Regulations on impact assessments (No. 854 of 2017).

These Regulations, established by Royal Decree pursuant to Act No. 71 of 2008 and the EEA Agreement Annex XX No. 1 letter a (Directive 2014/52/EU) and no. 1 letter g (Directive 2001/42/EC), seek to ensure that consideration for the environment and society is taken into account during the preparation of plans and initiatives, and when considering and on what conditions plans or initiatives may be implemented. The Regulation set out procedures and requirements for assessment of plans and initiatives that shall always have an impact assessment and a planning programme or notification, plans and initiatives in accordance with other legislation that shall always have an impact assessment, but not a notification, and plans and initiatives that shall have an impact assessment if they can have significant impact on the environment or society. In the assessment of whether a plan or initiative may have a significant impact on the environment or society, the characteristics of the plan or initiative, the location and environmental impact of the plan or initiative, and the intensity etc., must be taken into consideration. The location and impact on the environment including an assessment of whether the plan or initiative may lead to or come in conflict with, among other things, protected areas, endangered species or natural habitats, major redistribution of agricultural, natural, outdoor areas as well as reindeer husbandry, or areas regulated for agriculture and that are of great importance to agricultural activities, or may lead to risk of flooding or significant contamination or greenhouse gas emissions. The competent authority for purposes of these Regulations is the planning authority for the relevant plan under the Planning and Building Act, and the decision-making authority for initiatives under other legislation. Initiatives set out in Annex II, which are dealt with in accordance with the Energy, Water Resources or Watercourse Regulation Act always require an impact assessment, but not a notification. The impact assessment shall identify and describe the factors that may have a significant impact on the environment and society, including, among other things, the water environment.

Implements: Decree relative to impact assessment pursuant to Chapter VII-a of the Act relative to planning and construction. (1996-12-13)
Repeals: Decree relative to impact assessment (No. 502 of 1999). (1999-05-21)