ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS CONTAINED IN DIRECTOR’S DETERMINATIONS FOR EIA SCREENING UNDER STATE JURISDICTION

    Descrizione 1
    Update date
    Authors

    Anna Cacciuni, Caterina D'Anna

    Abstract
    Immagine
    Abstract

    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.

    Description

    The indicator represents the total number of environmental conditions contained in EIA screening determinations under state jurisdiction. It also highlights all environmental conditions for which the compliance verification was entrusted to SNPA.

    Purpose

    To provide information regarding the response of central public administration in decision-making processes related to environmental assessments.

    Policy relevance and utility for users
    Be either national in scope or applicable to regional environmental issues of national significance
    Able to show trend over time
    Be simple, easy to interpret
    Provide a representative picture of environmental conditions, pressures on the environment or society's responses;
    Analytical soundness
    Be theoretically well founded in technical and scientific terms
    Presents reliability and validity of measurement and data collection methods
    Temporal comparability
    Spatial comparability
    Measurability (data)
    Adequately documented and of known quality
    Updated at regular intervals in accordance with reliable procedures
    Readily available or made available at a reasonable cost/benefit ratio
    An “adequate” spatial coverage
    An “appropriate” temporal coverage
    Main regulatory references and objectives
    • Legislative Decree 152/2006 and subsequent amendments
    • Legislative Decree No. 104 of 2017
    • Decree Law 34/2020 converted into Law 77/2020
    • Decree Law 76/2020 converted into Law 120/2020
    • Decree Law 77/2021 (Simplification Decree), converted into Law No. 108 of 29 July 2021
    • Decree Law 92/2021 (Urgent measures to strengthen the Ministry for Ecological Transition and on sport)
    • Law No. 25 of 2022
    • Law No. 91 of 2022
    • Law No. 6 of 2023
    • Decree Law No. 13 of 2023
    DPSIR
    Response
    Indicator type
    Descriptive (A)
    Further actions

    -

    Data collection frequency
    Yearly
    Fonte dei dati
    MASE (Ministero dell'ambiente e della Sicurezza Energetica)
    Data availabilty

    https://va.mite.gov.it/it-IT

    Spatial coverage

    National

    Time coverage

    2004-2023

    Processing methodology

    The individual EIA screening determinations were analyzed, and all environmental conditions were identified and counted, distinguishing those under the responsibility of SNPA. All environmental conditions contained in the screening determinations issued by MASE, MiBAC, Regions, and Local Authorities were analyzed.

    Update frequency
    Year
    Qualità dell'informazione

    The data on environmental conditions contained in director’s determinations for EIA screening under state jurisdiction, used to build the indicator, are regularly accessible on the MASE portal, timely and accurate, and present good temporal coverage. The indicator is simple and easy to interpret. Temporal and spatial comparability is excellent, as the methodology used for data retrieval has remained consistent over time.

    State
    Good
    Trend
    Positive
    State assessment/description

    In 2023, 69 director’s determinations of non-subjection to EIA under state jurisdiction were issued, including 455 environmental conditions, with an average of 7 conditions per determination.
    The average number of environmental conditions per determination shows a slight increase compared to the previous year (7 vs 6) (Table 1).

    Trend assessment/description

    Between 2004 and 2023, 626 screening determinations were issued, containing a total of 3,622 environmental conditions, averaging 6 conditions per determination.
    The average number of conditions increased from 3 in 2004 to 11 in 2014, then declined in the following years (Table 1).
    The application of EIA procedures in Italy reflects broader trends in Europe: the regulatory framework has been strengthened and consolidated through the transposition of European directives; public participation has increased, administrative transparency has improved, and the quality of environmental impact studies submitted for screening has enhanced.
    For these reasons, a positive trend is identified: in recent years, the reduction in the average number of environmental conditions may indicate greater attention to the quality of environmental impact studies by project proponents.

    Comments

    The number of environmental conditions does not follow a constant trend (Table 1 and Figure 1), likely due to the variety of project types subjected to EIA screening, which reflects the introduction of new sector-specific regulations over the years. Table 2 identifies all environmental conditions for which compliance verification was entrusted to SNPA; during the reference period, these accounted for approximately 32.6% of all conditions. The maximum number of conditions attributed to SNPA (161) occurred in both 2021 and 2023. In 2023, 69 screening determinations were issued (not requiring EIA), totaling 455 environmental conditions, of which 161 (35.4%) were assigned to SNPA.

    Data
    Headline

    Tabella 1: Numero di determinazioni direttoriali di verifica di assoggettabilità a VIA, numero di condizioni ambientali, numero medio di condizioni ambientali per determinazione direttoriale

    Data source

    Elaborazione ISPRA su dati MASE

    Note

    1 Vengono considerate le determinazioni direttoriali di non assoggettabilità a VIA positive e parzialmente positive fino al 2017. Dall'entrata in vigore del D.Lgs. 104/2017 le determinazioni "parzialmente positive" non sono più esistenti. Le condizioni ambientali possono essere contenute solo nelle determinazioni di non assoggettamento a VIA

    Headline

    Tabella 2: Numero di condizioni ambientali contenute nelle determinazioni direttoriali di verifica di assoggettabilità a VIA di competenza statale e percentuale di condizioni ambientali la cui verifica di ottemperanza fa capo al Sistema Nazionale per la Protezione dell'ambiente (SNPA)

    Data source

    Elaborazione ISPRA su dati MASE

    Note

    1 Vengono considerate le determinazioni direttoriali di non assogettabilità a VIA positive e parzialmente positive fino al 2017. Dall'entrata in vigore del D.Lgs. 104/2017 le determinazioni "parzialmente positive" non sono più esistenti. Le condizioni ambientali possono essere contenute solo nelle determinazioni di non assoggettamento a VIA

    Thumbnail
    Headline

    Figura 1: Numero di condizioni ambientali contenute nelle determinazioni direttoriali di verifica di assoggettabilità a VIA di competenza statale e percentuale di condizioni ambientali la cui verifica di ottemperanza fa capo al Sistema Nazionale per la Protezione dell'ambiente (SNPA)

    Data source

    Elaborazione ISPRA su dati MASE

    Note

    1 Vengono considerate le determinazioni direttoriali di non assogettabilità a VIA positive e parzialmente positive fino al 2017. Dall'entrata in vigore del D.Lgs. 104/2017 le determinazioni "parzialmente positive" non sono più esistenti. Le condizioni ambientali possono essere contenute solo nelle determinazioni di non assoggettamento a VIA

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