Directory UMM :Data Elmu:jurnal:E:Environmental Management and Health:Vol09.Issue3.1998:

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[ 1 0 7] Ro ge r H. Charlie r

The Euro pe an Unio n EIAS, EMAS and audits

Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt and He alth

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a ccr ed it ver ifi er s, w h ile w it h in t h e fr a m e-wor k of t h a t law d iscu ssion s a r e con d u ct ed t o d ecid e w h a t n a t ion a l eco-a u d it or ga n iza t ion w ill b e d esign a t ed or set u p.

T h e N et h er la n d s, r e p u t ed t o b e on e of t h e m ost a dva n ced in t h is t y p e of le gisla t ion , p r ov id ed gu id elin es u n d er t h e Cou n cil of Cer t ifi ca t ion t o est a blish ver ifi er s’ sp ecifi ca -t ion r eq u ir em en -t s, cr ea -t ed a cer -t ifi ca -t ion b ody u n d er t h e sa m e cou n cil a n d p la ced n a t ion a l eco-a u d it in g w it h in t h e Min ist r y of E n v ir on m en t ’s com p et en ce.

Alt h ou gh a volu n t a r y in it ia t ive w it h sec-t ion s on p er iod ic in sec-t er n a l a n d exsec-t er n a l en v i-r on m en t a l i-r e p oi-r t in g, t h e Du t ch Govei-r n m en t d id in fer t h a t w it h ou t su fficien t p r ogr ess, v iz. p a r t icip a t ion , le gisla t ion wou ld b e

in t r od u ced , m a k in g t h e sy st em m a n d a t or y. Ot h er E u r op ea n Com m u n it y st a t es d o r eq u ir e a m ea su r e of en v ir on m en t a l r e p or t -in g, bu t n ot a u d it -in g a s su ch . In F r a n ce, for exa m p le, t h e Ser v ice d e l’E n v ir on n em en t u n d er t a k es r e p or t s on m a jor em it t er s of 13 a ir a n d 23 w a t er p ollu t a n t s in t h e for m of p ollu t ion m a p s for p a r t icu la r p la n t s. N or w ay a n d Sw ed en r eq u ir e a m ea su r e of en v ir on -m en t a l a u d it in g; in Sw ed en a p p r oxi-m a t ely 6,000 in d u st r ia l or ga n iza t ion s p r od u ce in t er -n a l a -n -n u a l e-n v ir o-n m e-n t a l r e p or t s. How ever, t h ese r e p or t s a r e n ot su b ject t o t h ir d p a r t ies’ ver ifi ca t ion .

CE MAS is t o en cou r a ge com p a n ies t o eva lu a t e a n d im p r ove t h eir en v ir on m en t a l p er for m a n ce con t in u a lly. Alt h ou gh d ir ect ly a p p lica -ble in a ll m em b er st a t es, com p a n ies m ay ch oose w h et h er or n ot t o p a r t icip a t e in t h e sch em e a n d in d eed w h et h er t o r e gist er a ll or on ly som e of t h eir sit es. Sch em e p a r t icip a n t s w ill b e r eq u ir ed t o ca r r y ou t en v ir on m en t a l a u d it s a t t h e sit es con cer n ed . T h is wou ld b e t h e b a sis of a n en v ir on m en t a l p r ot ect ion sy st em p r ogr a m m e. T h e sy st em wou ld h ave t o b e r ev iew ed p er iod ica lly t o en su r e t h a t t h e b est ava ila ble t ech n ologies (BAT) w er e b ein g u sed .

Un d er t h e sy st em t h e follow in g issu es wou ld b e con sid er ed :

• en er gy p olicy ;

• w a st e a n d w a t er m a n a gem en t ; • p r od u ct p la n n in g;

• sa fet y ;

• st a ff t r a in in g a n d in volvem en t in en v ir on -m en t a l issu es;

• in for m a t ion t o b e m a d e p u blic; • com p la in t s h a n d lin g.

An en v ir on m en t a l a u d it wou ld h ave t o b e ca r r ied ou t a t lea st ever y t h r ee yea r s by som eon e n ot d ir ect ly in volved a n d a w r it t en r e p or t b e ava ila ble t o t h e p u blic. Au d it fi n d in gs wou ld r eq u ir e exa m in a t ion a t t h e h igh -est m a n a gem en t level a n d u lt im a t ely a n

en v ir on m en t a l st a t em en t p r e p a r ed for ea ch sit e con cer n ed , su b ject t o ver ifi ca t ion by a ccr ed it ed en v ir on m en t a l ver ifi er s t o en su r e com p lia n ce w it h a ll a sp ect s of t h e r e gu la t ion . T h e ver ifi er a n d t h e a u d it or sh ou ld b e in d e-p en d en t of ea ch ot h er.

P a r t icip a n t s sa t isfy in g t h e r eq u ir em en t s of t h e CE MAS sch em e w ill b e en t it led t o u se a logo on t h eir let t er h ea d , b r och u r es, a n d fi n a n cia l st a t em en t s a s w ell a s in a dver t isem en t s, bu t w it h ou t r efer en ce t o sp ecifi c p r od -u ct s. Logo -u se in r ela t ion t o sit es w h ich fa il t o com p ly w it h E u r op ea n Com m u n it y a n d n a t ion a l en v ir on m en t a l r e gu la t ion s is p r o-h ib it ed . CE MAS a lso m a k es p r ov ision for com p a n ies a ccr ed it ed u n d er sim ila r n a t ion a l sch em es r ecogn ised by t h e E U u n d er t h e r e gu la t ion . T h e p h ilosop h y in t er m s of sch em e p r om ot ion is t o st r ess t h a t t h e a dva n -t a ges ga in ed by p a r -t icip a -t in g com p a n ies w ill n ot on ly b e t h e im p lem en t in g of good en v ir on m en t a l m a n a gem en t , bu t a lso t h e com -p a n y ’s over a ll cr ed ib ilit y r ela t ive t o it s en v i-r on m en t a l effoi-r t s w ill b e gi-r ea t ly en h a n ced in t h e eyes of r e gu la t or s, p olicy m a k er s a n d t h e com m u n it y.

Belgiu m is on e of sever a l E U cou n t r ies w h er e, a t t h e en d of Decem b er 1995, in d u st r y w a s st ill d r a ggin g it s feet b eca u se it eyes a u d it in g w it h su sp icion : com p lia n ce w it h r e gu la t ion s w ill h ave t o b e ser iou sly follow ed , a n d com p a n ies w ill h ave t o est a blish a n en v i-r on m en t a l p i-r ogi-r a m m e a n d en v ii-r on m en t a l m a n a gem en t sy st em a p p lica ble t o a ll a ct iv i-t ies a i-t i-t h eir sii-t e(s) of op er a i-t ion (s).

Belgian legislation

T h e p ict u r e of le gisla t ion p er t a in in g t o a n d r e gu la t ion of a ssessor s a n d a u d it or s is com -p lica t ed , in Belgiu m , by t h e n ew “fed er a l” st r u ct u r e r ecen t ly a d op t ed for t h e cou n t r y. Wh er e on ce su ch law s w er e n a t ion a l, som e a r e n ow n a t ion a l, bu t fa r m or e a r e r e gion a l, or com m u n it y -b a sed , n ot t o sp ea k of a d d i-t ion a l p r ov in cia l a n d m u n icip a l r u les i-t o b e follow ed .

