Types of advisory report

A competent authority can request an advisory report from the NCEA at various points during the EA process.  Whether such a report is mandatory or voluntary depends on whether a simplified or full procedure is applicable. 

  • simplified procedure: EIA for permits
  • full procedure: EIA for complex decisions and SEA for plans and programmes.

Engelse tabel

‘Simplified’ does not necessarily mean ‘easy’. The type of permit determines whether the simplified or the full procedure applies.  The full procedure is always required for complex decisions, all SEAs, all projects which require an appropriate assessment on the basis of the Dutch Nature Conservation Act and all projects in which a government body is proponent (e.g. expansion airport, projects concerning infrastructure, housing programmes).

Procedures

The following figure summarises the different steps, the differences and similarities in the EIA/SEA procedures.

Simplified procedure:
EIA for permits (e.g. Environmental Act)
   
Procedure step-by-step:

  1. Proponent notifies competent authorities
  2. Optional: consultation designated authorities 
  3. Optional: scoping advice NCEA
  4. - Write EIA report, including description of alternatives
    - Present report to competent authority
  5. Competent authority publishes EIA report and concept decision
  6. Public consultation EIA report
  7. Optional: review advice NCEA
  8. Competent authority publishes decision and justification
  9. Evaluation

Full procedure:

  • SEA
  • EIA for complex projects
  • government is initiator of the project
  • all projects which require an appropriate assessment on the basis of the Dutch Nature Conservation Act

Procedure step-by-step:

  1. Proponent notifies competent authorities (EIA)
  2. Public announcement, start of procedure
  3. - Consultation designated authorities
    - Public consultation
  4. Optional: scoping advice NCEA
  5. Write EIA report, including description of alternatives
  6. Competent authority publishes SEA/EIA report and concept decision
  7. - Public consultation SEA/EIA report
    - Consultation EIA report designated authorities
  8. Review advice NCEA mandatory
  9. Competent authority publishes decision and justification
  10. Evaluation

Voluntary advisory report

The added value
A voluntary advisory report on scoping: 

  • Establishes the content of the EA report and on the one hand prevents important issues being overlooked and on the other ensures that no unnecessary research is being done in the assessment.
  • Makes clear in advance which aspects of the EA report the NCEA will review.
  • Provides information on relevant scientific and legislative developments.

A voluntary advisory review: 

  • Gives an impartial judgment of controversial projects.
  • Increases the report’s value as a basis for decision-making.
  • Reduces the likelihood of legal challenges to the decision.