Environmental impact assessment / strategic environmental assessment

An environmental assessment is required as part of the planning process (strategic environmental assessment) or the approval process (environmental impact assessment) for a large number of projects (projects, plans and programs) that are expected to have a significant impact on the environment. These include, for example, federal and state roads, railways and waterways, dykes, sewage treatment plants, landfills, high-voltage power lines, industrial and energy plants, intensive livestock farms as well as regional planning, land use and development plans.

The environmental assessment examines, describes and evaluates the impact of the project or plan on humans, animals and plants, water, soil, noise, air, climate and cultural and material assets. The results of the environmental assessment are summarized in the so-called environmental report and must be taken into account in official decisions.

The public must be involved in the official environmental assessment procedures; in the case of cross-border projects, the public in the neighboring country concerned must also be involved.

The environmental assessment is a dependent part of the relevant administrative planning or approval procedure that serves the decision on the respective project (so-called "piggyback procedure").