(1)SNH may, where it considers that all or any part of a site of special scientific interest is no longer of special interest by reason of the natural feature specified in the SSSI notification, give notification to the persons set out in subsection (2) of its intention to revoke the SSSI notification or, as the case may be, modify it so as to disapply its effect to the part of the site in question.
(2)Those persons are the interested parties in relation to the site or, as the case may be, the part of the site in question.
(3)In determining for the purposes of subsection (1) whether all or any part of a site of special scientific interest is no longer of special interest, SNH must have regard to—
(a)the extent to which the SSSI notification continues to contribute towards the development of a series of sites of special scientific interest in Scotland representative of the diversity and geographic range of—
(i)Scotland’s natural features,
(ii)the natural features of Great Britain,
(iii)the natural features of the member States, and
(b)any guidance issued or approved under subsection (1) of section 54 so far as containing information of the description referred to in subsection (2)(a) of that section.
(4)A notification under subsection (1) must be accompanied by—
(a)a document which—
(i)describes the site of special scientific interest or, as the case may be, the part in question, and
(ii)explains why SNH considers the site of special scientific interest or part no longer to be of special interest by reason of the natural feature specified in the SSSI notification, and
(b)a map on which the site of special scientific interest or part is delineated.