CEE case studies: Application of the EIA and SEA in transboundary level

1. CEE case studies: Application of the EIA and SEA in transboundarylevel Regional Seminar “Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment” 23-24 April, 2013, Almaty, Kazakhstan Dipl. Eng. Nina Stoyanova, International Environmental Consultant, Bulgaria

2. Different approaches in the implementation • General EIA approach – Party of origin/Affected party • Case study: “Exploitationof the chalky deposits “Hotislavskoe” /Belarus – Ukraine/ • Separate EIA procedures on national level – linear infrastructure projects (roads, pipelines) • Case study: “Nabucco gas pipeline” /Turkey – Bulgaria- Romania • Joint EIA procedure • Case study: “Second Bridge over the Danube river between Vidin (BG) and Calafat (RO)” /Bulgaria – Romania/ • Combined approach for EIA • Transboudary SEA • Case study: “VoivodshipSpatial Development Plan for Lubuskie” /Poland – Germany/

3. ДОБЫЧА МЕЛА НА УЧАСТКЕМЕСТОРОЖДЕНИЯ «ХОТИСЛАВСКОЕ» В МАЛОРИТСКОМ РАЙОНЕ, БРЕСТСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ, Беларусь»/общий подход/ • В рамках трансграничной процедуры оценки воздействия на окружающую среду Украине июня 2009 года направлены соответственно уведомление о планируемой разработке меловой залежи месторождения «Хотиславское», включая уведомление общественности о планируемой деятельности, и отчет об ОВОС; • январе 2010 года проведены двусторонние консультации по вопросу выполнения сторонами процедур согласно Конвенции Эспо в отношении проекта разработки меловой залежи месторождения «Хотиславское»; • феврале 2010 года в Луцке (Украина) проведены общественные обсуждения по отчету об ОВОС с участием экспертов Беларуси, получены протокол общественных слушаний комментарии общественности Украины, экспертов Украины, даны ответы на комментарии;

5. «ХОТИСЛАВСКОЕ» продолжение • В июне 2011 года направлено решение о разрешении строительства объекта и выписка из заключения государственной экологической экспертизы по архитектурному проекту «Расширение карьера песка и мела месторождения «Хотиславское» Малоритского района Брестской области». • Экспертами Беларуси подготовлена Программа мониторинга подземных вод в зоне возможного влияния разработки II очереди (меловой залежи) месторождения «Хотиславское». В ходе двусторонних консультаций, состоявшихся в марте 2011 года в Киеве, сторонами отмечен удовлетворительный ход выполнения мероприятий, определенных в процессе предыдущих консультаций, одобрена Программа мониторинга, а также решено создать совместную рабочую группу для проведения мониторинга в зоне влияния разработки II очереди месторождения. С октября 2010 года рабочей группой белорусской стороны ведется мониторинг естественного состояния подземных и поверхностных вод в районе возможного влияния разработки II очереди месторождения «Хотиславское»

6. Nabuccogas pipeline /Separate EIA procedures at national level Pipeline system for transportation of gas from various sources in the Caspian region and the Middle East to Central Europe

7. Nabucco gas pipeline - continuation • Party of Origin and Affected Party – Turkey, Bulgaria and Romania • Exchange of Notifications between the parties • Express of interest for participation – Turkey is not willing to participate in the Bulgarian EIA procedure. Romania expressed it’s willingness to participate. • Consultations between Bulgaria and Romania at the scoping phase • Elaboration of the Environmental Impact Study • Evaluation of the Environmental Impact Study • Public access to the Environmental Impact Study – one month in both countries and public debates • Issuing of the EIA decision from the Bulgarian MOEW

8. The case study: Second Bridge over the Danube river between Vidin (BG) and Calafat (RO) /joint EIA/ • Concerned countries - Bulgaria and Romania • Ratification of the Convention: • Bulgaria - March 1995 • Romania - March 2001 • Party of Origin <=> Affected Party • Activity - bridge as a part of the road and long distance railway • priority project included in the Quick Start package of the projects in the Stability Pact for international assistance • Formal developer - Bulgarian Ministry of Transport and Communications

9. Second Bridge over the Danube river - continuation • Establishment of the Joint Committee chaired by the Ministers of Transport of Bulgaria and Romania Differences between the national EIA systems in Bulgaria and Romania: • Preliminary EIA on the feasibility study - BG • Final EIA on the detailed design – RO • Environmental permits for the bridge – in both countries • Establishment of Joint Working Group - responsible for the environmental aspects which could be raised by the development of the project • No formal notification procedure

10. Second Bridge over the Danube river

11. Voivodship Spatial Development Plan for Lubuskie • Poland and Germany have a long-lasting bilateral cooperation on transboundary EIA and SEA. Both Parties cooperate on the basis of bilateral Polish-German Agreement on EIA, signed in 2006 and entered into force in 2007. • The Marshal (in charge of preparing draft plan) found that the significant transboundary, including health, effects might occur on the German territory. Due to this fact notification was sent to Germany together with draft plan and its environmental report (translation into German), • Deadline for declaration whether or not Germany would like to participate was 30 days since date of receiving the notification with possibility to submit at the same time comments and suggestions regarding draft plan and environmental report,

12. Plan for Lubuskie - continuation • Public participation in Germany was organized on the same rules as in Poland (the equal rights and opportunities): • The German public was informed about draft plan and transboundary SEA by relevant German authorities through public notice and public display in Official Journal. • The time frame for submitting comments and suggestions by German public was at least 21-day period as Polish law stipulates (time for public access and formulate comments). Therefore, German authorities which were in charge of organizing the German public participation, gave its own public opportunity to be acquainted with necessary documentation and make comments within period of 21 days, • The German public could send the comments and suggestions directly to the Marshal of VoivodshipLubuskie or indirectly through the German relevant authority,

13. Plan for Lubuskie - continuation • in the course of public participation the Marshal received 1099 comments from German public, • most of them were sent directly to the Marshal, • number of public comments from Germany faced Marshal with a lot of practical problems: firstly, a lack of human resources to deal with all submitted comments; • secondly, translations caused difficulties because due to the Procurement Law the Marshal had limited opportunities to choose the most suitable translator, so that the quality of the translations was not so satisfied, • what is more the German side emphasized that the translation caused some misunderstandings because of not so high accuracy of used terminology.

14. VoivodshipLubuskiePoland

15. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION! Dipl. Eng. Nina Stoyanova, International Environmental Consultant, Bulgaria Tel: + 359 899 914 155 E-mail: ecostim@gmail.com