For a large number of projects and plans that are expected to have significant environmental impacts, an environmental impact assessment (EIA) is required as early as the planning stage (EIA Act).

These include, for example, freeways, federal roads, railroads, waterways, dikes, sewage treatment plants, landfills, high-voltage power lines or industrial zones or facilities, intensive livestock farming.
The environmental impact assessment is a dependent part of the relevant administrative procedure, which serves the decision on the respective project.

In this procedure, the effects on humans, animals and plants, water, soil, noise, air, climate, cultural and material goods as well as the interactions are examined, described and evaluated. The cross-media inventory and assessment of the environmental consequences of a project are to be taken into account in the official decisions.

The public must be involved in the environmental impact assessment.