4C.—(1) The Minister shall, before making a decision under section 7E (1), carry out an environmental impact assessment in respect of proposed arterial drainage works of a class for the time being specified under Article 24 of the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 1989 (S.I. No. 349 of 1989), or a provision amending or replacing that Article.

(2) The Minister shall, before making a decision under section 7E(1), carry out an environmental impact assessment in respect of proposed arterial drainage works which are sub-threshold drainage works where he or she determines under section 4B(2) that those works are likely to have a significant effect on the environment.]