10.—(1) An application for permission to carry out dredging shall—
(a)be made to the regulator;
(b)contain such information as the regulator may reasonably require;
(c)unless the dredging falls within one of the cases described in paragraphs (2) and (3), include an environmental statement;
(d)where paragraph (2) applies, and the Secretary of State’s determination relates to part only of the dredging, include an environmental statement in respect of any part of the dredging to which the determination does not apply; and
(e)be accompanied by a fee determined in accordance with regulation 25.
(2) The first case is where the Secretary of State has determined under regulation 5(2) that the dredging constitutes or forms part of a project serving national defence purposes, and that in the opinion of the Secretary of State the application of these Regulations would have an adverse effect on those purposes.
(3) The second case is where the regulator has, within 12 months prior to the date of the application, determined in response to an application under regulation 6(1)(a) that the dredging does not constitute a relevant project.
(4) The regulator may require the applicant to supply such number of copies of the application as may reasonably be required, within such period as may reasonably be specified.
(5) Where the applicant fails, within such period as the regulator has specified, or such further period as the regulator may allow, to comply with any requirement of this regulation, the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn at the end of such period, and the fee shall be refunded if the regulator has not yet published a notice under regulation 12(1).
(6) An application under this regulation may be withdrawn at any time by notice to the regulator, and the fee shall be refunded if, at the time when the regulator receives the notice of withdrawal, the regulator has not yet published a notice under regulation 12(1).
(7) Where the regulator receives an application under this regulation in respect of dredging in Northern Ireland which may constitute or form part of a project serving national defence purposes, the regulator shall provide a copy of that application to the Secretary of State.
11.—(1) Paragraph (2) applies where the regulator considers—
(a)that the environmental statement fails to contain sufficient information of a description specified in any of the paragraphs of Part 2 of Schedule 1 to enable the environmental effects of the dredging to be fully considered; and
(b)having regard in particular to current knowledge and methods of assessment, that the applicant can reasonably be required to supply further information of such description.
(2) Where this paragraph applies, the regulator shall request the applicant to supply such further information as the regulator considers necessary and shall notify the applicant of—
(a)the number of copies of the further information that the applicant is required to supply; and
(b)the period within which such further information shall be supplied.
(3) Where the applicant fails, within such period as the regulator has specified, or such further period as the regulator may allow, to comply with any request of the regulator under this regulation, the application shall be deemed to be withdrawn at the end of such period and the fee shall be refunded if the regulator has not yet published a notice under regulation 12(1).
12.—(1) Where the regulator receives—
(a)an application under regulation 10 which includes an environmental statement, or
(b)further information supplied under regulation 11 or any other information provided by the applicant;
the regulator shall publish by public advertisement, as soon as reasonably practicable, a notice complying with the requirements of paragraph (2).
(2) The notice shall contain the following information—
(a)the applicant’s name;
(b)a statement that the applicant has made an application or, as the case may be, supplied further information or other information, to the regulator under these Regulations;
(c)a statement that the application is subject to an assessment of its effects on the environment under these Regulations;
(d)the identity of the regulator responsible for taking a decision on the application under these Regulations and a statement that the application may either be granted, whether or not subject to conditions, or refused;
(e)the address of the place in the United Kingdom at which copies of the application and any further or other information and any reports or advice which have been issued to the regulator at that time, as the case may be, may be inspected;
(f)a statement that inspection of the application, any further or other information, and any reports or advice which have been issued to the regulator may be undertaken at that place, without charge, and at any reasonable time during a period which shall be not less than eight weeks beginning with the date on which the notice is published;
(g)the address from which copies of the application and any further or other information and any reports or advice which have been issued to the regulator, may be obtained and, if a charge is made under paragraph (3) for the supply of copies, of the amount of the charge;
(h)a statement that any person who wishes to make representations to the regulator regarding the application or regarding any further or other information or any reports or advice which have been issued to the regulator, may do so in writing within the period mentioned in sub-paragraph (f); and
(i)the address in the United Kingdom to which representations may be sent.
