332.Paragraph 35 amends section 22(1) of the Reservoirs Act 1975 (criminal liability) by removing the references in that section to “by the wilful default of the undertakers” and “unless there is reasonable excuse for the default or failure” to make the offences strict liability offences.
333.Paragraph 36 inserts new section 22C after section 22B of the Reservoirs Act 1975 (criminal liability). Under new section 22C, the undertaker must pay to the Environment Agency the amount of expenses reasonably incurred by the Environment Agency in connection with the consultation of an engineer when exercising its enforcement powers under sections 8 (construction and alteration), 9 (re-use of abandoned reservoirs), 10 (inspection) or 14 (abandonment) of the Reservoirs Act 1975.