UK agency and legislative context - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 81

adopted so that such an occurrence is not likely to have a significant effect. This could, where
appropriate, include reference to compliance with Health and Safety legislation.

5.2 There are separate arrangements in force relating to the keeping or use of hazardous

substances and the HSE provides local planning authorities with expert advice about risk
assessment on any planning application involving a hazardous installation.

5.3 Nevertheless, it is desirable that, wherever possible, the risk of accidents and the general
environmental effects of developments should be considered together, and developers and
planning authorities should bear this in mind.

( Source: DETR 2000, ODPM 2003.)

3.4.3 Statutory and other consultees

Under the T&CP Regulations, a number of statutory consultees are involved in the EIA
process, as noted in Section 3.2. These bodies are involved at two stages of an EIA, in
addition to possible involvement in the scoping stage.
D. First, when an LPA determines that an EIA is required, it must inform the statutory
consultees of this. The consultees in turn must make available to the developer, if so
requested and at a reasonable charge, any relevant environmental information in their
possession. For example, English Nature might provide information about the ecology of
the area. This does not include any confidential information or information that the
consultees do not already have in their possession.
E. Second, once the EIS has been submitted, the LPA or developer must send a free
copy to each of the statutory consultees. The consultees may make representations about
the EIS to the LPA for at least two weeks after they receive the EIS. The LPA must take
account of these representations when deciding whether to grant planning permission.
The developer may also contact other consultees and the general public while preparing
the EIS. The Government guidance explains that these bodies may have particular
expertise in the subject or may highlight important environmental issues that could affect
the project. The developer is under no obligation to contact any of these groups, but again
the DETR guidance stresses the benefits of early and thorough consultation.

3.4.4 Carrying out the EIA; preparing the EIS
F. The DETR gives no formal guidance about what techniques and methodologies should
be used in EIA, noting only that they will vary depending on the proposed development,
the receiving environment and the information available, and that predictions of effects
will often have some uncertainty attached to them.

3.4.5 Submitting the EIS and planning application; public consultation

G. When the EIS has been completed, the developer must publish a notice in a local
newspaper and post notices at the site. These notices must fulfil the requirements of the
Town and Country Planning Act (General Permitted Development) Order 1995 (GDPO),
state that a copy of the EIS is available for public inspection, give a local address where
copies may be obtained and state the cost of the EIS, if any. The public can make written