4. Insert, after regulation 3—
“Provisions in relation to Wales
3A. Regulations 3B, 3C and 3D apply only in relation to Wales.
Designation of nitrate vulnerable zones in Wales
3B.—(1) In these Regulations as they apply to Wales, “nitrate vulnerable zone” means, subject to regulation 3D, any of the areas referred to in Schedule 1A and more particularly shown coloured blue or pink on the maps contained in the volume of maps marked “Volume of Maps of Nitrate Vulnerable Zones S.I. 1996 No. 888 (2002 revision)” and deposited at the offices of the National Assembly, Cathays Park, Cardiff, being all known areas of land in Wales which drain into and contribute to pollution of the waters which the National Assembly has identified, in accordance with the criteria set out in Schedule 2, whether those waters are located wholly in Wales or not, as waters affected by pollution and waters which could be affected by pollution if action pursuant to regulation 6 were not taken.
(2) The National Assembly must, by 1st August 2006 and at intervals of no more than four years thereafter, review and if necessary revise or add to the designation of nitrate vulnerable zones to take into account changes and factors unforeseen at the time of the previous designation.
Publicity for designation of new nitrate vulnerable zones in Wales
3C.—(1) The National Assembly must, as soon as practicable, publish, in accordance with paragraph (3), a notice, in relation to each nitrate vulnerable zone shown coloured pink on the maps referred to in regulation 3B(1):
(a)specifying the name of the nitrate vulnerable zone to which it relates;
(b)giving particulars of the means by which a copy of the map relating to that zone may be inspected;
(c)stating that the nitrate vulnerable zone to which it relates has been designated under the provisions of these Regulations;
(d)stating that the effect of the designation of an area as a nitrate vulnerable zone is to require the establishment of an action programme in relation to that area in accordance with regulation 6 of these Regulations;
(e)stating that any person who has an interest in any land included within the zone to which the notice relates may, by giving notice in writing to the National Assembly at such address as the notice may specify, to be received no later than the expiry of three months from the date of publication of the notice, require the National Assembly to carry out a mandatory reassessment of the inclusion of that land in the zone in accordance with regulation 3D.
(2) A notice published pursuant to paragraph (1) may relate to more than one nitrate vulnerable zone.
(3) A notice published pursuant to paragraph (1) must:
(a)if it relates to one nitrate vulnerable zone, be published in at least one daily newspaper circulating in that part of Wales in which the nitrate vulnerable zone to which it relates is situated;
(b)if it relates to more than one nitrate vulnerable zone, be published in daily newspapers which, taken together, circulate in all parts of Wales in which the nitrate vulnerable zones to which it relates are situated;
(c)be sent, together with a copy of the map relating to each nitrate vulnerable zone to which it relates, to each of the bodies referred to in Schedule 1B and, in relation to any local authority to which it is sent, be deposited with the chief officer of that authority in accordance with section 225 of the Local Government Act 1972.
Mandatory reassessment of new nitrate vulnerable zones in Wales
3D.—(1) The National Assembly must, if it receives from a person who has an interest in any land referred to in regulation 3C(1)(e), before the expiry of the period referred to in that sub-paragraph, notice requiring a mandatory reassessment of the inclusion of that land in the nitrate vulnerable zone, carry out such a reassessment in accordance with this regulation.
(2) Before carrying out such a reassessment the National Assembly must invite the person who required the reassessment and the Agency, and may invite any other person who appears to the National Assembly to have a sufficient interest in the subject-matter of the reassessment, to make representations in writing as to whether the land in question should be included in the zone and must afford the Agency and the person who required the reassessment a reasonable opportunity to comment on their respective representations and, where the National Assembly regards it as appropriate, on those of any other persons and may, if the National Assembly regards it as appropriate to do so, afford such other persons a reasonable opportunity to comment on the representations made by the Agency and the person who required the reassessment.
(3) The National Assembly must, having considered the representations made in accordance with paragraph (2), determine whether or not to revise the nitrate vulnerable zone by excluding, in whole or in part, the land to which the reassessment relates and such other land as it considers appropriate and must, having made such determination, give written notice of its determination, stating its reasons for that determination to all persons who made representations pursuant to paragraph (2).
(4) Where the National Assembly determines, in accordance with paragraph (3), to revise a nitrate vulnerable zone, it must:
(a)subject to paragraph (5), prepare a revised map of the zone as amended in accordance with that determination and replace the map referred to in regulation 3B(1) with that revised map;
(b)publish notice that the map has been revised, stating the general effect of that revision, in at least one daily newspaper circulating in that part of Wales in which the zone is situated; and
(c)send a copy of that notice, together with a copy of the revised map, to each of the bodies to whom a copy of the map was sent under regulation 3C(3)(c).
(5) Where, by reason of one or more notices requiring a mandatory reassessment, the National Assembly is required to reassess whether there should be included within a nitrate vulnerable zone land which, taken together, constitutes the whole of that zone and the effect of the determinations made by the National Assembly in relation to that notice or those notices is that the whole of the land included within that zone should be excluded from it, the National Assembly must, instead of the obligation imposed by paragraph (4)(a), prepare and place in the volume of maps referred to in regulation 3B(1), in place of the map relating to that zone, a statement that the zone has been deleted.
(6) Where, under this regulation, the National Assembly determines that land should not be included in a nitrate vulnerable zone, then, from the date on which it gives notice of that determination under paragraph (3), the provisions of these Regulations are not to apply to that land.”