Environmental Assessments and Authorizations: SEA - EIA - IPPC Permit

Law  98/2013, converting Decree Law n.69/2013 "Urgent provisions to relaunch the  economy" makes specific changes to the energy sector and in particular to Legislative Decree 22/2010, as regards pilot geothermal plants whose competence goes from Regions to State (Article 41, paragraphs 7-bis, 7 ter, 7-quater of the Law 98/2013).

In the light of the new regulations, in  Annex II to the Second Part of the Decree 152/2006 (projects subject to national EIA), paragraph 7-c, a new category of project was added "Geothermal pilot plants referred to in Article 1, paragraph 3-bis of Decree 22/ 2010 as amended "and consequently the project categories of Annexes III and IV (projects subject to EIA and Screening of regional competence) have changed providing for the exclusion of geothermal pilot plants referred to in Article 1, paragraph 3 -bis of Legislative Decree February 11, 2010, 22, as amended.

The law also provides that geothermal systems are not subject to the provisions of Decree  334/99 (major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances) as required by the amendments made to Article 4, paragraph 1, letter e-bis.