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Ro ge r H. Charlie r The Euro pe an Unio n EIAS, EMAS and audits

9 / 3 [1 9 9 8 ] 1 0 6 –1 2 3

So d ist in ct is t h e se p a r a t ion t h a t cod es a n d r e gu la t ion s a r e n ot icea b ly d iffer en t in ea ch .

Re gion s b ein g r esp on sible for econ om ic a n d socia l m a t t er s w h ile com m u n it ies d ea l w it h cu lt u r a l t op ics, t h e fi r st r e gu la t e en v ir on m en -t a l m a -t -t er s. T h e F r a n cop h on e a n d

Ger m a n op h on e “com m u n it ies” exer cise n o en v ir on m en t a l com p et en ces a n d su ch m a t -t er s on -t h eir “-t er r i-t or y ” fa ll u n d er Wa lloon (or Br u ssels) r e gion r u les a n d r e gu la t ion s.

The national government

Most m a t t er s r ela t ed t o t h e en v ir on m en t h ave b een t r a n sfer r ed t o t h e “r e gion a l” a u t h or it ies a n d t h ou gh t h er e st ill is a Min -ist r y for “P u blic H ea lt h , Life E n v ir on m en t a n d Socia l In t e gr a t ion ”; it s com p et en ce is n a r r ow ly lim it ed . Rem a in in g t h u s u n d er cen t r a l gover n m en t a u t h or it y a r e t h e (Bel-gia n ) N or t h Sea a r ea , n u clea r m a t t er s, en for cem en t of UN O con ven t ion s, t r a n sp or t a t ion of w a st es a cr oss in t er n a t ion a l b ou n d -a r ies, -a n d t r -a d e in t r op ic-a l for est s m -a t er i-a ls. T h e sp ok esp er son for t h e m in ist er ’s office d r y ly r em a r k ed t h a t t h e m in ist r y a ct s m a in ly a s a p ost office b ox t o for w a r d d ossier s t o r e gion a l m in ist r ies (Ta ble I).

T h e m in ist r y ’s r esp on sib ilit ies for en v ir on -m en t a l -m a t t er s a r e eit h er clea r ly -m a t t er s of n a t ion a l com p et en ce, or “r esid u a l” a r ea s w h ich h ave n ot b een r e gion a lised .

Wh er e n u clea r p r oject s a r e con cer n ed n o p r ov ision in Belgia n law a ffect s t h e E U d ir ec-t ive on E IA. A Roya l Decr ee h a d b een

exp ect ed in ea r ly 1994. Su ch E IA wou ld b e a im ed a t effect s of r a d ioa ct iv it y on m a n , fl or a a n d fa u n a , for t h e la t t er t wo t h r ou gh a ir, w a t er a n d soil con t a m in a t ion , a n d t r op h ic or igin s.

At t h e in t er n a t ion a l level, h ow ever, a n d sp ecifi ca lly w it h in t h e E U, it is t h e N a t ion a l Min ist er of E n v ir on m en t w h o r e p r esen t s Belgiu m . A con sen su s is r ea ch ed a m on g r e gion s a t r e gu la r ly sch ed u led m eet in gs of t h e In t er -m in ist er ia l Con fer en ce for t h e E n v i-r on m en t . Re gion a l m in ist ei-r s m ay a t t en d m eet in gs of t h e E U Cou n cil.

T h e n on -gover n m en t a l Fed er a t ion of E n v i-r on m en t a l P i-r ot ect ion Associa t ion s com p i-r ises Br u ssels or ga n iza t ion s, In t er -en v ir on m en t Wa llon ia a n d t h e (F lem ish ) Bet t er Life E n v i-r on m en t Associa t ion .

Regions

T h e d iv ision of r esp on sib ilit ies is d iffer en t in ea ch r e gion . T h e Br u ssels Re gion a l E xecu t ive d iv id es p olit ica l r esp on sib ilit y for en v ir on -m en t a l -m a t t er s a -m on g fou r -m in ist r ies: E n v ir on m en t , Wa t eir, Wa st e a n d La n d Use P la n -n i-n g. Wa llo-n ia h a s t h r ee m i-n ist r ies w it h en v ir on m en t a l a m on g ot h er r esp on sib ilit ies: t ech n ology a n d ext er n a l r ela t ion s. F la n d er s

d iv id es it s en v ir on m en t a l r esp on sa b ilit ies b et w een t wo m in ist r ies: E n v ir on m en t a n d Re gion a l P la n n in g. T h e la t t er is r esp on sible for t ow n a n d r e gion a l p la n n in g, m on u m en t s a n d sit es, w a t er, for est m a n a gem en t , in d u s-t r ia l en v ir on m en s-t m a n a gem en s-t , a gr icu ls-t u r e a n d fi sh er ies, a n d p u blic aw a r en ess. In a d d i-t ion , som e p u blic h ea li-t h r esp on sib ilii-t ies a r e t h e r esp on sa b ilit y of t h e F lem ish com m u n it y.

T h e execu t ive st r u ct u r es of t h e r esp on sible m in ist r ies in ea ch r e gion a r e a lso q u it e d if-fer en t . In Wa llon ia , t wo d ir ect or a t es-gen er a l a r e r esp on sible for en v ir on m en t , on e for la n d a n d t ow n p la n n in g a n d on e for n a t u r a l r esou r ces a n d t h e en v ir on m en t ; t h e la t t er r elies on t h e Office Wa llon d es Déch etsfor w a st e collect ion a n d d isp osa l. Wa llon ia su p p -p or t s en v ir on m en t a l r esea r ch t h r ou gh t h e In stitu t S cien tifi qu e d u S er v ice Pu blic(ISSE P ). The Fle mish re gio n

E n v ir on m en t a l m a t t er s in t h e F lem ish r e gion t er r it or y a r e h a n d led by it s Min ist r y of Life en v ir on m en t (Ta ble II), w h ich a lso a d m in is-t er s n a is-t u r e con ser va is-t ion a n d la n d p la n n in g. Bu t t wo m in ist r ies a ct u a lly sh a r e r esp on sib il-it y a s “Re gion a l P la n n in g” r esp on sible, n ot on ly for p la n n in g bu t a lso for w a t er, for est s, a gr icu lt u r e, fi sh er ies, m on u m en t s a n d sit es. T h e Min ist er of t h e F lem ish Com m u n it y t a k es on som e p u blic h ea lt h r esp on sib ilit ies.

T h e AMINAL (A d m in istra tie M ilieu, N a tu u r en L a n d in r ich tin g) Ad m in ist r a t ion for E n v ir on m en t , N a t u r e a n d Con st r u ct ion is u n d er a Secr et a r y Gen er a l of t h e De p a r t m en t for t h e E n v ir on m en t a n d In fr a st r u ct u r e (Dep a r tem en t L eefm ilieu en In fra stru ctu u r), on e of fou r sp ecia lized d e p a r t m en t s of t h e F lem ish E xecu t ive.

T h e F lem ish Re gion P u blic Wa st es Com -p a n y (k n ow n a s OVAM) h a s d evelo-p ed a w a st es p la n cover in g t h e yea r s 1991 t h r ou gh 1995. It t a k es a s it s ju r id ica l b a sis t h e Decr ee of 2 J u ly 1981 a n d r u n s t h e ga m u t of ever y w a st e, exce p t r a d ioa ct ive m a t er ia ls. A p r ev i-ou s p la n h a d sp a n n ed t h e 1986-1990 p er iod .

