Participation, presentation and review - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 175

• specify the ways in which the public may be informed, for example by bill posting
within a certain radius, publication in local newspapers, organization of exhibitions
with plans, drawings, tables, graphs and models;
• determine the manner in which the public is to be consulted, for example by written
submissions, by public enquiry;
• fix time limits for the various stages of the procedure in order to ensure that a decision
is taken within a reasonable period.
In the UK, this has been translated by the various EIA regulations (with minor
differences) into the following general requirements. Notices must be published in two
local newspapers and posted at a proposed site at least seven days before the submission
of the development application and EIS. These notices must describe the proposed
development, state that a copy of the EIS is available for public inspection with other
documents relating to the development application for at least 21 days, give an address
where copies of the EIS may be obtained and the charge for the EIS, and state that written
representations on the application may be made to the competent authority for at least 28
days after the notice is published. When a charge is made for an EIS, it must be
reasonable, taking into account printing and distribution costs.
Environmental impact assessment: guide to the procedures (ODPM 2003a), the
government manual to developers, notes:
Developers should also consider whether to consult the general public,
and nonstatutory bodies concerned with environmental issues, during the
preparation of the environmental statement. Bodies of this kind may have
particular knowledge and expertise to offer…While developers are under
no obligation to publicise their proposals before submitting a planning
application, consultation with local amenity groups and with the general
public can be useful in identifying key environmental issues, and may put
the developer in a better position to modify the project in ways which
would mitigate adverse effects and recognise local environmental
concerns. It will also give the developer an early indication of the issues
which are likely to be important at the formal application stage if, for
instance, the proposal goes to public inquiry.
The good practice guide on preparing EISs (DoE 1995) adds:
It is at the scoping stage that the developer should consider the most
appropriate point at which to involve members of the public. Developers
may be reluctant to make a public announcement about their proposals at
an early stage, perhaps because of commercial concerns… There may also
be occasions when public disclosure of development proposals in advance
of a formal planning application may cause unnecessary blight. However,
early announcement of plans for prospecting and site or route selection,
and the provision of opportunities for environmental/amenity groups and
local people to comment on environmental issues, may channel legitimate
concerns into constructive criticism.