Determination of appealsS
56.—(1) On determining an appeal against a decision of SEPA referred to in regulation 55(1), the Scottish Ministers may—
(a)affirm the decision, or any part of it;
(b)where the decision is a refusal to—
(i)grant an authorisation;
(ii)grant a form of authorisation; or
(iii)vary a condition of an authorisation,
direct SEPA to grant the authorisation or the form of authorisation or vary the conditions of the authorisation, as the case may be;
(c)where the decision relates to the conditions attached to an authorisation, direct SEPA to vary any or all of the conditions of the authorisation;
(d)if the decision is a refusal to effect the transfer of, or accept the surrender of, an authorisation, direct SEPA to effect the transfer or accept the surrender, as the case may be;
(e)where the decision is to serve a notice—
(i)direct SEPA to withdraw the notice;
(ii)affirm the notice in its original form; or
(iii)direct SEPA to vary the notice as the Scottish Ministers think fit;
(f)where the decision is a decision that information is not commercially confidential, either affirm the decision or direct SEPA to treat the information as commercially confidential.
(2) SEPA must comply with a direction given to it under this regulation.
(3) A determination of an appeal by the Scottish Ministers is final.
(4) The determination or disposal of an appeal which relates to a decision to specify standard conditions in a permit does not affect the continued validity of the standard conditions published under regulation 35.