The Drainage (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2017

Publicity for an environmental statement

12.—(1) Where the Department has prepared an environmental statement in relation to any proposed drainage works, it shall by general and local advertisement give notice in accordance with paragraphs (2) and (3).

(2) The advertisement shall state—

(a) that the environmental statement has been prepared and give details of the places where and times at which copies, together with details of the proposed drainage works to which the environmental statement relates, may be inspected;

(b) that any person wishing to make representations in relation to the likely environmental effects of the proposed drainage works to which the statement relates shall make them in writing to the Department at the address specified in the advertisement within 30 days of the publication of the notice in the Belfast Gazette; and

(c) that where no objection in relation to the likely environmental effects of the drainage works is made and the Drainage Council, having undertaken the examination specified in regulation 16(1), considers that the drainage works should be approved, it may so determine.

(3) On or before the date of publication in the Belfast Gazette of the notice under paragraph (1), the Department shall—

(a) send a copy of the environmental statement and notice to each of the consultation bodies so that any such body has an opportunity to make representations on the likely environmental effects of the drainage works to which the statement relates before the expiry of the period specified in the notice;

(b) make available for inspection at an office of the Department or some other convenient place for a period of at least 30 days following the date of publication of the notice in the Belfast Gazette, the details of the proposed drainage works and the environmental statement relating to the drainage works;

(c) ensure that a reasonable number of copies of the statement are made available and, if a charge is to be made for any such copy under regulation 14, the amount of the charge; and

(d) place the notice and a copy of the environmental statement on a website maintained by the Department.

(4) Where, in accordance with paragraph (3)(a), the Department sends any person a copy of the environmental statement it shall consult that person about the assessment and the likely environmental effects of the proposed drainage works to which it relates.