Environment Act 2021

Reviewing and revising environmental improvement plans

3 (1) The Department must—

(a) review the current environmental improvement plan in accordance with this paragraph, and

(b) if the Department considers it appropriate as a result of the review, revise the plan.

(2) The first review of an environmental improvement plan must be completed before the end of the 5 year period beginning with—

(a) if it is the first environmental improvement plan, the day on which it is published, and

(b) otherwise, the day on which it replaces the previous plan (see paragraph 4(6)).

(3) Subsequent reviews of an environmental improvement plan must be completed before the end of the 5 year period beginning with the day on which the previous review was completed.

(4) In reviewing an environmental improvement plan, the Department must—

(a) consider what has been done to implement the plan in the period since it was published or (if it has been reviewed before) last reviewed,

(b) consider whether, having regard to data obtained under paragraph 5, the natural environment has, or particular aspects of it have, improved during that period, and

(c) consider whether any Northern Ireland department should take further or different steps to improve the natural environment (compared to those set out in the plan).

(5) In reviewing and revising an environmental improvement plan, the Department must consult such other Northern Ireland departments as it considers appropriate.

(6) If as a result of a review the Department considers it appropriate to revise the plan, the Department must lay before the Northern Ireland Assembly—

(a) a revised environmental improvement plan, and

(b) a statement explaining the revisions and the reasons for them.

(7) If as a result of a review the Department does not consider it appropriate to revise the plan, the Department must lay before the Northern Ireland Assembly a statement explaining that and the reasons for it.

(8) The Department must publish the documents laid under sub-paragraph (6) or (7).

(9) A review is completed when the Department has laid and published the documents mentioned in sub-paragraph (6) or (7).

(10) References in this Schedule to an environmental improvement plan include a revised environmental improvement plan.