Environment Protection Act (Cap. 549), article 57

57. (1) The Minister shall, in consultation with the Authority, by regulations under this article provide that the Authority, m embers of the public or such categories of persons as may be prescribe d shall be entitled to request from such Government departments, authorities, public corporations or other persons as may be prescribed such information and registers, in their entirety or in part that they may have in their possession and relating to the environment and, or required to ensure the Authority’s effectiv e implementation of its functions relating to environmental prote ction. Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing, such regulations may prescribe: (a) the nature of the informa tion that may be requested; (b) the circumstances in which such information may be requested; (c) the circumstances in which such information may be withheld by the requested entity and the publication of the reasons for which such information is withheld; (d) the fees that may be charged in respect of any such information; and (e) the time within which such information is to be 42 [CAP. 549. ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION supplied. (2) Without prejudice to the generality of sub-article (1), the Authority shall keep and make av ailable for public inspection a t such reasonable times as it may determine, a register or regist ers: (a) of all applications for an authorisation received by it containing the name of the applicant and details of the proposal including documents and detailed plans; (b) of all decisions, including documents and detailed plans, made on such applications; and (c) of all reports and assessments compiled in accordance with the provisions of this Act, including any Environmental Impact Assessment reports. (3) The State of the Environment Report shall be prepared by the Authority and shall be passed on to the Commissioner for Environment and Planning within the Office of the Ombusdman. The Commissioner for Environment and Planning within the Office of the Ombudsman shall have the right to ask the Environment an d Resources Authority and other authorities and entities to furni sh his office with any information that he requires in order to analys e the report and to compile his opinion on such a report. The Commissioner shall deliver the report together with his opinion to the Speaker of the House within eight weeks from when the said report was passed on to him and within a month from the tabling of the report there shall be a dedicated sitting during which the report is discussed. PART VI 1. Requirement of Authorisations Authorisations. Amended by: XXX.2023.4.