The Forestry (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017

[F1Requests for scoping opinions]S

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15.—(1) An applicant may request the [F2Scottish Ministers] to adopt a scoping opinion.

(2) A request under paragraph (1) must include—

(a)[F3a description of the location of the forestry project, including] a plan sufficient to identify the land;

(b)a brief description of the nature and purpose of the forestry project and its likely effects on the environment; and

(c)such other information or representations as the applicant making the request may wish to provide or make.

(3) If the [F2Scottish Ministers] consider that they have not been provided with sufficient information to adopt a scoping opinion, they must, within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of receipt of the request under paragraph (1), notify the applicant of the points on which they require further information.

(4) The [F2Scottish Ministers] must not adopt a scoping opinion in response to a request under paragraph (1) until they have consulted—

(a)the applicant; and

(b)the consultation bodies.

(5) Before adopting a scoping opinion, the [F2Scottish Ministers] must take into account—

(a)the specific characteristics of the particular forestry project [F4, including its location and technical capacity];

(b)the specific characteristics of forestry projects of the type concerned; and

(c)the environmental features likely to be affected by the forestry project.

(6) Subject to paragraph (7), the [F2Scottish Ministers] must within the period of 35 days beginning with the date of receipt of a request under paragraph (1) or such longer period as may be agreed in writing with the applicant, adopt a scoping opinion and send a copy to the applicant.

(7) Where—

(a)an applicant has, at the same time as making a request for a screening opinion under regulation 12(1), made a request for an opinion under paragraph (1); and

(b)the [F2Scottish Ministers] have adopted a screening opinion to the effect that the forestry project is an EIA forestry project,

the [F2Scottish Ministers] must within the period of 35 days beginning with the date on which that screening opinion was adopted or such longer period as may be agreed in writing with the applicant, adopt a scoping opinion and send a copy to the applicant.

F5(8) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

F5(9) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

(10) Where a request has been made to the [F2Scottish Ministers] under regulation 12(1) to adopt a screening opinion but no request has been made under paragraph (1), the [F2Scottish Ministers] may of their own volition adopt a scoping opinion and paragraphs (3) to (6) and (11) apply in relation to such a scoping opinion as if a request had been made under paragraph (1) on the date on which the [F2Scottish Ministers] adopt the screening opinion.

(11) Where the [F2Scottish Ministers] have adopted a scoping opinion, in response to a request under paragraph (1), [F6they are not] precluded from requiring the applicant to submit additional information in connection with any EIA report that may be submitted by the applicant pursuant to an EIA application relating to the same forestry project.

(12) A later scoping opinion supersedes the terms of an earlier scoping opinion.

Textual Amendments