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Evaluation of the need to carry out Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Updated last 26.03.2021

The procedure for the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an integral part of the implementation of each and every major investment project. Whether you are investing in the construction of a motorway, an industrial building, hotel complex, etc., you should always obtain a positive Decision from the competent authorities regarding the impact, your project implementation has on the environment.

The need of the EIA is set out in two regulatory documents, in accordance with the specificities of the development-project design, you are preparing.

When is it necessary to evaluate the need of EIA?

  • For investment proposals in conformity with Appendix No. 2 of the Environmental Protection Act (EPA);
  • For any expansion or amendment to investment proposals in conformity with Appendix No. 2 of the EPA, which have already been approved or their approval is pending, they have been implemented or are currently being implemented, if such an expansion or change can result in a significant adverse impact on the environment;
  • For any expansion or amendment to investment proposals in conformity with Appendix No. 1 to the EPA and Appendix No. 1 to art. 2 of the Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context, which have already been approved or their approval is pending, they have been implemented or are currently being implemented, if such an expansion or change can result in a significant adverse impact on the environment;
  • For investment proposals in conformity with Appendix No. 1 of the EPA, developed exclusively or mainly for the development and testing of new methods or products and which will last no longer than two years, with the exception of the installations for disposal of dangerous and non-dangerous waste through incineration or combined incineration within the meaning of the Waste Management Act;
  • Investment proposals according to item 10.1 of Appendix No. 1, falling in the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (OJ, L 300/1 of 14 November 2009).

Who can apply?

In conformity with paragraph 1, item 20 of the additional provisions of the EPA, the contracting party for an investment proposal is public authority, natural person or legal entity (Bulgarian or foreign), which, according to a special law, regulatory or administrative act, has the right to initiate or apply for approval of an investment proposal.

The request for the provision of such service may also be submitted through an expressly authorized person.

In case of change of the contracting party, the parameters of the investment proposal or any of the circumstances, applicable at the moment of issuance of the decision for the evaluation of the need of EIA, the contracting party or the new contracting party notify in due time the competent environmental authority. A list of the regional environmental inspectorates can be found here.

Important to know
Important to know

The decision for EIA loses its legal validity, if the implementation of the investment proposal has not started within 5 years after the issuance of such decision, evidenced by an inspection of the supervisory environmental authorities.

Competent authorities

Competent authorities

The Minister of Environment and Waters evaluates the need of the performance of EIA for:

  • Investment proposals in conformity with Appendix No. 1, developed exclusively or mainly for the development and testing of new methods or products and which will last no longer than two years, with the exception of the installations for disposal of dangerous and non-dangerous waste through incineration or combined incineration within the meaning of the Waste Management Act;
  • Investment proposals according to item 10.1 of Appendix No. 1, falling in the scope of Regulation (EC) No 1069/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 21 October 2009 laying down health rules as regards animal by-products and derived products not intended for human consumption and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1774/2002 (OJ, L 300/1 of 14 November 2009);
  • All cases of proposals for significant impact on the environment on the territory of another country or countries;
  • Investment proposals, their expansions or amendments, situated on or directly affecting the territories of reserves;
  • National parks and maintained reserves – protected territories pursuant to the provisions of the Protected Areas Act;
  • Investment proposals, their expansions or amendments, designated as sites of national significance by an Act of the Council of Ministers;
  • Investment proposals, their expansions or amendments, affecting a territory, controlled by two or more Regional Inspectorates of the Environment and Waters (RIEW);
  • Investment proposals, their expansions or amendments, entirely falling within the waters of the Black Sea or River Danube.

In all other cases, the competent authority is the RIEW

In all other cases, the competent authority is director of the respectice RIEW

For more information
For more information

For more information on the evaluation of the need and the performance of Environmental Impact Assessment and the related regulatory framework please visit the website of the: