The environmental impact procedure
Environmental impact procedure – this is a well-known term, but how does it actually work?
Watch this complex procedure explained here in the film.
Environmental impact assessment (EIA)
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is carried out by the competent authority. In the case of the Kühtai expansion project, the Regional Government of Tyrol is the authority in charge. In the framework of this procedure, the potential environmental impact of large-scale (construction) projects is assessed on the technical basis of an environmental impact declaration (EID).
All documents are made available to the public. The public includes not only the population directly affected by the project, but also environmental lawyers and environmental organisations. They are integrated into the EIA through citizen participation initiatives and public discussions.
Essential characteristics of an EIA are:
- The identification and assessment of the indirect and direct environmental impacts.
- The examination of measures to prevent, reduce or compensate for harmful or burdensome effects of the project on the environment.
- Likewise, the examination of measures which could even increase the beneficial effects of the project.
- The study and evaluation of the advantages and disadvantages of alternatives to the project.
To prepare the environmental impact certificate (EIC), the independent reviewers appointed by the authority subject the environmental impact declaration (EID) to a highly critical review. On this basis, and after an oral hearing with all interested parties, the authority draws up the EIA approval.
x Footnote:
Parties may appeal against the decision of the Austrian Federal Administrative Court. Specifically, an appeal can be filed with the Administrative Court or a complaint can be filed with the Constitutional Court.
Environmental impact declaration (EID)
For some specific projects, usually large-scale construction projects, the relevant project applicant must also submit an environmental impact declaration (EID) to the relevant authority in addition to the project description.
In the case of the Kühtai expansion project, TIWAG is the project applicant, and the Regional Government of Tyrol is the authority.
An EID must comprise a detailed project description and at the same time also show the alternative solutions which have been examined. Starting from the description of the current status, the project's impact is assessed and measures to prevent, minimise and compensate for this impact are developed. The result of the EID is an assessment of the environmental impact of the project.
In terms of content, an EID is divided into a large number of technical contributions on various protected goods, which are specified by the Environmental Impact Assessment Act 2000. Protected goods are people, biodiversity including animals, plants and their habitats, land and soil, water, air and climate, landscape and property and cultural assets.