7.—(1) This regulation applies where a public gas transporter, either at the same time as making a request for an environmental determination or at any other time before applying to the Secretary of State for his consent to the carrying out of proposed pipe-line works, makes a request to the Secretary of State accompanied by the appropriate particulars for the Secretary of State’s opinion in writing as to the information to be provided in the environmental statement to be submitted by the public gas transporter to the Secretary of State under these Regulations.
(2) Subject to paragraph (3) below, the Secretary of State shall give an opinion in response to a request under paragraph (1) above, having first–
(a)taken into account–
(i)the specific characteristics of the particular proposed pipe-line works;
(ii)the specific characteristics of pipe-line works of the type concerned;
(iii)the environmental features likely to be affected by the pipe-line works; and
(iv)the extent to which the public gas transporter who made the request under paragraph (1) above may reasonably be required to compile the information, having regard, inter alia, to current knowledge and methods of assessment, and
(b)consulted the public gas transporter who made the request and the consultation bodies.
(3) The Secretary of State on receiving a request under paragraph (1) above shall, if he considers that he has not been provided with sufficient information to enable him to give an opinion on the questions raised or to consult in accordance with paragraph (2)(b) above, notify the public gas transporter making the request of the particular points on which he requires further information.
(4) The public gas transporter making the request shall supply the Secretary of State with such number of additional copies of the plan accompanying the request as the Secretary of State may reasonably require.
(5) If the public gas transporter and the consultation bodies wish to give any views to the Secretary of State, they shall do so by a date no later than 4 weeks after the date on which they were consulted under paragraph (2)(b) above.
(6) The Secretary of State shall give an opinion in response to a request under paragraph (1) above no later than 4 weeks after whichever is the latest of–
(a)the date of the receipt of the request by the Secretary of State;
(b)the date of receipt by him of further information pursuant to a notice under paragraph (3) above; or
(c)the expiry of the period for the public gas transporter and the consultation bodies to give their views to the Secretary of State in accordance with paragraph (5) above, or, if earlier, the date by which he has received the views of the public gas transporter and all the consultation bodies consulted under paragraph (2)(b) above,
or by such later date as may be agreed in writing with the public gas transporter.
(7) Where the Secretary of State has given an opinion in response to a request under paragraph (1) above, he shall not be precluded from requiring of the public gas transporter to whom that opinion was given further information in connection with any environmental statement that may be submitted by the public gas transporter in connection with the same, or substantially the same, pipe-line works as were referred to in the request.