4/8/2017 Environmental Impact Assessment :: Environmental Protection Agency, Ireland

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Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process by which the
anticipated effects
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information
are measured. If the likely effects are unacceptable, design measures or
other relevant mitigation measures can be taken to reduce or avoid those
effects.

The document from this process is called an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS).

Projects listed in Annex I have mandatory EIA requirements. The Planning

Authority makes decisions on a case-by-case basis on whether Annex II
projects require an EIA.

Thresholds have been set for Annex II projects. But even projects which do
not meet the threshold may require an EIA.

EIA requirements in Ireland are incorporated into planning laws and other
infrastructural consent systems.

The EPA and EIS

The role of the EPA in relation to EISs is multifaceted.

Licensing Role

The EPA is a competent authority under Integrated Pollution Prevention and

Control (IPPC) or Waste Licensing regimes. The EPA will assess an EIS
submitted as part of an application for an IPPC or Waste licence. The EPA
can provide scoping advice for these EISs. Such scoping requests should be
directed to the Environmental Licensing Programme, Office of Climate,
Licensing & Resource Use, Environmental Protection Agency, Regional
Inspectorate, Inniscarra, Co Cork.

The EPA will also consider an EIS in exercising its function with regard to
Waste Water Discharge Authorisations.

Statutory Consultee Role

The EPA is a consultee to An Bord Pleanala. Therefore, the EPA may make
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The EPA is a consultee to An Bord Pleanala. Therefore, the EPA may make
observations/submissions to An Bord Pleanala in relation to EISs for Local
Authority developments and strategic infrastructure developments which
comprise an IPPC or Waste licenseable activity. In addition, the EPA may

provide advice on what should be contained within an EIS for strategic

infrastructure developments, state developments, gas infrastructure or a
Waste/IPPC licensable activity, when requested to do so by the Planning
Authority or An Bord Pleanala. Such notifications and requests should be
directed to the Environmental Licensing Programme, Office of Climate,
License & Resource Use, Environmental Protection Agency, Regional
Inspectorate, Inniscarra, Co Cork.

Printed copies of the EIS Guidelines and Advice Notes area available from the
EPA Publications Office, McCumiskey House, Dublin Regional Inspectorate,
Richview, Clonskeagh, Dublin 14. Telephone (01) 2680100, Fax (01)
2680199. Advice Notes 25 and Guidancelines 13.

The EPA and Planning

Planning Authorities or Local Authorities send notifications to the EPA in
relation to proposed developments associated with Integrated Pollution
Prevention and Control (IPPC) or Waste licensable activities. The EPA may
make submissions/observations on these notices. Proposed developments
such as road, group water schemes, wind farms and housing schemes are not
licensable activities and in these circumstances the EPA should not be
notified.

The EPA will respond to a notice from An Bord Pleanala regarding a planning
application for a development comprising of a waste licensable activity.

A Planning Authority or An Bord Pleanala may request the EPA to make

observations in relation to a proposed development that, in their
assessment, is likely to have a significant impact on waste water discharges.
The EPA will make observations on the assessment undertaken.

Such notifications and requests should be directed to Environmental Licensing

Programme, Office of Climate, Licensing & Resource Use, Environmental
Protection Agency, Regional Inspectorate, Inniscarra, Co Cork.

The EPA and Strategic Infrastructure Development (SID)

Strategic infrastructure development (SID) can generally be described as
development which is of strategic economic or social importance to the State
or a region. Such developments are covered by the Planning & Development
(Strategic Infrastructure) Act 2006.

In relation to SID, An Bord Pleanala may consult the EPA on transboundary

aspects and shall consult the EPA on the content of an EIS where a request
for an opinion was made in writing to An Bord Pleanala. The EPA may make
observations/submissions to An Bord Pleanala in relation to an EIS for an
IPPC or Waste licensable SID that has been submitted directly by an
applicant. Any such submissions should be directed to the Environmental
Licensing Programme, Office of Climate, Licensing & Resource Use,
Environmental Protection Agency, Regional Inspectorate, Inniscarra, Co Cork.
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More information on strategic infrastructure development is available on the

An Bord Pleanala website.

Learn more
Download an EIS guidance document

Find out about Strategic Environmental Assessment

Read the European Commission's information on EIA and SEA

Download the Codified EIA Directive (2011/92/EU)

Find out about Licensing and Permitting

EIS requirements for licence applications may be found in the relevant

application forms and guidance notes

Legislation pertaining to EIA may be found on the Department of Housing,

Planning, Community and Local Authority and on the Irish Statute Book
website.

EIA thresholds may be found in the Unofficial Consolidation of Planning and

Development Regulations 2001-2013 -
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