EIA in practice: New challenges in screening and scoping

The number of projects passing through the environmental impact assessment process in the UK has more than doubled since the revised EU Directive on EIA was implemented in early 1999. The growth has vastly exceeded initial expectations, spelling good news for consultants but more headaches for stretched local planning departments. However, an official study has found that some local authorities are failing to get to grips with the new "screening" and "scoping" procedures under the Directive - as well as significant inconsistencies in approach among parties to the EIA process.