One of the key elements of an application for an environmental permit is the environmental report. This document typically concerns investments with significant environmental impact. Therefore, it proves essential for many companies implementing various types of investments and operating in various economic sectors. It's worth explaining what it is, what it includes, and when it's important to consider it.
Environmental report – basic information
An environmental report has at least several names. It is also referred to as environmental impact report, Environmental Impact Assessment Report or EIA Report. The lack of systematic terminology can cause some confusion and sometimes even be misleading, but regardless of the name, it always refers to the same thing.
An environmental report is a document that specifies the manner and degree of impact of a given investment on the environment. It allows for the assessment of the impact of a given project on nature and the determination of methods for eliminating or at least reducing potential threats.
The report is quite extensive, containing a wealth of information required by inspection authorities and specified by current regulations. Among these are the following:
- characteristics of the planned project – construction of an installation, building, road, factory or other structure that will have an impact on the environment,
- description of the conditions of use of the land during the construction and operation of the investment – information about the production processes taking place in this area is of great importance,
- the scope of spread of pollutants, gases, dust – this also applies to noise emissions, which may affect people living close to the investment,
- information on water collection and wastewater management – it is mainly about their purification and disposal,
- information on waste management.
These are just the most important points of the environmental report. There are a number of other issues that also need to be analyzed. These often depend on the type and specifics of the investment, as well as the area where it is being implemented. Protected monuments or nature located within the project's impact zone may prove problematic.
In most cases, the environmental impact assessment report also includes a description of methods to limit the negative impact on nature.
When is an environmental report needed?
When you apply for an environmental decision An EIA report should be prepared before the investment is implemented in the following cases::
- as a result of receiving the DECISION from the body considering the application for decisions on environmental conditions for projects capable of have a significant impact on the environment, for which the submission of a Project Information Card (PIC) is mandatory. The decision is usually issued when the Authority determines that a more complex analysis than that required for preparing the PIC is necessary, or when a nature inventory is required at the request of the authorities analyzing the investment for its impact on nature,
- when an investment is considered “by definition” to projects zawsze significantly affecting the environment, for which a Report must be submitted to the relevant authority. This refers to projects that are eligible for review as part of an environmental impact assessment.
In such situations, the report is the main attachment to the application.
There may also be a situation where the Report will need to be presented at the stage of applying for a grant.
How to prepare an environmental report?
For an environmental impact assessment report to be accepted and recognized by these authorities, it must be prepared by a specialist. The report could be challenged if prepared by someone lacking the appropriate experience or education.
So what are your options? The best solution seems to be to partner with an entity that specializes in preparing this type of document. On the one hand, you will create the conditions for the report to meet the requirements of current regulations, and on the other, you will gain the assurance that the company receiving the order will make every effort to ensure that the report is prepared reliably.
Need to prepare an environmental report but don't have the trained staff or necessary equipment? Contact us and take advantage of the available offerEkomeritum has experience in creating numerous specialized documents, including the Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