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Table I

Be lgium – Ministry o f He alth and Enviro nme nt and lo c atio n o f e nviro nme nt o ffic e s

1 . General Sec retariate Sec retary-General 2 . Cabinet and International Relations 3 . Sc ientific Coordination and Doc umentation 4 . Press and Information

5 . Modernization Cells 6 . Training Direc tors 7 . Organizational Servic es 8 . Cell-Information 9 . Sec urity Offic es

1 0 . Counc ils and Advic e Commissions 1 1 . Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology 1 2 . Direc tor

1 3 . General Servic es 1 4 . Administrative Servic es 1 5 . Computer Center 1 6 . Library

1 7 . Doc umentation 1 8 . Sc ientific Counc il 1 9 . Direc tor Counc il

2 0 . Jury for Appointment and Promotion 2 1 . Mic robiology

2 2 . Pharmac ology and Bromatology 2 3 . Epidemiology and Toxic ology 24. Environment

2 5 . Management Unit for the Mathematic al Model of the North Sea and the Sc heldt Estuary 2 6 . Direc torate for General Servic es – Direc tor-General

2 7 . Administrative Servic es 2 8 . Personnel Servic es 2 9 . Translation Servic e 3 0 . General Household Servic e 3 1 . Center for Information Proc essing 3 2 . General Affairs

3 3 . General Ac c ounting

3 4 . Honorable Distinc tions (awards, medals) 3 5 . Legal Servic e

3 6 . Soc ial Servic e

3 7 . Direc torate for Soc ial Welfare and Emanc ipation Direc tor 3 8 . Servic e for Studies and Conflic ts

3 9 . Servic e for Financ es and Upkeeps Costs 4 0 . Servic e for Minimum Living Standard 4 1 . Servic e for Feeding

4 2 . Servic e for Soc ial Emanc ipation 4 3 . Servic e for Poverty

4 4 . Inspec torate

4 5 . Rec eption Centre for Politic al Refugees 4 6 . Translators, Sec retaries, Typists

47. Direc torate for Environment Direc tor-General 48. Study Servic e

49. Basis Studies 50. Tec hnology

51. International Environmental Affairs 52. Servic e for Regulation

53. Air 54. Water 55. Soil 56. Noise

57. Dangerous Materials

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T h e Decr ee of 23 Ma r ch 1989 est a blish es r u les for t h e a ccr ed it a t ion of “exp er t s”, p r oce-d u r es for E IAs a n oce-d su p er v ision or con t r ol. T h e “colle ge of exp er t s” ch a r ged w it h a n

a ssessm en t is obliga t or ily m a d e u p of on e or m or e exp er t s fa m ilia r w it h t h e p ot en t ia l en v ir on m en t a l d ist u r b a n ce(s) t y p ica l of t h e p r oject , a n d of on e or m or e exp er t s select ed Table I

58. Pestic ides 59. Other Toxic Matter 60. Waste

61. Import/ Export

6 2 . Direc torate for Foods and Drugs Direc torate-General 6 3 . Pharmac eutic al Inspec tion Fund for Medic ation 6 4 . Food Inspec torate

6 5 . Direc torate for Hospitals, Clinic s et al. Direc torate-General 6 6 . Direc torate of Healthc are Establishments

6 7 . Ac c ounting and Management of Hospitals 6 8 . Legal Affairs, Legislation and Conflic ts 6 9 . Logistic s Servic es

7 0 Direc torate of Medic al Prac tic e 7 1 . Medic al Prac tic e

7 2 . Inspec tion for Nursing 7 3 . Hygiene (Health) Inspec tion 7 4 . Provinc ial Medic al Commissions 7 5 . “ 1 0 0 ” Servic e (= Emergenc y) 7 6 . Cell for Medic al-Soc ial Orientation

7 7 . Direc torate for Soc ial Medic ine Direc tor-General 7 8 . State Soc ial Medic al Servic e

7 9 . Central Administration 8 0 . External servic es 8 1 . Legal-Medic al Servic e 8 2 . Legal-Medic al Servic e

8 3 . Brussels Expertise (= analysis, c hec king) Center 8 4 . Direc torate for War-Vic tims – State Commissioner 8 5 . Coordination Offic e

8 6 . Servic e for Control of National Institutions for War Vic tims 8 7 . Servic e for Pensions of Civilian War Vic tims

8 8 . Servic e for Statutes of National Gratitude 8 9 . Servic e for “ Rents” (= Financ ial Brevets) 9 0 . Servic e for Searc hes and Doc umentation

9 1 . National Institute for War Invalids, War Veterans and War Casualties

SECRETARIAT GENERAL

INSTITUTE FOR HYGIENE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY INSTITUTE OF VETERINARY

INSPECTION

INSTITUT PASTEUR

GENERAL SERVICES

Human re so urc e s and So c ial affairs

Financ e and Info rmatic s

RESEARCH AND INFORMATION

SOCIAL SECURITY

HEALTH CARE

PROTECTION OF HEALTH

MEDICAL EXPERTISE

SOCIAL

INSPECTION ENVIRONMENT

WAR VICTIMS

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Administratie Milie u, Natuur e n Landinric hting

ALGEMENE LEIDING 1

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b e r en ew ed . In F la n d er s, p r oject s r eq u ir in g a n E IA a r e st ip u la t ed on a “list ”; t h e Wa lloon “list ” is less com p r eh en sive, bu t on t h e b a sis of a q u a lit a t ive en v ir on m en t a l a n a ly sis (IE E ), v iz. a n in it ia l en v ir on m en t a l eva lu a t ion , t h e p er m it issu in g a u t h or it y m ay d ecid e on t h e a p p r op r ia t en ess of a “fu ll E IA”.

If a p r oject is in it ia t ed by a p u blic a gen cy, a p u blic in q u ir y if for eseen in Wa llon ia . N o su ch p u blic in volvem en t is p r ov id ed for in F la n d er s. T h e exp er t is solely r esp on sible for t h e p r e p a r a t ion of t h e t h e E IA, w it h in for m a -t ion fu r n ish ed by -t h e d evelop er in Wa llon ia , w h ile in F la n d er s t h e E IA p r ocess is a join t effor t . “E xp er t s’ cer t ifi ca t ion is on a n in d iv id -u a l’s b a sis in F la n d er s (a n d in a sp ecifi c en v i-r on m en t a l d iscip lin e) bu t on a con su lt a n cy fi r m level, a ccor d in g t o p r oject ’s ca t e gor y, in Wa llon ia . H er e t h e Wa lloon E n v ir on m en t a l Cou n cil (Con seil Wa llon d e l’E n v ir on n em en t) ch eck s E IA q u a lit y, a dv ises on en v ir on m en t a l a d eq u a cy, cou n sels on con su lt a n t s’ cer t ifi ca -t ion a n d le gisla -t ion d evelop m en -t s. I-t in clu d es in d u st r y, en v ir on m en t a l or ga n iza t ion s, u n ion s, a ca d em e, con su m er s a n d officia ld om r e p r esen t a t ives. Less “op en ” is t h e sit u a t ion in F la n d er s w h er e E IA r e p or t follow -u p a n d

eva lu a t ion is en t ir ely vest ed in t h e a d m in is-t r a is-t ion .

