1 Environmental Impact Assessment of Carbon Capture & Storage in the Netherlands. Joris Koornneef 1 , André Faaij and Wim Turkenburg Department of Science, Technology and Society, Copernicus Institute for Sustainable Development and Innovation, Utrecht University, 3584 CS, Utrecht, The Netherlands. Abstract This paper provides a concise insight into the application of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures for future Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) projects. Main environmental impacts allocated to the three parts of a CCS chain (capture of CO 2 from power plants, transport through pipelines and onshore geological storage) are identified by reviewing analogue EIA’s. Furthermore, bottlenecks regarding the assessment of environmental impacts and current environmental legislation are discussed. Finally, suggestions to overcome these bottlenecks and recommendations for future research are made. Keywords: policy, environmental impact, regulation, implementation. Introduction One of the possible options to reduce CO 2 is the implementation of carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects. To realize such projects, legal requirements should be fulfilled in order to obtain an environmental permit. In the Netherlands, the permit for a CCS project requires in most cases an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure. Given that plans are currently being drafted for CCS (pilot) projects, the need for clarity on administrative, juridical and environmental implications of these projects is growing. This demand is driven by both market parties and legislators. This paper aims to provide a framework for EIA’s for CCS projects in the Netherlands. The focus of this paper lies on the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), which is an obligatory element of the EIA procedure. We will provide insight in some legal aspects (e.g. environmental standards, legal procedures and licenses) regarding the EIA. Next, specific issues and impacts (e.g. safety, ground contamination and disturbance, emissions and biodiversity) that are expected to be addressed in an EIA concerning CCS activities are discussed. Finally, methods for analyzing the possible environmental impacts are proposed. The Environmental Impact Assessment procedure The Dutch EIA procedure (see Figure 1) and the guidelines for setting up an EIS are defined in Dutch and EU guidelines which are stated in the Environmental Management Act (EmA) and the Environmental Impact Assessment Decree [1-3]. The EIA is used to assess the environmental impacts of specific activities in order to include the environment in the decision making process on permits and investments of the involved parties (e.g. governing bodies and initiators of CCS project). 1 Corresponding author: Tel. +31-30-253 3544/7600, Fax. +31-30-2537601, Email:j.m.koornneef@chem.uu.nl This research is part of the CATO programme, the Dutch national research programme on CO2 Capture and Storage. CATO is financially supported by the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs (EZ) and the consortium partners. www.co2- cato.nl