A comparative analysis of EIA practice for wastewater treatment plants in great Britain and Germany

This article reports the findings of an investigation of the practice of environmental impact assessment (EIA) for wastewater treatment plants in the United Kingdom and Germany. It demonstrates that both EIA systems have a number of common deficiencies but that the differences between the practice of EIA in Britain and Germany are considerable. These indicate that one of the objectives of the European Directive—to harmonize environmental controls—has not been met. The differences can be explained by examining: (1) the context in which EIAs for wastewater treatment plants take place in both countries; (2) the ways in which EIA procedures are implemented in both countries; and (3) the attitudes of the competent authorities in both countries to EIA.