Communes and provinces

T h e p r ov in ces a n d com m u n es (m u n icip a li-t ies) r e gu la li-t e “ever y li-t h in g w h ich is of loca l in t er est ” in clu d in g p u blic h ea lt h , la n d u se a n d en v ir on m en t a n d a r e r esp on sible u n d er r e gion a l le gisla t ion for cer t a in licen sin g p r oced u r es.

Bot h p r ov in ces a n d com m u n es a r e obliged t o fu lfi ll t a sk s im p osed on t h em by r e gion a l or n a t ion a l le gisla t ion w it h in t h e fr a m ewor k of t h e p la n n in g a n d bu ild in g law s. T h e com m u n es a r e em p ower ed t o a d op t law s t o fi ll ga p s in r e gion a l or n a t ion a l le gisla t ion in cer t a in a r ea s. T h eir p olicy h a s t h e obliga t ion t o p r osecu t e loca l env ir on m en t a l v iola -t ion s.

In F la n d er s p r ov in ces issu e cla ss 2 in st a lla -t ion s p er m i-t s a n d com m u n es cla ss 3. T h e r e gion ’s in t e gr a t ed p er m it st r u ct u r e cover s a ir, w a t er, w a st es, n oise, h a za r d s a n d E IAs. Wa llon ia h a s se p a r a t e st r u ct u r es for a ir, w a t er a n d w a st e. Air a n d n oise ca t e gor y I

Table III

Lo c atio n o f “ e nviro nme nt” o ffic e s. EIA re spo nsibility o ffic e in o ve rall sc he me s

INSTITUT BRUXELLOIS POUR LA GESTION DE L’ ENVIRONNEMENT1

GESTION TRANSVERSALE RECHERCHE & LOGISTIQUE & PREVENTION &

3 PLANIFICATION INFORMATION AUTORISATION

4 5 6

– Coordination interne – Laboratoire de Rec herc he en – Ac tions extérieures spéc ifiques – Tec hnologies Propres – Coordination suprarégionale Environnement (air, bruit) – Doc umentation/ bibliothèque – Autorisation et Agrégation

– Etudes d’ inc endies – Statistiques et Indic ateurs – Servic es généraux

– Bruit – Plan Déc hets – Relations publiques

– SHE – CELINE – Public ations

ESPACE VERTS INSPECTORAT &

7 SURVEILLANCE

8

– Coordination & Programmation – Conseil Juridique et Tec hnique –Administratif et Tec hnique – Surveillanc e des Parc s – Forêt et Réserves naturelles – Equipe Tec hnique

– Parc s et Jardins – Taxation Eau – Polic e

Legend

1 . Brussels Institute for Environmental Management 2 . Direc torate

3 . Transversal Management. Internal c oordination. Supra-regional c oordinational EIAs. Noise

4 . Researc h and Planning. Environment (air, noise) researc h laboratory. Statistic s and indic ators. Wastes plan

5 . Logistic s and information. Spec ific external ac tions. Doc umentation/ Library. General servic es. Public relations. Public ations 6 . Prevention and Lic ensing. Own tec hnologies. Authorizations and lic ensing

7 . Green spac es. Coordination and programming. Administrative and tec hnic al. Forests and natural reserves. Parks and gardens 8 . Inspec torate and surveillanc e. Juridic al and tec hnic al c ounc il. Parks surveillanc e. Tec hnic al team. Water taxation. Polic e

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OUVRAGES 2 5 EAUX DE SURFACE2 8

FINANCES 2 9

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All p ot en t ia l m od ifi ca t ion s h ave im p lica t ion s for con su lt a n cy or ga n iza t ion s, b ot h in t er m s of p ot en t ia lly in cr ea sin g m a r k et s for ser -v ices, bu t a lso p la cin g on u s on con su lt a n t s t o im p r ove t h e q u a lit y of t h eir p r od u ct ; con seq u en t ly it is t o b e h op ed t h a t effect ive t igh t en -in g of E IA p r oced u r es w ill see a r ed u ct ion -in a n d even t u a l r em ova l of b elow st a n d a r d op er -a t or s.

T h is sit u a t ion a p p ea r s t o b e occu r r in g a s exp er ien ce ga in ed in t h e a p p r oa ch t o E IAs cr ea t es a gr a d u a l evolu t ion of t ech n iq u es a n d im p r ovem en t in p r oject execu t ion . E ISs a r e con sid er ed a s t h e “st a r t in g p oin t ” for m a n y p u blic in q u ir ies. As su ch t h ey for m a n ever m or e im p or t a n t st e p in t h e for m a lized p la n n in g p r oced u r e, b ein g a p p r op r ia t ely r ecogn ized a s a n in t e gr a l p la n n in g t ool, bu t n ot a s a p a n a cea for a ll p la n n in g

p r oblem s.

EIA implementation

In or d er t o d et er m in e h ow sign ifi ca n t a r e t h e va r ia t ion s in t h e a p p lica t ion of t h e E IA d ir ect ive ect h r ou gh ou ect ect h e E U, E F CA h a s u n d er -t a k en a su r vey -t h r ou gh r e p r esen -t a -t ives of i-t s n a t ion a l m em b er or ga n iza t ion s. F a ct or s a ffect in g su ch p r a ct ica l a sp ect s a s cost s a n d com p et it ion h ave b een con sid er ed (Ta bles Va a n d Vb ):

1 Wh a t or ga n iza t ion s h ave r esp on sib ilit y for t h e en a ct m en t of le gisla t ion r ela t in g t o t h e E IA d ir ect ive?

2 Ar e t h er e a n y for m a l p r oced u r es r eq u ir ed by t h e a b ove or ga n iza t ion s or le gisla t u r e for u n d er t a k in g a n E IA?

3 Is t h er e a n y for m a l or in for m a l r e gist r a -t ion sch em e for con su l-t a n cies w ish in g -t o u n d er t a k e E IAs?

4 Is t h er e a sy st em for t h e r ev iew of com -p let ed E ISs a n d if so, w h a t is t h e st a t u s of t h e fi n d in gs of t h e or ga n iza t ion ?

5 Ap p r oxim a t ely h ow m a n y con su lt a n cies a r e a ct ive in t h e fi eld of en v ir on m en t a ssessm en t ?

6 Is t h er e a r eq u ir em en t for con su lt a n cies t o b e in d e p en d en t of en gin eer in g d esign con su lt a n cies a n d / or con t r a ct or s? 7 Wh o d ecid es t h e scop e of t h e E IA w h en

p r e p a r in g t er m s of r efer en ce a n d is t h er e a n y officia l a dv ice t o a ssist in t h is t a sk ? 8 Wh a t va lu e is a t t a ch ed t y p ica lly t o E IA

st u d ies, a s a p er cen t a ge of eit h er d esign va lu e or ca p it a l va lu e ?

Survey results Ge ne ral

T h e r esu lt s of t h e su r vey a r e in t en d ed p r im a r ily for t h e u se of t h e E F CA m em b er -sh ip a n d it is a n t icip a t ed t h a t r esp ect ive n a t ion a l or ga n iza t ion s w ill m a k e t h e r esu lt s of t h e exer cise ava ila ble t o m em b er fi r m s if

r eq u est ed . How ever, it m ay b e a p p r op r ia t e t o p r ov id e cop ies t o t ech n ica l officer s w it h in DG XI, w h o m ay fi n d t h e in for m a t ion of u se in r ev iew in g t h eir p r op osa ls for a m en d m en t of t h e E IA d ir ect ive.

