2015(25).