1. EA system in Russia: latest changes and tendencies Dr Marina Khotuleva, Dr. Tatiana Strizhova, Vladimir Chechetkin Ecoline EA Center (Moscow)

2. Introduction and overview  The huge changes in Russian EA system have been happen from December, 2006 within the current Administrative reform  The changes mostly deal with the development projects; changes within the EA of programmes and plans are not radical  The recent tendencies and optional steps are discussing

3. Russian EIA system: 1995-2006

5. EIA Fundamentals in Russia  Advantages:  OVOS-SER ligament provides the EA system operational;  SER - a sort of peer review of all project documentation;  SER – publicly recognized mechanism of environmental evaluation;  Disadvantages (key gaps)  Lack of screening  Poor scoping  No SEA provisions  Bureaucratic barriers The EIA system existed and worked!

6. EIA regulatory framework transformation 1995-2006Current Environmental Protection Act (2002) Introduces SER and OVOSKeep SER and OVOS Environmental Review Act (1995) Introduced SER necessity for all development projects and all planning documents/legal acts, Established SER-OVOS linkage Excludes development projects from SER objects Project level OVOS status? OVOS regulation (2000) Established the order of OVOS implementation for all SER objects Project level OVOS status? Order on State Review (2007) Submission project construction materials to SE (including mitigations)

7. Russian EIA system: current status “One-window” approach ?

9. Current tendencies  EIA regulatory changes are driven by the political reasons rather then EIA professional/or capacity building reasons;  Huge gaps have been appeared in the system destroying it’s the internal logic;  State review is considering as a tool of “end-of pipe” control; OVOS cannot work in the situation  Lack of public trust;  No linkage to operational stage Increasing of environmental & social risks for investors and society!

10. Proposed steps ?  Political pressure to lawmakers could help;  Cooperation of public concerned and business community is important  Capacity building  International support: the strategy should be changed10