Lesson 1 – What is EIA
Welcome to the online e-learning module about Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). EIA is a systematic process that helps identify, analyze, predict, and evaluate the expected direct and indirect significant adverse impacts of proposed activities or projects on the physical, chemical, biological, cultural, and socio-economic components of the environment. This process is applied before the project or activity is allowed to proceed, allowing for avoidance measures to be taken. EIA places an emphasis on prevention rather than remedy, making it an important tool for environmental protection.
The EIA process involves the preparation of an environmental impact assessment report by the developer, as well as consultations, examinations, and reasoned conclusions by the competent authority on the significant effects of the project on the environment. Public involvement is a crucial aspect of EIA, as it provides valuable information on key impacts, potential mitigation measures, and the identification and selection of alternatives.
The principles and objectives of EIA are designed to ensure that projects that are likely to have a significant impact on the environment are adequately assessed before they are approved. The immediate objectives of EIA are to improve the environmental design of the projects, ensure appropriate and efficient use of resources, identify appropriate measures for mitigating potential negative impacts, and facilitate informed decision-making. The long-term objectives of EIA are to protect human health and safety, predict and avoid irreversible changes and serious damage to the environment, protect natural systems and resources, promote sustainable development, and enhance the social aspects of the project.
The basic principles that govern the entire process of EIA are participative, transparent, certain, accountable, and credible. EIA is an important tool that allows decision-makers to understand a proposed project’s impacts in all its phases, and it promotes sustainable development that optimizes resource use and management opportunities.
Key terminology:
| Term | Explanation |
| Alternatives | Different ways of carrying out the project in order to meet the agreed objective. Alternatives can take diverse forms and may range from minor adjustments to the project, to a complete reimagining of the project. |
| Baseline scenario | Description of the current status of the environment in and around the area in which the project will be located. It forms the foundation upon which the assessment will test. |
| Competent Authority | The authority which the Member States designate as responsible for performing the duties arising from the Directive. |
| Cumulative impacts | Changes to the environment that are caused by an activity/project in combination with other activities/projects. |
| Developer | The applicant for a development consent on a private project or the public authority which initiates a Project. |
| Development Consent | The decision of the Competent Authority which entitles the developer to proceed with the project. |
| Impact (Effect) | Any change in the physical, natural, or cultural environment brought about by a development project. |
| EIA process (EIA) | The process of carrying out an Environmental Impact Assessment as required by EU Directives. EIA process is composed of different steps: preparation of the EIA report, publicity and consultation, and decision-making. |
| EIA Report | It is the document prepared by the developer that presents the output of the assessment. It contains information regarding the project, its significant effect, the baseline scenario, the proposed alternatives, the features and measures to mitigate adverse significant effects as well as a non-technical summary and any additional information specified in Annex IV of the EIA Directive. |
| Enhacement | Improving elements of the environment. |
| Mitigation Measures | Changes to the proposed developments design or specified future actions that are intentionally designed to avoid, prevent, or reduce predicted adverse environmental impact. |
| Monitoring Measures | Procedures to keep under systematic review the significant adverse effects on the environment resulting from the construction and operation of a project, and to identify unforeseen significant adverse effects, to be able to undertake appropriate remedial action. |
| Compensatory Measures | Replacing an adverse impact either in kind or by something of a different nature to that which may be lost. |
| Non-Technical Summary | An easy-to-follow and understandable summary of the information included in the EIA Report addressed to a non-technical audience. |
| Project | The execution of construction works or of other installations, and/or other interventions in the natural surroundings and landscape including those involving the extraction of mineral resources. |
| Public Concerned | The public affected or likely to be affected by, or having an interest in, the environmental decision-making procedures. |
| Reasoned Conclusion | The explanatory statement made by the Competent Authority on the significant effects of the project on the environment, based on the examination of the EIA report and on the results of its own supplementary examination. |
| Screening | The process of determining whether a project listed in Annex II of the EIA Directive is likely to have significant environmental effects and EIA is required. |
| Screening Decision | Decision taken by the Competent Authority on whether a project listed in Annex II will be made subject to the EIA procedure. |
| Scoping | The process of identifying the content and extent of the information on key environmental issues to be submitted to the Competent Authority under the EIA process. |
| Scoping Opinion | The Competent Authority’s decision on the scoping process. |