There are 138 offshore platforms in Italian seas; of these, 42—mainly located in the central and northern Adriatic Sea and dedicated to natural gas extraction—are subject to an environmental monitoring plan. Among the monitored chemical substances are barium and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).
Barium is a metal used in the production of drilling fluids and may be present in the produced water periodically discharged into the sea from platforms. PAHs are chemical compounds whose presence in the marine environment is due to both natural factors and anthropogenic activities.

The concentration of barium and total PAHs in sediments surrounding the platforms represents an environmental indicator of the pressure from offshore natural gas field exploitation.
Data available for the period 2008–2023 show a gradual decrease over time in the average concentrations of these contaminants, with the highest values generally found in proximity to the platforms.

Barium concentrations exceeded the baseline reference value in the majority of sediment samples analyzed between 2008 and 2014. However, from 2015 to 2023, the percentage of exceedances fell below 50%.
The percentage of sediment samples with total PAH concentrations above the threshold value—an indicator of probable toxic effects on marine organisms—decreased throughout the period, with the highest levels observed between 2009 and 2017 and around 3–6% from 2018 to 2023. Only in 2018 were PAH concentrations above the toxic threshold found in sediments located 500 meters from a platform.

The indicator represents the number of director’s determinations for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Screening issued annually by MASE under state jurisdiction, providing insight into the central public administration’s response regarding environmental assessment decision-making processes.
From 2004 to 2023, there were 626 determinations of non-subjection to EIA and 148 determinations requiring EIA.
The screening procedure concluded with a determination of non-subjection in 79% of cases.

“Produced water” or “formation water” is one of the main wastewater streams associated with the exploitation of hydrocarbon reservoirs in offshore marine environments and has the potential to cause disruptive effects on ecosystems.
The discharge of such wastewater into the sea requires an authorization, which is conditional upon the evaluation of the results of annual environmental monitoring conducted around the platform.

The number of platforms subject to environmental assessment of monitoring outcomes fluctuated between 2016 and 2020, remained stable until 2022, and has decreased over the past two years.
This trend is largely linked to variations in the number of discharge authorization applications submitted.
The number of platforms authorized each year decreased from 2017 to 2021, increased again in 2022, and decreased in 2024. A similar trend is observed for the annual volume of produced water authorized for discharge into the sea.

The indicator represents emissions in the refining sector, taking into account the three environmental components: air, water, and waste, particularly: airborne emissions of major pollutants such as SOx, NOx, CO, and particulates; emissions of polluting substances into water, such as COD (chemical oxygen demand), TSS (total suspended solids), phenols, and total hydrocarbons; the quantity of total waste, including hazardous and non-hazardous waste produced, and the waste recovery rate. Air emissions have decreased significantly over the past 10 years, thanks to the introduction of more restrictive limits in the AIA (Integrated Environmental Authorisation) measures and the implementation of BAT (Best Available Techniques). The largest reduction in polluting emissions in water is observed for the pollutant TSS, which has decreased by 84.8% between 2011 and 2023. The percentage of waste sent for recovery has increased, rising from 26.7% in 2011 to 42.7% in 2023. The improvements achieved in terms of reduction of polluting emissions in water and the percentage of waste sent for recovery can be attributed to the environmental management systems implemented by operators, based on the specific requirements of the Integrated Environmental Authorisations imposed by the MASE (Ministry of Environment and Energy Security), especially since 2018, the period of comprehensive reviews of AIA for refineries, and to the monitoring activities carried out by ISPRA for environmental monitoring, which is conducted during both regular and extraordinary inspection controls.

Environmental conditions are requirements that may be imposed by the EIA screening determination, relating either to the characteristics of the project or to the mitigation and prevention measures aimed at avoiding significant and adverse environmental impacts. Over the period 2004–2023, an average of 6 environmental conditions per determination was recorded. Among these, those for which compliance verification was entrusted to the National Environmental Protection System (SNPA) accounted for approximately 32.6% of the cases.

