The Agriculture, Land Drainage and Irrigation Projects (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017

Decision notice

22.—(1) The Scottish Ministers must determine an application for consent for an EIA project as soon as reasonably practicable but in any event within the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which it receives the application; but may determine it within such other time period as may be agreed with the applicant.

(2) Where an application for consent for an EIA project is determined by the Scottish Ministers the notification of the decision to be given to the applicant (referred to in these Regulations as “the decision notice”) must include the information specified in paragraph (3).

(3) The information is—

(a) a description of the project;

(b) the terms of the decision;

(c) the main reasons and considerations on which the decision is based;

(d) information about the arrangements taken to ensure the public had the opportunity to participate in the decision making procedures; and

(e) a summary of—

(i) the environmental information; and

(ii) the results of the consultations and information gathered pursuant to regulations 17, 18, and where relevant, regulations 19 and 20 and how those results, in particular comments received from an EEA State pursuant to consultation under regulation 20, have been incorporated or otherwise addressed;

(f) if the decision is to grant consent—

(i) any conditions to which the decision is subject;

(ii) the reasoned conclusion referred to in regulation 4(1)(d);

(iii) a statement that the Scottish Ministers are satisfied that the reasoned conclusion is still up to date;

(iv) a description of any mitigation measures; and

(v) a description of any monitoring measures required under regulation 24; and

(g) information regarding the right to challenge the validity of the decision and the procedures for doing so.

(4) Where regulation 4(6) applies, the decision notice must describe the matters in respect of which the Scottish Ministers consider that the effects of the project are not identifiable at the time of their determination of the EIA application.

(5) For the purposes of paragraph (3)(f)(iii) the reasoned conclusion referred to in regulation 4(1)(d) is still up to date if the Scottish Ministers are satisfied, having regard to current knowledge and methods of assessment, that the reasoned conclusion addresses the likely significant effects of the project on the environment.

(6) In this regulation and in regulation 24—

“mitigation measures” means any features of the project and any measures envisaged in order to avoid, prevent or reduce and, if possible, offset likely significant adverse effects on the environment including any such features or measures required by virtue of a condition imposed on the grant of consent; and

“monitoring measures” means measures requiring the monitoring of any significant adverse effects on the environment of the project including any such measures required by virtue of a condition imposed on the grant of consent for an EIA project.