Sch 4 para 3 Payment of a fee for a scoping opinion
(1) The appropriate authority may require an applicant to pay a reasonable fee in respect of— (a) the administrative expenses of providing a scoping opinion; and (b) the cost of carrying out any examinations or tests that, in the opinion of the appropriate authority, are necessary or expedient to enable the appropriate authority to produce its scoping opinion. (2) If the appropriate authority considers that it is appropriate to do so, it may— (a) require the applicant to make a reasonable advance payment against the fee that it is entitled to charge for its scoping opinion; (b) determine the balance of the fee payable after carrying out the work necessary to produce its scoping opinion in accordance with the remaining provisions of this Schedule; and (c) require the applicant to pay the balance of the fee that it is entitled to charge prior to the notification of its scoping opinion.