The Nitrate Pollution Prevention (Wales) Regulations 2013

Designation of nitrate vulnerable zones

7.—(1) In this Part—

“the appointed person” (“y person penodedig”) means a person appointed by the Welsh Ministers;

“relevant holding” (“daliad perthnasol”) means land and its associated buildings that are at the disposal of the occupier and which are used for the growing of crops in soil or rearing of livestock for agricultural purposes, and which are wholly or partly within an area which—

(a)

the Natural Resources Body for Wales recommends; and

(b)

in relation to which the Welsh Ministers are minded to accept that recommendation (with or without amendment), be, or continue to be, designated as a nitrate vulnerable zone for the purposes of these Regulations.

(2) The areas marked as nitrate vulnerable zones on the map marked “Nitrate Vulnerable Zones Index Map 2013” (“Parthau Perygl Nitradau Map Mynegai 2013”) and deposited at the offices of the Welsh Government at Cathays Park, Cardiff, CF10 3NQ are designated as nitrate vulnerable zones for the purposes of these Regulations.

(3) Nitrate vulnerable zones are areas of land that drain into polluted waters and that contribute to the pollution of those waters.

(4) To assist the Welsh Ministers in relation to the duty to review under regulation 11(3), the Natural Resources Body for Wales must, on the date on which these Regulations come into force, and at the latest every four years subsequently, make recommendations to the Welsh Ministers by reference to the matters mentioned in regulation 11(3)(a) to (c) as to which areas be designated, or continue to be designated, as nitrate vulnerable zones for the purposes of these Regulations.

(5) Any recommendations as to the matters stated at regulation 7(4) which have been made by the Natural Resources Body for Wales prior to the date on which these Regulations come into force have effect as if made on that date.

(6) The Welsh Ministers must publish the recommendations of the Natural Resources Body for Wales which they are minded to accept (with or without amendment) and send notice of the recommendations to any owner or occupier of a relevant holding.

(7) A notice must contain a reference to a page on a website maintained by the Natural Resources Body for Wales or the Welsh Ministers where the relevant recommendation (with any amendment the Welsh Ministers are minded to make to it) can be found.