8.—(1) Subject to paragraphs (2) to (8), where a Scottish public authority is under a duty to make environmental information available under regulation 5(1), it may charge a fee for so doing.
(2) A Scottish public authority shall not charge a fee for allowing an applicant to–
(a)access any public registers or lists of environmental information held by it; or
(b)examine the information requested at a place which the authority makes available for that purpose.
(3) Fees charged under paragraph (1) shall not exceed a reasonable amount and in any event shall not exceed the costs to the authority of producing the information requested.
(4) A Scottish public authority may require that payment of the whole or part of a fee under paragraph (1) be made in advance of making information available.
(5) Where a Scottish public authority imposes a requirement under paragraph (4) it shall notify the applicant in writing.
(6) Where a Scottish public authority has notified an applicant that advance payment is required under paragraph (5) then that authority is not obliged to–
(a)make the information requested available under regulation 5(1); or
(b)comply with regulations 6, 7 or 13,
unless the fee is paid; and any such fee must be paid within a period of 60 working days beginning with the day on which the authority gave such notification.
(7) No working day from and including the day on which notice under paragraph (5) is given up to and including the day on which a fee is paid shall count for the purposes of determining any period of working days in accordance with regulations 5(2)(a), 6(2)(a) and 13(a).
(8) A Scottish public authority shall publish and make available to applicants–
(a)a schedule of its fees; and
(b)information on the circumstances in which a fee may be charged, waived or required to be paid in advance.