Environmental Impact Assessment in Agriculture
The formal requirements of the EIA process extend to certain agricultural developments and operations, specifically those associated with intensive livestock units and the intensification of the use of uncultivated land and semi-natural areas. EIA is mandatory for new intensive poultry units, with more than 85,000 places for broilers or 60,000 places for hens, and pig units, with more than 9000 production pig places or 900 sows. Smaller units may be required to undertake EIA where potentially significant environmental effects are envisaged. A recent extension of EIA requirements has been made in relation to unimproved grassland, heath or moorland, scrubland and wetlands. Where any cultivation, drainage, land reclamation or flood defence works are intended or the introduction of livestock or increased stocking suggested, the prior opinion of DEFRA is required as to whether the changes can take place without EIA.

Recent experience includes:

Withsill Farm, Clitheroe	B & MD Bowers	Proposed 1,000 cow dairy unit adjacent to an existing housing development
Swinefleet Peat Works, Yorkshire	Colt Industrial Ltd	Assessment of the impacts of a 100,000 tonnes per annum through-put waste recycling facility producing compost for application on agricultural land.
Corus site, Scunthorpe	Biowise Ltd	Assessment of the likely impacts of a large-scale industrial and domestic waste composting facility.
Norwich, Norfolk	RT Pointer	Assessment of the impacts of a medium-sized chicken slaughtering and processing plant.
ES Review	Stratford-upon-Avon District Council	Assessment of ES submitted to Stratford-upon-Avon District Council in support of a planning application for the construction of a pig farm

RAC has an effective understanding of the relevant regulatory frameworks associated with environmental issues, and a close relationship with the regulatory bodies and other specialist consultants. RAC is a Corporate Assessor Member of the Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment (IEMA) and individual consultants are members of IEMA and BIAC.