4.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (3) and (4), the occurrence of an event mentioned in paragraph (2) shall determine for the purpose of these Regulations that development is EIA development.
(2) The events referred to in paragraph (1) are–
(a)the submission by the applicant or appellant in relation to that development of a statement referred to by the applicant or appellant as an environmental statement for the purposes of these Regulations; or
(b)the adoption by the relevant planning authority of a screening opinion to the effect that the development is EIA development.
(3) A direction of the Scottish Ministers shall determine for the purpose of these Regulations whether development is or is not EIA development.
(4) The Scottish Ministers may direct that particular proposed development is exempted from the application of these Regulations in accordance with Article 2(3) of the Directive (but without prejudice to Article 7 of the Directive) and shall send a copy of any such direction to the relevant planning authority.
(5) Where a planning authority or the Scottish Ministers have to decide under these Regulations whether Schedule 2 development is EIA development, they shall take into account in making that decision such of the selection criteria set out in Schedule 3 as are relevant to the development.
(6) Where–
(a)a planning authority adopt a screening opinion; or
(b)the Scottish Ministers make a screening direction under these Regulations;
to the effect that development is EIA development–
(i)that opinion or direction shall be accompanied by a written statement giving clearly and precisely the full reasons for that conclusion; and
(ii)the authority or the Scottish Ministers, as the case may be, shall send a copy of the opinion or direction and a copy of the written statement required by sub-paragraph (i) to the person who proposes to carry out, or who has carried out, the development in question.
(7) The Scottish Ministers may make a screening direction irrespective of whether they have received a request to do so.
(8) The Scottish Ministers may direct that particular development of a description mentioned in Column 1 of the table in Schedule 2 is EIA development in spite of the fact that none of the conditions contained in sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) of the definition of “Schedule 2 development” in regulation 2(1) is satisfied in relation to that development.
(9) The Scottish Ministers shall send a copy of any screening direction to the relevant planning authority.