The Antarctic Regulations 1995

Initial Environmental Evaluation

5.—(1) If the Secretary of State considers that the activity for which an application has been made under regulation 4 is likely to have more than a negligible impact on the environment of Antarctica, he shall, unless he has required the applicant to submit a draft Comprehensive Environmental Evaluation in accordance with regulation 6(1), require the applicant to submit to him an Initial Environmental Evaluation.

(2) An Initial Environmental Evaluation shall be in such form, and accompanied by such number of copies, as the Secretary of State may require and shall contain sufficient information for the Secretary of State to be able to assess—

(a) the scale of the impact which the proposed activity may have on the environment of Antarctica;

(b) whether, in the light of existing and known planned activities, it may have a cumulative impact; and

(c) whether there may be alternative ways of carrying out the proposed activity which might lessen the environmental impact or possible cumulative impact.

(3) The applicant shall during the period the application is pending—

(a) make available a copy of the Initial Environmental Evaluation for inspection during normal office hours by any person who may so request; and

(b) provide copies of the Initial Environmental Evaluation to any person on receipt of a request in writing, subject to payment of reasonable charges for supplying the copies, including postage.

(4) The Secretary of State shall cause to be published annually a list of the Initial Environmental Evaluations submitted to him in accordance with this regulation during the preceding 12 months.