EIA & Environmental Assessment Flashcards
What were the very early developments in EIA for?
Mining in the USA & Oil and Gas in Scotland
What was the first legal requirement for EIA?
The EIA Directive 85/337/EEC
In what 5 years have there been amendments to the EIA Directive?
1997 2003 2009 2011 2014
What is the full name of 85/337/EEC?
Directive on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment
Who is responsible for the production of an EIA?
The developer
What is the full definition of an EIA?
“A process for identifying the likely consequences for the biophysical environment and for mans health and welfare of implementing particular activities and for conveying this information, at a stage when it can materially affect their decision, to those responsible for sanctioning the proposals”
What is BAT (NEC)?
Best Available Techniques (Not at Excessive Cost)
Give 2 points about post-project monitoring
- It is the developers responsibility
2. There are guidelines available for what/how/when
What are the 6 stages (in order) of the EIA process? and at what stage does public participation come in?
Initial Inforation –> Screening –> Scoping –> Study & Report (PUBLIC PARTICIPATION HERE) –> Review –> Decision-Making
What type of plans may be included in the initial information for an EIA process?
Local Development Plans and Local Conservation Plans
What is Screening?
A comprehensive, clear and transparent method used to determine whether or not a proposal requires an EIA
Give 2 benefits of Screening
- Can prompt applicants to modify projects
2. Can reduce -ve impacts at an early stage
Which Annex outlines projects subject to mandatory assessment and how many project types are there?
Annex I
20 Types
Which Annex outlines projects subject to case-by-case examination and how many project types are there?
Annex II
13 Types
What 4 things does screening depend on?
- Project Type
- Consequences of the likely (significant) impacts
- Environmental Characteristics of the Area
- Indicative Thresholds
Who conducts the screening?
The developer and a competent authority
Give 4 issues associated with screening
- People try to get out of the full EIA process
- Interpretation of Annex I and II projects
- Multi-Consent Projects
- Project Splitting to get through each stage
What is Scoping?
The process of determining the extent and content of the matters, which should be contained in the environmental information to be submitted to a competent authority for projects which are subject to EIA
What does Scoping do?
Identifies concerns and issues for consideration in an EIA assessment
What 5 things can there be direct and indirect effects on, as stated in the EU Directive?
- Human Beings, Fauna and Flora
- Soil, Water, Air, Climate and Landscape
- Living Receptors
- Material Assets and Cultural Heritage and the Built Environment
- The interaction between the factors above
Give 4 issues associated with scoping
- Will it threaten existing/proposed environmental quality standards?
- Concerns for local and national communities and environmental interest groups
- Conflicts with existing plans and policies
- Statutory Requirements
Give 5 methods of assessing impacts
- Stakeholder Input
- Network Analysis
- Matrices
- GIS
- Checklists (may be pre-defined)
In which year, did the directive allow MS to make scoping mandatory?
1997
What are the 7 components of the Environmental Statement?
- Physical Characteristics of the Development
- Data required to Identify/Assess the affects of development
- Description of the likely Significant Effects
- Description of the Environmental Aspects that are likely to be affected
- Description of the Technical Difficulties encountered by the developer
- Main alternatives that have been considered and why
- Measures to mitigate potential environmental impact
