Environment Act 2021

Duty to keep complainants informed

8 (1) Where a person makes a complaint to the OEP alleging that a relevant public authority has failed to comply with relevant environmental law, the OEP must keep the complainant informed about its handling of the complaint.

(2) In particular, the OEP must—

(a) notify the complainant if it does not intend to consider the complaint because the complaint was not made in accordance with paragraph 6;

(b) notify the complainant if it has concluded that it will not be commencing an investigation under paragraph 7 in relation to the complaint;

(c) notify the complainant if it commences an investigation under paragraph 7 in relation to the complaint;

(d) if such an investigation is commenced, notify the complainant—

(i) where it provides a report under paragraph 7(5) to the relevant public authority that is the subject of the investigation, that it has provided it;

(ii) where it makes a review application (see paragraph 12), or an application for judicial review by virtue of paragraph 13(1), in relation to the alleged failure to comply with relevant environmental law that is the subject of the investigation, that it has made such an application;

(e) provide the complainant with a copy of any document published under paragraph 7(9) in relation to any investigation in relation to the complaint.