Roads (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1999 (S.R. No. 89 of 1998).

These regulations implement in Northern Ireland Council Directive 97/11/EC of the 3rd March 1997 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, in respect of those proposals to construct new roads and to improve roads to which the Directive The Department is required to determine the need to carry out an environmental assessment in respect of projects falling within Annex II of the amended Directive in accordance with a case-by-case examination or thresholds or criteria set by it taking account in any event of the relevant selection criteria set out in Annex III of the amended Directive. It is also required to publish its determination. The Department shall include in its environmental statement an outline of the main alternatives studied by it and an indication of the main reason for its choice, taking into account the environmental effects. It shall publish the environmental statement within a reasonable time to ensure that the public concerned is given an opportunity to express an opinion before it publishes its decision as to whether to initiate the project. The regulations provide for consultation between Member States in cases where the project is likely to have a significant effect on the environment in other Member States.