The screening decisionN.I.
8.—(1) The Department must, in accordance with paragraph (2) and the selection criteria in Schedule 2, decide whether or not a project is likely to have significant effects on the environment.
[F1(1A) The Department must take into account the results of any EU environmental assessments which are reasonably available to it.]
(2) If the Department decides that a project is likely to have a significant effect on a European site (either alone or in combination with other projects), or Area of Special Scientific Interest, and the project is not directly connected with or necessary for the management of the site, the project shall be treated as being likely to have significant effects on the environment.
(3) Before making a screening decision, the Department may consult any of the consultation bodies.
(4) After making a screening decision, the Department shall—
[F2(a)notify the applicant of—
(i)the decision and the main reasons for it with reference to the criteria in Schedule 2;
(ii)where the decision is that the project is not likely to have significant effects on the environment, a description of any measures disclosed by the applicant under Schedule 2A(4).]
(b)enter [F3the information referred to in sub-paragraph (a)] in a register, to which the public shall have access at all reasonable times; and
(c)where it considers that any of the consultation bodies might wish to be informed of the screening decision, [F4notify those bodies of the information referred to in sub-paragraph (a)].
[F5(5) The Department must make, and notify the applicant of, a screening decision before the end of the period of 35 days beginning with—
(a)the date referred to in regulation 7(3), or
(b)where applicable, the date the Department receives any additional information it has requested under regulation 7(2).
(5A) The Department may, where it considers there are exceptional circumstances (including relating to the nature, complexity, location or size of the project), extend the period mentioned in paragraph (5) by informing in writing the applicant of—
(a)the new period within which it will make the screening decision, and
(b)the reasons for the extension.]
(6) If the Department has failed to make or notify a screening decision within the period in paragraph (5), the applicant may notify the Department that he intends to treat that failure as a decision that the project is a significant project.
(7) Where the applicant has so notified the Department, the Department is deemed to have decided on the date of that notification that the project is a significant project.
(8) If, after the Department has made, or is deemed to have made a decision that the project is a significant project—
(a)the Department receives further information or representations; and
(b)as a result of that further information or those representations the Department decides that the project is not a significant project,
the Department must take all the steps in paragraph (4) in respect of that new decision.
(9) If the project to which a screening decision relates is not begun within a period of three years beginning with the date the screening decision is notified to the applicant, or is deemed to have been taken under paragraph (7), the screening decision shall cease to have effect.
Textual Amendments
F1Reg. 8(1A) inserted (25.9.2017) by The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/198), regs. 1(1), 6(1) (with reg. 20)
F2Reg. 8(4)(a) substituted (25.9.2017) by The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/198), regs. 1(1), 6(2) (with reg. 20)
F3Words in reg. 8(4)(b) substituted (25.9.2017) by The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/198), regs. 1(1), 6(3) (with reg. 20)
F4Words in reg. 8(4)(c) substituted (25.9.2017) by The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/198), regs. 1(1), 6(4) (with reg. 20)
F5Reg. 8(5)(5A) substituted for reg. 8(5) (25.9.2017) by The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017 (S.R. 2017/198), regs. 1(1), 6(5) (with reg. 20)
Commencement Information