57.—(1) Where an application for hazardous substances consent is made to the Department, then if that consent is refused or is granted subject to conditions the applicant may by notice in writing under this Article appeal to the planning appeals commission.
(2) Paragraph (1) shall not apply to any application in relation to which the Department has served a notice under Article 56(1).
(3) Any notice under this Article shall be served on the planning appeals commission within six months from the date of notification of the decision to which it relates or such longer period as the commission may allow.
(4) Where an appeal is brought under this Article the planning appeals commission—
(a)shall publish notice of the appeal in at least one newspaper circulating in the locality in which the land to which the appeal relates is situated; and
(b)shall not determine the appeal before the expiration of 14 days from the date on which notice of the appeal is first published in a newspaper in pursuance of sub-paragraph (a).
(5) Where an appeal is brought under this Article from a decision of the Department, the planning appeals commission, subject to paragraph (6), may allow or dismiss the appeal or may reverse or vary any part of the decision whether the appeal relates to that part thereof or not, and may deal with the application as if it had been made to it in the first instance.
(6) Before determining an appeal under this Article, the planning appeals commission shall, if either the applicant or the Department so desires, afford to each of them an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by the commission.
(7) Where an application for hazardous substances consent is made to the Department then unless within the prescribed period, or within such extended period as may be agreed upon in writing between the applicant and the Department, the Department either—
(a)gives notice to the applicant of its decision on the application; or
(b)gives notice to him that the application is one to which Article 56 applies, paragraphs (1) to (6) shall apply in relation to the application—
(i)as if the consent to which it relates had been refused by the Department; and
(ii)as if notification of the Department’s decision had been received by the applicant at the end of the prescribed period, or at the end of the said extended period, as the case may be.