S.L. 552.32 Art. 5Duration of the permit-granting procedure. 5

(1) The permit-granting procedure, including the deadlines for that procedure, shall not exceed four (4) years from the start of the permit-granting procedure.

(2) Sub-regulation (1) shall be without prejudice to obligations arising from international and European Union law and shall not include periods necessary to undertake appeal procedures and to seek judicial remedies before a court or tribunal, as well as any periods necessary to implement any resulting decisions or remedies.

(3) The Authority shall adopt the necessary measures to ensure that, in duly justified cases, an appropriate extension of the four

(4) year period referred to in sub-regulation (1) may be granted. The duration of the extension shall be determined on a case-by-case basis, be duly justified and be limited to the purpose of completing the permit-granting procedure and delivering the authorising decision. When such an extension has been granted, the project promoter shall be informed of the reasons for granting it. A further extension may be granted once, under the same conditions.

(4) The Authority shall not be held responsible where the four (4) year period referred to in sub-regulation (1), as extended in accordance with sub-regulation (3), is not complied with where the delay incurred is due to the project promoter.