The process of an EIA
Steps of the EIA procedure - Environmental report
Article 5(1) of the EIA Directive:
Where an environmental impact assessment is required, the developer shall prepare and submit an environmental impact assessment report. The information to be provided by the developer shall include at least:
Where an environmental impact assessment is required, the developer shall prepare and submit an environmental impact assessment report. The information to be provided by the developer shall include at least:
- a) a description of the project comprising information on the site, design, size and other relevant features of the project;
- (b) a description of the likely significant effects of the project on the environment;
- (c) a description of the features of the project and/or measures envisaged in order to avoid, prevent or reduce and, if possible, offset likely significant adverse effects on the environment;
- (d) a description of the reasonable alternatives studied by the developer, which are relevant to the project and its specific characteristics, and an indication of the main reasons for the option chosen, taking into account the effects of the project on the environment;
- (e) a non-technical summary of the information referred to in points (a) to (d); and
- (f) any additional information specified in Annex IV relevant to the specific characteristics of a particular project or type of project and to the environmental features likely to be affected.
Article 5(3) of the EIA Directive:
In order to ensure the completeness and quality of the environmental impact assessment
The environmental report (or EIA report) is the most important document in the entire EIA process, as also confirmed by the definition provided by point (g), which mentions already in its first point the preparation of an EIA report by the developer as one of the essential elements on an EIA.
In order to ensure the completeness and quality of the environmental impact assessment
- (a) the developer shall ensure that the environmental impact assessment report is prepared by competent experts;
- (b) the competent authority shall ensure that it has, or has access as necessary to, sufficient expertise to examine the environmental impact assessment report; and
- (c) where necessary, the competent authority shall seek from the developer supplementary information, in accordance with Annex IV, which is directly relevant to reaching the reasoned conclusion on the significant effects of the project on the environment.
The EIA report must include the necessary information for the competent authority to reach a reasoned conclusion as required for development consent, and should be of a sufficient quality to enable this judgment.