The Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011
Made: 9th February 2011
Laid before Parliament: 17th February 2011
Coming into force: 6th April 2011
The Secretary of State has carried out consultation in accordance with section 74(5) of that Act.
PART 1 — Introductory provisions
Citation and commencement
1
This Order—
- (a) may be cited as the Marine Licensing (Exempted Activities) Order 2011; and
- (b) comes into force on 6th April 2011.
Application
2
This Order applies in relation to any area, and any licensable marine activity carried on in that area, for which the Secretary of State is the appropriate licensing authority under section 113 of the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009[^f00002].
Interpretation
3
In this Order—
- “the Act” means the Marine and Coastal Access Act 2009;
- “activity” means licensable marine activity[^f00003];
- “disposal” has the meaning given by Article 3 of the Waste Framework Directive;
- “a European site” means—a European site within the meaning of regulation 8(1) of the Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2017; “European offshore marine site” as defined in regulation 18 of the Conservation of Offshore Marine Habitats and Species Regulations 2017;
- “exempt activity” has the meaning given by article 4;
- “the Habitats Directive” means Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora;
- “harbour authority” has the meaning given by section 57(1) of the Harbours Act 1964[^f00006];
- “licensing authority” means the Secretary of State as the appropriate licensing authority under section 113(2)(a), (4)(a), (6)(a) or (8) of the Act;
- “lighthouse authority” means a general lighthouse authority or a local lighthouse authority within the meaning of Part 8 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995[^f00007];
- “marine litter” means any persistent, manufactured or processed solid material discarded, disposed of or abandoned in the marine and coastal environment;
- “an MCZ” means a marine conservation zone from time to time designated by an Order made under section 116 of the Act[^f00008];
- “plan or project” has the same meaning as in the Habitats Directive;
- “protected feature” has the meaning given by section 147(1) of the Act;
- “Ramsar site” has the same meaning as in section 37A of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981[^f00010];
- “shellfish” includes crustaceans and molluscs of any kind and any part of a shellfish;
- “waste” means anything that—is waste within the meaning of Article 3(1) of the Waste Framework Directive, as read with Article 5(1) of that Directive, andis not excluded from the scope of that Directive by Article 2(1), (2) or (3) of that Directive , and for this purpose Article 5(1) of that Directive is to be read as if the words “Member States shall take appropriate measures to ensure that” were omitted;
- “the Waste Framework Directive” means Directive 2008/98/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council on waste, as last amended by Directive (EU) 2018/851
PART 2 — Exempt activities – general provisions
Exemption from need for marine licence
4
- (1) A marine licence is not needed for an activity that is an exempt activity.
- (2) An activity is an exempt activity to the extent that—
- (a) it is an activity to which this article applies[^f00012], and
- (b) where the application of this article to an activity is subject to a condition specified in Part 3, that condition is satisfied in relation to that activity.
- (4) Nothing in this Order makes an activity an exempt activity to the extent to which the carrying on of the activity is contrary to international law.
Activities relating to disposal or recovery of waste
5
- (1) An activity carried on by an establishment or undertaking involving the disposal or recovery of waste is not an exempt activity unless the conditions in this article are satisfied.
- (2) Condition 1 is that the establishment or undertaking is carrying out—
- (a) disposal of its own non-hazardous waste at the place of production; or
- (b) recovery of waste.
- (3) Condition 2 is that the type and quantity of waste involved, and the method of disposal or recovery, are consistent with the need to attain the objective mentioned in Article 13 of the Waste Framework Directive.
- (4) Condition 3 is that the establishment or undertaking must be registered with the licensing authority.
- (5) The licensing authority must maintain a register containing the name and address of any establishment or undertaking carrying on an exempt activity involving the disposal or recovery of waste in the licensing authority’s area.
- (6) The register may be kept in any form.
- (7) In this article—
- (a) “establishment” and “undertaking” have the same meaning as in Articles 23 and 24 of the Waste Framework Directive;
- (b) “recovery” has the meaning given by Article 3 of the Waste Framework Directive;
- (c) “non-hazardous waste” has the same meaning as in the Waste Framework Directive.
PART 3 — Activities to which article 4 applies and conditions
Interpretation of this Part
6
- (1) In this Part, a reference to a numbered item is a reference to that numbered item in section 66(1) of the Act.
