www.buttiandpartners.com the environmental impact assessment (eia) dr. attilio balestreri...

www.buttiandpartners.com

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

dr. Attilio Balestreri

[email protected]

UNIVERSITY OF PADUAFACULTY OF ENGINEERING

Second Cycle Degree in Environmental Engineering 2013-2014


1. History of the EIA

The Environmental Impact Assessment was born in USA in 1969 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)

The NEPA was the first Act that contained a provision of an environmental assessment of a project

27 June 1985: Council Directive on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (Directive 85/337/EEC)

The 1985 EIA Directive was (and is, also today) the main step in European law about the assessment of the environmental effects of projects, because it introduced the basic principles of environmental assessment


1. History of EIA (2)In 1987 “Brundtland Commission” (World Commission on Environment and

Development) created the concept of sustainable development

“a development that meets our needs today without depriving future generations of the opportunity to meet their needs”

A graphical illustration of the concept of sustainable development:

This is the target of the EIASustainable project


2. The 1985 EIA Directive: the first step…Main principles

The Environmental Impact Assessment (Directive 85/337/EEC), three main characters

1. identified the possible (direct or indirect) impacts of a project on: a) human beings, fauna and flora (“living target”);

b) soil, water, air, climate, landscape (“natural target”);c) material assets and cultural heritage (“material target”);d) the interaction between the previous factors (cumulative

impacts)

2. analyzed the interaction of the possible impacts (evaluating the views of interested parties),

3. evaluated them by finding the “best solution”.


Cumulative impacts

human beings

fauna and flora

material assets and

cultural heritage

soil, water, air, climate, landscape

Project

Cumulative impacts evaluation in EIA


2. The 1985 EIA Directive: key words

Five keywords to understand the EIA:

1. preventive action;

2. comprehensive or "integrated“ approach;

3. specific and marked administrative procedure;

4. detailed technical evaluation;

5. participation of the public concerned by the implementation of the project (AArhus Convention)


3. The development of EIA in Europe after 1985 main steps

After 1985, many measures have been introduced about the topic of environmental impact assessment in European legislation.

Each intervention has substantially amended the Directive, without changing it in the text.

2011: action to unify into a single text

problems in interpreting and applying the Directive


4. The second EIA directive: 2011/92/EU

17 february 2012: entry into force of the 2011/92/EU Directive on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment

The Directive brings together the following principles:

brings together into a single text all the previous European acts about EIA

Prevention

Precaution Polluter pays

Proportionality


The second EIA directive: 2011/92/EU (2)

The directive applies to:“projects which are likely to have significant effects on the environment”.

Projects = Plans/Programs

A “project” as defined in the Directive is:a) the execution of construction works or of other installations or schemes;

b) other interventions in the natural surroundings and landscape including those involving the extraction of mineral resources

The term “project” involves a material operation to be carried out (different from a plan)

Environmental Impact

Assessment(EIA-VIA)

Strategic Environmental

Assessment(SEA-VAS)


The second EIA directive: 2011/92/EU (3)The Directive applies to three groups of public or private projects:

projects which are necessarily subject to environmental impact assessments (Annex I);

projects that are optionally subjected to environmental impact assessment (Annex II – the Member State can decide);

other projects, that the Member State has chosen to undergo to the EIA (on a case-by-case examination).

In these cases, the development consent should be granted only after an assessment of the likely significant environmental effects which must take into account:

- participation of private and of public administrations interested in the execution of the work;

- specifical procedural steps; - different possibilities of realization of the project (“new”).

The directive does not cover projects serving national defence purposes.


