Section 154 of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section is substituted:

154.     Requirement for additional information or action

(1)  The Assessment Committee, by notice, may require an applicant for a permit to provide it with additional information or to take or arrange for the taking of a specified action if the committee reasonably considers that the information or action is critical to a proper consideration of the application.

(2)  A notice under subsection (1) is to –

(a) inform the applicant that there is a right of appeal under Part 14 in respect of the notice; and

(b) be served on the applicant within 12 weeks after the day on which the Assessment Committee receives the application.

(3)  However, before the period referred to in subsection (2)(b) expires –

(a) the Minister, on the application of the Assessment Committee, may grant an extension of that period for up to 6 weeks if satisfied that special circumstances are preventing the committee from complying with that subsection; or

(b) the Assessment Committee and the applicant may agree in writing to extend that period.

(4)  Within 7 days after being notified of the granting of an extension under subsection (3)(a) , the Assessment Committee is to give the applicant written notice of the extension.

(5)  If the Assessment Committee does not serve any notices under subsection (1) , it is taken to have decided that it does not require the applicant to provide additional information or take a specified action before it considers the application.