Environmental Assessment 1

United Kingdom

In March the EU adopted a new directive on environmental assessments which Member States have until March 1999 to implement. Amongst other things, it adds 19 types of projects to the list of those where an environmental assessment is required. The new projects include high voltage overhead power lines, larger quarries and opencast mines, larger waste water treatment plants and the construction of more than 10 kilometres of dual carriageway. A "scoping" procedure must also be introduced under which a developer may obtain an opinion as to the information he must provide.