Interpretation of “relevant project”
3.—(1) For the purposes of these Regulations, a project is a relevant project if —
(a)it is a project of a type specified in paragraph (2);
(b)subject to paragraph (3) it is likely, by virtue of factors such as its nature, size and location, to have significant effects on the environment; and
(c)it is carried out by the Department or another Crown body or the carrying out of the project —
(i)does not involve development, or
(ii)involves development which is not mentioned in Schedule 1 to, or in column 1 of the table in Schedule 2 to the Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (1); or
(iii)involves development for which planning permission is granted by Part 7 of Schedule 1 to the Planning (General Development) Order (Northern Ireland) 1993(2).
(2) The types of project referred to in paragraph (1)(a) are —
(a)afforestation;
(b)deforestation;
(c)forest road works;
(d)forest quarry works.
(3) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(b), and subject to regulation 7(3), a project shall be taken not to be likely to have significant effects on the environment if the area covered, or to be covered, by the project does not exceed any relevant threshold set out in Schedule 2.