Mining Operating plan procedure EIA obligation Determination Site-related preliminary assessment

If you are planning a new mining project, in certain cases you must initiate a site-specific preliminary assessment to determine whether an environmental impact assessment must be carried out.

If your company is active in mining and you are planning a new mining project, the competent authority may have to carry out a site-specific preliminary assessment. With this site-specific preliminary assessment, the authority determines whether an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is mandatory for your project. The site-specific preliminary assessment takes place in 2 stages:

Stage 1:

• The authority checks whether there are special local conditions at your project site.
• If this is the case, stage 2 follows.

Stage 2:

• The authority checks whether the new project may have significant adverse environmental impacts that affect the particular sensitivity or conservation objectives of the area.
• The authority bases its assessment on the following criteria:
  • Characteristics of the project
  • Location of the project
  • Type and characteristics of possible impacts.

In addition to the site-specific preliminary assessment, there is also a general preliminary assessment. You can find out which projects qualify for the site-specific preliminary assessment in the list "Projects subject to EIA" in Annex 1 of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act (UVPG).

During the preliminary assessment, the authority takes into account whether significant adverse environmental impacts are obviously excluded by the characteristics of the project, the site or your precautions. If the authority has the results of upstream environmental assessments or other legally required studies on the environmental impacts of the project, it will include these results in the preliminary assessment.

• Your company must be active in mining and you are planning a new project.
• You have not yet applied for an environmental impact assessment.

You cannot contest the determination of the EIA obligation individually.

You can apply for the site-specific preliminary assessment online via the "BergPass" platform or in writing to your competent mining authority.

Site-specific preliminary assessment online apply:

• Call up the "BergPass" online platform and log in.
  • To register, you will need a BundID and an identity card or residence permit with an active online ID function.
• Call up the application form and fill it out completely and truthfully.
• Upload the required documents as a file and send the application.

Apply directly to the competent authority for a location-based preliminary check:

• Contact your competent mining authority and coordinate the required application documents.
• Submit the application and all required documents.

Further procedural steps:

• The competent authority checks whether an environmental impact assessment is required for approval or carries out a preliminary EIA assessment at the request of the project developer
• If the competent authority has carried out a preliminary assessment, it announces the result of the determination of the EIA obligation to the public and states the main reasons for the existence or non-existence of the EIA obligation.

You will also receive a notification of costs. Pay the fees.