Origins and development - Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment - page 39

Figure 2.2 EIA systems worldwide
(the authors apologize for any
omissions or inaccuracies).
guidelines are thoroughly implemented, and some very good ad hoc EIAs have been
prepared in the UK.
Another important distinction between types of EIA system is that sometimes the
actions that require EIA are given as a definition (e.g. the USA's definition of “major
federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human environment”), sometimes
as a list of projects (e.g. roads of more than 10 km in length). Most countries use a list of
projects, in part to avoid legal wrangling such as that surrounding NEPA's definition.
Another distinction asks whether EIA is required for government projects only (as in
NEPA), for private projects only or for both.
Finally, some international development and funding agencies have set up EIA
guidelines, including the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (1992),
Overseas Development Administration (1996), UNEP (1997) and World Bank (1992,
1995, 1999).
2.4 Development in the UK
The UK has had formal legislation for EIA since 1988, in the form of several laws that
implement European Community Directive 85/337/EEC (CEC 1985) and subsequent
amendments. It is quite possible that without pressure from the European Commission
such legislation would have been enacted much more slowly, since the UK government
felt that its existing planning system more than adequately controlled environmentally
unsuitable developments. However, this does not mean that the UK had no EIA system at