Section 54 – Protection of natural heritage
131.This section places duties on Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) and Scottish Water in terms of protecting the natural heritage. It is based on section 73 of the 1994 Act.
132.Subsections (1) to (3) require SNH to notify Scottish Water of areas of land that have been designated under natural heritage protection legislation and of any cancellations or variations of those designations. Subsection (4) requires Scottish Water to consult SNH about works or other activity that it plans to undertake on any sites that have been notified to it by SNH, where the activity planned is likely to impact adversely on the land in question.
133.Subsection (5) requires Scottish Water to consult a National Park Authority where any works or other activity that it plans to undertake could affect land within the National Park.
134.Subsection (6) permits Scottish Water to take action in an emergency on land that would be covered by (4) and (5) without first notifying SNH or a National Park Authority. Where Scottish Water acts in this way it must inform SNH or the relevant National Park Authority of what it has done as soon as is practicable.