Environmental Impact Assessment must always be carried out for certain large-scale projects. Other projects, as specified by law, shall be notified, wherein it is determined in each case whether they are subject to environmental assessment.

Project categories

Act on Environmental Impact Assessment of Projects and Plans defines two categories of projects: Category A and Category B.
Projects in Category A are subject to mandatory environmental assessment. Projects in Category B must be notified, and a case-by-case determination is made as to whether they require environmental assessment.

Category A

Category A includes larger projects that are likely to have significant environmental effects. Projects in this category are always subject to environmental assessment.

Examples of category A projects include:

• power plants with installed capacity of 10 MW or more

• Extraction of materials that disturbs an area of 25 hectares or more, or where the amount extracted is 500,000 m³ or more

The procedure for Category A projects begins with the preparation of an environmental assessment program.

Category B

Category B covers projects that fall below the thresholds defined for Category A, as well as other projects that may have significant environmental effects. These projects must be notified to the National Planning Agency, which makes a decision in each case as to whether an environmental impact assessment is required.

Projects in Category B that fall below the defined thresholds in the annex to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act are also subject to notification if they are planned within protected areas.

Examples of projects in category B include:

• Afforestation of 200 hectares or more

• Hydropower plants with an installed capacity of 200 kW or more (up to 10 MW)

The procedure for Category B projects begins with notification to the National Planning Agency.