- (2) In this Part—
- (a) a reference to a “deposit” is a reference to a deposit falling within item 1 (deposits within the UK marine licensing area etc), 2 (deposits from British vessels etc anywhere at sea etc), 3 (deposit from vehicle, vessel etc loaded in United Kingdom except Scotland or the UK marine licensing area), or, except as otherwise provided, 10 (deposit of explosives within the UK marine licensing area etc);
- (b) a reference to a “dredging activity” is a reference to an activity falling within item 9 (dredging within the UK marine licensing area);
- (c) a reference to a “removal activity” is a reference to an activity falling within item 8 (use of vehicle, vessel etc to remove substance or object from sea bed within the UK marine licensing area);
- (d) a reference to a “works activity” is a reference to an activity falling within item 7 (construction, alteration or improvement of works within the UK marine licensing area etc).
Activities falling within Part 6 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995
7
Article 4 applies to an activity falling within the subject matter of Part 6 of the Merchant Shipping Act 1995[^f00013] (prevention of pollution).
Safety directions under the Merchant Shipping Act 1995
8
Article 4 applies to an activity carried on—
- (a) by or on behalf of the Secretary of State in exercise of a power under Schedule 3A to the Merchant Shipping Act 1995[^f00014] (safety directions);
- (b) by any person for the purpose of complying with a direction under that Schedule; or
- (c) by any person for the purpose of avoiding interference with action taken by virtue of that Schedule.
Salvage activities
9
Article 4 applies to an activity carried on, in the course of a salvage operation, for the purpose of ensuring the safety of a vessel or preventing pollution.
Fire fighting
10
Article 4 applies to an activity carried on for the purpose of fighting, or preventing the spread of, any fire.
Air accident investigation
11
Article 4 applies to a deposit or removal activity carried on for the purpose of recovering any substance or object as part of an investigation into any accident involving any aircraft.
Fishing operations
12
- (1) Article 4 applies to any of the following activities if carried on in the course of a fishing operation—
- (a) the deposit of fishing gear, other than a deposit made for the purpose of disposal;
- (b) a removal activity or dredging activity carried on for the purpose of—
- (i) fishing for or taking fish; or
- (ii) removing fishing gear;
- (c) the deposit by way of return to the sea of any fish or other object.
- (2) Article 4 also applies to the deposit by way of return to the sea of any fish during the course of fish processing at sea.
- (3) In this article—
- (a) “fish” includes shellfish and any part of a fish;
- (b) “fishing gear” includes gear used to fish for or take shellfish, but does not otherwise include anything used in connection with the propagation or cultivation of shellfish.
Shellfish propagation and cultivation
13
- (1) Article 4 applies—
- (a) to the deposit of any shellfish, trestle, raft, cage, pole, rope , marker or line in the course of the propagation or cultivation of shellfish;
- (b) to a removal activity or dredging activity carried on for the purpose of moving shellfish within the sea in the course of its propagation or cultivation.
- (1A) Paragraph (1) is subject to the condition that notice of the intention to carry on the activity must be given to the licensing authority before the activity is carried on.
- (2) But article 4 does not apply—
- (a) to any such deposit made for the purpose of disposal;
- (b) to any such deposit made for the purpose of creating, altering or maintaining an artificial reef; or
- (c) to any such deposit that causes or is likely to cause obstruction or danger to navigation.
Discharge etc of offshore chemicals and oil
14
Article 4 applies to any activity in relation to which a permit is required under—
- (a) the Offshore Chemicals Regulations 2002[^f00015]; or
- (b) the Offshore Petroleum Activities (Oil Pollution Prevention and Control) Regulations 2005[^f00016].
Deposit of marine chemical and marine oil treatment substances etc
15
- (1) Article 4 applies—
- (a) to the deposit of any marine chemical treatment substance;
- (b) to the deposit of any marine oil treatment substance;
- (c) to the deposit of any substance used or intended to be used for removing surface fouling matter from the surface of the sea or of the sea bed.
- (2) Paragraph (1) is subject to conditions 1 to 3 .
- (3) Condition 1 is that the substance must be one the use of which is for the time being approved for the purposes of this Order by the licensing authority.
- (4) Condition 2 is that the substance must be used in accordance with any conditions to which the approval is subject.
- (5) Condition 3 is that the deposit may only be made in accordance with an approval granted by the licensing authority for that purpose.
