INTRODUCTION TO LAND-USE ISSUES

Land-use planning Seveso II provisions (Art. 12) in case of: New establishments Modifications to existing ones Developments around establishments Land-use planning accounts for risk minimisation through appropriate distances between establishments and sensitive areas and Public need to be able to give its opinion

Tools for managing major accident risk Appropriate separation distances Additional technical measures To ensure future compatibility of potential uses of neighbouring areas, it is recommended that aspects related to major accidents are included in national, regional and local “Development Plans”

Technical advice Planning decision requires technical advice based on either the Notification or the Safety Report including Extent and severity of possible consequences Population distribution and characteristics Consideration of future and planned situations Results of public participation Authorities need to know location of existing “Seveso” establishments

Existing approaches “Generic Distances” based on environmental impacts mainly Consequence based approach Definition of “worst case” or reference scenario and safety distance for this case gives safety distance. Risk based approach Analysis of all relevant accident scenarios with respect to consequences and probability leads to Individual Risk and/or Societal Risk to be compared with acceptance criteria.

Multi-criteria considerations Land-use planning involves many aspects that are equally relevant - Seveso II directive is aware of that. Need to find an “optimum” solution which is a compromise between a diverse set of (conflicting) objectives Potential conflict: “appropriate distances”  economic land-use

General objectives for Land- use planning Safety and accidents Public distortion and health Environmental impact Cultural heritage Natural heritage Economic and social aspects Company aspects Objectives represent interests of groups of stakeholders Making clear all consequences is already support to decision making

Involvement of the public Aims: Find a solution that is acceptable Obtain public acceptance Information (press, public announcements) Dialogue (public hearings, meetings with public representatives) Participation (public representatives take part in elaboration process)

Planning of participation in decision making Define interested and affected parties (public, but also politicians, experts, etc.) Previous experiences? Who are affected (in the broadest sense)? Who want be involved? Define participation procedures meetings/hearings procedures for appeal