The Water Resources (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2005

Appeals in relation to consent

17.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, where an application has been made to the Department for a consent under regulation 10, the applicant may by notice in writing appeal to the Commission if –

(a) the applicant is dissatisfied with the decision of the Department on the application; or

(b) the Department fails to give notice to the applicant of the Department’s decision within a period of four months from the date of receipt of the application or within such extended period as may be agreed in writing between the applicant and the Department.

(2) A notice of appeal under paragraph (1) shall be served within a period of twenty-eight days from –

(a) the date on which the decision to which it relates was notified to the applicant; or

(b) the end of the period referred to in paragraph (1)(b),

whichever is the later.

(3) The Commission shall serve a copy of the notice of appeal on the Department before the expiry of the period of twenty-eight days referred to in paragraph (2).

(4) Where any representations in writing with respect to the application were made within the period specified in accordance with regulation 8(1)(iv), the Department shall serve a copy of the notice of appeal on each of the persons who made those representations; and any person so served with a copy of the notice of appeal may make further representations to the Commission in writing within a period of twenty-one days from the date on which the copy of the notice is served on him.

(5) No appeal shall be brought by virtue of paragraph (1)(b) before the expiry of a period of four months commencing with –

(a) the date on which an environmental statement is furnished in accordance with regulation 6(1), or

(b) the date on which any further information requested by the Department is provided in accordance with regulation 6(7),

whichever is the later.

(6) The Commission shall by notice in writing given to the applicant and the Department –

(a) uphold the decision of the Department; or

(b) substitute its own decision.

(7) The Department or, as the case may be, the Commission shall take such steps as are considered appropriate to make a decision under this regulation available to the public.