Important projects under EIA in the Directive 2011/92/EU

Some examples…

• Construction of lines for long-distance railway traffic and of airports with a basic runway length of 2100 m or more;

• Construction of motorways and express roads;• Waste disposal installation for the incineration, chemical treatment;• Waste water treatment plants with a capacity exceeding 150.000 population

equivalent;• Extraction of petroleum and natural gas for commercial purposes where the

amount extracted exceeds 500 tonn/day in the case of petroleum and 500.000 m3/day in the case of gas;

• Installations for storage of petroleum, petrochemical or chemical products with a capacity of 200.000 tonnes or more

The list contains different kinds of plants, installations, construction. The link between them is that they can create relevant impacts… The aim of EIA is to assess them and to find the “best solution”


The second EIA directive: 2011/92/EU (4)1. Informations from the Developer to Authorities (and public)To enable the competent authority to assess the project, the developer must provide

many informations, contained in the EIA report:

a) a description of the project comprising information on the site, design and size of the project;

b) a description of the measures envisaged in order to avoid, reduce and, if possible, remedy significant adverse effects;

c) the data required to identify and assess the main effects which the project is likely to have on the environment;

d) an outline of the main alternatives studied by the developer and an indication of the main reasons for his choice, taking into account the environmental effects;

e) a non-technical summary of the previous informations.

2. Informations from Authorities to Developer

The Authorities holding relevant informations about the project or the area where the project will be realized must give them to the developer.


Relevant informations

The second EIA directive: 2011/92/EU (5)

EIA Report

Opinion expressed bythe Authorities

Opinions expressed by the public Technical evaluation

of the project

Technical evaluation Social evaluation Main alternatives

Costs/benefits analysis Proportionality Precaution

Decision

Positive:The project can

be realized according

to the project or in a different way

Negative: the project can’t

be realized


The second EIA directive: 2011/92/EU (6)The Directive concludes with a series of important information, in particular:

- in the Environmental Impact Assessment the Authority must provide monitoring measures;

- after the decision of the Authority the developer must have the possibility to apply for judicial review;

- in any case, any change to the project must be evaluated by the Authorities.


The «new» Directive 2014/52/EU: main The «new» Directive 2014/52/EU: main aspects (1)aspects (1)

Starting from May, 15, 2014 there will be a new Directive about environmental impact assessment: Directive 2014/52/EU.

The Directive will bring some changes to the text of the Directive 2011/92/EU

What’s new?

1.Complete examination of project alternatives

2.Promotion of public participation from the start of the administrative procedure (since today the public participation has been more limited and only during the administrative procedure)

3. Ensure access to the relevant documents (it is mandatory to publish the electronic version)


The new Directive 2014/52/EU: main The new Directive 2014/52/EU: main aspects (2)aspects (2)

4. Complete analysis of the evaluations coming from the public

5. “Health” and “biodiversity” become aspects that must be considered between the environmental impacts in the EIA

6.Term for the implementation into Member State’s legislation: May 16, 2017


5. EIA in Italy (VIA)

In Italy, the environmental impact assessment is laid down in Articles 19 and following of Legislative Decree n. 152 of 2006 (“Environmental Code”).

The Italian legislation applies the principles set forth by the European Directive. In particular, there is a specific procedure to carry out the environmental impact assessment, through the following steps:

a) Screening of the project (only if the EIA is optional);b) Definition of the content of the EIA report;c) Submission and publication of the project;d) Consultations ;f) Assessment of the environmental study and of the results of the

consultations;g) Decision;h) Information about the decision to the public concerned;i) Monitoring phase.


EIA in Italy (VIA) – competent Authority

The environmental impact assessment is carried out: By the Ministry of the Environment for the projects listed in Annex 2 (Part II,

legislative decree n. 152/2006); By the Region or by a different authority identified by the Region (Province)

for the projects listed in Annex 3 (Part III, legislative decree n. 152/2006).

For the projects listed in annex 2 and 3 the EIA must be carried out.

For the projects listed in Annex 4 and for other particular projects (see art. 6.7 of legislative decree 152/2006) a previous screening must be carried out to assess whether to do the EIA or not.


