The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004

Plans and programmes of other Member States

14.—(1) This regulation applies where the Department concerned receives from a Member State (whether or not in response to a request made by that Department in that behalf under the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Directive) a copy of a draft plan or programme –

(a) that is being prepared in relation to any part of that Member State; and

(b) whose implementation is likely to have significant effects on the environment of any part of Northern Ireland.

(2) The Department concerned shall indicate to the Member State whether, before the adoption of the plan or programme or its submission to the legislative procedure for adoption, it wishes to enter into consultations in respect of that plan or programme concerning –

(a) the likely transboundary environmental effects of implementing the plan or programme; and

(b) the measures envisaged to reduce or eliminate such effects.

(3) Where the Department concerned so indicates, it shall agree with the Member State concerned –

(a) detailed arrangements to ensure that the consultation body and the public in Northern Ireland are informed and given an opportunity to forward their opinion within a reasonable time; and

(b) a reasonable time for the duration of the consultations.

(4) Where such consultations take place under this regulation, the Department concerned shall –

(a) inform the consultation body of the receipt of the draft plan or programme;

(b) provide it with a copy of the draft plan or programme and the relevant environmental report provided under Article 7.1 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Directive or specify the address (which may include a website) at which those documents may be inspected;

(c) take such steps as it considers appropriate to bring the receipt of the draft plan or programme to the attention of such persons as, in its opinion, are affected or likely to be affected by, or have an interest in the decisions involved in the assessment and adoption of the plan or programme concerned, required under the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Directive (“the transboundary consultees”);

(d) inform the transboundary consultees of the address (which may include a website) at which a copy of the draft plan or programme and the relevant environmental report provided under Article 7.1 of the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Directive may be inspected, or from which a copy may be obtained; and

(e) invite the consultation body and the transboundary consultees to forward to it their opinions within such period as it may specify.

(5) The period specified under paragraph (4)(e) shall end not later than 28 days before the end of the period that the Department concerned has agreed with the Member State concerned, pursuant to paragraph (3)(b), as reasonable for the duration of their consultations.

(6) Nothing in paragraph (4)(d) shall require the Department concerned to provide a copy of the relevant documents free of charge; but where a charge is made, it shall be of a reasonable amount.