6.—(1) The Scottish Ministers may give directions to SEPA requiring that any particular application under regulation 13(2) or any class of such applications shall be referred to them for determination pending a further direction under sub-paragraph (6).
(2) SEPA shall inform the applicant of the fact that the application is being transmitted to the Scottish Ministers and shall forward to the Scottish Ministers any representations which have been made to it within the period allowed.
(3) Where an application for the variation of the conditions of a permit is referred to them under sub-paragraph (1), the Scottish Ministers may afford the applicant and SEPA an opportunity of appearing before and being heard by a person appointed by them and they shall do so in any case where a request is duly made by the applicant or SEPA to be so heard.
(4) A request under sub-paragraph (3) shall be in writing (or in electronic form) and shall be made within the period of 21 days beginning with the day on which the applicant is informed that the application is being transmitted to the Scottish Ministers.
(5) Paragraphs 4(2) to (10) of Schedule 8 shall apply to a hearing held under sub-paragraph (3) as they apply to a hearing held under paragraph 4(1) of that Schedule but with the following modifications:–
(a)with the substitution in sub-paragraph (3) for the reference to the appellant of a reference to the applicant;
(b)with the substitution in sub-paragraph (4)–
(i)for the reference to the appeal of a reference to the application; and
(ii)for the reference to every person mentioned in paragraph 3(1)(a) of Schedule 8 and every person mentioned in paragraph 3(1)(b) and (c) of that Schedule who has made representations to the Scottish Ministers in writing of a reference to every person who was required to be notified under paragraph 3(4)(b) of this Schedule and to any person who made representations to SEPA with respect to the subject matter of the application;
(c)with the substitution in sub-paragraph (7)–
(i)for the reference in sub-paragraph (7)(a) to the appellant of a reference to the applicant;
(ii)for the reference in sub-paragraph (7)(c) to any person required under paragraph 3(1)(a) of Schedule 8 to be notified of the appeal of a reference to any person required under paragraph 3(4)(b) of this Schedule to be notified of the application.
(6) In relation to SEPA and the applicant, regulation 22(5) and (6) shall apply to any determination by the Scottish Ministers of any application referred to them under sub-paragraph (1) as it applies to decisions made by the Scottish Ministers under regulation 22(1) or (2).
(7) On determining any application transferred under this paragraph, the Scottish Ministers shall (or, on determining an appeal, the sheriff, may) give to SEPA such a direction as considered fit as to whether it is to grant the application and, if so, as to the conditions that are to be attached to the permit by means of the variation notice.