For a large number of projects and plans for which significant environmental impacts are to be expected, an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is already required in the planning phase. These include, for example, motorways, federal highways, railways, waterways,, sewage treatment plants, landfills, high-voltage power lines or industrial zones or plants, intensive livestock farming.

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 investigated, described and evaluated. The cross-media inventory and assessment of the environmental impact of a project must be taken into account in the official decisions.