North East File Collection - NEFC

Dear Natural England,

I am writing on behalf of North East Marine Research Group to request environmental information under the Environmental Information Regulations (EIR) 2004 as follows.

PD Ports as the strategic harbour authority for the Port of Tees and Hartlepool. PD Ports as the competent authority are responsible to ensure that any dredging operations authorised by reason of the Statutory Harbour Authority’s duty under Act of Parliament are compliant with all necessary environmental regulations.

According to the Maintenance Dredging Protocol for England” PD Ports have to consult yourselves as set out in the Defra advice to Statutory Harbour Authorities as described during the introduction of Maintenance Dredging Protocol -

• Defra description of the Maintenance Dredging Protocol - EU Birds: Maintenance Dredging Protocol for England
• The Simplified Process Flow Diagram shows the necessary consultation and review steps - Simplified Process Flow Diagram

The Maintenance Dredge Protocol was introduced from 2010 onwards, and so PD Ports may have consulted anytime between 2010 and today on the Maintenance Dredging Protocol.

As I do not know when PD Ports consulted yourselves, I am only able to limit the date range to 2010 to the present day inclusive. However, I only require information which is part of a direct request from PD Ports to yourselves on the River Tees and Hartlepool Maintenance Dredging Protocol. I do not require information you have supplied to the Marine Management Organisation as part of the licencing of either capital dredging or disposal of dredge arisings at sea.

1. Please confirm that PD Ports has consulted yourselves directly on the Port of Tees and Hartlepool Maintenance Dredging Protocol and the years of these consultations.
2. Please provide all information, including advice, correspondence, other communications, and meeting minutes related to PD Ports on the original Maintenance Dredging Protocol you were consulted on.
3. Please provide all information, including advice, correspondence, other communications, and meeting minutes related to PD Port on the most recent Maintenance Dredging protocol you have been consulted on.

Please respond within the 20-working-day statutory limit.