EIA, IPPC and SEVESO Links

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

EIA, IPPC and SEVESO

Links


Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) vs Integrated Pollution Prevention & Control (IPPC) vs SEVESO•EIA: general environmental information tool (Directive 85/337/EEC, 97/11.EC)

linked to “project consent” decision making (permit) environmental statement (report) - any relevant impacts, including emissions and health,

environment and safety risks of accidents

•IPPC: technical criteria for project decision-making emission standards based on Best Available Technology BAT (Directive 96/61/EC)

•SEVESO: risk assessment tool (Directive 96/82/EC, 2003/105/EC)

risks of major accidents for man and environment, limit the consequences

•EIA: political IPPC/SEVESO: technical


Fields of application

EIA: all categories of projects likely to have significant impactScreening required for IPPC projects/SEVESO activities within scope EIA Directive

IPPC: industrial activities, some agricultural activitiesNearly all IPPC Annex I categories also in EIA Annex I or II

SEVESO: establishments with dangerous substancesSEVESO projects are included in both EIA and IPPC Annexes

All: new projects, existing activities with changes and extensions


Exchangeable tools and proceduresEIA Annex III: tool to screen substantial changes or modifications, estimate significance also for IPPC/SEVESO

Scoping: EIA tool also useful for IPPC/SEVESO (voluntary)

Screening phase: efficiency of decision-making procedure when case is in scope of 2-3 Directives

Public participation: process for EIA, IPPC, SEVESO may be joined

EMAS: information useful for appraising significance of modifications and determining application of EIA/IPPC


Required information, documentationEnvironmental report/information/documentation from applicant:• always required to provide, synergy possible• EIA, IPPC: effects, preventive/mitigating measures• SEVESO: risk analysis, safety conditions (also part of EIA/IPPC) To avoid duplication:• co-ordinate stages where information is submitted• ensure information exchange between authorities• EIA can serve as basis for IPPC/SEVESO, supplemented• uniform classification system may save problems and time


Public involvement•permit applications (“applications for development consent”) and EIA report (“environmental statement”) available to the public

•the “public concerned” : opportunity to express opinions before decision-making

•inform “public concerned” about the decision and considerations, responding to results of consultations

•Transboundary obligations may be joined for EIA, IPPC and SEVESO (See also ECE Convention on Transboundary Effects of Industrial Accidents = EIA/SEVESO)


IMPEL comparison table - a


IMPEL comparison table - b


EU project decision-making rules(EIA + IPPC)

project permit application

project decision (permit):•conditions

•response to public opinions

check on BATrequirements IPPC(government)

prepare environmental statement(developer) public review


Dutch permit / EIA procedure•preparatory discussions (developer, authority, NGOs)•submission of application (developer)•(only EIA: public scoping - announcement, public, authority)•(only EIA: preparing environmental statement: developer)

•draft decision (authority)•4 weeks time for public opinions (newspaper announcement, written or oral reactions, sometimes hearing)•project decision (permit + conditions + considerations)•possibility of appeal

max 6months


Some indicative statistics

•hundreds of environmental permits every year (tens of these require an EIAs as well)•90% of permits: no effect of NGO input•10% of permits: significant NGO input, leading to better project decisions•5% of permits are refused - but not an NGO effect•small percentage appeal•in most cases better acceptance of projects, despite NIMBY


NGOs and BAT

•participating in national discussions about implementing IPPC (national BAT regulations)

•checking whether projects meet national BAT regulations

•identifying outdated BAT regulations (since technology is continuously improved - and economic growth will increase carrying capacity of firms)


INFOMIL - national helpdesk on environmental permitting and BAT

•NL 16 million people•about 1500 helpdesk questions per month•60% from governments•20% from corporations•20% others (incl NGOs, people from the public, Consultants)


IMPEL questionnaire - a


IMPEL questionnaire - b


IPPC: Best Available Technology

•50 industrial activities will be described in 30 BAT Reference Documents (BREFS), non-binding

• states should develop their own criteria (binding)

•European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Bureau Seville (http://ippcb.jrc.es/), current situation:

final BREFs on iron & steel, cement & lime, non ferrous, pulp and paper draft BREFs on industrial cooling, chlor alkali, ferrous metal processing, glass


BAT in NL

• technical standards and voluntary agreements with industry• main ones: air emissions from furnaces, soil protection, waste water emission, odour, noise, waste and hazardous waste handling, energy, admission of dangerous substances, use of pesticides, ..• information brochures - INFOMIL heldpdesk website: ca. 30 about industries and environmental problems• smaller industries need no permit but fall under general environmental rules (restaurants, bakeries, swimming pools, sport facilities, ...


NL BAT notes (input EU discussions)http://www.infomil.nl/overg/sdt_/eubat/eubatinh.htm

•paper and board•iron and steel•cement clinker•aluminium and zinc•textile•chlor-alkali•glass, mineral wool•fertiliser

•refineries•nitric acid•phosphoric acid•intensive livestock farming•large volume organic compounds•waste gas treatment•carbon black