163Dealing with application for declaration of identified greenhouse gas storage formation

163 Dealing with application for declaration of identified greenhouse gas storage formation

(1) If the Minister receives an application under section 315 of the Act for the declaration of a part of a geological formation as an identified greenhouse gas storage formation, the Minister must, within 20 days after receiving the application, give the applicant a notice setting out a proposed timetable for the consideration of the application.

(2) The timetable is not binding on the Minister.

While the intention is that the Minister will act in accordance with the timetable, circumstances may require the timetable to be changed to ensure that the application will be considered fairly.

(3) If the Minister is not satisfied that that part of the geological formation is suitable for the permanent storage of the greenhouse gas substance, the Minister must, in writing—

(a) inform the applicant of each matter for which the Minister is not satisfied; and

(b) give the applicant an opportunity to amend the application.

(4) The Minister may act under subregulation (3) more than once if the Minister—

(a) is still not satisfied that that part of the geological formation is suitable for the permanent storage of the greenhouse gas substance; and

(b) believes that the applicant is able to amend the application in a way that will satisfy the Minister that that part of the geological formation is suitable.

Part 4.3—Site plans