28.—(1) Where a relevant mineral planning authority or the Welsh Ministers (“the recipient”) receives further information or evidence the recipient must comply with paragraph (4) and notify the applicant, the appellant or, as the case may be, the operator, in writing in accordance with either—
(a)paragraph (5); or
(b)paragraph (8).
(2) Where the recipient is a relevant mineral planning authority, the recipient must comply with paragraph (1) within 3 weeks of receipt of the further information or evidence in question.
But this is subject to paragraph (10).
(3) Where the recipient is the Welsh Ministers, the recipient must comply with paragraph (1) as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of the further information or evidence.
But this is subject to paragraph (12).
(4) The recipient must consider whether the further information or evidence is presented in an inappropriate form.
(5) If the recipient reasonably considers that the further information or evidence is presented in an inappropriate form, the recipient must notify the applicant, the appellant or, as the case may be, the operator, in writing of—
(a)the changes which are required to be made to the form in which the further information or evidence is presented; and
(b)the matters set out in paragraph 17 of Schedule 3.
(6) Where changes are required to be made to the form in which further information or evidence is presented pursuant to a written notification given under paragraph (5), the further information or evidence must be re-submitted in a form incorporating the changes identified in the notification within 3 weeks of the date of the notification given under that paragraph, or such longer period as may be agreed in writing with the relevant mineral planning authority or the Welsh Ministers (“the relevant period”).
(7) If the further information or evidence is not re-submitted in a form incorporating the changes identified pursuant to a written notification given under paragraph (5) within the relevant period, the planning permission to which the EIA application relates ceases to authorise any minerals development from the end of the relevant period.
(8) If the recipient is satisfied that further information or evidence is not presented in an inappropriate form, the recipient must, in writing—
(a)instruct the applicant, the appellant or, as the case may be, the operator, to comply with regulation 30;
(b)specify the number of copies of the further information or evidence required for the purposes of the recipient's duties under regulation 32;
(c)where the recipient is aware that any particular person is or is likely to be affected by, or has an interest in, the application and who is unlikely to become aware of it by means of a site notice or by local advertisement, identify any such person;
(d)notify the applicant, the appellant or, as the case may be, the operator, of the matters set out in paragraph 18 of Schedule 3.
(9) Where the recipient is a relevant mineral planning authority and the recipient is satisfied as mentioned in paragraph (8) as a result of further information or evidence re-submitted pursuant to a written notification given under paragraph (5) the recipient must comply with paragraph (8) within 3 weeks of receipt of the re-submitted further information or evidence in question.
But this is subject to paragraph (10).
(10) Where the recipient is a relevant mineral planning authority and the further information or evidence received by it relates to an application in connection with which written notification pursuant to regulation 18(21) has yet to be given, the recipient need not comply with paragraph (8) within 3 weeks of receipt of the further information or evidence in question or, as the case may be, within 3 weeks of receipt of the re-submitted further information or evidence in question, but must comply with that paragraph within 14 days of the date on which written notification is given pursuant to regulation 18(21).
(11) Where the recipient is the Welsh Ministers and the recipient is satisfied as mentioned in paragraph (8) as a result of further information or evidence re-submitted pursuant to a written notification given under paragraph (5), the recipient must comply with paragraph (8) as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of the further information or evidence in question.
But this is subject to paragraph (12).
(12) Where recipient is the Welsh Ministers and the further information or evidence received by them relates to an application or appeal in connection with which written notification pursuant to regulation 18(21) has yet to be given, the recipient need not comply with paragraph (8) as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of the further information or evidence in question or, as the case may be, as soon as reasonably practicable following receipt of the re-submitted further information or evidence in question, but must comply with that paragraph as soon as reasonably practicable following the date on which written notification is given pursuant to regulation 18(21).
(13) Written notification given under this regulation does not preclude a relevant mineral planning authority or the Welsh Ministers from giving written notification under regulation 26 (further information) or 27 (evidence).
(14) A relevant mineral planning authority or the Welsh Ministers may withdraw a written notification given under paragraph (5) at any time before the expiration of the relevant period.