Christopher Wood

An evaluation of eia system performance in eight eu countries

Abstract An evaluation of the quality of environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports, modifications to projects as a result of EIA, and the influence of changes to EIA procedures in the United Kingdom, Germany, Spain, Belgium, Denmark, Greece, Ireland, and Portugal is reported. The overall proportion of “satisfactory” EIA reports sampled increased from 50% to 71% between 1990–1991 and 1994–1996. Several modifications to projects occurred as a result of the EIA process, but there was no apparent trend over time relating to the number or significance of modifications. All the eight Member States had taken major or minor measures to modify EIA procedures and these either have already improved the quality of EIA practice or are expected to do so. A series of recommendations to improve the performance of the EIA process is presented.

A comparative evaluation of the EIA systems in Egypt, Turkey and Tunisia

Abstract This article reviews and compares the performance of environmental impact assessment (EIA) systems in three jurisdictions in the Middle East and North Africa region: Egypt, Turkey (Middle East) and Tunisia (North Africa). The EIA systems of these three jurisdictions are at a similar stage of development, with those of Turkey and Tunisia being the first to be introduced. EIA ‘systemic measure’ and ‘foundation measure’ criteria are used to evaluate the performance of each of the systems and to compare them. These criteria are partially based on evaluation and quality control criteria derived from a number of literature sources. The paper identifies similarities and differences in the performance of the three EIA systems and in the attempts undertaken by each of the three jurisdictions to strengthen their respective EIA systems. Recommended measures to increase the effectiveness of each of the EIA systems are also identified.

The Effect of Environmental Assessment on UK Local Planning Authority Decisions

Environmental assessment (EA) is intended to ensure that environmental considerations are properly weighed in the decisions made by local planning authorities on planning applications. This paper analyses whether, to what extent, and how, EA has influenced LPA decisions. Forty case studies were analysed by examining relevant documentation and conducting interviews with participants in the EA process. EA appears to have had a gradual rather than a revolutionary effect on decision-making. Its main benefits have been the enhanced provision of environmental information and, to a lesser extent, assistance in setting conditions and in modifying proposals. However, these benefits are not occurring in all cases, and changes are needed if the expected advantages of EA—better integration of environmental considerations into project planning and decision-making-are to be fully realised in the UK.

Predominance and independence in environmental impact assessment: The Western Australia model

Abstract Western Australia introduced second-generation environmental impact assessment (EIA) with a comprehensive statutory backing upon the enactment of the Environmental Protection Act 1986. The outstanding characteristics of the EIA system are twofold: first among which is the primacy of the environmental decision, taken by the minister for the environment on the basis of the EIA process, over all other decisions and the implementation of the conditions attached to permissions as a result of the EIA process under the enabling legislation. Second is the statutory guarantee of independence from political direction that is enjoyed by the Environmental Protection Authority established, in part, to administer the EIA process. This study suggests criteria to evaluate the formal legal procedures, the arrangements for their application, and practice in their implementation in any EIA system and uses these to determine whether Western Australias EIA system i worthy of emulation.

Current Practice in the Strategic Environmental Assessment of Development Plans in England

Short M., Jones C., Carter J., Baker M. and Wood C. (2004) Current practice in the strategic environmental assessment of development plans in England, Reg. Studies 38, 177–190. In the UK, strategic environmental assessment has been applied to the full hierarchy of development plans in the form of environmental appraisal. Government guidance in England contains a forceful recommendation to local planning authorities to assess the environmental effects of proposed development plans by carrying out an environmental appraisal of their policies and proposals. This advice has grown in importance with the adoption of the European Directive on strategic environmental assessment. Research undertaken into current appraisal practice provides a context for the implementation of the Directive in England. The results show a broadly positive outlook towards strategic environmental assessment and a move towards using sustainability appraisal. Furthermore, they show other benefits from the process additional to assessing the core environmental impacts of the plan. However, it is clear that there remain major structural weaknesses and concerns in the manner in which strategic environmental assessment processes are implemented. Thus, more than two-thirds of the respondents to a survey stated that the appraisal had little or no influence on development plan objectives and policies, and nearly two-thirds believed that their plan would have developed in the same manner without any appraisal having been undertaken.

