Regulation 2A Environmental impact assessmentF1

England, Wales and Scotland

(1)

In these Regulations, “environmental impact assessment” means the process consisting of—

(a)

the preparation and submission of an environmental statement by a gas transporter;

(b)

the carrying out of the consultations referred to in regulations 9 to 11A and, where relevant, regulation 13;

(c)

the Secretary of State’s consideration of the information presented in the environmental statement, any further information or additional information provided in accordance with regulation 11 or 11A, and any representations or opinions received as the result of the consultations referred to in sub-paragraph (b);

(d)

the Secretary of State’s reasoned conclusion as required by regulation 14(1); and

(e)

the integration of that conclusion into the decision as to whether the grant of consent is to be given as required by regulation 14(1).

(2)

In carrying out the steps described in paragraph (1)(a), the gas transporter shall identify, describe and assess in an appropriate manner—

(a)

the direct and indirect significant effects of the proposed pipe-line works on the following factors—

(i)

population and human health;

(ii)

biodiversity, with particular attention to species and habitats protected under F2any law of any part of the United Kingdom that implemented Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora and Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds;

(iii)

land, soil, water, air and climate;

(iv)

material assets, cultural heritage and the landscape; and

(v)

the interaction between the factors referred to in sub-paragraphs (i) to (iv); and

(b)

the operational effects of the proposed pipe-line works (where the works will have operational effects) and the expected effects deriving from the vulnerability of the works to risks of major accidents or disasters that are relevant to the works concerned.

Annotations

Textual amendments

F1: Regs. 2A, 2B inserted (16.5.2017) by The Offshore Petroleum Production and Pipe-lines (Environmental Impact Assessment and other Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations 2017 (S.I. 2017/582), regs. 1, 27 (with reg. 43)
F2: Words in reg. 2A(2)(a)(ii) inserted (31.12.2020) by The Pipe-lines, Petroleum, Electricity Works and Oil Stocking (Miscellaneous Amendments) (EU Exit) Regulations 2018 (S.I. 2018/1325), regs. 1(1), 4(3); 2020 c. 1, Sch. 5 para. 1(1)