Guide to COST-BENEFIT ANALYSIS of investment projects - Ramiri

3.2.1.7 Other project evaluation approachesEnvironmental analysisFor a large number of waste treatment projects, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is requiredby EU directives 20 , especially in the case of hazardous waste deposits, removal plants or for some types ofwaste treatment plants such as authorized landfills. Furthermore many plants, like landfills or incinerators,require permits for prescribed activities which set out conditions for risk management, dangeroussubstance management and pollution control 21 .The main elements of an EIA are the following:- emissions into the atmosphere, especially greenhouse gas emissions (impacts relevant for incineration);- waste water discharges and soil contamination (impact relevant for land-filling and incineration);- impacts on biodiversity (impact relevant for major projects built near protected areas);- impacts on human health, linked to pollutant emissions and contamination of the environment (impactrelevant for any waste treatment facility);- noises and odours (impacts relevant for many waste treatment plants);- aesthetic impact on landscape (impact relevant for landfill and incineration);- impacts, which may negatively affect mobility, existing infrastructures and so on, due to the increase inlocal traffic due to waste transportation to the landfill or treatment plant;- risk management of the site such as fire and explosions (impact relevant for some specific wastetreatment plants such as oil waste treatment plants and incinerators);- in urban areas, disruptions can also accur during the construction phase, while, in management phase,in addition to those listed above, disturbances are likely to be linked to the collection of waste.A qualitative approach to environmental impacts could always be used in order to rank the potentialenvironmental impacts according to the type of damage or its danger level. For example, the majorimpacts of a landfill are likely to be soil and water contamination, while, for incineration, impacts on airquality will be more relevant.3.2.2 Water supply and sanitationThe focus here is on investments in the integrated water supply service (IWS) for civil use and for otheruses. The IWS segments include the supply and delivery of water as well as the collection, removal,purification and elimination of sewage. The re-utilisation of waste water, while not strictly part of the IWS,is also discussed.The selection of projects will comply with the general and specific legislation on water and waste waterservice management and with the principles, that guide the EU policy in this sector. The European policyon water is set out in a far-reaching key directive, i.e. the Directive 2000/60/EC of the EuropeanParliament and of the Council of 23 October 2000 establishing a framework for Community action in thefield of water policy. The implementation of the aforementioned Directive is under development (see thebox below on the legislative framework).20Council Directive 85/337/EEC of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of the effects of certain public and private projects on the environment(as amended by Directive 97/11/EC).21European legislation on pollution control and risk management sector is set out in the IPPC (Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control)Directive (96/61/EC) as amended by the European Parliament and Council Directives 2003/35/EC and 2003/37/EC and by the EuropeanParliament and Council Regulation (EC) No. 1882/2003, in the Large Combustion Plants Directive (88/609/EEC) and the Seveso II Directive(96/82/EC) as extended by the European Parliament and of the Council Directive 2003/105/EC.91