(3) A reasonable charge may be made for the provision of copies of the application or any further or other information or any reports or advice which have been issued to the regulator, to any person who requests them.
(4) The regulator shall send to the appropriate consultation bodies and the owner (if the owner is not the applicant)—
(a)a copy of the application and, as soon as reasonably practicable, of any further or other information and of any reports or advice that have been issued to the regulator; and
(b)a statement—
(i)that representations may be made to the regulator regarding the application;
(ii)of the address in the United Kingdom to which representations may be sent; and
(iii)of the period, being not less than eight weeks beginning with the date on which notice of the application is first published in accordance with paragraph (1), within which representations may be made.
(5) Where the regulator is aware of any other person (including any non-governmental organisation promoting environmental protection in marine waters) who is likely to have an interest in the application, but is unlikely to become aware of it by means of the public advertisement, the regulator shall send a notice to such person containing the details set out in paragraph (2).
13.—(1) Before deciding whether to grant or to refuse permission on an application under regulation 10, the regulator shall determine whether or not the application relates to a project which constitutes a habitats project unless, within the 12 months prior to the submission of the application, a preliminary determination has been made in response to an application under regulation 6(1)(b) that the same project would not constitute a habitats project.
(2) The applicant shall provide such information as the regulator may reasonably require to enable the regulator to make the determination under paragraph (1).
(3) Before deciding whether to grant or to refuse permission for a project which the regulator has determined would constitute a habitats project (whether under this regulation or under regulation 6(1)(b)) the regulator shall make an appropriate assessment of the implications for the European site affected, in view of its conservation objectives and paragraph 2 of Schedule 3 shall apply for that purpose.
(4) Before deciding whether to grant or to refuse permission the regulator may give the opportunity of making representations (whether in person or in writing) to a person appointed by the regulator for that purpose, to the applicant, the owner (if the owner is not the applicant) and any other person whom the regulator considers should be given such an opportunity.
(5) In deciding whether to grant or to refuse permission the regulator shall take into consideration—
(a)the information provided in the application;
(b)the environmental statement, where one has been provided;
(c)any further information supplied under regulation 11 and any other information submitted by the applicant;
(d)any relevant representations made in response to the notice issued under regulation 12(1), or by anyone to whom a copy of the application has been sent under regulation 12(4) or to whom a notice has been sent under regulation 12(5);
(e)any opinion forwarded to the Secretary of State under regulation 15(4);
(f)any reports and advice that have been issued to the regulator;
(g)the report of any person appointed under paragraph (4);
(h)any published policy of the Secretary of State or a Northern Ireland Department(1) whichever is applicable, in relation to the extraction of minerals by marine dredging either generally or in the region concerned; and
(i)the results of any assessment carried out under paragraph (3).
(6) A grant of permission—
(a)may be subject to such conditions as the regulator considers appropriate, including—
(i)conditions intended to implement any policy taken into account under paragraph (5)(h) which contains regional limits on the tonnage of minerals which may be dredged; and
(ii)conditions as to the fees, determined in accordance with regulation 25, to be paid in respect of the regulator’s expenses incurred in assessing and interpreting the results of any monitoring of compliance with the conditions attached to the permission carried out in accordance with such conditions;
and
(b)shall be made to, and subject to any transfer under regulation 16, shall enure for the benefit of, the owner.
(7) The regulator shall send notice of the decision to—
(a)the applicant;
(b)the owner (if the owner is not the applicant);
(c)any person who has made representations in respect of the application; and
(d)the appropriate consultation bodies who were consulted under regulation 12(4);
and the notice shall state—
(i)the main reasons for the decision;
(ii)the main considerations on which the decision is based including, if relevant, information about the public participation process;
(iii)where permission is granted, any conditions imposed under paragraph (6)(a), and, where applicable, the main measures to be taken to avoid, reduce and, if possible, offset any major adverse effects; and
(iv)that the decision may be challenged and the procedures for doing so.
