Vol. 393 No. 1
asked the Minister for the Environment if he will make the submission of an environmental impact assessment a mandatory condition to be fulfilled in order to qualify for licensing for prospecting projects in the extractive industry, regardless of whether such projects require planning permission; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
79.
asked the Minister for the Environment if he proposes to issue a circular to planning authorities making an environmental impact assessment a mandatory requirement for all developments listed under annex II of the EC Directive 85/337; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
80.
asked the Minister for the Environment when he proposes to introduce the necessary regulations to give effect to the EC Directive 85/337 on Environmental Impact Assessment; whether developments covered by annex II of the Directive will be subject to mandatory environmental impact assessments; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 43, 79 and 80 together.
EC Directive 85/337 on Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was brought into operation from 3 July 1988 in accordance with arrangements notified by my Department. Statutory effect has been given to its provisions, in relation to motorway projects, by the European Communities (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1988 (SI No. 221 of 1988). Work has been proceding on comprehensive regulations under the European Communities Act, 1972, to give express statutory effect to the directive in respect of the other types of projects to which it applies. I intend that these measures will be finalised in the near future.
The directive requires projects of the classes listed in annex II to be subjected to EIA where member states consider that their characteristics so require. Accordingly, the new regulations will require EIA to be carried out for projects of this kind where they are likely to have significant effects on the environment. The regulations will specify criteria and thresholds for the purpose of determining the environmental significance of different classes of development.
As to the particular question of mineral prospecting, this is not specifically dealt with by the directive. Annex II does, however, cover deep drillings, and provision will be made for EIA where this activity would be likely to have significant effects on the environment.
