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Achievements and Planned Activities Environmental Impact Assessment |
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Since its introduction in 1994, the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system in Egypt has progressed significantly. Efforts by EEAA have led to steady improvements of all aspects of the EIA system, from preparation to review and decision making. Accordingly, the last two years have experienced a dramatic increase in the number of EIA studies passing through this system as well as a extension of the system to an increased number of local competent administrative authorities (CAA's), responsible for the application of the legislative requirements for the conduct of EIA studies for the different projects and initiatives falling within their jurisdiction. |
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In 2000/2001 more than 10,000 EIA studies were evaluated. During the same period, the update of the EIA classification system was carried out. It entailed some modifications to the division between the three categories A, B, and C, varying in the severity of possible environmental impacts, as well as the expansion of the lists of facilities in each category to include additional ones, with the purpose of minimizing errors in categorization. In this respect, and in line with the development of sectoral guidelines, the development of sector-specific EIA forms has taken place. In 2000/2001, specific B category forms were developed for the petroleum and tourism sectors. |
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Moreover, 2000/2001 has witnessed the publication of sectoral guidelines for the sectors of cement industries and land reclamation, as well as the finalization of the guidelines for petroleum industries, to be published during the second half of 2001. Other sectoral guidelines being developed are ones for the sectors of pharmaceuticals, urban development and power generation. |
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| Temporal Evolution of EIA's Reviewed by EEAA |  |
| Year | Number of EIA's Reaching EEAA | Number of CAA's |
1994 |
7 |
3 |
1995 |
26 |
4 |
1996 |
41 |
10 |
1997 |
87 |
13 |
1998 |
276 |
25 |
1999 |
11056 |
46 |
2000 |
10315 |
52 |
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Other 2000/2001 activities include the development of specifications for the construction of mobile telephone towers, in collaboration with the Ministries of Communication and Health as well as the telephone networks operators, with the purpose of preventing possible adverse environmental and health impacts. Capacity building was also carried out with a focus on CAA's staff members. |
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Priorities for 2001/2002 include the improvement of the efficiency of the system, and the investigation of the possibility of decentralizing the review of part of category B studies to the concerned RBO, based on the development of their capacities in this regard. |
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| Distribution of EIA's by Sector (Year 2000) | |
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| Sector |
Total Number of EIA's | A Category EIA's |
B Category EIA's |
C Category EIA's |
Industry |
6873 |
167 |
6686 |
20 |
Services |
2596 |
261 |
2335 |
-- |
Agriculture |
403 |
6 |
397 |
-- |
Tourism |
168 |
3 |
22 |
143 |
Energy/Petroleum (production, processing, transportation) |
71 |
-- |
7 |
64 |
Communications |
37 |
18 |
19 |
-- |
Infrastructure (roads, potable water, wastewater) |
30 |
1 |
23 |
6 |
Health |
25 |
-- |
25 |
-- |
Energy/Electricity |
5 |
-- |
3 |
2 |
Housing and Reconstruction |
2 |
-- |
2 |
-- |
Ports |
1 |
-- |
-- |
1 |
Transportation |
1 |
-- |
-- |
1 |
Others |
103 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
Total |
10315 |
480 |
9598 |
273 |
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