F1PART 3Project approval and authorisation to participate
Approval of and authorisation to participate in project activities5
1
A person wishing to have a proposed project activity approved may, in accordance with this regulation, apply to the Environment Agency for approval of the proposed project activity.
2
A person wishing to be authorised to participate in a project activity or a proposed project activity may, in accordance with this regulation, apply to the Environment Agency for such authorisation.
3
An application under this regulation must be made in the English language and contain the following information—
a
the applicant’s name and address;
b
a description of the project activity or proposed project activity; and
c
any other information that the Environment Agency may require for the purpose of determining the application.
4
An application under this regulation must be made in such form as may be required by the Environment Agency.
5
The Environment Agency may require any information included in an application made under this regulation to be independently verified and a requirement under this paragraph may include a requirement for the verification to be provided by a person of a description specified by the Environment Agency.
6
An application under paragraph (2) may be combined with an application under paragraph (1).
7
An application made under this regulation may be withdrawn at any time before it is determined.
Request for further information6
1
For the purposes of determining an application made under regulation 5, the Environment Agency may serve a notice on the applicant requesting further information.
2
A notice under paragraph (1) must specify the information required and the date by which the further information must be provided.
3
A notice under paragraph (1) may include a requirement for information provided in connection with an application made under regulation 5 to be independently verified and a requirement under this paragraph may include a requirement for the verification to be provided by a person of a description specified by the Environment Agency.
4
If an applicant fails to comply with a notice served under paragraph (1), the Environment Agency may serve a notice on the applicant stating that the application is deemed to have been withdrawn.
Determination of application7
1
Where an application is made under regulation 5, the Environment Agency must, in accordance with this regulation, determine whether to approve the proposed project activity or to authorise participation in the project activity or proposed project activity (as the case may require).
2
When determining an application made under regulation 5, the Environment Agency may attach such conditions to an approval or authorisation as it considers necessary.
3
The Environment Agency must give notice of its determination to the applicant within—
a
a period of two months beginning with the date on which the application was received by the Environment Agency; or
b
such longer period as may be agreed in writing with the applicant.
4
For the purposes of calculating the periods referred to in paragraph (3), no account is to be taken of any period beginning on the date on which notice is served under regulation 6(1) and ending on the date on which the applicant provides the further information.
5
The Environment Agency may not approve a proposed project activity to be carried out in the United Kingdom.
6
The Environment Agency may only approve a proposed project activity if it is satisfied that—
F2a
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
b
in relation to a proposed project activity for the production of hydro-electric power with a generating capacity of more than 20 megawatts, the development of the proposed project activity will respect the criteria and guidelines identified in the report produced by the World Commission on Dams on 16th November 2000 entitled “Dams and Development - A New Framework for Decision-Making”6.
F37
The Environment Agency may only authorise an applicant’s participation in a project activity or a proposed project activity if the Environment Agency is satisfied that to do so would be consistent with—
i
the UNFCCC;
ii
the Kyoto Protocol; and
iii
the decisions adopted pursuant to the UNFCCC or the Kyoto Protocol, as adopted and amended from time to time.
Agreement with the devolved administrations on project approval8
The power of the Environment Agency to determine an application under regulation 7 is exercisable—
a
in so far as an application under regulation 5(1) relates to a Scottish applicant, only with the agreement of the Scottish Ministers;
b
in so far as an application under regulation 5(1) relates to a NI applicant, only with the agreement of the Department of the Environment; and
c
in so far as an application under regulation 5(1) relates to a Welsh applicant, only with the agreement of the National Assembly for Wales.
Duty to consult the Secretary of State and referral of applications8A
1
The Environment Agency must consult the Secretary of State as soon as reasonably practicable before determining—
a
an application made under regulation 5 in relation to a project activity or proposed project activity which is not of a type—
i
which has been approved by the Secretary of State or the Environment Agency; or
ii
in respect of which participation has been authorised by the Secretary of State or the Environment Agency,
on or before the date on which the application is received;
b
an application made under regulation 5 in relation to a project activity or proposed project activity which the Environment Agency reasonably considers to be novel, contentious or controversial;
c
an application made under regulation 5 in relation to a project activity or proposed project activity for the production of hydro-electric power with a generating capacity of more than 20 megawatts.
2
The Secretary of State may require the Environment Agency to refer an application made under regulation 5 to the Secretary of State for the Secretary of State to determine in accordance with this Part.
3
Where the Environment Agency has referred an application to the Secretary State under paragraph (2)—
a
the functions of the Environment Agency under regulations 6, 7 and 8 in respect of that application must be exercised by the Secretary of State; and
b
the references to the Environment Agency in regulations 6, 7 , 8 and 9 are to be read as references to the Secretary of State.
Appeals9
1
A person may appeal to the First-tier Tribunal7 against a determination to—
a
refuse an application made under regulation 5; or
b
attach a condition to an approval or authorisation notified under regulation 7.
2
The bringing of an appeal against a condition attached to an approval or authorisation to participate suspends the approval or authorisation to participate pending the final determination or withdrawal of the appeal.
3
The First-tier Tribunal may—
a
in relation to a determination to refuse an application under regulation 5—
i
affirm the determination;
ii
quash the determination and remit it to the Environment Agency;
b
in relation to a determination to attach a condition to an approval or authorisation notified under regulation 7—
i
affirm or vary the determination;
ii
quash the determination and remit it to the Environment Agency.
Pt. 3 substituted (1.2.2015) by The Greenhouse Gas Emissions Trading Scheme (Amendment) and National Emissions Inventory (Amendment) Regulations2014 (S.I. 2014/3075), regs. 1(1), 2(3) (with reg. 3)