(8) Within the period of 28 days beginning with the date of the decision, the regulator shall publish, in the same or similar manner in which notice relevant to the application was published under regulation 12, a notice containing—
(a)a statement that the regulator has granted or, as the case may be, refused permission;
(b)a description of the dredging for which permission has been granted or, as the case may be, refused; and
(c)the address in the United Kingdom at which any person may inspect a copy of the notice issued under paragraph (7).
14.—(1) A person commits an offence who, for the purposes of obtaining (whether for that person or another) the grant of a permission under regulation 13—
(a)makes a statement or representation, or furnishes a document or information, which that person knows to be false in a material particular, or
(b)recklessly makes a statement or representation, or furnishes a document or information, which is false in a material particular.
(2) It shall be an offence for a person to fail to comply with a condition to which a permission is subject.
15.—(1) Where—
(a)the Secretary of State is aware that a relevant project is likely to have significant effects on the environment in another EEA state; or
(b)a request is made by another EEA state, whose territory is likely to be significantly affected by such a relevant project;
the Secretary of State shall, as soon as possible and not later than the date of publication of the notice referred to in regulation 12(1), carry out the actions specified in paragraph (2).
(2) The actions mentioned in paragraph (1) are that the Secretary of State shall—
(a)send to the affected state—
(i)details of the location and nature of the dredging;
(ii)any available information on its potential effect on the environment in the affected state; and
(iii)a description of the nature of the decision which may be made under these Regulations.
(b)give the affected state a reasonable time in which to indicate whether it wishes to participate in the procedure for which these Regulations provide; and
(c)publish in the Gazette a notice containing the particulars mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) and indicating the address from which additional information may be obtained.
(3) Where an affected state indicates a desire to participate in the procedure for which these Regulations provide, the Secretary of State shall, as soon as possible, send to that affected state such of the following information as has not already been provided to it in accordance with paragraph (2)—
(a)a copy of any application under regulation 10;
(b)a copy of any further information supplied under regulation 11 or other information provided by the applicant;
(c)a copy of any notice published under regulation 12(1);
(d)copies of any reports and advice issued to the regulator; and
(e)relevant information regarding the procedure under these Regulations.
(4) The Secretary of State shall also ensure that any bodies with specific environmental responsibilities who have been consulted by the affected state and the public concerned are given an opportunity, before any application is decided, to forward to the Secretary of State, within a reasonable time, their opinion on the particulars and information supplied.
(5) The Secretary of State shall—
(a)enter into consultations with the affected state regarding, amongst other matters, the potential effects of the dredging on the environment of that affected state and the measures envisaged to reduce or eliminate such effects; and
(b)determine, in agreement with the affected state, a reasonable period of time for the duration of the consultation period.
(6) Where the Secretary of State has consulted an affected state in accordance with paragraph (5) on the decision to be made on any application concerned, the Secretary of State shall inform that affected state of the decision and shall send to it a notice of the decision, and the notice shall state—
(a)the main reasons for the decision;
(b)the main considerations on which the decision is based, including, if relevant, information about the public participation process;
(c)where permission is granted—
(i)any conditions imposed under regulation 13(6)(a); and
(ii)where applicable, the main measures to be taken to avoid, reduce and, if possible, offset any major adverse effects.
(7) Where dredging is proposed in Northern Ireland—
(a)the regulator shall take such steps as are necessary to enable the Secretary of State to comply with the obligations of the Secretary of State under this regulation; and
(b)the Secretary of State shall send to the regulator a copy of every opinion forwarded to the Secretary of State under paragraph (4).
(8) In this regulation, “Gazette” means—
(a)in relation to an application relating to dredging in British waters, the London Gazette; and
(b)in relation to an application relating to dredging in Northern Ireland, the Belfast Gazette.
A Northern Ireland Department means a Northern Ireland Department as specified by section 21 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998 (1998 c. 47).