7B.—(1) Subject to subsection (2), the Commissioners shall, in respect of an EIA drainage scheme, consider each observation and submission sent or made, as the case may be, pursuant to section 5, 5A, 6 or 7.

(2) The Commissioners shall not be required to consider an observation or submission which was sent or made, as the case may be, after the expiry of the period within which the observation or submission was required to be sent or made, as the case may be, under section 5, 5A, 6 or 7.

(3) The Commissioners, following consideration of the observations and submissions required to be considered in accordance with subsections (1) and (2) —

(a) may make such, if any, alterations (whether by addition, omission, or variation) in the EIA drainage scheme concerned and the environmental impact assessment report relating to that scheme, as they shall think proper, and

(b) shall submit the EIA drainage scheme and the environmental impact assessment report relating to that scheme as so altered (if at all) to the Minister, together with those observations.

(4) Where the Commissioners have submitted an environmental impact assessment report to the Minister under this section, the Minister shall, where necessary, request the Commissioners to provide supplementary information, specified in Annex IV to the directive, which is directly relevant to reaching a reasoned conclusion on the significant effects of the drainage works concerned on the environment and the Commissioners shall comply with such a request.]