Va r ia t ion b et w een m em b er st a t es is q u it e m a r k ed . As r eq u ir ed by le gisla t ion , t h er e is gen er a lly a “for m a l” p r oced u r e w it h r esp ect t o t h e con t en t s of a n E IA, bu t t h is is u su a lly a st r a igh t for w a r d r efl ect ion of t h e d ict a t es of t h e E IA d ir ect ive. Wh er ever t h er e is d iscr e-t ion a r y con sid er a e-t ion of fa ce-t or s, su ch a s r e gist r a t ion of con su lt a n t s or r ev iew p r oce-d u r e, t h er e a r e r ela t ively few m em b er st a t es w h er e su ch p r oced u r es a r e r e gu la r ly follow ed .

Quality o f EIAs

T h e om ission of r e gist r a t ion a n d r ev iew fr om a n y for m a l eva lu a t ion r eq u ir em en t h a s led , a t lea st in p a r t , t o t h e u n sa t isfa ct or y sit u a -t ion -t h a -t h a s a r isen in m a n y m em b er s-t a -t es w it h r esp ect t o t h e q u a lit y of E ISs. Qu a lit y of E ISs is con sid er ed t o b e a m a jor fa ct or in t h e su ccess or ot h er w ise of t h e im p lem en t a t ion of t h e E IA d ir ect ive. T h er e is n o for m a l con t r ol over t h is issu e in v ir t u a lly a n y of t h e m em b er st a t es a n d clien t or ga n iza t ion s fr eq u en t ly feel t h a t t h ey d o n ot ob t a in va lu e for m on ey. Com p et en t a u t h or it ies, u su a lly t h e p la n n in g or ga -n iza t io-n s, oft e-n d o -n ot h ave t h e i-n -h ou se ca p a b ilit y t o eva lu a t e E ISs, n ot a bly for com -p lex -p r ocess -p r oced u r es, a n d a r e eq u a lly cr it ica l of t h e r a n ge in q u a lit y of p r esen t ed d ocu m en t s.

F r om d iscu ssion s w it h r e p r esen t a t ives of t h e n a t ion a l or ga n iza t ion s, it is felt t h a t b et t er gu id a n ce on t h e a p p r oa ch t o u n d er t a k in g E IAs wou ld b e va lu a ble. If t h is w a s a ch ieved , t h er e cou ld b e gr ea t er u n ifor m it y in a p p r oa ch a n d h en ce im p r ovem en t in t h e q u a lit y of E IAs. T h is fa ct a pp ea r s t o b e r ecogn ized by con su lt a n cies, a s well a s t h eir clien t s.

T h er e h a s b een su ggest ion t h a t st a n d a r d -iza t ion of a p p r oa ch wou ld b e h elp fu l, t h ou gh it is a p p r ecia t ed t h a t t h is m ay b e d ifficu lt t o effect in p r a ct ice. It is of som e con cer n t h a t t h e con su lt a n t s a r e h eld r esp on sible for t h e q u a lit y of en v ir on m en t a l st a t em en t s p r o-d u ceo-d , a n o-d yet t h er e is n o for m a l gu io-d a n ce t o en su r e t h a t t h er e is a b a sis for t h e eq u it a ble eva lu a t ion of st a t em en t s.

Su b sid ia r it y d ict a t es t h a t ea ch m em b er st a t e’s com p et en t a u t h or it y is r esp on sible for t h e a p p r oa ch a d op t ed t o t h e E IA p r oced u r e. H ow ever, t h er e is lit t le in d ica t ion t h a t t h e va r iou s a u t h or it ies a r e in a p osit ion t o p r o-v id e t h e m u ch n eed ed fr a m ewor k t o en su r e com p a r a t ive execu t ion of p r oject s.

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su bject of E IAs. It is dou btfu l th a t a n y on e pr ocedu r e wou ld sa tisfa ctor ily a ccom m oda te a ll pr oject types, sin ce it is on ly th e pr ocedu r e of E IA wh ich is com m on . Differ en t pr oject ca te gor ies r equ ir e differ en t a spects to be con -sider ed w ith va r yin g de gr ees of th or ou gh n ess. Re gistratio n sc he me s

T h e cr ea t ion of a r e gist r a t ion a n d selfr e gu -la t in g/ p olicin g a p p r oa ch t o E IAs a p p ea r s t o b e d evelop in g in m a n y cou n t r ies in r esp on se t o t h e cr it icism s. On ly by en cou r a gem en t of t h e em er gen ce of for m a lized a u t h or it ies, in st it u t es or a gen cies, w ill E F CA n a t ion a l or ga n iza t ion s b e a ble t o en su r e t h a t t h e

p r ofession effect s con t r ol over t h e op er a t ion of su b st a n d a r d com p a n ies.

T h er e is on ly on e m em b er st a t e (Belgiu m ) w h er e t h er e is a for m a l r eq u ir em en t for r e gist r a t ion of E IA con su lt a n cies a n d a n in for -m a l r eq u ir e-m en t in Sp a in . Ot h er w ise, t h e sy st em is p u r ely volu n t a r y a n d in t h e m a jor -it y of ca ses, t h er e is l-it t le ev id en ce of “self-r e gu la t ion ”.

It is gen er a lly con sid er ed t h a t t h e cr ea t ion of su ch or ga n iza t ion s t h r ou gh ou t m em b er st a t es wou ld b e b en efi cia l t o t h e in d u st r y a s a w h ole. It wou ld h ave t h e su p p or t of va r iou s clien t a n d eva lu a t in g a u t h or it ies a n d a lso

Table Va

Summary re sults o f surve y o f EFCA me mbe rship

1 2 3b 4 5 6 7 8

Belgiuma CWE/ Yes/ yes/ yes Yes/ yes/ yes Yes/ yes/ yes 4 2 / 1 6 1 / 5 Yes/ yes/ yes CAc_{/ AMINAL/ 0 .5 -5 / ? / ?}

AMINAL/ (F/ F/ F)b _IGBE

IBGE-BIM

Denmark Ministry of Yes No ? 2 5 No Ministry of Up to 5f

Environment Environment/

Registration Administration

Ireland Ministry of Yes No No +2 0 ? No Developer/ Unc ertain

Environment Consultant

France Germany

Greece Ministry of Yes No No Ca. 1 5 Yes Public Unc ertain

Environment Authority/

Developer/ TOR by Ministry Dec reed

Italy Ministry of Yes No Yes 1 0 -2 0 (large) No Developer/ Unc ertain

Environment 1 0 0 -2 0 0 Consultant

(small)

