2019 No. 245 (W. 60)
The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes and the Environmental Impact Assessment (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019
Sift requirements satisfied
Made
Laid before the National Assembly for Wales
Coming into force in accordance with regulation 1(2) and (3)
The requirements of paragraph 4(2) of Schedule 7 to the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018 F1 (relating to the appropriate National Assembly for Wales scrutiny procedure for these Regulations) have been satisfied.
The Welsh Ministers have been designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 F2 in relation to the requirement for an assessment of the impact on the environment of projects likely to have significant effects on the environment, in so far as it concerns town and country planning F3 and in relation to matters relating to the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment F4; and the National Assembly for Wales has been designated for the purposes of section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 in relation to the requirement for an assessment of the impact on the environment of projects likely to have significant effects on the environment in so far as they concern the use of uncultivated land or semi-natural areas for intensive agricultural purposes F5.
The Welsh Ministers, in exercise of the powers conferred by section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 and paragraph 1(1) of Schedule 2 and paragraph 21 of Schedule 7 to, the European Union (Withdrawal) Act 2018, make the following Regulations.
1972 c. 68. Section 2(2) was amended by section 27(1) of the Legislative and Regulatory Reform Act 2006 (c. 51) and Part 1 of the Schedule to the European Union (Amendment) Act 2008.
S.I. 2001/2555. The functions of the National Assembly for Wales exercisable as a result of a designation made under section 2(2) of the European Communities Act 1972 (c. 68) were transferred to the Welsh Ministers by paragraph 30 of Schedule 11 to the Government of Wales Act 2006 (c. 32).
Title, commencement and applicationI131
1
The title of these Regulations is the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes and the Environmental Impact Assessment (Miscellaneous Amendments) (Wales) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.
2
Subject to paragraph (3), these Regulations come into force on exit day.
3
Regulations 2(8)(a)(i), 3(2), 3(4)(a)(iii), 4(5)(b)(iv), 4(5)(c), 5(2)(c), 6(4)(b) and 6(12)(c) come into force 21 days after the date on which these Regulations are made.
4
These Regulations apply in relation to Wales.
The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Wales) Regulations 2004I2I12
I111
The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Wales) Regulations 2004 F6 are amended as follows.
I112
In regulation 5(3), for “pursuant to” substitute “
under EU-derived domestic legislation F7 which transposed
”
.
I114
In regulation 13(2)(b), for “required under” substitute “
as specified in
”
.
I115
In regulation 14, in paragraphs (1) and (3)(a), for “another” substitute “
a
”
.
I116
In regulation 15—
a
in the heading, omit “other”; and
b
omit the words from “under” to “Directive”.
I117
In Schedule 1, in paragraph 1(e), for “EU legislation” substitute “
retained EU law
”
.
8
In Schedule 2—
a
in paragraph 4—
I1i
after “Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds” insert “
or Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds F9
”
; and
I11ii
for “pursuant to” substitute “
under EU-derived domestic legislation which transposed
”
; and
I11b
in paragraph 5, for “Member State” substitute “
national
”
.
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Undetermined Reviews of Old Mineral Permissions) (Wales) Regulations 2009I12I33
I121
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Undetermined Reviews of Old Mineral Permissions) (Wales) Regulations 2009 F10 are amended as follows.
2
In regulation 2—
a
in paragraph (1)—
i
for “ “the Directive” (“y Gyfarwyddeb”) means Council Directive 85/337/EEC” substitute “ “the Directive” (“y Gyfarwyddeb”) means Directive 2011/92/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment as adopted on 13 December 2011 F11;”; and
ii
in the definition of “sensitive area”, in paragraph (h), for “regulation 10 of the Conservation (Natural Habitats etc) Regulations
1994” substitute “
regulation 8 of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017 F12”
; and
b
in paragraph (7), after “Council Directive” insert “
(other than the Directive)
”
.
I123
In regulation 9(1)—
a
for “The Welsh Ministers” substitute “
Without prejudice to regulation 52, the Welsh Ministers
”
; and
b
omit the words from “in accordance with” to the end.
4
In Schedule 1—
a
in paragraph 2(c)(v)—
I12i
after “Member States' legislation” insert “
or the legislation of any part of the UK
”
;
I12ii
for “by Member States pursuant to” substitute “
under EU-derived domestic legislation which transposed
”
; and
I6iii
after “Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds” insert “
or Directive 2009/147/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on the conservation of wild birds
”
; and
b
in paragraph 2(c)(vi), for “EU legislation” substitute “
retained EU law
”
.
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2016I84
I81
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2016 F13 are amended as follows.
I82
In regulation 4(4), for “in accordance with Article 2(4) of the Directive (but without prejudice to Article 7 of the Directive)”
substitute “
in exceptional circumstances, without prejudice to regulations 56 and 57
”
.
I83
In regulation 51(a), for “another” substitute “
an
”
.
I84
In regulation 53—
a
in the heading and in paragraph (1)(a) and (b), for “another” substitute “
an
”
;
b
in paragraph (4)(a), for “the authorities referred to in Article 6(1) of the Directive” substitute “
authorities in the relevant EEA State which that state has designated as responsible for performing the duties arising from
the Directive
”
; and
c
in paragraph (5), omit “in accordance with Article 7(4) of the Directive”.
