IEMA's guide on ensuring that EIAs maximise their ability to ensure promised mitigation is delivered post-consent will be unveiled during a webinar on the 14 July.
The project was led by WSP|Parsons Brinckerhoff and the guide is co-authored by Martin Ballard, group environment manager at Willmott Dixon. All of those involved in the production of the guide recognise the need for greater interaction and positive engagement between EIA professionals and the contractors required to deliver mitigation on the ground.
A recent member survey asked how IEMA should position itself in relation to Art 5(3) of the amended EIA Directive (2014/52/EU), which refers to EIA competent experts (CEs). Respondents said the title ‘competent expert’ should extend beyond the EIA coordinator, with 61% indicating that coordinators and topic leads should be considered CEs, while almost one-third (31%) said everyone contributing to an EIA should meet the requirement. Almost two-thirds (64%) said CEs should be full members of a relevant professional body and have sufficient experience in EIA.
IEMA Fellow Dr Ross Marshall and I presented on EU and UK EIA systems at the two-day international EIA systems event hosted by Hong Kong’s environmental protection directorate. We also took part in roundtable discussions with experts from Australia, Canada, China, Hong Kong, Japan, the Netherlands and the US.
The IA network ESIA group held its first meeting on 4 July, kindly hosted by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development. Members of the ESIA steering group discussed current challenges, future activities, opportunities for partnerships and the group’s goals. The group will present the IA network webinar on 25 August, which will include presentations on international perspectives on ESIA.
