The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004

PART IV POST-ADOPTION PROCEDURES

Information as to adoption of plan or programme

15.—(1) As soon as reasonably practicable after the adoption of a plan or programme for which an environmental assessment has been carried out under these Regulations, the responsible authority shall –

(a) make a copy of the plan or programme and its accompanying environmental report available at its principal office for inspection by the public at all reasonable times and free of charge; and

(b) publish a copy of the plan or programme and of the information referred to in sub-paragraph (c) on the authority’s website; and

(c) take such steps as it considers appropriate to bring to the attention of the public –

(i) the title of the plan or programme;

(ii) the date on which it was adopted;

(iii) the address (which may include a website) at which a copy of it and of its accompanying environmental report, and of a statement containing the particulars specified in paragraph (4), may be inspected or from which a copy may be obtained;

(iv) the times at which inspection may be made; and

(v) that inspection may be made free of charge.

(2) As soon as reasonably practicable after the adoption of a plan or programme –

(a) the responsible authority shall inform –

(i) the consultation body;

(ii) where a plan or programme has been notified under regulation 13, the Department concerned.

(b) the Department concerned shall inform the Member State with which consultations in relation to a plan or programme have taken place under regulation 13(4), of the matters referred to in paragraph (3).

(3) The matters are –

(a) that the plan or programme has been adopted;

(b) the date on which it was adopted; and

(c) the address (which may include a website) at which a copy of –

(i) the plan or programme, as adopted,

(ii) its accompanying environmental report, and

(iii) a statement containing the particulars specified in paragraph (4), may be viewed, or from which a copy may be obtained.

(4) The particulars referred to in paragraphs (1)(c)(iii) and (3)(c)(iii), are –

(a) how environmental considerations have been integrated into the plan or programme;

(b) how the environmental report has been taken into account;

(c) how the opinions expressed in response to the invitations mentioned in regulation 12 have been taken into account;

(d) how the results of any consultations entered into under regulation 13(4) have been taken into account;

(e) the reasons for choosing the plan or programme as adopted, in the light of the other reasonable alternatives dealt with; and

(f) the measures that are to be taken to monitor the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the plan or programme.

Monitoring of implementation of plans and programmes

16.—(1) The responsible authority shall monitor the significant environmental effects of the implementation of each plan or programme with the purpose of identifying unforeseen adverse effects at an early stage and undertaking appropriate remedial action.

(2) The responsible authority’s monitoring arrangements may comprise or include arrangements established otherwise than for the express purpose of complying with paragraph (1).