Application scope: Industrial
Supervising authority: Rostekhnadzor & Rosprirodnadzor
When needed: Launch of the project
What is OVOS Conclusion?
“OVOS” or Assessment of the Impact on Environment is part of the Investment Justification Report (formerly known as TEO) subject to State Environmental Expertise. This is to verify whether the considered industrial project complies with Russian Environmental laws and normative requirements.
The environmental safety of industrial sites has been regulated in Russia by the Federal Law “On Environment Protection" № 7-FZ dated on 10.01.2002.
Today, the supervisory functions in the field of environmental safety in Russia are entrusted to the Federal Service for Ecological, Technological and Nuclear Supervision, abbreviated as Rostekhnadzor (RTN).
Rostekhnadzor handles projects to be implemented overland and not directly relating to use of forestry, subsoil and water area.
Rosprirodnadzor or Federal Service for Nature Management Supervision was known before as Federal Service for Environment and Nature Management Supervision and used to supervise environmental safety before this responsibility was transferred to Rostekhnadzor. Now it handles projects that directly relate to use of forestry, subsoil and water area such as:
- off-shore platforms
- hydroelectric power stations
Application scope
OVOS is a pre-requisite for start up on any industrial project involving one of the following:
- new construction
- expansion of facilities
- reconstruction
- technical modernization with construction
- assembling operations
Procedure
The procedure for implementation of the environmental expertise is regulated in the Federal Law “On environmental expertise” № 174-FZ dated on 23.11.1995.
Assessment of the Impact on Environment “OVOS” consists of the following steps:
- Collection of geographic, social, economic and environmental data regarding the area where the project will be located
- Collection of the data regarding project’s nature and impact on environment
- Global search for a clone project
- Forecasting of the impact of the project on environment with the use of statistical technology and other methods
- Planning and justification of the necessary nature protection measures to be taken in the framework of the project
- Organisation of public hearing
“OVOS” must be agreed first with local authorities and relevant supervising bodies and then approved in the framework of State Environmental Expertise by either Rostekhnadzor or Rosprirodnadzor.
Source: SGS
