Written Question · S4W-14210 · Session 4
What (a) agriculture and (b) forestry projects there have been since 2008 in relation to which significant environmental effects occurred b…
The question
To ask the Scottish Government what (a) agriculture and (b) forestry projects there have been since 2008 in relation to which significant environmental effects occurred but no environmental impact assessment was required.
The answer
a) We are not aware of any agriculture projects since 2008 where significant environmental effects occurred but no environmental impact assessment was required.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture)(Scotland) Regulations 2006 came into force in Scotland on 1 January 2007 and constrain operations to carry out intensive agricultural operations on uncultivated or semi-natural land, or large scale restructuring projects on agricultural land, where the result would have a significant impact on the environment. Agricultural area office staff receives many informal requests for advice regarding activity that may require an EIA. If it is decided that operations could have significant environmental effects (established during the screening process) a scoping meeting is held to establish the information required in the Environmental Statement. The application is then made available to the public. In practise few agricultural EIA applications go to the Environmental Statement stage. This is because:
The principles of EIA are enshrined in Cross Compliance, which is the minimum standard of regulatory compliance all farmers must adhere to in order to receive their basic subsidy payment;
Much of the land that would be considered appropriate to improve has been improved during the last century, often receiving support from agricultural grant in previous decades;
The remaining land, which includes all semi-natural habitats (unimproved grass, heath, moorland, scrub and wetlands) and environmental designations is largely uneconomic to improve.
b) We are not aware of any forestry projects since 2008 in relation to which significant environmental effects occurred but no environmental impacts assessment was required.
All forestry projects that could potentially result in significant environmental impacts are assessed under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. Where it is found that a project could result in significant environmental impacts a full application for consent, involving the preparation of an Environmental Statement, would be required. The findings of the Environmental Statement are then assessed by Forestry Commission Scotland together with comments from statutory and non-statutory consultees. In assessing the project and consultees comments the Forestry Commission Scotland would only grant consent where they were confident the project would not have a significant impact on the environment.
The Environmental Impact Assessment (Agriculture)(Scotland) Regulations 2006 came into force in Scotland on 1 January 2007 and constrain operations to carry out intensive agricultural operations on uncultivated or semi-natural land, or large scale restructuring projects on agricultural land, where the result would have a significant impact on the environment. Agricultural area office staff receives many informal requests for advice regarding activity that may require an EIA. If it is decided that operations could have significant environmental effects (established during the screening process) a scoping meeting is held to establish the information required in the Environmental Statement. The application is then made available to the public. In practise few agricultural EIA applications go to the Environmental Statement stage. This is because:
The principles of EIA are enshrined in Cross Compliance, which is the minimum standard of regulatory compliance all farmers must adhere to in order to receive their basic subsidy payment;
Much of the land that would be considered appropriate to improve has been improved during the last century, often receiving support from agricultural grant in previous decades;
The remaining land, which includes all semi-natural habitats (unimproved grass, heath, moorland, scrub and wetlands) and environmental designations is largely uneconomic to improve.
b) We are not aware of any forestry projects since 2008 in relation to which significant environmental effects occurred but no environmental impacts assessment was required.
All forestry projects that could potentially result in significant environmental impacts are assessed under the Environmental Impact Assessment (Forestry) (Scotland) Regulations 1999. Where it is found that a project could result in significant environmental impacts a full application for consent, involving the preparation of an Environmental Statement, would be required. The findings of the Environmental Statement are then assessed by Forestry Commission Scotland together with comments from statutory and non-statutory consultees. In assessing the project and consultees comments the Forestry Commission Scotland would only grant consent where they were confident the project would not have a significant impact on the environment.
In the Official Report
No contribution in the Official Report cites S4W-14210 by reference.