The Environment (Northern Ireland) Order 2002

Restoration following offences under Article 46

47.—(1) Where—

(a) the operation in respect of which a person is convicted of an offence under Article 46(1), (2) or (3) has destroyed or damaged any of the flora, fauna or geological, physiographical or other features by reason of which an ASSI is of special scientific interest, or

(b) a person is convicted of an offence under Article 46(6),

the court by or before which he is convicted, in addition to dealing with him in any other way, may make an order requiring him to carry out, within such period as may be specified in the order, such operations (whether on land included in the ASSI or not) as may be so specified for the purpose of restoring the ASSI to its former condition.

(2) The period specified in an order made under paragraph (1) shall not begin to run—

(a) in any case until the expiration of the period for the time being prescribed by law for the giving of notice of appeal against the conviction

(b) where notice of appeal is given within the period so prescribed, until determination of the appeal.

(3) At any time before an order under paragraph (1) is complied with or fully complied with, the court by which it was made may, on the application of the person against whom it was made, discharge or vary the order if it appears to the court that a change in the circumstances has made compliance or full compliance with the order impracticable or unnecessary.

(4) If, within the period specified in an order under paragraph (1), the person against whom it was made fails, without reasonable excuse, to comply with it, he shall be guilty of an offence and liable on summary conviction—

(a) to a fine not exceeding level 5 on the standard scale; and

(b) in the case of a continuing offence, to a further fine not exceeding £100 for each day during which the offence continues after conviction.

(5) If, within the period specified in an order under paragraph (1), any operations specified in the order have not been carried out, the Department may carry out those operations and recover from the person against whom the order was made any expenses reasonably incurred by the Department in doing so.