Change to the scheme design

Process if scheme changes before EIAR is published

Projects shall be re-screened for EIA where there are material changes and / or where significant time has passed between the preparation of the final EIAR and the proposed promotion date. This is to ensure that the potential impacts from design, legislative and baseline changes are robustly assessed.

Where possible the relevant EIAR chapters shall be reviewed in light of the changes identified and updated as required. The updated chapters shall be submitted to the Environmental Advisor for review.

Where the changes are significant, the updated EIAR chapters may be re-audited.

Where the changes are minor, an environmental review report may be undertaken, with any changes or updates to the EIAR included as an addendum. The environmental review report and addendum shall be submitted to the Environmental Advisor for review.

The advice of the Environmental Advisor is to be obtained in this situation.

Process if scheme changes after EIAR is published

Projects shall be re-screened for EIA where there are material changes in:

The physical characteristics and/or location of the project
The environmental assessment assumptions, e.g. the construction or design year
The level of understanding of the current state of the environment (baseline scenario)

The requirement for an EIAR Addendum should be considered where there is a proposed change to scheme design or construction assumptions at any stage after promotion of the made Orders. Where there is the potential for significant environmental effects as a result of the change, a RoD (for an addendum) must be completed, agreed and signed off. If the findings of the RoD are that significant effects are predicted, then it is necessary to repeat the public notice procedures for the determination and for the EIAR Addendum publicity and to publicise and consult on the addendum in the same manner as for the original EIAR.

If appropriate, a new EIA will be undertaken and an Addendum to the EIAR prepared. In certain cases, it may be appropriate to produce a new EIAR rather than an Addendum (for example if the changes are large or there has been a significant time lapse in project development).

The advice of the relevant Environmental Advisor is to be obtained in this situation.

< Previous | Contents | Next >