Environmental Protection

DIRECTIVE 85/337/EEC AS AMENDED BY DIRECTIVE 97/11/EC:

ARTICLE 7

PROPOSED DREDGING FOR SAND AND GRAVEL, AREA 461, MEDIAN DEEP

The First Secretary of State hereby gives notice that he has received further environmental information in respect of an application by Volker Dredging Limited (VDL) for a Government View on a proposal to extract marine sand and gravel from Area 461, Median Deep. Area 461 is located approximately 40 kilometres south of Beachy Head, and the application area, which has been revised since the application was originally made, now covers approximately 10 square kilometres. The application was originally made to the former Department of the Environment, Transport and the Regions on 29 January 1999 and was accompanied by an Environmental Statement. A favourable Government View of the proposed project would enable VDL to apply to the Crown Estate Commissioners for a production licence. In accordance with his obligations under Article 7 of Council Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (as amended by Directive 97/11/EC), the First Secretary of State has notified the Belgian, Dutch and French Governments, which had earlier indicated that they wished to participate in the Environmental Impact Assessment process for this application, about the further environmental information. He has forwarded to the Belgian, Dutch and French Governments copies of the further environmental information supplied by the applicants, including a Regional Environmental Assessment of the potential cumulative and in combination environmental effects of the proposed dredging of all 10 areas in the eastern English Channel region for which Government View applications have already been submitted or are proposed to be submitted. He has invited the Belgian, Dutch and French Governments to make any relevant representations about the proposed development, in the light of the further environmental information, to him not later than 22 July 2003. The First Secretary of State will make no decision on the application by VDL until after that date. Copies of the further environmental information referred to above, together with the original Environmental Statement, may be inspected at the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU, between the hours of 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday until 22 July 2003. To arrange to inspect it, please telephone Matthew Louis, on 020 7944 3877. Copies of the further environmental information may also be obtained (at a cost of £40 for paper copies or £5 for copies on CD) as long as stocks last, from the following address: Environmental Resources Management, Eaton House, Wallbrook Court, North Hinksey Lane, Oxford OX2 0QS. Comments on the proposed project, in the light of the further environmental information, should be sent to the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister at the following address: Minerals and Waste Planning Division, Zone 4/B1, Eland House, Bressenden Place, London SW1E 5DU.