Case studies of EIA in practice - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 252

9
Case studies of EIA in practice
9.1 Introduction
This chapter builds on the analysis in Chapter 8 by examining a number of case studies of
EIA in practice. The selected case studies mainly involve EIA at the project level,
although an example of the application of SEA is also included. Links between EIA and
other types of assessment are also examined, including a case study of the so-called
“appropriate assessment” process required under the European Union Habitats Directive.
The selected case studies are largely UK-based and cover a range of project and
development types, including energy (offshore wind energy, gas-fired power stations and
overhead electricity transmission lines), transport (road projects), waste (municipal waste
incinerator and wastewater treatment works) and infrastructure (port development and
flood defence works). Some of the case studies involve developments in areas of
particular environmental sensitivity, such as designated priority habitats under the EU
Habitats Directive.
The case studies have been selected to illustrate particular themes or issues relevant to
EIA practice, and some are linked to specific stages of the EIA process. These are:
• project definition in EIA and the effect of divided consent procedures on EIA (Wilton
power station, Section 9.2);
• treatment of alternatives, and of indirect and consequential effects (M6-M56 motorway
link road, Section 9.3);
• links between EIA and other EU Directives and the process of appropriate assessment
(N21 link road, Section 9.4);
• approaches to public participation in EIA (Portsmouth incinerator, Section 9.5);
• mitigation in EIA (Cairngorm mountain railway, Section 9.6);
• assessment of cumulative impacts (Humber Estuary schemes, Section 9.7);
• strategic environmental assessment (SEA of UK government plans for future offshore
wind energy development, Section 9.8); and
• EIA in developing countries (EIA of refugees in Guinea, Section 9.9).
It is not claimed that the selected case studies represent examples of best EIA practice—
indeed two of the cases have been the subject of formal complaints to the European
Commission regarding the inadequate assessment of environmental impacts. However,
the examples do include some innovative or novel approaches towards particular issues—
e.g. towards the assessment of cumulative effects (Humber Estuary) and the treatment of