Investment projects are not only conducive to socio-economic development, but may also have negative consequences for the natural environment. A procedure has been put in place to counter them environmental impact assessment (abbreviated EIA). What is it about? When is it required?
Environmental impact assessment - what's that? What is it about?
Environmental impact assessment is one of the important instruments of pro-environmental policy. She allows determine the impact of the planned investment project on the natural environment.
It includes both both measurable and immeasurable environmental effects. Short-term and long-term are defined influence investments and irreversible changes in nature. Environmental impact assessment it must also include proposals for alternative solutions that would avoid the risks.
Environmental impact assessment - procedure in a nutshell
EIA procedure consists of three main steps.
- Identification. It defines all possible impacts of the investment project on the environment.
- Forecast. It consists in predicting the nature and scope of the future environmental impact. It also estimates the amount of changes resulting from the implementation of the investment.
- Review. This is the proper part of the procedure. It involves evaluating the information obtained in the first two steps. A thorough analysis allows to isolate the variant of the investment project that is the least burdensome for the natural environment.
What is important, within each of the stages is used various methods and tools. The experts preparing the documentation and working on behalf of the investor decide which specific techniques will ultimately be used. That is why it is so important to EIA report was developed by specialists with many years of experience. They will not have any problems with the selection of research methods and tools.
When environmental impact assessment is required?
The detailed rules of the EIA are specified the act on sharing information on the environment and its protection […]. According to its provisions, the requirement of environmental impact assessment covers:
- ventures that can zawsze have a significant impact on the environment (group I),
- ventures that can potentially have a significant impact on the environment, if deemed necessary by the competent authority (group II).
The catalog with the breakdown of investments is contained in the Regulation of the Council of Ministers of September 10, 2019, which lists all projects that may have a significant impact on the environment. Its reading is therefore mandatory.
Environmental impact report – what must it contain?
One of the most important elements of the environmental impact assessment procedure is the verification of the EIA report. Environmental impact assessment report contains all the information gathered by the investor defining the foreseeable influencewhich the construction, reconstruction and operation of the project may have on the natural environment.
Incomplete or unreliable presentation of information may be the basis for appealing the decision by the parties involved in the proceedings. This is why environmental impact report should be performed by specialists. Only then will the investor be sure that the document will be developed correctly and in accordance with the guidelines.
Equally important, the EIA procedure assumes public participation in environmental protection. Therefore, after verification of the report, there is a stage public consultations. Only after their completion, the competent authority issues a decision and makes it public.
The EIA allows to determine impact of the investment on the natural environment. To this end, it is necessary to use a variety of methods - both simple and complex - in the field of identification, forecasting and assessment. Without the support of specialists offering environmental protection consulting difficult for the investor to determine influence environmental projects.
