Forest Expansion Scheme EIA consultations February 2021

Overview

Forest Service, an Agency of the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs has provided 53 opinions on the attached projects in respect of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2006 (as amended).

An opinion under the Regulations is formed taking account of the selection criteria specified in the legislation. An opinion may be 'relevant' if it is considered that a project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment or 'not relevant' if a project is considered unlikely to have a significant effect on the environment. Each project is required to comply with the UK Forestry Standard, which describes the governments' approach to sustainable forestry. All relevant projects will require consent from the Department. In such cases, the applicant is required to submit an environmental statement prepared by a competent person which will provide the basis of determining whether consent should be given for the project to proceed.

Further information may be obtained by contacting Policy and Regulation Branch at 028 6634 3034 or by emailing forest.regulation@daera-ni.gov.uk. Any person wishing to comment on the likely environmental effects of the attached projects may do so in writing by 1 March 2021 to Forest Service, Policy and Regulation Branch, Inishkeen House, Killyhevlin, Enniskillen, Co. Fermanagh BT74 4EJ or by emailing forest.regulation@daera-ni.gov.uk

A list of projects is attached to this consultation. Information given includes a reference number, a general location, a grid reference, a brief description of the project and the opinion. A map for each project is also attached with a location insert. Anyone wishing to comment on a project may also do so by completing the 'online survey'.