5
In regulation 54—
I8a
in the heading, for “another” substitute “
an
”
;
b
in paragraph (1)—
I8i
for “another” substitute “
an
”
;
I8ii
omit “, pursuant to Article 7(1) or 7(2) of the Directive,”;
I8iii
omit “, in accordance with Article 7(4) of the Directive”; and
I7iv
in sub-paragraph (b), for “to the competent authority in that EEA State representations pursuant to Article 7(3)(b) of the
Directive” substitute “
representations to the authority in the relevant EEA State which that state has designated as responsible for performing the
duties arising from the Directive
”
; and
I7c
in paragraph (2)—
i
in sub-paragraph (b), for “competent authority in the relevant EEA State” substitute “
the authority in the relevant EEA State which that state has designated as responsible for performing the duties arising from
the Directive
”
; and
ii
in sub-paragraph (c), for “competent authority of the relevant EEA State” substitute “
the authority in the relevant EEA State which that state has designated as responsible for performing the duties arising from
the Directive
”
.
I86
In Schedule 1, in paragraphs 21 and 22, after “pursuant to” in both places it occurs, insert “
Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2008 F14 and any law which implemented
”
.
I87
In Schedule 2, in the table in paragraph 2 in item 3(j), after “pursuant to” insert “
Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2008 and any law which implemented
”
.
I88
In Schedule 3, in paragraph 2(c)—
a
in paragraph (v)—
i
after “under Member States' legislation” insert “
or under the legislation of any part of the UK,
”
;
ii
omit “by Member States”; and
iii
for “pursuant to” substitute “
under EU-derived domestic legislation which transposed
”
; and
b
in paragraph (vi), for “EU legislation” substitute “
retained EU law
”
.
I89
In Schedule 5, in paragraph 12(a), for “another” substitute “
an
”
.
I810
In Schedule 6, in paragraph 15(b), for “another” substitute “
an
”
.
Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Wales) Regulations 2017I9I45
I91
The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture) (Wales) Regulations 2017 F15 are amended as follows.
2
In regulation 2(1), in the appropriate places, insert—
I9a
“public” (“aelodau'r cyhoedd”) means one or more natural or legal persons and, in accordance with the law of any part of the United Kingdom or practice, their associations, organisations or groups;
I9b
“public concerned” (“aelodau'r cyhoedd y mae a wnelo'r cais â hwy”) means the public affected or likely to be affected by, or having an interest in, environmental decision making procedures (for the purposes of this definition, non-governmental organisations promoting environmental protection and meeting any requirements under the relevant national law are deemed to have an interest);
I4c
“Natura 2000” (“Natura 2000”) has the same meaning as in regulation 3(1) of the Habitats Regulations;
I93
In regulation 2(2)—
a
omit “the EIA Directive or”;
b
for “the Habitats Directive” substitute “
the Habitats Regulations
”
; and
c
for “relevant Directive” substitute “
the Habitats Regulations
”
.
I94
In regulation 3—
a
in paragraph (3)—
i
omit “, in accordance with Article 2(4) of the EIA Directive,”; and
ii
after “Regulations” insert “, but this is subject to paragraph (3A);
b
after paragraph (3) insert—
3A
The Welsh Ministers must not make a direction under paragraph (3) unless—
a
it is appropriate to do so because of exceptional circumstances;
b
the application of these Regulations would result in adversely affecting the purpose of the project;
c
they have considered whether another form of assessment would be appropriate;
d
the objectives of the Directive are met even though their requirements are not fulfilled; and
e
the project is unlikely to have a significant effect on the environment in an EEA State.
3B
The Welsh Ministers must make available to the public concerned—
a
the information obtained from any other form of assessment relating to the decision under paragraph (3A) whether to grant an exemption; and
b
the reasons for granting it.
c
in paragraph (4), for “Habitats Directive” substitute “
Habitats Regulations
”
.
I95
In regulation 11(3)(e) for “EU legislation” substitute “
retained EU law
”
.
I96
In regulation 13—
a
in the heading and in paragraph (1), for “another” substitute “
an
”
;
b
in paragraph (4)—
i
omit “In accordance with Article 6 of the Directive,”; and
ii
in sub-paragraph (a), for “referred to in Article 6(1) of the Directive” substitute “
which the EEA State has designated to be consulted about the project
”
; and
c
in paragraph (5), omit “In accordance with Article 7(4) of the EIA Directive,”.
I97
In regulation 14—
a
in the heading and in paragraphs (1) and (3), for “another” substitute “
an
”
;
b
in paragraph (1), omit “in accordance with Article 7(1) of the EIA Directive”; and
c
in paragraph (2), omit “In accordance with Article 7(4) of the EIA Directive,”.
I98
In regulation 15(2)(d), for “another” substitute “
an
”
.
