(1) Within 20 business days after receiving a request under subsection 156A(1) to accept a varied proposal to take an action, the Minister must decide whether or not to accept the varied proposal.
Note: The Minister may request further information for the purpose of making a decision under this subsection. See section 156C.
(2) The Minister must not decide to accept the varied proposal unless the Minister is satisfied that the character of the varied proposal is substantially the same as the character of the original proposal. This subsection does not limit the matters the Minister may consider in deciding whether or not to accept the varied proposal.
(3) In considering, for the purposes of subsection (2), whether or not the character of the varied proposal is substantially the same as the character of the original proposal, the Minister must have regard to the change (if any) in:
(a) the nature of the activities proposed to be carried out in taking the action; and
(b) the nature and extent of the impacts (if any) the action:
(i) has or will have; or
(ii) is likely to have;
on the matter protected by each provision of Part 3.