The Pipe-line Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Amendment) Regulations 2007

Amendment of the 2000 Regulations

5.  In regulation 3 (Grant of pipe-line construction authorisation by Secretary of State in respect of relevant pipe-line works)—

(a) in paragraph (2)—

(i) in sub-paragraph (a), for “regulations 7 and 8 below” substitute “regulations 7, 8 and 8A below”;

(ii) in sub-paragraph (b), for paragraphs (i) and (ii) substitute—

“(i) the environmental statement and any supplementary information;

(ii) any further information or additional information;”;

(b) in paragraph (4), for sub-paragraphs (a) and (b) substitute—

“(a) notify the applicant, the consultation bodies specified in the notice given pursuant to regulation 7(2) below, and any EEA State which has been sent a copy of the environmental statement pursuant to regulation 10 below, of his decision in relation to the EIA application; and

(b) provide to such persons together with the notification mentioned in sub-paragraph (a) above, a statement setting out—

(i) the content of the decision and, where applicable, any conditions to which the carrying out of the relevant pipe-line works is to be subject;

(ii) a summary of the main concerns and opinions expressed by the persons affected or likely to be affected by, or having an interest in, the decision;

(iii) the main reasons and considerations upon which the decision is based;

(iv) a description, where necessary, of the main measures required to be taken to avoid, reduce and, if possible, offset the major adverse effects of the relevant pipe-line works; and

(v) an explanation of the right of a person aggrieved by a decision of the Secretary of State to make an application pursuant to regulation 12 below.”;

(c) for paragraph (5) substitute—

“(5) No later than 14 days after the date of the notification given pursuant to paragraph (4)(a) above, the applicant shall inform the public of the decision by publishing a notice containing the information specified in paragraph (5A) below—

(a) in the Gazette; and

(b) in one or more local newspapers circulating in each area in which the relevant pipe-line works would be carried out.”;

(d) before paragraph (6), insert—

“(5A) A notice published pursuant to paragraph (5) above shall—

(a) set out the decision and any conditions to which the carrying out of the relevant pipe-line works is to be subject; and

(b) give an address in Great Britain at which copies of the statement by the Secretary of State referred to in paragraph (4)(b) above may be obtained and state that such copies may be obtained free of charge by making a request to the applicant during a period of not less than 8 weeks immediately following the date on which the notice is to be last published pursuant to paragraph (5) above.

(5B) The applicant shall satisfy all reasonable requests for copies of the statement referred to in paragraph (4)(b) above made during the period mentioned in paragraph (5A)(b) above.”; and

(e) in paragraph (6)—

(i) after “each of the newspapers”, insert “and the Gazette”; and

(ii) after “publication of those newspapers”, insert “or the Gazette”.