I99
In regulation 16—
a
in paragraph (6)(b), for “the European Commission” substitute “
the Welsh Ministers
”
; and
b
after paragraph (6) insert—
6A
Before deciding whether the reasons are imperative reasons of overriding public interest, the Welsh Ministers must—
a
consult—
i
the Joint Nature Conservation Committee;
ii
the Secretary of State and the other devolved administrations;
iii
any other person they consider appropriate; and
b
have regard to the national interest.
I910
In Schedule 2, in paragraph 2(c)(vi), for “EU legislation” substitute “
retained EU law
”
.
I911
In Schedule 3—
a
in paragraph 4(1)—
i
in paragraph (b)—
aa
for “protected by” substitute “
protected under EU-derived domestic legislation which transposed
”
; and
bb
after “Birds Directive” insert “
, as may be amended from time to time
”
; and
ii
for the words after paragraph (d) substitute—
This description should take into account the environmental protection objectives established at European Union level as they were immediately before F17IP completion day (including in particular those established under the Habitats Directive and the Birds Directive or at national level.
b
in paragraph 8—
i
for “EU legislation such as” substitute “
retained EU law such as any law which implemented
”
;
ii
after “pursuant to”, in the second place with it appears, insert “
any other
”
; and
iii
after “requirements of” insert “
any law which implemented
”
.
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017I10I56
I101
The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Wales) Regulations 2017 F16 are amended as follows.
I102
In regulation 2(1), omit the definition of “Union legislation”.
I103
In regulation 4(2)(b)—
a
after “protected under” insert “ “
EU-derived domestic legislation which transposed
”
; and
b
at the end, insert “
as may be amended from time to time
”
.
4
In regulation 5—
I10a
in paragraph (4)(a), for “in accordance with Article 2(4) of the Directive (without prejudice to Article 7 of the Directive)”
substitute “
in exceptional circumstances, without prejudice to regulations 56 and 57 and
”
;
I5b
omit paragraph (7); and
I10c
in paragraphs (8)(b) and (13)(b)(ii), for “Union legislation other than legislation implementing the requirements of the
Directive” substitute “
retained EU law (other than an enactment which implemented the Directive)
”
.
I105
In regulation 6(4), for “Union legislation other than under the Directive” substitute “
retained EU law (other than an enactment which implemented the Directive)
”
.
I106
In regulation 17(4)(e), for “Union legislation” substitute “
retained EU law
”
.
I107
In regulation 25(3)(c), for “Union legislation (other than legislation implementing the requirements of the Directive)” substitute
“
retained EU law (other than an enactment which implemented the Directive)
”
.
I108
In regulation 31(3), for “Union legislation other than under the Directive” substitute “
retained EU law (other than an enactment which implemented the Directive)
”
.
I109
In regulation 43, for “the requirements and objectives of the Directive” substitute “
any law which implemented the Directive and with the objectives of the Directive
”
.
I1010
In regulation 54(a), for “another” substitute “
an
”
.
I1011
In regulation 56—
a
in the heading and in paragraphs (1)(a) and (b) and (2)(a), for “another”, in each place it occurs, substitute “
an
”
; and
b
in paragraph (5)—
i
omit “in accordance with Article 7(4) of the Directive”; and
ii
in sub-paragraph (b), omit “other”.
12
In regulation 57—
I10a
in the heading, for “another” substitute “
an
”
;
I10b
in paragraph (1)—
i
for “another” substitute “
an
”
;
ii
omit “, pursuant to Article 7(1) or (2) of the Directive,”;
iii
omit “, in accordance with Article 7(4) of the Directive”; and
iv
in sub-paragraph (b), omit “pursuant to Article 7(3)(b) of the Directive”; and
I5c
in paragraph (2)—
i
in sub-paragraph (b), for “competent authority in the relevant EEA State” substitute “
authority in the relevant EEA State which that state has designated as responsible for performing the duties arising from
the Directive
”
; and
ii
in sub-paragraph (c), for the words from “competent authority” to the end substitute “
authority in the relevant EEA State which that state has designated as responsible for performing the duties arising from
the Directive
”
.
I1013
In Schedule 1, in paragraphs 21 and 22, after “pursuant to” in both places it occurs, insert “
Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2008 and any law which implemented
”
.
I1014
In Schedule 2, in the table in paragraph 2, in item 3(j), after “pursuant to” insert “
Chapter 3 of Part 1 of the Energy Act 2008 and any law which implemented
”
.
I1015
In Schedule 3, in paragraph 2(c)(vi), for “Union legislation” substitute “
retained EU law
”
.
I1016
In Schedule 4—
a
in paragraph 5, for the words from “at European Union or Member State level” to the end substitute “
at European Union level as they were immediately before F18IP completion day (including in particular those established under Council Directive 92/43/EEC and Directive 2009/147/EC) or at national level,
”
; and
b
in paragraph 8—
i
for “European Union legislation such as” substitute “
retained EU law such as any law which implemented
”
; and
ii
after “requirements of” insert “
any law which implemented
”
.
I1017
In Schedule 5, in paragraph 17(a), for “another” substitute “
an
”
.
I1018
In Schedule 6, in paragraph 20(b), for “another” substitute “
an
”
.
2018 c.16. See section 20(1) of that Act for the definition of “devolved authority”.