- (6) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
- (7) In this article, “marine chemical treatment substance” and “marine oil treatment substance” have the same meaning as in section 107(2) of the Act.
Deposit of equipment to control, contain or recover oil etc
16
- (1) Article 4 applies to the deposit of any equipment for the purpose of controlling, containing or recovering any—
- (a) oil;
- (b) mixture containing oil;
- (c) chemical;
- (d) flotsam; or
- (e) algal bloom.
- (2) But article 4 does not apply to any such deposit to the extent that it falls within item 10.
Scientific instruments etc
17
- (1) Article 4 applies—
- (a) to the deposit of any scientific instrument or associated equipment in connection with any scientific experiment or survey;
- (b) to the deposit of any reagent;
- (c) to the deposit of any tracer;
- (d) to a removal activity carried on for the purpose of removing any scientific instrument or associated equipment referred to in sub-paragraph (a).
- (2) Paragraph (1) is subject to condition 1, and (as that paragraph relates to the deposit of a reagent or tracer) conditions 2 and 3.
- (2A) Condition 1 is that notice of the intention to carry on the activity must be given to the licensing authority before the activity is carried on.
- (3) Condition 2 is that the reagent or tracer must be one the use of which is for the time being approved for the purposes of this Order by the licensing authority.
- (4) Condition 3 is that the reagent or tracer must be used in accordance with any conditions to which the approval is subject.
- (5) But article 4 does not apply—
- (a) to any such deposit made for the purpose of disposal;
- (b) to any such deposit that causes or is likely to cause obstruction or danger to navigation , in particular where any such deposit is tethered to the seabed or reduces navigational clearance by more than 5% by reference to Chart Datum; or
- (c) to any such deposit or removal activity—
- (i) that falls within sub-paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of paragraph (6); and
- (ii) that is not directly connected with or necessary to the management of the site or zone (as the case may be) referred to in that sub-paragraph.
- (6) A deposit or removal activity falls within this paragraph if—
- (a) it is a plan or project likely (either alone or in combination with other plans or projects) to have a significant effect on a European site;
- (b) it is likely to have a significant effect on a Ramsar site; or
- (c) it is capable of affecting (other than insignificantly)—
- (i) the protected features of an MCZ;
- (ii) any ecological or geomorphological process on which the conservation of any protected feature of an MCZ is (wholly or in part) dependent.
- (7) In paragraph (6)(a) and (b), “likely” has the same meaning as in the Habitats Directive .
Deposits in the course of aggregates or mineral dredging
18
Article 4 applies—
- (a) to the deposit, on the site of dredging for aggregates or other minerals, of any substance or object taken from the sea in the course of such dredging (other than any of the aggregates or minerals being dredged);
- (b) to the deposit of waters (whether by overflow or pumped discharge) from the hold of a vessel—
- (i) in the normal course of dredging for aggregates or other minerals, or
- (ii) at the site of such dredging following its completion or during the return journey of the vessel.
Maintenance of coast protection, drainage and flood defence works
19
- (1) Article 4 applies—
- (a) to an activity carried on by or on behalf of the Environment Agency for the purpose of maintaining any—
- (i) coast protection works;
- (ii) drainage works; or
- (iii) flood defence works;
- (b) to an activity carried on by or on behalf of any of the following for the purpose of maintaining any coast protection works—
- (i) a coast protection authority (within the meaning of Part 1 of the Coast Protection Act 1949);
- (ii) a local authority (within the meaning of section 68(9) of the Act);
- (iii) the Secretary of State for Defence
- (2) Paragraph (1) is subject to the condition that the activity is carried on within the existing boundaries of the works being maintained.
- (3) But article 4 does not apply in relation to any such activity which consists of beach replenishment.
- (4) In this article—
- “beach replenishment” means the addition of material from land-based, off-shore or other coastal sources not connected to the beach or its associated sediment system to replace material permanently lost from the system;
- “coast protection works” includes—beach re-profiling, which involves the movement of beach material in a cross-shore direction up or down the beach; andbeach recycling, which involves the movement of beach material along the beach from areas of accretion to areas of erosion within the beach or associated sediment system.
Emergency works in response to flood or flood risk
20
Reading this document does not replace reading the official text published on legislation.gov.uk. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. We assume no responsibility for any inaccuracies arising from the conversion of the original CLML XML to this format.