The Netherlands MHPP and Yes No Yes (CEIA) 1 5 No CEIA 0 .1 -1

E/ MANMF/ CEIA

Spain MOPTMA/ Yes Yes (1 ) No +1 0 0 No Developer/ Unc ertain

Regional Consultant

Authorities

Switzerland N/ Ae _{BUWAL +} _No _{No lic ensing} _{+1 0 0} _No _{Lic ensing} _{1 -5}f

several authority. Authority

c antonal Assess projec t

exec utive based on EIA

authorities

UK Department No No On request +3 0 0 No Developer/ 0 .0 1 -1

of (guidelines) (instruc tion Consultant/

Environment of EIA) CAc

Notes:

a _{Situation presented for all three regions of Belgium in the following order (Walloon/ Flemish/ Brussels)} b _{F: formal requirement; I: informal arrangement}

c _{CA: Competent Authority sometimes dic tates sc ope of EA, following c onsultation and disc ussion with Statutory Consultees} d _{Loc al authorities and developers responsible for their own TOR, but Ministerial dec ree dic tates minimum TOR}

e _{Switzerland is not a member of the EU and therefore does not adhere to EU legislation. However, Umweltsc hutzgestz (USG 1 9 8 3 ) and}

UVP-Verordnung (1 9 8 8 ) apply for EIA issues

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Table Vb

Imple me ntatio n o f EMAS – status January 1 9 9 7

1 2 3b ₄ ₅ ₆ ₇

Involvement of

national consulting Specification

Representation organisation requirements for Accreditation of National Registered sites/ Competent body in competent body in competent body verifiers verifiers eco-audit organisation accredited verifiers

Austria Federal Environmental Federal Environmental No Completed Federal Ministry of No 4 0 / 1 2

Agenc y Agenc y Ec onomic Affairs,

Z ulassungsstelle für Umweltgutac hter

Belgium Distric t level: Only the government No (indirec tly Spec ific ations Ministry of Coordination on 2 (Flanders)/ 0 1 Brussels Institute is represented. In through the have been Ec onomic national level

for Environmental the Regional Counc il Regional prepared and Affairs, alters between Management (IBGE) for Environment, whic h Counc il) approved by Department of Flanders (AMINAL) 2 Administration for appointed the BELCERT Quality and and Wallonie (AWR)

Environmental c ompetent body, Sec urity, Division

Management various parties are Quality

(AMINAL) (Flanders) represented Ac c reditation

3 Administration of Servic e (BELCERT)

Walloon Region (Wallonie) Federal level:

Ministry of Environment and Public Health

Denmark Environmental Counc il The environmental Ac c ording to DANAK (Danish Under disc ussion 1 3 / 3 (1 0 .1 2 .9 6 ) under Ministry of management c ounc il DANAK ac c reditation)

Environment has been established as

an advisory body to Danish EPA and to DANAK in questions of EMAS. FRI is represented in the c ounc il

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1 2 3b 4 5 6 7

Involvement of

France Ministry of Through a c ommittee Through COFRAC Guidelines under the Through COFRAC No plans 7 / 9 Environment with totalling 2 0 members, c ommittee, whic h is in COFRAC (Comité Franç ais

c onsultative with: c harge of verifiers’ d’ ac c réditation) c ommittee – Ministry of ac c reditation

Environment (one representative) – Ministry of Industries

(one representative) – Ministry of Agric ulture

(one representative) – Ministry of Financ e

(one representative) – Experts of Industry

(seven representatives) – Public and its

representative assoc iations for environment protec tion, bank and insuranc e c ompanies (seven representatives) – Three qualified

personalities (a representative of COFRAC and inspec tors)

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1 2 3b ₄ ₅ ₆ ₇

Involvement of

Representation organisation requirements for Accreditation of National Registered sites/ Competent body in competent body in competent body verifiers verifiers eco-audit organisation accredited verifiers Germany 1 Deutsc her Industrie- – Federal Assoc iation No The UGA dec ided in Deutsc he Environmental 4 1 3 / 1 2 2 (1 5 organisations,

und Handelstag of German Industries ac c reditation guideline Akkreditierungs- und Verific ation Committee 1 0 7 individuals) 2 Z entralverband des (BDI) and works on a Z ulassungsgesellsc haft (Umweltgutac

hteraus-Deutsc hen – German Industry and supervision guideline für Umwelgutac hter sc huss UGA) whic h Handwerks Trade Counc il (DIHT) for verifiers mbH (DAU) defines ac c reditation

– Central German Trade and supervision

Board (Z DH) guidelines

– Federal Assoc iation of Non-regulated professions (BFB)

Greecea _{Under disc ussion; no} _{Tec hnic al c hamber of} _{Possibly yes} _{Under disc ussion} _{Not yet defined or} _{No spec ific plans yet}

c onsiderable progress Greec e disc ussed

Republic of Ireland The National No answer No Requirements and The National No 2 / 2 (+2 under preparation) Ac c reditation Board proc edures in plac e Ac c reditation Board

Italya _{A spec ial c ommittee} _{Through sub-c ommittee Not known,} _{Verifiers will be} _{Verifiers will be} _{No additional}

will be c reated with for ec o-audit with: representation within nominated by ac c redited by organization is foreseen, subc ommittees for – c hairman Advisory Forum c ommittee c ommittee thus sub-c ommittee will ec o-label and ec o-audit – two members from possible (sub-c ommittee? ). (sub-c ommittee) have full responsibility.

Ministry of Verifiers’ qualific ations Tec hnic al support from

Environment will be defined on the National Agenc y for

– two members from basis of EU Environmental Protec tion

Ministry of Industry rec ommendations (ANPA)

– one member from Ministry of Public Health

– one member from Ministry of Treasury assisted by Advisory

Forum

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Involvement of

Representation organisation requirements for Accreditation of National Registered sites/ Competent body in competent body in competent body verifiers verifiers eco-audit organisation accredited verifiers The Netherlands Newly devloped private Government – Indirec t by the Spec ial requirements The Dutc h Counc il for No answer 1 0 / 2

institute “ Foundation Industry representation of the available as paper Ac c reditation (RvA)b

for Coordination and Environmental Dutc h industry Certific ation of movement organisation Environmental – Informal c ontac ts Management Systems”

fully installed

Norway Bronnoysundregistrene Public institutions No initiatives known Defined by See 4 No plans known 1 5 / 5 without representation Justervesenet –

of spec ial interest Norsk Akkreditering groups

Portugal (proposal DGI – Dirrec ç ào Geral DGI – Dirrec ç ào Geral Nothing known Rules to be established DGA and IPQ are Under preparation 3 / 0

pending) da Indústria da Industria establishing

DGA – Dirrec ç ào Geral spec ific ations

do Ambiente IPQ – Instituto Português da Qualidade

Spain Ministerio de medio Ministerio de medio Not for the moment Member of Comité The national body for No, not for the moment 2 (1 9 9 7 )/ 1 ambiente is the ambiente: direc c iôn Téc nic o Asesor de ac c reditation (ENAC)

c ompetent body with general de evaluac iôn verific ac ión Mediambiental subsidiary c harac ter ambiental y ac tuariones As member of Comisión Three autonomous sec tiorales de Ac reditac ión c ommunities Cataluña, Cataluña: direc c iôn de

Madrid and Navarra c alidad ambiental have defined Madrid: DG de Educ ac ión c ompetent bodies y prevention ambiental

Navarra: direc c iôn general de medio ambiente

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1 2 3b ₄ ₅ ₆ ₇

Involvement of

Sweden Swedish EMAS Counc il Swedish EMAS Counc il No Ongoing meetings with Swedish Board for MIS Swedish 1 6 / 5 established sinc e is a limited c ompany, the verifiers on issues Tec hnic al Ac c reditation Assoc iation for

Spring 1 9 9 5 owned by the Ministry of c ommon c onc ern (Swedac ) Environmental Auditors of Environment,

