The Water Environment (Water Framework Directive) (England and Wales) Regulations 2003

River basin management plans: submission for approval

13.—(1) As soon as a river basin management plan is submitted to the appropriate authority, the Agency must—

(a) make copies of the plan accessible to the public free of charge through its website and at its principal office and each of its principal regional offices; and

(b) publish a notice—

(i) stating the fact of submission; and

(ii) specifying the arrangements made for making copies of the plan accessible to the public.

(2) The Agency must ensure that a plan submitted to the appropriate authority is accompanied by—

(a) a statement of the steps taken by the Agency to comply with regulation 12(1) and (so far as relating to the draft plan) regulation 12(2) to (4); and

(b) a summary of the representations referred to in regulation 12(6) and of any changes made to the plan in light of those representations.

(3) If the appropriate authority considers in relation to a plan that further action should be taken by the Agency under regulation 12(2) to (4), the appropriate authority may direct the Agency—

(a) to take such further steps under those provisions as the appropriate authority may specify in the direction; and

(b) to resubmit the plan within such period, if any, as the appropriate authority may specify in the direction.

(4) Where the appropriate authority gives a direction to the Agency under paragraph (3), it must state its reasons for doing so.

(5) This regulation applies in relation to a river basin management plan resubmitted to the appropriate authority in accordance with a direction under paragraph (3) as it applies to the plan as originally submitted, with the modification that, for the reference in paragraph (3) to regulation 12(2) to (4), there is substituted a reference to this regulation.