Request for a preliminary ruling from the Bundesverwaltungsgericht (Germany) lodged on 11 April 2019 — Naturschutzbund Deutschland — Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e.V. v Kreis Nordfriesland

(Case C-297/19)

Language of the case: German

Referring court

Bundesverwaltungsgericht

Parties to the main proceedings

Applicant: Naturschutzbund Deutschland — Landesverband Schleswig-Holstein e.V.

Defendant: Kreis Nordfriesland

Joined party: Deich- und Hauptsielverband Eiderstedt, Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts,

Other party: Vertreter des Bundesinteresses beim Bundesverwaltungsgericht

Questions referred

1.    (a) Does the term ‘management’ within the meaning of the second indent of the second paragraph of Annex I to Directive 2004/35/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 April 2004 on environmental liability with regard to the prevention and remedying of environmental damage (Environmental Liability Directive) ¹ include activities inextricably bound up with direct use for land yield purposes?

If so:

(b)    Under what conditions is the management of sites, as defined in habitat records or target documents, to be considered ‘normal’ within the meaning of the Environmental Liability Directive?

(c)    What is the time-scale for deciding if management is ‘as carried on previously’ by owners or operators within the meaning of the Environmental Liability Directive?

(d)    Should the question of whether management is as carried on previously by owners or operators within the meaning of the Environmental Liability Directive be answered independently of the habitat records or target documents?

2.    Does an activity exercised in the public interest on the basis of a statutory delegation of tasks constitute an ‘occupational activity’ within the meaning of Article 2(7) of the Environmental Liability Directive?

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¹ OJ 2004 L 143, p. 56.