Drainage (Northern Ireland) Order 1973

[F1 Consultations and determination of whether a drainage scheme has significant effects on the environment N.I.

12A.— (1) The Department shall provide the following information on proposed drainage schemes of the type listed in Annex II to the Directive—

(a) a description of the project, including in particular—

(i) a description of the physical characteristics of the whole project and, where relevant, of demolition works; and

(ii) a description of the location of the project, with particular regard to the environmental sensitivity of geographical areas likely to be affected;

(b) a description of the aspects of the environment likely to be significantly affected by the project;

(c) a description of any likely significant effects, to the extent of the information available on such effects, of the project on the environment resulting from—

(i) the expected residues and emissions and the production of waste, where relevant;

(ii) the use of natural resources, in particular in soil, land, water and biodiversity,

the criteria of Schedule 2B shall be taken into account, where relevant, when compiling the information in accordance with sub-paragraphs (a) to (c).

(2) Where the Department has prepared a drainage scheme, under paragraph (1) it shall—

(a) consider, taking into account the selection criteria in Schedule 2B and the available results of other environmental assessments required under [F2 [F3 assimilated] law] (other than legislation implementing the requirements of the Directive), whether the works specified in the scheme are likely to have significant effects on the environment;

(b) send a copy of the scheme, together with an estimate of the cost of the scheme, to the district council of the district or, as the case may be, each district in which the proposed works specified in the scheme are situated; and

(c) make appropriate administrative arrangements to ensure that there is a functional separation, when performing any duty under this Order, between the persons bringing forward a proposal for a drainage scheme and the persons responsible for considering the proposals and making any determination.

(3) The district council to which a copy of a drainage scheme is sent by the Department pursuant to paragraph (2)(b)—

(a) shall cause a copy to be exhibited at its principal offices or other convenient place during the period of 30 days from the date of the publication in the Belfast Gazette of the notice relating to the scheme given under paragraph (4) or Article 12B(2) and shall permit the copy to be inspected by any person;

(b) shall examine and consider the scheme; and

(c) may, at any time within the period referred to in sub-paragraph (a), send to the Department any representations with regard to the scheme which it wishes to make.

(4) Where, pursuant to paragraph (2)(a), the Department considers that the works specified in the drainage scheme are not likely to have significant effects on the environment, it shall so determine, within 90 days of receiving the information specified in paragraph (1) and by general and local advertisement—

(a) state that it proposes to carry out the works specified in the scheme;

(b) describe briefly the nature, size, and location of those works;

(c) state that it does not intend to prepare an environmental statement in respect of the works specified in the scheme and the main reasons why with reference to the relevant criteria in Schedule 2B;

(d) state any features of the project or measures envisaged to avoid or prevent any significant adverse effects on the environment;

(e) state that any person may make representations to the Department in writing in relation to the likely environmental effects of the works at the address specified in the notice within 30 days of the publication of the notice in the Belfast Gazette;

(f) describe what other information relating to the environmental effects of the works is available;

(g) state the place or places where and the period, not being less than 30 days following the date of the publication of the notice in the Belfast Gazette, during which a copy of the scheme will be available for inspection; and

(h) state that any person who considers that his or her interests will be prejudicially affected by the scheme may, at any time within 30 days of the date of publication of the notice in the Belfast Gazette, send to the Department any representations with regard to the scheme which the person wishes to make.

(5) Where, pursuant to paragraph (4), the Department publishes a notice, it shall send a copy of the notice to each of the consultation bodies, that is to say—

(a) the Drainage Council;

(b) the district council of the district or, as the case may be, each district in which the works to which the notice relates are situate;

(c) any other public authority, statutory body or organisation which exercises statutory functions, or is otherwise designated by any statutory authority as having responsibilities relating to the environment; and

(d) any other person who appears to it to have an interest in the matter including, where appropriate, [F4 an EEA State] .

(6) Where, within the period specified in paragraph (4)(e), no representations have been made to the effects that the works specified in a drainage scheme are likely to have significant effects on the environment, the Department may proceed to confirm the drainage scheme in accordance with Article 13(2).

(7) Where, following the period specified in paragraph (4)(e), the Department considers (whether in the light of any representations or otherwise) that the works specified in a drainage scheme are likely to have significant effects on the environment, it shall within a period of 90 days beginning on the expiry of the period specified in paragraph 4(e), make a determination accordingly.

(8) Where, within the period specified in paragraph (4)(e), any representations have been made to the effect that the works specified in a drainage scheme are likely to have significant effects on the environment and, not withstanding those representations, the Department still considers that the works are not likely to have significant effects on the environment, it shall apply to the Commission for a determination of whether the works specified in the scheme are likely to have significant effects on the environment and shall provide the Commission with all the relevant information and copies of all relevant documents in its possession.

(9) Where the Commission considers that the information and copy documents provided in accordance with paragraph (8) do not provide sufficient information to enable it to make a determination for the purposes of that paragraph, it shall notify the Department in writing of the matters on which further information is required and may make a written request to the Department for such information as the Department may be able to provide on the matters raised.

(10) Where an application is made to the Commission under paragraph (8) in relation to any drainage scheme the Commission shall, taking into account the selection criteria in Schedule 2B, and the available results of preliminary verifications or assessments of the effects on the environment carried out pursuant to [F5 [F3 assimilated] law] (other than legislation implementing the requirements of this Directive), determine whether the works specified in the scheme are likely to have significant effects on the environment and shall inform the Department and any person who made representations under paragraph (4)(e), of its determination.

(11) Where an application is made to the Commission under paragraph (8) in relation to any drainage scheme the Commission shall, prior to making a determination for the purposes of that paragraph, afford to the Department and to any person who made representations under paragraph (4)(e) in relation to works specified in the scheme an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by the Commission.]

F1 Arts. 12, 12ZA, 12A-12I substituted (16.5.2017) for arts. 12-12H by The Drainage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/88), regs. 1, 21

F2 Words in art. 12A(2)(a) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Drainage (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/31), regs. 1(1), 2(4)(a); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F3 Word in art. 12A substituted (1.1.2024) by The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Act 2023 (Consequential Amendment) Regulations 2023 (S.I. 2023/1424), reg. 1(2), Sch. para. 8(2)(a)

F4 Words in art. 12A(5)(d) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Drainage (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/31), regs. 1(1), 2(4)(b); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)

F5 Words in art. 12A(10) substituted (31.12.2020) by The Drainage (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) (Northern Ireland) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019 (S.I. 2019/31), regs. 1(1), 2(4)(c); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)