Environmental appraisal of UK development plans: current practice and future directions

In this paper, current practice in the environmental appraisal of development plans in England and Wales is examined. The results of a detailed study of fourteen local authorities are presented. A comparative analysis of local authority practice demonstrates that there are considerable variations in the extent to which environmental appraisals have been carried out and that there are no universal standards against which the appraisals can be compared. The existing guidance on the environmental appraisal of development plans available in England and Wales appears to be an important starting point for many local authorities in the preparation of their own appraisals but this guidance is being superseded in some authorities. A proposed European directive is likely to require practice in the environmental appraisal of UK development plans to be strengthened. Suggestions for improving the environmental appraisal of development plans in the future are advanced.

Landscapes for tomorrow

Abstract Seven different landscapes that might realistically represent the Yorkshire Dales National Park in the lifetime of the present generation were created out of detailed interviews with policy managers, landowners and farmers. These landscapes were imaged in the form of water colour paintings, then incorporated with appropriate explanatory commentary into a large graphic display, a video sequence, a floor game and a leaflet. The interpretive material was taken to the public as a touring exhibition, travelling around the National Park over two consecutive summers. The exhibition was designed to be participatory: its purpose to discover how far people could grasp the processes leading to landscape change, become aware of why these forces were happening and become sufficiently concerned for the future to participate in the creation of landscape design of their choice. The results revealed that the approach experimented with was successful in meeting its aims, that those less conversant with the issues ...

Environmental Assessment in the European Union: Perspectives, Past, Present and Strategic

Environmental assessment (EA) in the European Union (EU) is undergoing a period of significant transition. Following over 10 years of practice and development under Directive 85/337/EEC, the EU EA system is being subjected to legislative reform. In the light of this, this paper provides a critical examination of the past, present and future role of EA in the EU. After evaluating the legislative transposition and procedural effectiveness of the original provisions, the paper examines the extent to which recent amendments to the Directive and the proposed strategic environmental assessment (SEA) Directive will lead to improvement. The authors suggest that although the changes should overcome some of the procedural and practical problems experienced over the last 10 years, a more committed emphasis needs to be placed on fundamental areas of weakness.

POLICY, PLAN, AND PROGRAMME ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT IN ENGLAND, THE NETHERLANDS, AND GERMANY: PRACTICE AND PROSPECTS

An analysis of existing (broadly defined) strategic environmental assessments (SEAs) in the spatial/land-use and transport sectors in England, the Netherlands, and Germany concludes that substantial practice exists and that three assessment types can be distinguished, each associated with distinct methodological tasks. By utilising existing terminology, these can be labelled policy-SEA, plan-SEA, and programme-SEA. It appears from current practice that, in order best to meet performance criteria derived from the SEA literature, these three types of SEA should be applied within a tiered system. Although the recently adopted EC SEA Directive includes provisions for the SEA of plans and programmes, the analysis of current assessment practice indicates that consideration should be given to extending the formal requirements to cover the SEA of policies as certain tasks are probably better dealt with in policy-SEA than in plan-SEA or programme-SEA.

An evaluation of the Hong Kong environmental impact assessment system

For 19 years, the Hong Kong environmental impact assessment (EIA) system relied on administrative procedures set out in guidelines, and on persuasion. Refinements introduced over the years were codified in the EIA Ordinance of 1 April 1998. This significantly strengthened the provisions for implementation and enforcement of mitigation measures agreed during the EIA process and the provisions relating to public participation. Here the pre- Ordinance and the post-Ordinance EIA systems are evaluated against a set of criteria. While several remaining weaknesses should be remedied by the Ordinance, increasing the influence of EIA on the decision to approve (or refuse) projects will require a change in the pro-development consensus prevailing in executive-governed Hong Kong.