Section 18 – Provisional risk designation
32.The Act is intended to create a risk-based regulatory regime with differing regulatory requirements for controlled reservoirs designated as being of different risk categories. The risk designation process is set out in sections 18 to 26.
33.Section 18 requires SEPA to give controlled reservoirs a provisional risk designation as soon as reasonably practicable after it has registered the reservoir.
34.The categories of risk provided for in the Act are high, medium and low risk. Subsection (2) requires SEPA to take account of the matters in section 22 when giving the risk designation, which are the potential adverse consequences of an uncontrolled release of water from the reservoir and the probability of such a release.
35.Reservoir managers will have the opportunity to make representations to SEPA regarding the provisional designation. Subsection (4) provides for the giving of a notice by SEPA to the reservoir manager specifying the provisional risk designation, the reasons for it, how representations may be made in respect of it, and the time limit for making any such representations.
