EnvironmentalEnvironmental ImpactImpact AssessmentAssessment HandbookHandbook Guidance for competent authorities, consultation bodies, and others involved in the Environmental Impact Assessment process in Scotland Environmental Impact Assessment Handbook Guidance for competent authorities, consultation bodies, and others involved in the Environmental Impact Assessment process in Scotland Version 5 April 2018 Table of contents A About this guidance ...................................................................................................................................... 7 A.1 Introduction .......................................................................................................................................... 8 A.2 Structure .............................................................................................................................................. 9 A.3 Presentation ....................................................................................................................................... 10 A.4 Terminology ....................................................................................................................................... 11 A.5 This edition of the Handbook .............................................................................................................. 12 B Introduction to the Environmental Impact Assessment Process .............................................................. 13 B.1 Introduction to the EIA process ........................................................................................................... 14 B.2 The legislative background ................................................................................................................. 18 B.3 The projects that are subject to EIA .................................................................................................... 20 B.4 Criteria for deciding whether EIA is required ....................................................................................... 22 B.5 Special cases and the series of other EIA regulations ......................................................................... 36 B.6 The contents of an EIA Report ............................................................................................................ 38 B.7 Importance of compliance with the EIA Directive ................................................................................ 43 B.8 Relationship of EIA with Strategic Environmental Assessment and Assessments under the Habitats Regulations ........................................................................................................... 45 C Before submission of the EIA Report ......................................................................................................... 48 C.1 Deciding whether EIA is required: the “screening” process ................................................................. 49 C.2 Requiring the submission of an EIA Report ......................................................................................... 54 C.3 Preliminary contact and liaison ........................................................................................................... 55 C.4 Scoping the EIA Report ....................................................................................................................... 57 C.5 Provision of information ...................................................................................................................... 65 C.6 Describing baseline environmental information .................................................................................. 67 C.7 Predicting environmental impacts ....................................................................................................... 70 C.8 Assessing the significance of impacts ................................................................................................ 73 C.9 Mitigating measures and enhancement .............................................................................................. 77 C.10 Presentation of information in the EIA Report ...................................................................................... 81 Guidance for competent authorities, consultation bodies, and others involved in the Environmental Impact Assessment process in Scotland 3 D Consideration of the EIA Report ................................................................................................................. 83 D.1 Submission of the EIA Report and project application ......................................................................... 84 D.2 Consultation and publicity .................................................................................................................. 86 D.3 Liaison with the competent authority and the developer ..................................................................... 91 D.4 Wider consultation and dissemination ................................................................................................ 92 D.5 Transboundary environmental effects ................................................................................................. 93 D.6 Requesting additional information evidence ........................................................................................ 94 D.7 Modifications to the project ................................................................................................................ 96 D.8 Additional Information and Evidence Relating to EIA Reports ........................................................ 97 D.9 Reviewing the EIA Report ............................................................................................................. 99 D.10 Formulating a consultation response .......................................................................................... 100 D.11 Planning permission in principle and approval of matters specified in conditions .............................. 102 E Decision Making and Implementation ..................................................................................................... 106 E.1 Adopting the precautionary principle ................................................................................................ 107 E.2 Relationship of EIA with the development plan and other consent procedures ................................... 108 E.3 Guaranteeing commitments and compliance .................................................................................... 111 E.4 The decision of the Competent Authority ........................................................................................... 112 E.5 Implementation and compliance ....................................................................................................... 114 Guidance for competent authorities, consultation bodies, and others involved in the Environmental Impact Assessment process in Scotland 4 Glossary ..........................................................................................................................................................118 Terminology ......................................................................................................................................................119 Abbreviations ....................................................................................................................................................127 References ......................................................................................................................................................129 Current legislation ............................................................................................................................................130 Current guidance ..............................................................................................................................................133 Legal cases ......................................................................................................................................................134 Annotated references ........................................................................................................................................136 Annex 1: Legislation information at a glance ................................................................................................138 Annex 2: Projects requiring EIA .....................................................................................................................147 Annex 1 Development .......................................................................................................................................148 Annex 2 Development .......................................................................................................................................150 Selection criteria for screening schedule 2 development ...................................................................................158 Annex 3: Development of EIA in Scotland .....................................................................................................160 Attachment ......................................................................................................................................................166 Appendix 1: Cultural Heritage Impact Assessment .......................................................................................172 Appendix 2: Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment