Regulation 5 Amendment to article 17 (scientific instruments)

Article 17 is amended as follows.

In paragraph (1)(a), for “or associated equipment” substitute “other than a seismic airgun, or to the deposit of any associated equipment,”.

In paragraph (2) for “condition 1” substitute “conditions 1 and 4”.

After paragraph (4) insert—

“(4A)

Condition 4 is that, in the case of the deposit of a sub-bottom profiling system—

(a)

information about the date of the first such deposit must be provided to the licensing authority before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which that deposit takes place;

(b)

information about the dates on which, and location at which, the deposit takes place must be submitted to the Joint Nature Conservation Committee^f1 for inclusion in the UK Marine Noise Registry—

(i)

before the end of the period of 6 months beginning with the date on which the first such deposit takes place;

(ii)

before the end of each subsequent period of 6 months during which the deposit takes place; and

(iii)

before the end of the period of 12 weeks beginning with the date on which the final such deposit takes place.

(4B)

In this regulation—

• “sub-bottom profiling system” means instruments or equipment which use an acoustic or seismic energy source for the purpose of surveying the geological features beneath the seabed;

• “UK Marine Noise Registry” means the database developed and maintained by the Joint Nature Conservation Committee on behalf of the Secretary of State to record the spatial and temporal distribution of impulsive noise generating activities in UK seas^f2.”.