The Electricity and Pipe-line Works (Assessment of Environmental Effects) (Amendment) Regulations 1996

Explanatory Note

(This note is not part of the Regulations)

These Regulations amend the Electricity and Pipe-line Works (Assessment of Environmental Effects) Regulations 1990, which implement Council Directive 85/337/EEC (OJ No. L175, 5.7.85, p. 40) on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment in so far as they relate to applications—

(a) for consent to construct, extend or operate a generating station;

(b) for consent to install or keep installed an electric line above ground;

(c) for authorisations to construct or divert an oil or gas pipe-line.

The changes are—

(1) the amendment of regulation 3 to require the Secretary of State to state that he has taken the environmental information (as defined in regulation 2) into consideration;

(2) the amendment of regulation 3(2) to require an environmental assessment in respect of proposals to extend any type of generating station, only where the development is likely to have significant effects on the environment;

(3) the amendment of regulation 3 to clarify the requirement that the Secretary of State determine whether a development is likely to have significant effects on the environment, with a consequential amendment to regulation 4;

(4) the correction of a minor error in regulation 8(3);

(5) the insertion of a new regulation 10A in order to require publicity to be provided in relation to further information supplied pursuant to regulation 10 and for the provision of copies of such information; and

(6) the insertion into regulation 9 of a power to make a reasonable charge in relation to the supply of copies of additional information provided pursuant to the new regulation 10A.

The amendments do not apply in relation to any applications which have been made before these Regulations come into force.