Forestry - Environmental Impact Assessments

These regulations amend the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations SI 1999/2228 in order to implement Directive 2011/92/EU, on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment.

What is the new legislation: Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) (Amendment) Regulations SI 2017/592
Who does this affect: England and Wales
When does this change take place: 16 May 2017
 
These regulation introduce a series of amendments and are part of a series legislation regarding environmental impact assessments.
 
They add new provisions to:

• require those proposing an afforestation project in England, which extends to 2-5 hectares and which is not in a sensitive area, to request that the forestry body assess whether the project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment;

• place corresponding requirements on those proposing an afforestation in England which extends to 5-50 hectares and which is in a low-risk area;

• provide that a forestry body can, in relation to some projects, determine that the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations SI 1999/2228 do not apply;

• provide for the co-ordination of environmental impact assessments where there is an additional requirement to carry out a Habitats regulation Assessment on the same project;

• provide for the manner in which an appropriate forestry body must give notice of, and publicise, their decision to grant or refuse a project;

• require the Secretary of State to review the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (England and Wales) Regulations SI 1999/2228 in relation to England at least every five years.

The full text of the Regulations may be found here.
 
Source: http://www.legislation.gov.uk.