EIA in Italy (VIA) administrative procedure

1.Application

2. Screening (if necessary) (max 90 days)

3. Evaluation of completeness of documentation and Authorities can ask for further documentation (if necessary)

4. Publication on newspapers and on the Authority’s website

5. Anyone interested may submit observations about the project(if necessary, further amendments of the project)

6. Evaluation of the project

7. Decision (with prescriptions, if necessary)

Today, sanctions for Authorities for failing to meet deadlines of the procedure. The non-compliance of the terms entitles the developer to ask for compensation

Within max 150 days From the application


EIA in Italy (VIA)contents of the EIA report

In particular, between the contents of the EIA report is provided the evaluation of the project alternatives.

The Italian legislation explicitly provides that the developer should also consider the “zero option” consisting in the possibility not to carry out the work.

If the “zero option” is not taken into account, the project is uncomplete and cannot be approved (see if it is provided evaluate it)

Contents of the EIA reporta) a description of the project comprising information on characteristics, location and dimensions;b) a description of the measures to prevent, reduce and, if possible, remedy significant adverse impacts;c) the data required to identify and assess the main impacts on the environment and the cultural heritage that the project may 'produce, both under construction and in operation phase;d) an outline of the main alternatives studied by the applicant, including the so-called zero option, with indication of the main reasons for his choice, taking into account the environmental effects;e) a description of monitoring measures.


EIA and authorizations: different measures … necessarily linked

EIA and permits to operate (such as IPPC-AIA) are different measures.

EIA: assesses the impacts of a project; AIA: authorises to operate

However, these measures are strictly linked, they can be:

One following the other;

Merged into a single measure (EIA, that in some italian Regions authorises to operate)

EIA IPPC-AIA

In any case, EIA and authorization to operate must provide coherent provisions


EIA in Italy (VIA)monitoring

Following the European provisions, the italian legislation on EIA provides that the monitoring should be carried out in accordance with the following criteria:

Controls must be provided in the EIA; Controls can be carried out by the environmental Agencies; Controls must take into account all the provisions of the EIA; Controls must take into account the impacts of the project, to evaluate

if they are compliant with that illustrated in the EIA report; After monitoring, the Authority can modify the provisions contained in

the EIA.


EIA in Italy (VIA)sanctions

Article 28 of legislative decree no 152/2006

1. Violations of prescriptions established by the Authority during the EIA or design changes likely to affect outcomes and impacts:

the Authority requires the developer to modify the work or intervention, setting the terms and mode; If the developer does not comply with what is required, the Authority operates directly, but the developer is required to bear the costs.

2. Works and interventions made without prior EIA or substantial difference between what is realized and what was assessed:

the Authority evaluates the entity of the major environmental impact caused, provides the suspension of the work and (if necessary) provides the demolition of the works; If the developer does not comply with what is required, the Authority operates directly, but the developer is required to bear the costs; authorization that has been released is invalid.


Conclusions…

To carry out the EIA we must answer some questions about the project: - where is it the «best place»? - how positive technical assessment? - when is it necessary to build today? - why what is the public opinion? And the opinion of the Authorities? - what between the alternatives, what is the best?

There are also many other questions about the EIA… let’s see some of these questions that have been decided by the ECJ (European Court of Justice)


6. ECJ’s (European Court of Justice) decisions on EIA: questions and answers

Project

Is a demolition work a project?

Is the renewal of an existing permit a project?


ECJ’s (European Court of Justice) decisions on EIA: questions and answers

Is a demolition work a project? YES

As regards the question whether demolition works come within the scope of Directive 85/337, (…) it is appropriate to note, at the outset, that the definition of the word ‘project’ in Article 1(2) of that directive cannot lead to the conclusion that demolition works could not satisfy the criteria of that definition. Such works can, indeed, be described as ‘other interventions in the natural surroundings and landscape’.

(C-50/09, Commission v. Ireland, paragraphs 97-101)

Is the renewal of an existing permit a project? NO

It follows that, in any event, the renewal of an existing consent to operate an airport cannot, in the absence of any works or interventions involving alterations to the physical aspect of the site, be classified as a ‘construction’.

