Faq

What is an Environmental Impact Assessment (MER)?

MER stands for Milieueffectrapportage (Environmental Impact Assessment, EIA). An MER (EIA) report provides information on the environmental consequences of a plan or project, as well as offering possible (less environmentally taxing) alternatives. An MER report is obligatory in the case of plans and projects that are expected to have a considerable environmental impact, such as the construction of an oil refinery, nuclear plan, chemical plant, road or motorway, railway line, airport, etc.

In the case of Maasvlakte 2, two MER reports have been deemed obligatory. These reports will be published in early 2007. One deals with the development operations surrounding the project (sand extraction and construction), the other with the actual zoning (exploitation) of the Maasvlakte 2 area. 

Why does the decision-making process take so lang?

The development of Maasvlakte 2 is a large-scale and complex project. A great deal of research is required before development can get underway, for instance into the feasibility and consequences of the planned changes. In addition, parties are required to go through all the steps of the PKB procedure. All in all, this results in a lengthy and complex decision-making process.