Businesses, when planning certain activities, may encounter difficulties, including the complexity of undergoing EIA. Environmental Impact Assessment is mandatory for some areas, and legislation requires strict adherence to stages, preparation of detailed documentation, consideration of public comments, and timely submission of reports. For example, enterprises that discharge wastewater, and will develop a GDS project in the future, must assess their impact on water resources through sanitary control.
Errors in document preparation, ignoring requirements, or insufficient environmental impact assessment can lead to fines, delays in project implementation, or a complete ban on activities. That is why it is important to properly conduct EIA, obtain an environmental impact assessment conclusion, and adhere to environmental safety standards. The procedure not only contributes to solving the issue of environmental safety but also helps avoid conflicts with communities.
What is EIA?
This concept refers to a comprehensive procedure aimed at determining the level (degree) and intensity of danger from economic activity to assess the impact on the environment and public health. It is clearly regulated by law and includes an analysis of potential consequences for biodiversity, water, atmosphere, and climate in general. Attention is also paid to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and pollutants.
EIA is generally an assessment of direct, indirect, cumulative, and long-term effects that may arise from project implementation. For example, the construction of an industrial facility (in particular, a waste landfill) can cause soil contamination with heavy metals, a change in the hydrological regime of water bodies, or disruption of natural ecosystems within a certain area.
It is important that the EIA procedure is mandatory for types of activities defined by the Law of Ukraine "On Environmental Impact Assessment". This list includes energy facilities, quarries, chemical production, and infrastructure projects. The procedure is necessary for making environmentally sound decisions, minimizing harm to the environment, and taking into account the interests of local communities.
Difficulties often arise in the process, as there is no specialized knowledge of the law and experience in communicating with government agencies. However, there is an effective solution - environmental services in Ukraine from EMGroup. The company employs professionals who help at every stage and provide an individual approach. Experts from specialized institutes and laboratories can be involved.
What legislation regulates the environmental impact assessment procedure and liability for violations?
The Law of Ukraine "On Environmental Impact Assessment" contains the basic concepts for regulating the procedure. It defines the procedure for preparing a report, conducting public discussions, auditing documentation, and obtaining a conclusion. The law divides activities into two categories: the first includes large industrial facilities (thermal power plants, nuclear power plants), the second - less large-scale projects (construction of roads, small hydroelectric power plants).
For both categories, environmental impact assessment is mandatory if the activity may have a significant impact on the environment. For example, land reclamation after the completion of activities is required for quarries. Violation of requirements, commencement of activities without EIA, is prohibited (Article 4 of the Law) and entails administrative liability: fines up to UAH 170,000, court decisions on termination of activities or annulment of permits (for example, a permit for waste treatment operations or an IPPC - Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control permit, which became mandatory from August 8, 2025).
Ignoring the EIA procedure can also lead to the project being halted at the implementation stage, causing significant financial losses. Conclusions of environmental expertise obtained before 2017 remain valid, but new projects must comply with modern requirements. Adherence to the law ensures legal transparency and environmental protection.
The procedure for environmental impact assessment in Ukraine: EIA conclusion and other stages
The procedure is clearly structured and includes several stages, each of which requires careful preparation and coordination with the authorized body. It is aimed at a comprehensive impact assessment, taking into account public interests and ensuring environmental safety.
STEP 1. Obtaining an electronic digital signature
EDS or electronic digital signature is mandatory for interaction with the Unified Register for EIA "Ecosystem" and submission of documents. The business entity obtains an EDS through accredited key certification centers, such as the State Tax Service of Ukraine or commercial institutions. EDS ensures the authenticity of documents and data protection during the registration of a notice of planned activity or submission of a report. Without it, it is impossible to start the procedure, as the register operates exclusively in electronic format.
STEP 2. Registration in the Unified Register for EIA "Ecosystem"
The Unified Register for EIA "Ecosystem", maintained by the Ministry of Economy, Environment and Agriculture of Ukraine, is a centralized platform for storing and publishing information.
