ABSTRACT
This chapter examines environmental impact assessment (EIA) practice for wastewater treatment plants in the United Kingdom and Germany within its cultural and institutional context. It explains similarities and differences found in EIA practice in both countries, and suggests improvements to both EIA systems. The chapter summarizes the main similarities and differences found in the practice of EIA in United Kingdom and Germany and analyses whether the harmonisation aim of the European EIA Directive1 has been met in practice for wastewater treatment plants. In comparison with more mature EIA systems like the ones in the United States, the Netherlands, Canada, New Zealand, Commonwealth of Australia, Wood describes the United Kingdom one as: 'a fairly typical first generation EIA system.' The United Kingdom adopted a flexible approach to screening taking account of the sensitivity of the affected environment, the project characteristics, and the complexity of environmental effects.