The indicator measures the capacity to minimize the environmental impact of a project subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) decision by imposing binding and mandatory environmental conditions during both the implementation and operation phases of the project. The indicator highlights the annual trend in both the total number and the average number (per decision) of environmental conditions contained in EIA decisions.
To determine this indicator, all environmental conditions issued by MASE, MiC, Regions and Local Authorities included in EIA decisions were analyzed, identifying those whose compliance verification is entrusted to the National Environmental Protection System (SNPA). Between June 1989 and 2023, an average of 30 environmental conditions per decision was recorded, with a minimum of 6 in 1989 and a maximum of 72 in 2006.

The indicator represents the number of Integrated Environmental Authorisation (IEA or AIA) decisions issued for active installations under national competence (comprehensive review pursuant to Article 29-octies of Legislative Decree 152/06) by the Ministry of the Environment and Energy Security (MASE), in relation to the total number of procedures initiated for the issuance of AIA decisions. Since 2016, the process of issuing state-level AIA decisions has been aligned with the implementation of the following European Commission Implementing Decisions:

2014/738/EU (9 October 2014 – BAT Conclusions for the Refining of Mineral Oil and Gas),

2017/1442/EU (31 July 2017 – BAT Conclusions for Large Combustion Plants),

2017/2117/EU (21 November 2017 – BAT Conclusions for Waste Treatment).

An analysis of the trend over the period 2016–2023 shows a continuous increase in the percentage of AIA decisions issued by MASE relative to the number of procedures initiated, reaching 93% in 2023, thus approaching the target of full completion (100%). ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) is tasked with providing technical and scientific support to the AIA-IPPC Commission for the issuance, amendment, and review of AIA procedures under national competence. This includes proposing the Monitoring and Control Plan (PMC) during the Services Conference, in accordance with Article 29-quater(6) of Legislative Decree 152/06. In 2023, in support of the AIA-IPPC Commission’s work for the 98 procedures initiated by MASE, ISPRA prepared and submitted to MASE:

133 Technical Reports assessing the completeness of AIA applications and contributing to the drafting of the Final Evaluation Opinions (PIC) issued by the AIA-IPPC Commission;

5 Validation Reports concerning the Baseline Reports (relating to soil and groundwater status);

7 Monitoring and Control Plans (PMC), integral parts of the AIA, outlining monitoring and compliance verification methods for plant emissions, as required by Article 29-sexies(6) of Legislative Decree 152/06.

Some of these documents also refer to procedures initiated by MASE in earlier years. In total, 92 AIA decisions were officially issued by MASE in 2023.

The national legislation on environmental damage, regulated under Part Six of Legislative Decree No. 152/2006 (transposing Directive 2004/35/EC on environmental liability), designates the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security (MASE) as the sole competent authority for the prevention and remediation of environmental damage. The Ministry acts through both judicial and administrative procedures, with the support of the National System for the Protection of the Environment (SNPA), which provides the necessary technical assistance.

In 2023, out of 552 criminal proceedings reported, the Ministry requested SNPA’s assistance in 53 cases to assess the existence of environmental damage. SNPA concluded 61 technical-scientific assessments to support ministerial decisions, including those initiated in 2022. The Ministry acted as civil party in 2 cases, based on SNPA’s technical reports.

The indicator shows the yearly trend in the number of projects under state jurisdiction subject to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the annual distribution of the outcomes of environmental compatibility decisions, and their breakdown by type of infrastructure. It reflects the central public administration's response regarding decision-making processes related to environmental impact assessments.

In 2023, out of 141 projects evaluated, 122 positive EIA decisions with environmental conditions and 19 negative ones were issued.

The information concerns the inspection and control activities carried out by ISPRA, in its capacity as the Control Authority, with the support of the territorially competent Regional Environmental Agencies (ARPA/APPA), at industrial installations subject to compliance with the state-level Integrated Environmental Authorisation (IEA). In 2023, the number of state-level installations under surveillance and subject to IEA was consistent with the data from 2022.

The positive trend observed between 2009 and 2014 experienced a slight reversal in 2015 due to factors unrelated to inspection activities, before stabilising between 2016 and 2017. It then increased again in 2018, recording the highest number of monitored installations, before declining between 2020 and 2023.