These Regulations restate the provisions of the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2000 and implement amendments made to Council Directive 85/337/EEC by Council Directive 2003/35/EC, which provides for public participation in certain environmental decision making. The Regulations describe projects that are relevant under the Regulations and restrictions that apply. The Department of Agriculture and Rural Development may direct that a particular project is exempt from environmental assessment requirements, but in so doing the Department shall consider whether another form of assessment would be appropriate and to make information concerning that assessment available to the public. The person who proposes a project may request an opinion from the Department as to the contents of an environmental statement. The Regulations set out procedures for decision making by the Department regarding the environmental effects of a proposed project and provides for appeal against such decisions.