Clients often question the need for environmental engineering surveys (EES).
This view is mistaken:
EES are a mandatory stage in the preparation of most construction and investment projects.
Skipping them can have serious consequences — from refusal to approve the design documentation to civil and even criminal liability for damage caused to the environment.
What are environmental engineering surveys?
EES are a set of works for collecting, analyzing, and evaluating data on the state of the environment in a specific territory.
The purpose of the surveys is to determine how the planned facility will affect the natural environment.
The scope and composition of the surveys are set out in the work program. They depend on:
- the type of urban development activity;
- the responsibility level of the buildings and structures;
- the specifics of the natural and man-made environment;
- the design stage.
Regulatory Framework: Why EES Are Mandatory
The requirement to conduct environmental surveys is established in the key regulatory acts of the Russian Federation:
1. The Urban Planning Code of the Russian Federation — establishes the obligation to conduct engineering surveys when preparing design documentation and during the construction and reconstruction of capital construction facilities.
2. Federal Law No. 174-FZ "On Environmental Expert Review" — regulates the need for environmental surveys for projects affecting the environment.
3. Federal Law No. 7-FZ "On Environmental Protection" — defines the principles of nature protection and environmental monitoring obligations.
4. Government Resolution No. 20 of 19 January 2006 — includes EES in the list of mandatory engineering surveys for the preparation of design documentation and the construction and reconstruction of capital construction facilities.
5. Resolutions and orders of the Ministry of Natural Resources — specify the requirements for survey types for construction and industrial facilities.
6. SNiP (building codes and regulations) — set out the requirements for environmental surveys in the preparation of design documentation.
7. Codes of practice (SP) — the requirement to conduct EES is set out in Section 8 of SP 47.13330.2016.
Who needs EES and when?
Surveys are mandatory at the pre-design, design, and construction stages for:
ℹ️ legal entities and individuals planning construction, reconstruction, or other activities that may significantly affect the environment;
ℹ️ preparation of design documentation to obtain a positive conclusion from the state environmental expert review.
Objectives of EES:
- Assess the environmental condition of the territory and identify potential risks and consequences for ecosystems.
- Justify measures to minimize the negative impact on natural resources.
- Obtain a legal basis for implementing investment and construction projects.
Risks of not conducting EES
Refusal of the state environmental expert review — and, as a result, the inability to obtain permits for construction or production.
Administrative liability — fines and sanctions under the Administrative Offenses Code of the Russian Federation and relevant environmental legislation.
Civil and criminal liability — in the event of environmental damage: compensation for the harm caused and criminal liability for environmental offenses.
In summary, environmental engineering surveys are an integral stage in the preparation of construction and investment projects. They ensure:
- compliance with environmental safety requirements;
- the legal integrity of project implementation;
- prevention of risks and negative consequences for the environment.