The business entity registers in the register, creating a personal account where data about the business entity, its planned activities are entered, and notices, announcements, and reports are uploaded. The register ensures transparency of the process, allowing the public to review documents and provide comments, including on the impact of the object on the environment. Registration is the first step to officially starting the procedure.
STEP 3. Notification of planned activity
The entity uploads a notification of planned activity to the EIA "Ecosystem" register - to the central or territorial (regional department or department of ecology) body. The notification includes 15 sections, among which are a description of the activity, its scope, socio-economic impact, assessment of emissions, waste, impact on water, soil and biodiversity, as well as the type of decision to be made by the body (for example, a construction permit from the DIАM).
The document is published in the "Ecosystem" register, on bulletin boards and, if necessary, in local media, which ensures the accessibility of information to the public. The public can submit comments within 12 working days, which the body takes into account.
STEP 4. Obtaining conditions regarding the scope of research and the level of detail of information (if necessary)
The authorized body analyzes the requirement of the business entity and within 15 working days issues conditions regarding the scope of research, for example: dosimetry to assess radiation impact, if the activity is related to radioactive materials using a radiometer.
The conditions under which the EIA environmental impact assessment is carried out determine which environmental aspects require detailed analysis and the level of detail of information in the report. This stage ensures a clear understanding of the requirements for the report.
STEP 5. Development of the EIA report
It is a key document prepared by the business entity with the participation of experts (ecologists, hydrologists, biologists). The EIA report includes a detailed description of the activity, an analysis of the environmental impact, an assessment of alternatives (for example, other technologies or location of the object), measures to reduce negative impact (reduction of emissions, waste disposal), research results and a forecast of environmental consequences.
The report takes into account public comments and meets the conditions set by the authority. Its structure must comply with the General Methodological Recommendations or, for a specific type of activity, such as hazardous waste management, the Methodological Recommendations for preparing an EIA Report for hazardous waste treatment facilities.
STEP 6. Public discussion
The public discussion of the report lasts 25 working days and is a mandatory stage. It includes:
- public hearings (in the format of video conferences during martial law);
- collection of written comments and proposals.
The entity publishes the report and announcement in the "Ecosystem" register, if necessary in local media, on official community websites and bulletin boards, taking into account the maximum permissible standards for informing. The public can express concerns and ask questions about the environmental impact. The report, which integrates discussion data, is uploaded by the authorized body to the register, ensuring the transparency of the procedure.
STEP 7. EIA Conclusion
The authorized body analyzes the report, comments during public discussion, and additional information. The conclusion is provided within 15 working days after the discussion is completed. The environmental impact assessment conclusion determines the admissibility of the activity, establishes environmental conditions and post-project monitoring conditions, and is the basis for obtaining a permit for the planned activity. In case of refusal, the entity may amend the report and repeat the procedure.
STEP 8. Post-project monitoring
According to the conclusion, the entity monitors the impact of the planned activity on the environment, for example: regular studies of the state of soil, air, and flora and fauna. The plan and results of the studies are submitted to the authorized body, which allows identifying deviations from the conditions of the conclusion and adapting measures to reduce the impact.
For example, for an industrial facility, monitoring may include control of emissions or the level of water pollution (including inventory). The mobility of the equipment, which allows conducting research in different areas, is important. This stage ensures long-term environmental safety.
Environmental impact assessment: price and duration of the procedure
The financial part depends on the complexity of the work, the scope of research, the category of activity, and, if necessary, the cost of publishing documents (6-12 pages in local media). It is important that for complex projects, such as, for example, an EIA Report for the planned activity of reconstruction at a nuclear power plant, the cost of the environmental impact assessment may be higher due to the need to involve highly specialized experts in dosimetry.
Additional costs include payment for laboratory research, documentation audit, and organization of public hearings. The duration of the procedure varies from 4 to 24 months, depending on the scope of preliminary research (biodiversity research reports are prepared seasonally throughout the year), the speed of report preparation, public activity, and the efficiency of the authority when assessing transboundary impact. Timely completion of all stages shortens deadlines, helps to obtain an environmental impact assessment conclusion, and reduces the risk of delays.