Infrastructure (Wales) Act 2024

37 Marine impact reports

(1) If the draft order submitted with an application for infrastructure consent contains provision for a deemed marine licence Natural Resources Wales must respond to a notice given under section 34(2)(b) by submitting a marine impact report in respect of the application to the Welsh Ministers before the deadline specified in the notice.

(2) The Welsh Ministers may direct Natural Resources Wales to submit a marine impact report in respect of an application for infrastructure consent and Natural Resources Wales must submit the report within the deadline specified in the direction.

(3) Natural Resources Wales may submit a marine impact report in respect of an application for infrastructure consent otherwise than in response to a notice given under section 34(2)(b) or a direction given under subsection (2) before the deadline specified in publicity under section 34(3).

(4) In this Act, a marine impact report in respect of an application is a report in writing that—

(a) gives details of the likely impact of the proposed development on the marine environment, and

(b) complies with requirements specified in regulations about the form and content of a marine impact report.

(5) In this section, “the marine environment” includes—

(a) the natural beauty or amenity of marine or coastal areas (including their geological or physiographical features);‍

(b) flora and fauna which are dependent on, or associated with, a marine or coastal environment.