An overview of UK practice to date - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 228

important factors in the screening decision are the size and scale of the project with
nearly 87 per cent of LPAs indicating that these are “important” or “very important”.
Proximity to sensitive environmental receptors (76 per cent) and the nature of the project
(74 per cent) are the next most important factors. At the other extreme, only 15 per cent
indicated that risk of accidents was important or very important. The main constraints on
screening decision-making were identified as lack of resources (45 per cent), time-frame
constraints (44 per cent), lack of clarity of the regulations (33 per cent) and uncertainty
(over baseline data, project characteristics, etc.) (32 per cent). Overall, the findings show
that whilst thresholds are clearly important
Table 8.1 Most effective approach in most recent
screening decision

Screening approach considered most
effective

LPA (%)
N=56

≤5 EIAs
(n=26)

>5 EIAs
(n=30)

Consultation with own organization 3.6 7.7 0.0

Community consultation 12.5 11.5 13.3

Asked for screening direction from SoS 0.0 0.0 0.0

Followed screening guidance in local
development plan

1.8 3.8 0.0

Followed guidance in other plans/policies 7.1 11.5 3.3

Used regulations and thresholds as guide 35.7 38.5 33.3

Consulted examples of similar projects 1.8 0.0 3.3

Used professional judgement/experience 26.8 19.2 33.3

Used checklist to identify possible impacts 1.8 0.0 3.3

Used other formal technique 1.8 3.8 0.0

Own standard approach 0.0 0.0 0.0

Likely controversy of project 0.0 0.0 0.0

Other 7.1 3.8 10.0

( Source: IAU 2003.)

Table 8.2 Importance of issues in most recent
screening decision

Issue (n=97) Very imp. (%) Imp. (%)

Size/scale of project 47 40

Proximity to receptor 44 43

Nature of project 42 32

Traffic/access impacts 33 32