Variation of permission on application – other cases
19.—(1) Where the Scottish Ministers determine under regulation 17(3) that a variation would not constitute a relevant project or a habitats project, this regulation applies–
(a)to the application in respect of that variation; and
(b)to any subsequent application in respect of the same variation which is submitted to the Scottish Ministers within 12 months of the date of the determination.
(2) Where reasonably necessary, the Scottish Ministers may request the applicant to supply further information within such period and in such form as may reasonably be specified.
(3) Where the applicant fails, within such period as the Scottish Ministers have specified, or such further period as the Scottish Ministers may allow, to comply with any request of the Scottish Ministers under paragraph (2), the variation application shall be deemed to be withdrawn and the fee shall be refunded, provided that, at the date of withdrawal, the Scottish Ministers have not complied with the requirements of paragraph (4).
(4) The Scottish Ministers shall send–
(a)a copy of the variation application and of any further information provided under paragraph (2); and
(b)a statement that representations may be made to the Scottish Ministers regarding the application, and of the address in Scotland to which representations may be sent and of the period within which representations may be made, which shall not be less than 8 weeks beginning with the date on which the statement is sent,
to the persons referred to in paragraph (5).
(5) The persons mentioned in paragraph (4) are–
(a)the appropriate consultation bodies;
(b)the owner (if the owner is not the applicant); and
(c)any other person (including any non governmental organisation promoting environmental protection in marine waters) who is likely to have an interest in the application or who the Scottish Ministers consider is likely to be affected by the application.
(6) Before deciding whether to grant or refuse a variation application to which this regulation applies, the Scottish Ministers may give the opportunity of making representations (whether in person or in writing) to a person appointed by the Scottish Ministers for that purpose, to the applicant, the owner (if the owner is not the applicant) and any other person whom the Scottish Ministers consider should be given such an opportunity.
(7) In deciding whether to grant or refuse a variation application to which this regulation applies, the Scottish Ministers shall take into consideration–
(a)the information provided in the variation application;
(b)any further information supplied under paragraph (2) and any other information submitted by the applicant;
(c)any relevant representations made in response to the copies of the application supplied under paragraph (4);
(d)the report of any person appointed under paragraph (6); and
(e)any published policy of the Scottish Ministers in relation to the extraction of minerals by marine dredging.
(8) The Scottish Ministers may decide the variation application by either granting or refusing permission for the variation.
(9) A grant of permission for the variation may be subject to such conditions as the Scottish Ministers consider appropriate including conditions intended to implement any policy taken into account under paragraph (7)(e).
(10) The Scottish Ministers shall send notice of the decision under paragraph (8) to the persons referred to in paragraph (5), and the notice shall state–
(a)the main reasons for the decision;
(b)the main considerations on which the decision is based including, if relevant, information about the public participation process;
(c)where permission is granted–
(i)any conditions imposed under paragraph (9); and
(ii)where applicable, the main measures to be taken to avoid, reduce and, if possible, offset any major adverse effects; and
(d)that the decision may be challenged and the procedures for doing so.