28.This section provides for the creation of flood risk management districts. These districts will provide the geographical basis for the flood risk assessments, flood maps and flood risk management plans to be produced under the rest of Part 3. The districts will either be the same as the river basin districts designated under the 2003 Act, or they will be other areas as designated by the Scottish Ministers. The districts designated under the 2003 Act were identified for the purposes of protecting the water environment and preparing river basin management plans.
29.If the Scottish Ministers choose to designate a flood risk management district, that district must comprise one or more coastal areas or river basins and it must be identified by reference to a map prepared for the purpose of the order and laid before the Scottish Parliament.
30.Subsection (4) requires SEPA to make copies of the order defining the flood risk management district and the maps of the district available for public inspection. Where a flood risk management district is a river basin district, what must be made available for public inspection are the order under the 2003 Act designating it as a river basin district and the related map.
31.The provisions in this section enable the Scottish Ministers to implement Article 3.2(b) of the Directive.