What is an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and why should every project need one?
The build industry, in particular, has long been prone to criticism for its significant contribution to both global carbon emissions and industry wastage, so it is unsurprising to see the growing pressure from communities, activists and governments alike prompt the instigation of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) as a critical component of any project's planning stage.
Whilst these regulations only legally apply to specific larger developments, such as power plants or chemical works, they are quickly becoming a staple throughout the industry as a whole, and understandably so. To help shine a light on why, John Rodgman, Managing Director at Borehole Solutions, has provided his insight into the process of conducting EIAs, whilst also commenting on the numerous testing services available to contracts, the role they play in conservation, and more.
What is an EIA?
As the name suggests, an Environmental Impact Assessment is primarily used to determine whether any environmental issues may arise from the proposed project or development, including, but not limited to, groundwater quality, contamination and damage to the native ecosystem. Developments which fall within 'Schedule 1' of the EIA Regulations 2017 will always require an EIA as a prerequisite, whereas those in 'Schedule 2' may require an EIA depending on the likelihood of negative effects on the environment occuring. The scope of these assessments, however, is incredibly broad, so chances are you will have to fill out an EIA of some description to carry out the majority of projects.
The five processes involved in completing an EIA
As outlined by the UK Government's regulations, there are five stages to any Environmental Impact Assessment. Firstly, a general inspection is made of the proposed development to ascertain its environmental impact and whether a full assessment will be required. Should this be the case, the second process – scoping – then outlines the extent of the issues which need consideration, both on behalf of the developer and the local planning authority.
In instances when an EIA is deemed necessary, the next steps are the preparation and submission of an environmental statement. This statement lays out in more detail any probable environmental impacts that could arise, as well as a further insight into the proposed use of the development, potential emissions and how the project is expected to comply with planning policy. The submitted environmental statement must be made available for public viewing.
Finally, it comes down to the decision-making process. In the majority of situations, upon careful consideration of the project's benefits and environmental drawbacks, local authorities will determine whether or not to proceed with the proposed development. In larger and more public projects, however, it has occasionally been the case for the Secretary of State to have a say in the outcome of the decision.
The role EIAs play in environmental conservation
The objective of an environmental impact assessment is by no means to halt the actions of these developers and their proposed projects, but rather to bring about changes to minimise negative environmental impacts before development can begin. By identifying and addressing these potential externalities at an early stage, EIAs contribute to sustainable development by identifying new and innovative ways to achieve environmental objectives that are not simply remedying the issue once it has already occurred.
EIAs can also make valuable contributions to future developments by helping to guide decision-making towards greater sustainability in the long run. Whether that is exploring the possibility of implementing environmentally-conscious features or infrastructure alongside various developments, how to design future projects to better avoid these negative impacts, or something else entirely, environmental impact assessments are, and will continue to play, a major role in project requirements going forward.
What testing services are there?
Prior to the submission of an environmental impact assessment, it is not uncommon for developers to undertake a range of testing procedures to establish the state of the environment prior to development and identify solutions to support its remediation, alongside minimising the project's ecological impact. In many cases, this may include sample testing, to collect and examine high quality samples of soil; contamination testing, to sample the site for the presence of hazardous substances, such as asbestos; PCB and heavy metals; or Waste Acceptance Criteria (WAC) testing, to determine the composition of organic material and how its disposal will minimise any environmental impacts, as a few examples.
This article first appeared in AT Journal issue 145
