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Environmental Impact Assessment - Directive 2011/91/EU
Environmental Impact Assessment - Directive 2011/91/EU

The following article allows you to understand what steps you need to take to be compliant with the relevant requirements of the Directive.

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Written by Rutger
Updated over a week ago

Directive 2011/91/EU concerns the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment, and sets reporting and methodological requirements concerning performing an Environmental Impact Assessment.

Scope of Applicability

The Directive outlines the methodology in its Articles 5 to 10, and segregates the scope of applicability in two:

  1. Article 4(1) states that projects listed in Annex I are required to perform an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA);

  2. Article 4(2) states that projects listed in Annex II can be required to conduct an EIA if the Member States decide that such requirement is necessary.

To determine whether your company needs to perform an EIA for an activity within Annex II, you must look at the transposition of the Directive into the relevant national law of your country.

If the activity falls within Annex I, it is part of the first option and must always undergo an EIA.

If you need help identifying which activities need to have an EIA performed, please consult the Directive.

Methodology

Article 3 provides a definition of environmental impact assessment as identifying, describing and assessing in an appropriate manner, in light of each individual case, the direct and indirect effects of the following:

  • Human beings, fauna and flora;

  • Soil, water, air, climate and the landscape;

  • Material assets and the cultural heritage;

  • The interaction between the factors above.

Reporting requirements

Article 5 requires the developer of a project which needs to perform an EIA to disclose the following information:

  • Description of the project comprising information on the site, design and size of the project;

  • Description of the measures envisages to avoid, reduce and remedy significant adverse impact;

  • Data required to identify and assess the main effects which the project is likely to have on the environment;

  • 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;

  • Non-technical summary of the information listed above.

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