Environmental impact assessment
Performance specification
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required as part of the approval procedure for a large number of projects, plans and programmes that are expected to have a significant impact on the environment. These include, for example, motorways, federal roads, railways, waterways, dikes, sewage treatment plants, landfills, high-voltage power lines, industrial zones or facilities or intensive animal husbandry (projects), but also land use and development plans.
In an EIA procedure, the effects of the project on humans, animals and plants, water, soil, noise, air, climate, cultural and material goods as well as the resulting interactions are examined, described and evaluated. The results of the environmental impact assessment are summarised in the so-called environmental report and must be taken into account in the official decisions.
The public must be involved in the environmental impact assessment.
The environmental impact assessment is a dependent part of the relevant administrative approval procedure that serves to decide on the respective project (so-called "piggyback procedure").
Legal basis
What else should I know?
Detailed information on environmental impact assessment issues can be found on the homepage of the "Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMU)".
Who do I need to contact?
The competent authority for the respective approval procedure ("carrier procedure") of the project is always responsible for the environmental impact assessment.