Changes in EIA to speed up permitting process

The government approved a revision to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act, according to which 90% of investment projects will be subject to fast-track review and will not be open to comments from the public or municipalities. These include landfills, incinerators, and hydro power plants. The government thus wants to significantly speed up the permitting process (EIA is capped at six months), also by limiting the rights of the public. The only remedy available for activists will be turning to administrative courts. It remains to be seen whether these courts will have sufficient capacity for hundreds of new cases.

(hnonline.sk)