The Federation of Swedish Industries and the Assoc iation of Swedish Communities. The board has ten members

Switzerland So far, no bilateral Switzerland is – – – Ca. 3 0 Swiss firms c ertified

agreement implementing the ac c ording to ISO 1 4 0 0 1

ISO 1 4 0 0 1 standard

UK Department of The Sec retary of State No UKAS – United UKAS DoE is responsible for 9 .1 2 .9 6 : 2 0 and 2 units Environment – on for the Environment Kingdom (supersedes introduc ing EMAS. under the UK sc heme for behalf of the Sec retary and the Registration NACCB) deals with There is privately run loc al government of State for the Offic e within the DoE ac c reditation of institute of Verifiers: ac c ording to

Environment (a team of three verifiers, outlines environmental UKAS

working solely on spec ified on 2 0 assessment and a

EMAS, plus others) pages. Requirements privately run institute of almost exc lusively environmental

fulfilled by management

c ompanies

Note:

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p r ov id e som e for m of “p r ot ect ion ” for t h ose con su lt a n cies w h o st r ive t o m a in t a in p r ofes-sion a l st a n d a r d s a n d q u a lit y. How ever, it is a lso a p p r ecia t ed by m ost E F CA n a t ion a l or ga -n iza t io-n s t h a t su ch b od ies w ill -n ot r ea d ily b e cr ea t ed , u n less t h er e is a n obliga t ion t o d o so. It r em a in s t o b e seen w h et h er su ch r eq u ir e-m en t s w ill even t u a lly ee-m er ge fr oe-m t h e E u r o-p ea n Com m ission .

Co nsultanc y inde pe nde nc e

Wit h t h e exce p t ion of Belgiu m a n d Gr eece, t h er e is n o r eq u ir em en t for con su lt a n t s u n d er t a k in g E IAs t o b e in d e p en d en t of t h e p r oject p r op on en t . T h is h a s som et im es en gen d er ed a feelin g of su sp icion b et w een con su lt a n t s a n d p ot en t ia l op p osit ion p a r t ies, q u est ion in g t h e in d e p en d en ce of v iew s given in en v ir on m en t a l st a t em en t s t h a t a r e b ein g fi n a n ced by a d evelop er.

T h e n eed t o in st ill a con sid er a ble a m ou n t of con fi d en ce in b ot h r efer ees a n d a ct ive p a r t ici-p a n t s in t h e d ecision -m a k in g ici-p r ocess len d s fu r t h er w eigh t t o t h e n eed for :

• a m or e for m a lized r e gist r a t ion of a p p r oved con su lt a n cies;

• a n a p p r oa ch t o E IA m et h od ology w h ich a llow s b et t er com p a r ison of p r oced u r es a n d gr ea t er h om ogen eit y in st a t em en t p r e p a r a -t ion .

On ly by a n obv iou sly v isible d evelop m en t of su ch a self-r e gu la t or y p r ocess w ill it b e fea si-ble t o con v in ce t h e w id e r a n ge of p a r t icip a n t s in t h e E IA p r oced u r e of t h e effica cy of t h is va lu a ble p la n n in g a p p r oa ch .

State me nt value

Of con sid er a ble in t er est is t h e w id e r a n ge in t h e p er ceived va lu e of E IA p r oject s. Den m a r k a n d Sw it zer la n d , a n d p ot en t ia lly Belgiu m , a p p ea r ed t o in clu d e p r oject m it iga t ion a n d m on it or in g cost s in t h e over a ll est im a t e of fee va lu e for E IA st u d ies. As a r esu lt , t h e cost s of a n E IA cou ld r e p r esen t u p t o 5 p er cen t of t h e p r oject va lu e. H ow ever, in t h e m a jor it y of t h e r em a in in g m em b er st a t es, t h e fee fi gu r e w a s con sid er a bly low er, b ein g a s lit t le a s 0.01-0.1 p er cen t of p r oject va lu e in T h e N et h er la n d s a n d t h e UK.

Implic atio ns o f ame ndme nts to 8 5 / 3 3 7 / EEC

Am en d m en t s of t h e r eq u ir em en t s of t h e E IA d ir ect ive cou ld r esu lt in im p r ovem en t s t o t h e execu t ion of en v ir on m en t a l st a t em en t s, p r o-v id ed t h a t t h e cr it icism s of t h e p r esen t p r oce-d u r es a r e t a k en in t o a ccou n t . How ever, a n y m od ifi ca t ion s w ill t a k e t im e t o en a ct .

Mod ifi ca t ion s m ay h ave fi n a n cia l im p lica -t ion s w h ich gover n m en -t s a n d com p e-t en -t a u t h or it ies a lik e w ill h ave t o con sid er b efor e in t e gr a t in g su ch m od ifi ca t ion s in t o t h e le gis-la t ion . Su ch im p lica t ion s m ay h ave a n

a dver se effect on t h e w illin gn ess of r eleva n t en a ct in g a u t h or it ies t o effect ch a n ge. E xp er i-en ce su ggest s t h a t a n y m ove m ay h ave m a jor fi n a n cia l im p lica t ion s w h ich w ill n ot p r ove p op u la r u n less p osit ive b en efi t s ca n b e d em on st r a t ed .

Be lgium

Key p oin t s r a ised a b ou t im p lem en t a t ion of E MAS ca n b e a n swer ed a s follow s for Belgiu m : wh ile n o sp ecifi c r e p r esen t a t ion in t h e com p et en t b ody h a s b een sp elled ou t , t h r ee b od ies – on e p er r e gion – wer e cr ea t ed : t h e Ad m in ist r a t ion for E n v ir on m en t a l Ad m in ist r a t ion of t h e Wa lloon Re gion (CWE ), a n d t h e Br u ssels In st it u t e for E n v ir on m en t a l Ma n a gem en t (a cr on y m s IBGE a n d BIM). It w a s fr om t h e on set im p r ob a ble t h a t t h e n a t ion a l con su lt in g or ga n iza t ion b ecom e in volved in t h e com p et en t b ody. N o sp ecifi ca -t ion r eq u ir em en -t s for ver ifi er s h a d b een d efi n ed by J u n e 1995, t h ou gh t h ey wer e u n d er d iscu ssion a n d u n d ou b t ed ly wou ld b e m od -eled a ft er E U sp ecifica t ion s. Accr ed it a t ion of ver ifi er s cou ld b e vest ed in BE LCE RT, t h e Belgia n cer t ifi ca t ion sy st em su p er v ised by t h e Fed er a l (Cen t r a l) Min ist r y of E con om y. N o st ep s t ow a r d s a n a t ion a l “ecoa u d it ” or ga n iza -t ion h ave b een -t a k en , bu -t som e exis-t in g gr ou p s a r e a p p a r en t ly v y in g for su ch “st a t u s”.

P r ogr ess in E MAS im p lem en t a t ion va r ies w id ely fr om cou n t r y t o cou n t r y (Ta ble V).

