Section 108A: Procedure where documents removed, Environment Act 1995

An authorised person (within the meaning of subsection (15) of section 108 of this Act) who removes any documents under the power in subsection (4)(ka) of that section shall, if requested to do so by a person mentioned in subsection (2) below, provide that person with a record of what the authorised person removed.

The persons are—

a person who was the occupier of any premises from which the documents were removed at the time of their removal;

a person who had possession or control of the documents immediately before they were removed.

The authorised person shall provide the record within a reasonable time of the request for it.

A person who had possession or control of documents immediately before they were removed may apply to SEPA—

for access to the documents; or

for a copy of them.

SEPA shall—

allow the applicant supervised access to the documents for the purpose of copying them or information contained in them; or

copy the documents or information contained in them (or cause the documents or information to be copied) and provide the applicant with such copies within a reasonable time of the application.

But SEPA need not comply with subsection (5) above where it has reasonable grounds for believing that to do so might prejudice—

any investigation for a purpose mentioned in paragraph (a), (d) or (e) of subsection (1) of section 108 of this Act; or

any criminal proceedings which may be brought as a result of any such investigation.

In subsection (5) above, "supervised access" means access under the supervision of a person approved by SEPA.

A person who claims that an authorised person or SEPA has failed to comply with the requirements of subsection (1), (3) or (5) above may apply to the sheriff for an order under subsection (10) below.

An application under subsection (8) above—

relating to a failure to comply with the requirements of subsection (1) or (3) above may be made only by a person who is entitled to make a request under subsection (1) above;

relating to a failure to comply with subsection (5) above may be made only by a person who had possession or control of the documents immediately before they were removed.

The sheriff may, if satisfied that the authorised person or SEPA has failed to comply with the requirements of subsection (1), (3) or (5) above, order the person, or as the case may SEPA, to comply with the requirements within such time and in such manner as may be specified in the order.

Section 108A: Procedure where documents removed

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