The Forestry (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017

PART 4 PUBLICITY AND PROCEDURES ON SUBMISSION OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT REPORTS

Publication of EIA report

18.—(1) Where, in relation to an EIA application, the applicant submits to the Commissioners a report which the applicant refers to as an EIA report, the Commissioners must publish, as soon as possible, a notice in accordance with this regulation.

(2) Notice under paragraph (1) must—

(a) describe the application and the EIA forestry project to which the report relates;

(b) state that the EIA forestry project is subject to an environmental impact assessment; and, where relevant, state that it is likely to have significant effects on the environment in another EEA State;

(c) state that the report is available for inspection free of charge and the times and places at which, and the means by which, the report is available for inspection;

(d) state how copies of the report may be obtained;

(e) state the cost of a copy of the report;

(f) state how and by what date representations may be made (being a date not earlier than 30 days after last date on which the notice is published);

(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

(h) state the nature of possible decisions to be taken in relation to the application and provide details of the authority by whom such decisions are to be taken.

(3) Notice under paragraph (1) must be published—

(a) on the application website;

(b) in The Edinburgh Gazette; and

(c) in a newspaper circulating in the locality in which the EIA forestry project is situated.

(4) The applicant must, at the time of submitting the report, pay the cost to be incurred by the Commissioners in arranging publication of the notice in accordance with paragraph (3)(b) and (c).

(5) The Commissioners must make copies of the report and other documents submitted with the application available for inspection—

(a) on the application website; and

(b) at an office of the Commissioners at which the register may be inspected.

Consultation where EIA report received by the Commissioners

19.—(1) Where the Commissioners receive in connection with an EIA application, a report which the applicant refers to as an EIA report, they must—

(a) send a copy of the report to the consultation bodies; and

(b) consult the consultation bodies about the report and inform them how and by what date representations may be made (being a date not earlier than 30 days after the date on which the copy of the report was sent under paragraph (a)).

(2) Where any body whom the Commissioners are required to consult under this regulation considers that consultation with that body is not required in respect of any report relating to any case or class of case or relating to any specified area and so informs the Commissioners in writing, then the Commissioners are not required to consult that body under this regulation.

Copies of EIA report for the public

20.—(1) Where a report which the applicant refers to as an EIA report is provided in relation to an EIA application, the applicant must ensure that a reasonable number of copies of the report are available at any address named in the notice published under regulation 18(1) as an address at which copies may be obtained.

(2) A reasonable charge reflecting printing and distribution costs may be made to a member of the public for a copy of a report made available in accordance with paragraph (1).