T h er e a r e sim ila r n on -n e gligible va r ia t ion s t h r ou gh ou t t h e E U in t h e a p p lica t ion t o t h e “E IA d ir ect ive”. In a ll t h r ee Belgia n

“r e gion s”, for m a l p r oced u r es a r e r eq u ir ed by t h e “r esp on sible b od ies” for u n d er t a k in g a n E IA a n d a for m a l r e gist r a t ion sch em e exist s for con su lt a n cies w ish in g t o u n d er t a k e E IAs. T h er e is, a lso in ea ch r e gion , a sy st em for t h e r ev iew of com p let ed E IAs a n d a r eq u ir em en t t h a t con su lt a n cies b e in d e p en -d en t of en gin eer in g -d esign con su lt a n cies w h ich a r e con t r a ct or s. T h e la t t er r eq u ir e-m en t exist s a lso on ly in Gr eece a t t h e t ie-m e of w r it in g.

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[ 1 2 2]

9 / 3 [1 9 9 8 ] 1 0 6 –1 2 3

r evea led t h a t 42, 161 a n d fi ve con su lt a n cies, r esp ect ively in Wa llon ia , F la n d er s a n d Br u s-sels, a r e a ct ive in t h e fi eld of en v ir on m en t a l a ssessm en t .

Eco-auditing

So fa r, n o sp ecifi c p r ov ision s con cer n in g ecoa u d it in g h ecoave b een im p lem en t ed or or gecoa -n ized i-n Belgiu m . Au t h or it ies co-n sid er t h a t t h er e is st ill som e t im e for it . T h er e is com -m it -m en t t o a i-m a t si-m p licit y, in ot h er wor d s t o u se t h e exist in g E IA fr a m ewor k or exist in g

p r oced u r es a t t h e n a t ion a l level, v iz. cer t ifi ca -t ion p r oced u r es in o-t h er fi eld s.

E n v ir on m en t a l a u d it in g m ay t a k e t h e for m of in t er n a l, secon d , or even t h ir d p a r t y a u d it s; it m ay even b e a n a ccr ed it ed a u d it in con n ect ion w it h cer t ifi ca t ion or ver ifi ca t ion . An a u d it or is su b ject t o w h a t m ay b e la b eled r isk s r esu lt in g fr om a d et er m in a t ion of n on ob ser va n ce of t h e law, or n on t h or ou gh ch eck -in g of a n it em , a n d yet issu a n ce of a r eq u ir e-m en t s con for e-m it y st a t ee-m en t (Ta ble VI).

T h is p oin t s ou t t h e n eed for a clea r ly sp elled -ou t wor k [a u d it in g] con t r a ct ,

Co mpany

Enviro nme ntal Manage me nt Syste m • e nviro nme ntal po lic y

• (initial) e nviro nme ntal re vie w • e nviro nme ntal pro gramme • e nviro nme ntal audits • e nviro nme ntal o bje c tive s

Enviro nme ntal state me nt

Validate d e nviro nme ntal

state me nt

State me nt o f partic ipatio n in the sc he me

Ac c re ditatio n bo dy Ac c re dits:

• c ertifying Institutes for c ertific ation of e nviro nme ntal manage me nt syste ms • e nviro nme ntal ve rifie rs

Se le c tio n o f trac k 1 o r 2 submissio n

Ce rtifying Institute s/ e nviro nme ntal ve rifie rs (c an be the same o rganisatio n)

Trac k 1

c e rtifying Institute c e rtifie s e nviro nme ntal manage me nt syste ms (o n a re gular basis)

e nviro nme ntal ve rifie r ve rifie s and validates environmental statement (inc ide ntally)

Trac k 2

e nviro nme ntal ve rifie r e xamine s the e nviro nme ntal manage me nt syste m and ve rifie s/ validate s the

environmental statement (inc identally)

Validate d e nviro nme ntal

state me nt

The c o mpe te nt bo dy • re gistratio n

• permits and c ontrols use of statement of partic ipation • c o ntro ls submissio n o f a ne w e nviro nme ntal

state me nt Table VI

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st ip u la t in g r e p or t in g con d it ion s a n d a u d i-t or ’s r esp on sib ilii-t y. Ad d ii-t ion a lly, i-t h e a u d ii-t or sh ou ld b e cover ed by a n a d eq u a t e

p r ofession a l in d em n it y in su r a n ce p olicy, cover in g t h e clien t , bu t d efi n it ely p r ov id in g p r ot ect ion t o t h e a u d it or in ca se of cla im s d ir ect ed a t h im / h er. It is t h is la t t er a sp ect t h a t h a s b een a t op ic of h igh cu r r en t in t er est in Belgiu m , w h er e ob t a in in g su ch cover a ge h a s p r oven a ll bu t im p ossible.

In a n ot h er vein , en v ir on m en t a l le gisla t ion h a s sh ow n t o b e so in volved , even a ccor d in g t o som e “u n u n d er st a n d a ble”, t h a t for b ot h F la n d er s a n d Wa llon ia “con fer en ces” a r e in p r ogr ess t o st r ea m lin e a n d sim p lify r u les. T h eir ou t com e(s) w er e t o h ave b een p u bli-cized by Sp r in g 1996, bu t w er e n ot .

Conclusions

Con clu d in g, t h er e a r e E U r e gu la t ion s on en v ir on m en t a l a u d it in g (CE MAS). P a r t icip a t ion is cu r r en t ly volu n t a r y w it h in t h e m em -b er st a t es. Ver ifi ca t ion -by a ccr ed it ed ver ifi er s m u st b e ca r r ied ou t a n d n a t ion a l sy st em s d evelop ed by in d iv id u a l m em b er st a t es m ay b e a ccr ed it ed u n d er t h e sch em e, for in st a n ce, in Den m a r k .

E n v ir on m en t a l a u d it in g is a n inva lu a ble p r ocess in a ssessin g com p lia n ce w it h exist in g a n d fu t u r e le gisla t ion a n d p olicy, a n d h igh -ligh t in g a r ea s of en v ir on m en t a l r isk / lia b ilit y.

Note

1 For h ist or ica l a ccu r a cy it ou gh t t o b e m en -t ion ed -t h a -t -t h e n a m e F la n d er s, a c-t u a lly

F lem ish Re gion , d oes n ot coin cid e w it h t h e for m er Cou n t y of F la n d er s, bu t in clu d es la r ge t er r it or ies w h ich w er e n ever p a r t of it . Sim i-la r ly, Wa llon ia , m or e cor r ect ly Wa lloon Re gion , in clu d es t er r it or ies w h ich w er e in d e-p en d en t (e-p r ior t o 1814), a n d d oes n ot coin cid e w it h a h ist or ica l en t it y. Br u ssels w a s n ever a se p a r a t e “r e gion ”.

For t er m in ology a ccu r a cy “com m u n it y ” a n d “com m u n e” a r e n ot sy n on y m ou s. A com m u -n it y is a li-n gu ist ic-cu lt u r a l e-n t it y. A com m u -n e, w h ich m ay b e a cit y, t ow n , v illa ge, a gglom er a t ion of sever a l for m er com m u n es, is b est r en -d er e-d in E n glish by t h e -d esign a t ion m u n icip a l-it y. St ill a n ot h er a d m in ist r a t ive u n l-it is t h e a r r on d issem en t(K reisin Ger m a n y ) w h ich en com p a sses a gr ou p of m u n icip a lit ies (com -m u n es), bu t h a s n o en v ir on -m en t -r ela t ed r esp on sib ilit ies.

Directory UMM :Data Elmu:jurnal:E:Environmental Management and Health:Vol09.Issue3.1998:

Belgian legislation

Communes and provinces

Eco-auditing

Conclusions

Note

Further reading