Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture 1 The Polish Experience and Possibilities of a Future EIA Centre Beata Wiszniewska EIA Expert, Poland June 8 th 2004

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture 2 History of EIA in Poland 1962 – Planning Regulation required that developers attach EIS to a planning application for an industrial project (focus on air and noise, since 1971 also water, soil and natural habitats) 1980 – Environmental Protection Act (EPA):  required that EIS was prepared by an expert from the governmental list  provided environmental ngos with participation rights in location procedure 1984 – Land Use Planning Act introduced two categories of projects (equivalent to Annex I and II projects) 1988 – Amendment to EPA – MoE set detailed requirements regarding EIA procedure and EIS contents Amendment to EPA – established EA Commission

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture Developments  Environmental Protection Law Act (EPLA):  specific requirements regarding screening, scoping, consultations and public participation procedures  decentralisation of EIA procedure  no authorisation required for EIS preparation  no obligation for a national database and reporting of CA to MoE

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture 4 EIA Centres  Scientific institutes (listed as EIA Centres by DG Env.):  Institute of Environmental Protection  Institute for Ecology of Industrial Areas  Association of Environmental Assessment Consultants:  Established in 2002  Aims:  creation of a voluntary certification system  development of EA methodologies  training of parties involved in EA

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture 5 MoE Activities  Plans to include obligation of reporting by CA to MoE about EA activities  Assissts regional and local CAs in interpretation of EA regulations  Runs e-learning web-site based  Prepares EA data base, which will include:  Information about EA regulations, guidelines, news  On-line reporting system  Data-base of EIS’  Discussion forum  Plans to establish a system of certification of EA experts

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture 6 Major problems  Local authorities acting as CAs have problems with procedure, EIS review and setting consent’s conditions  Large number and low quality of EIS  No financial sources and political will to establish a permanent EIA Centre