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BOC Immingham Dissolved Acetylene Project Environmental Statement: Vol. 2 Main Text
EIA Scope and Assessment Methods
General Approach
5.5 The EIA has been carried out taking into consideration the responses to the Scoping Report,
received from the LPA as the ‘Scoping Opinion’ 4 and the outcome of the consultation process (see
paragraphs 5.13 onwards). In addition, the preparation of the ES has taken into account relevant
regulations and general advice guidance relating to good practice, including:
� The Town and Country Planning Environmental Impact Assessment (England and Wales)
Regulations 1999 (as amended);
� The Conservation of Habitats and Species Regulations 2010;
� Preparation of Environmental Statements for Planning Projects that require Environmental
Assessment, A Good Practice Guide (Department of the Environment, 1995); and
� Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) Guidelines for Environmental
Impact Assessment, 2004, as updated.
5.6 Wherever possible, accepted impact assessment standards and guidelines have been followed in
the EIA. The specific methodologies used in the assessment process are provided in detail for
each of the EIA topic areas (see Chapters 6 to 15).
Assessment of Construction and Operational Phases
5.7 Each impact assessment chapter within the ES addresses the construction and operational
phases of the Dissolved Acetylene Project. Where feasible each of the assessment chapters
follows a standard structure, which (as relevant for each environmental topic) typically adheres to
the process steps outlined in steps 1 to 9 in Table 5.1. Steps 1 to 3 in Table 5.1 generate the
general methodology and background information for the assessment process. Steps 4 to 8 are
the main stages of the assessment process. For most EIA topic areas steps 4 to 8 have been
repeated twice, once for the construction phase and once for the operational phase of the Project.
The final step of the assessment process (step 9) provides a summary of the key findings and
conclusions for each EIA topic area.
Table 5.1 Environmental Impact Assessment Stages
Assessment Step Description
1 Legislative and policy
context
2 Assessment
methodology and
significance criteria
An overview description of the key legislation, policies and
guidance notes etc. that are applicable to the EIA topic.
A description of how the assessment has been undertaken,
where data have been sourced, what consultations have been
held, what surveys may have been undertaken and what criteria
thresholds will be used to evaluate the significance of any
impacts.
Significance criteria or thresholds relate to the amount or type of
impact or effect which constitutes a substantial or potentially
substantial adverse or beneficial change in the environment.
Some thresholds can be quantitative (e.g. for air quality) whilst
others are qualitative (e.g. for visual effects). Thresholds are used
to provide the basis behind the conclusions reached regarding
the significance of a particular impact or effect.
The specific methodologies, baseline surveys, data sources and
the criteria to be used in the assessment process are provided in
detail for each of the environmental topics.
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