# The Environmental Assessment (Afforestation) Regulations 1988, Regulation 4: Opinion of Commissioners in advance of application for grant or loan


(1) A person may, before applying for a grant or loan in respect of an afforestation project, make a written application to the Commissioners for their opinion in writing on whether environmental information would be required in relation to that project.
(2) An application pursuant to paragraph (1) above shall be accompanied by—
(a) a map or plan sufficient to identify the land on which the proposed planting would be carried out, and to show the extent of the proposed planting;
(b) a brief description of the nature of the proposed planting and of its possible effects on the environment; and
(c) such further information or representations as the applicant may wish to provide.
(3) Where the Commissioners consider that they have not been provided with sufficient information to enable them to give an opinion they shall notify the applicant of the points on which they require further information.
(4) The Commissioners shall give the applicant written notification of the opinion they have formed on the question raised within 4 weeks beginning with the date of the request, or such longer period as they may agree with him in writing, and where their opinion is that consideration of environmental information would be required, they shall state their reasons for it.
(5) Where the Commissioners have not given their written opinion by the end of the period provided for by paragraph (4) above, it shall be presumed that in their opinion environmental information would not be required.
(6) Where the Commissioners express the opinion that environmental information would be required, the applicant may apply in writing to the Minister for a direction on the matter, following the procedure provided in regulation 6.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1988/1207/regulation/4 (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/environmental-assessment-afforestation-regulations-1988/regulation-4
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.