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Overview

WFD National Stakeholder Forum 29 th /30 th October 2003 Building and Engineering Works Dr. Scot Mathieson Conservation Advisor SEPA. Overview. Legal basis General Binding Rules Timetable issues Interaction with the Town and Country Planning system. LEGAL BASIS FOR ENGINEERING REGIME.

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Overview

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  1. WFD National Stakeholder Forum29th/30th October 2003Building and Engineering WorksDr. Scot MathiesonConservation AdvisorSEPA

  2. Overview • Legal basis • General Binding Rules • Timetable issues • Interaction with the Town and Country Planning system

  3. LEGAL BASIS FOR ENGINEERING REGIME The power to make Regulations - In Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 s.20(3)(d), controlled activities include: “building, engineering or other works in, or in the vicinity of, any body of inland surface water”.

  4. LEGAL BASIS FOR ENGINEERING REGIME Water Framework Directive - basic measures to be implemented by Member States to achieve the Article 4 objectives. Article 11(3)(j) requires: “measures to ensure that the hydromorphological conditions of the bodies of water are consistent with the achievement of the required ecological status or good ecological potential for bodies of water designated as artificial or heavily modified”.

  5. LEGAL BASIS FOR ENGINEERING REGIME Draft Regulations – alternative definition raised for consideration: [“any works in or in the vicinity of inland surface waters which directly affect: • the morphology of surface inland waters where such works could impact upon the ecology of the waters • or (ii) wetlands directly assoc’d with surface inland waters where this may harm the ecology of surface waters or damage the protective function of wetlands so that this may indirectly lead to harm to surface waters”]

  6. What activities are we talking about ? • New works or modifications, for example: • Works that seek to alter the natural channel of a river, reinforce its banks, or canalise it • works that disturb the sediment since this may have a detrimental impact on the environment • structures in, around or above a water body (e.g. roads, bridges) Regime applies to rivers & lochs only , not estuaries or coastal waters (SE is currently considering options)

  7. Timetable issues • Control regime for new engineering works expected in force from 1st November 2005 for new works or modifications • Not apply to existing structures but will for works assoc’d with management/ maintenance of existing structures • How to deal with cases ongoing on 1st Nov 2005 ? • Restoration powers of the regime should apply to new, current and past activities • Restoration requirements for first RBMP cycle would have to be undertaken by 2012

  8. General Binding Rules GBRs - ‘light touch’ alternative to full licensing as a way of controlling the environmental impacts of relatively minor activities Which building/ engineering activities do you believe could be regulated by general binding rules?

  9. Potential for overlap with planning powers of local authorities • Overlap could cause unnecessary confusion amongst developers and land owners • Some activities will require control under both Interaction with planning Examples of issues that will be considered over the coming months include: • Demarcation between regimes • Communication/ consultation/ consistency between SEPA and local authorities

  10. Issues for discussion • Definition of engineering for the Regulations ? • Dealing with transitional cases ? • General Binding Rules – which activities do you think could be controlled through GBRs ?

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