Section 105CA: Conclusion about environmental impact of a project for constructing or improving a highway, Highways Act 1980

Before deciding whether or not to proceed with a project for which notice of an environmental statement is published in accordance with section 105B, the project authority—

must consider the matters specified in subsection (2), and

following that consideration, must reach a reasoned conclusion about the significant effects of the proposed construction or improvement on the environment.

The specified matters are—

the environmental statement,

any relevant opinion received by the project authority on the project or the statement,

where an EEA State indicates under section 105C that it wishes to participate in the procedure required by this Part of this Act, any relevant EEA opinion received by the project authority on the project or the statement,

any features of the project, or measures, envisaged to avoid, prevent or reduce, and if possible, offset any likely significant adverse effects of the project on the environment, and

any other information of a description specified in Annex IV which is directly relevant to the conclusion to be reached on the environmental impact of the project.

For the purposes of subsection (2)(b), an opinion on a project or an environmental statement is a relevant opinion if—

it is expressed in writing by a consultation body or any other person, and

it is received by the project authority within the period specified for the purpose by the authority.

For the purposes of subsection (2)(c), an opinion on a project or an environmental statement is a relevant EEA opinion if—

it is expressed in writing by—

the EEA State,

a member of the public in the EEA State, or

an authority having environmental responsibilities designated by the EEA State to be consulted about the project under Article 6(1) of the Directive, and

it is received by the project authority within the period specified for the purpose by the project authority.

The period specified for the purposes of subsection (3)(b) or subsection (4)(b) must not be less than 42 days beginning with the day on which the notice of the environmental statement is published in accordance with section 105B(2)(b).

The project authority must obtain such expert advice as appears to the authority to be necessary for the purposes of considering the environmental statement.

Section 105CA: Conclusion about environmental impact of a project for constructing or improving a highway

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