(C-275/09, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest and Others, paragraphs 27-30)



Beginning of works and EIA

What is the order between EIA and beginning of works?



What is the order between EIA and beginning of works?

“Article 2 of the EIA Directive must necessarily be understood as meaning that, unless the applicant has applied for and obtained the required development consent and has first carried out the environmental impact assessment when it is required, he cannot start the works relating to the project in question”.

(C-275/09, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest and Others, paragraph 36)



Splitting of projects

“A project as a whole must be subjected to environmental impact assessment.

Is it possible to avoid the environmental impact assessment by dividing the project into several parts? (splitting the project)”



A project as a whole must be subjected to environmental impact assessment. Is it possible to avoid the environmental impact assessment by dividing the

project into several parts? (splitting the project)NO

The purpose of the EIA Directive cannot be circumvented by the splitting of projects and the failure to take account of the cumulative effect of several projects must not mean in practice that they all escape the obligation to carry out an assessment when, taken together, they are likely to have significant effects on the environment within the meaning of Article 2(1) of the EIA Directive.

(C-392/96, Commission v. Ireland, paragraphs, 76, 82; C-142/07, Ecologistas en Acción-CODA, paragraph 44 ; C-205/08, Umweltanwalt von Kärnten, paragraph 53; Abraham and Others, paragraph 27; C-275/09, Brussels Hoofdstedelijk Gewest and Others, paragraph 36)



Small-scale project

Is it possible to apply the Environmental Impact Assessment to small-scale projects?



Is it possible to apply the Environmental Impact Assessment to small-scale projects? YES, if they have significant effects on the environment

“Even a small-scale project can have significant effects on the environment if it is in a location where the environmental factors set out in Article 3 of the EIA Directive, such as fauna and flora, soil, water, climate or cultural heritage, are sensitive to the slightest alteration”.

(C-392/96, Commission v. Ireland, paragraph 66)



Participation in an environmental decision-making procedure as a condition to have access to a review procedure

Who can participate and have access to a review procedure?



Who can participate and have access to a review procedure?

Article 10a of the EIA(…) is intended to implement the Aarhus Convention, provides for members of the public concerned who fulfill certain conditions to have access to a review procedure before a court of law or another independent body in order to challenge the substantive or procedural legality of decisions, acts or omissions which fall within its scope. Thus, according to the wording of that provision, persons who are members of the public concerned and either have sufficient interest, or if national law so requires, maintain that one of the projects covered by Directive 85/337 impairs their rights, are to have access to a review procedure. It is also apparent therefrom that any nongovernmental organisations which promote environmental protection and meet the conditions which may be required by national law satisfy the criteria, with respect to the public concerned who may bring an appeal, laid down in Article 1(2) of Directive 85/337 read in conjunction with Article 10a.

(C-263/08, Djurgården, paragraphs 32-39)



Transboundary projects

Is it possible to extend the EIA to projects that have transboundary effects?



Is it possible to extend the EIA to projects that have transboundary effects? YES, it is mandatory

Projects listed in Annex I to the EIA Directive which extend to the territory of a number of Member States cannot be exempted from the application of the Directive solely on the ground that it does not contain any express provision in regard to them. Such an exemption would seriously interfere with the objective of the EIA Directive. Its effectiveness would be seriously compromised if the competent authorities of a Member State could, when deciding whether a project must be the subject of an environmental impact assessment, leave out of consideration that part of the project which is located in another Member State. That finding is strengthened by the terms of Article 7 of the EIA Directive, which provide for inter-State cooperation when a project is likely to have significant effects on the environment in another Member State.

(C-205/08, Umweltanwalt von Kärnten, paragraphs 54-56)


Thank you for your attention

www.buttiandpartners.com the environmental impact assessment (eia) dr. attilio balestreri...

Documents