The environmental impact assessment (E.I.A.) evaluates the potential adverse effects that human activities have on the living organisms that make up ecosystems. It provides a way to develop, organize and present scientific information so that it is relevant to environmental decisions. The evaluation process can be used to identify vulnerable and valued resources, prioritize data collection activity, and link human activities to their potential effects. EIA results provide a basis for comparing different management options, enabling decision-makers and the public to make better informed decisions about the management of ecological resources. It is also aimed ti identify measures of mitigation in order to reduce and/or compensate potential negative impacts of the project to be evaluated.

WET Engineering:

• Provides technical and scientific support for EIA processes, with specific expertise on environmetal issues relevant to the use of water resources (hydropower generation, wastewater plants).
• Provides technical reports for EIAs, that are required by Local Agencies, based on specific regulations.

EU Regulations:

• The European Union Directive (85/337/EEC) on Environmental Impact Assessments (known as the EIA Directive) was first introduced in 1985 and was amended in 1997. The directive was amended again in 2003, following EU signature of the 1998 Aarhus Convention. In 2001, the issue was enlarged to the assessment of plans and programmes by the so called Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Directive (2001/42/EC), which is now in force.