The Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2009
Citation, commencement, interpretation and extent
1.
(1)
These Regulations may be cited as the Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) (England and Wales) Regulations 2009 and shall come into force on 10th March 2009.
(2)
These Regulations apply to an application for a harbour revision order or a harbour empowerment order where the application is made on or after the date on which these Regulations come into force.
(3)
(4)
These Regulations do not extend to Scotland.
Amendment of the Harbours Act 1964
2.
“(6)
In the case of an order falling within subsection (7), an environmental organisation is, in accordance with Article 10a of the Directive, to be deemed to have sufficient interest to make an application under subsection (1).
(7)
An order is within this subsection if the decision to make it was subject to the public participation provisions of the Directive.
(8)
For the purposes of subsections (6) and (7)—
(a)
“the Directive” has the meaning given in Schedule 3;
(b)
an “environmental organisation” is a non-governmental organisation promoting environmental protection; and
(c)
“the public participation provisions” has the same meaning as in the Directive.”.
3.
4.
5.
(1)
Paragraph 10 is amended as follows.
(2)
In sub-paragraph (2)—
(a)
“(ca)
where such a statement has been supplied—
(i)
provide an address from which a copy of the statement can, until the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph (f), be obtained and information as to the amount of any charge for the provision of such a copy, and
(ii)
state whether paragraph 16 applies,”;
(b)
the word “and” which follows paragraph (e) is omitted;
(c)
in paragraph (f), after “application” insert “or to make representations in relation to any environmental statement supplied under paragraph 8(1)”;
(d)
in that paragraph, after “specifying” insert “(where relevant)”; and
(e)
“; and
(g)
provide details of the procedure under this Schedule for dealing with any objection or representations made as mentioned in the notice”.
(3)
“(2A)
Any charge imposed as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(ca)(i) must be reasonable.”.
(4)
In sub-paragraph (4), after “can” insert “, until the expiry of the period referred to in sub–paragraph (2)(f),”.
6.
“10A.
(1)
This paragraph applies where—
(a)
a notice has been published under paragraph (10)(1) which states that an environmental statement has been supplied under paragraph 8(1), and
(b)
prior to the Secretary of State making a decision under paragraph 19(2)—
(i)
he is supplied by the applicant or any other person with further information; and
(ii)
he is of the view that that information requires to be considered in order properly to assess the likely environmental effects of the proposed project.
(2)
Subject to sub-paragraph (3), where this paragraph applies the Secretary of State must publish a notice, or direct another person to publish a notice, which—
(a)
states that further information of the sort referred to in paragraph (b) has been received,
(b)
specifies a place where a copy of the information can, until the expiry of the period referred to in paragraph (d), be inspected at all reasonable hours,
(c)
provides an address from which a copy of the information can, until the expiry of that period, be obtained and details of the amount of any charge for the provision of such a copy, and
(d)
states that any person who desires to make representations in relation to the information should do so in writing to the Secretary of State before the expiry of the period of 42 days starting with a date specified in the notice.
(3)
The Secretary of State is not required to publish, or direct the publication of, a notice under sub-paragraph (2) if he considers that the information will be made publicly available at an inquiry or hearing under paragraph 18.
(4)
The notice must be published —
(a)
by Gazette and local advertisement, and
(b)
in such other ways, if any, as seem to the Secretary of State appropriate.
(5)
Any charge imposed as mentioned in sub-paragraph (2)(c) must be reasonable.
(6)
The date specified in accordance with sub–paragraph (2)(d) must be the date on which the notice first appears in a local newspaper.”.
7.
In paragraph 15(b), after “8(1)” insert “and any further information by virtue of the supply of which paragraph 10A applies”.
8.
“(ba)
details of what provision was made for public participation in the making of the decision;”.
9.
In paragraph 17—
(a)
in sub-paragraph (a), after “10(1)” insert “, 10A”, and
(b)
in sub-paragraph (c) after “objections” insert “or representations”.
10.
In paragraph 19(1)—
(a)
in paragraph (a), after “8(1)” insert “and any further information by virtue of the supply of which paragraph 10A applies”;
(b)
at the end of paragraph (d), omit “and”; and
(c)
“(da)
any representations made as specified in a notice published under paragraph 10 or 10A; and”.
11.
In paragraph 20(2)—
(a)
after “publish” insert “by Gazette and local advertisement”; and
(b)
“(ba)
details of what provision was made for public participation in the making of the decision,
(bb)
a statement regarding the right to challenge the validity of the decision and the procedures for doing so,”.
Signed by authority of the Secretary of State
Council Directive 85/337/EC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (“the EIA Directive”) was implemented in relation to harbour works by the Harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1999 (S.I. 1999/3445) which substituted Schedule 3 to the Harbours Act 1964. Schedule 3 sets out the procedure for making harbour revision and harbour empowerment orders.
These Regulations amend Schedule 3 by making provision for the making of representations in relation to an environmental statement (regulation 5) and for dealing with additional information supplied to the Secretary of State before the decision is made on the order (regulation 6). Regulations 4 and 7 to 11 make ancillary provision.
These Regulations also amend section 44 (limitation of right to challenge orders in legal proceedings) of the Harbours Act 1964 to ensure that an environmental organisation is able to make an application under section 44(1) (regulation 2).
The impact assessment and transposition note are available from the Department for Transport, Great Minster House, 76 Marsham Street, London SW1P 4DR and are annexed to the Explanatory Memorandum which is available alongside the instrument on the OPSI website (www.opsi.gov.uk).