27SEPA to prepare flood risk management plans
(1)SEPA must, for each flood risk management district, prepare and submit to the Scottish Ministers a flood risk management plan for the potentially vulnerable areas in the district.
(2)A flood risk management plan must be submitted by such date as the Scottish Ministers may direct.
(3)The date by which SEPA is directed to submit the plan must be a date that the Scottish Ministers consider allows them sufficient time to approve the plan by 22nd December 2015.
(4)For the purposes of preparing a flood risk management plan, SEPA must—
(a)set objectives for the management of flood risks for the potentially vulnerable areas, and
(b)identify measures to achieve those objectives in a way which it considers is most sustainable.
(5)A flood risk management plan must include—
(a)the matters specified in Part 1 of schedule 1, and
(b)such other matters as the Scottish Ministers may specify by regulations.
(6)A flood risk management plan may contain or be accompanied by such other maps, diagrams, illustrations and descriptive matter as SEPA considers appropriate for the purpose of explaining or illustrating any matter in the plan.
(7)Any such maps, diagrams, illustrations and descriptive matter are to be treated as forming part of the plan; and references to such a plan are to be construed accordingly.