Environmental impact assessments for hydropower plants : a comparison of the EU, Austria and Turkey

Abstract

This paper aims to compare the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure in the European Union (EU), Austria and Turkey. First background information is provided on the energy markets in the EU, Austria and Turkey, to set the scene for the importance of hydropower in these regions. In order to determine whether the UVP-G in Austria and the EIA Regulation in Turkey comply with the EU EIA Directive, a comparison of these laws is done according to specific important aspects of these laws: their history, definitions of key terms, the provisions concerning screening, scoping, alternatives, mitigation measures, public participation, the decision, time span and hydropower. It is found that the Austrian UVP-G complies with and goes beyond the EIA Directive and the Turkish EIA Regulation complies with most of the aspects of the EIA Directive. The strengths and weaknesses of EIAs in general are also discussed, to find opportunities for their improvement. To assess the implementation of EIAs in Austria and Turkey, two case studies have been analysed. A hydropower plant project in each of the countries was chosen; Gemeinschaftskraftwerk Inn (GKI) in Austria and Menge in Turkey. The Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) for these projects were studied according to the information they provide on the project characteristics, location, scoping, alternatives, description of the environment, effects, impacts and mitigation measures, public participation, time span and length and the decision that was taken. The goals and general structure are the same, but there are also some differences in the practice of EIAs in Austria and Turkey. The advantages and disadvantages of both are also discussed and show that there are opportunities for both countries to learn from each other's experiences.