Land use planning approach in Portugal

1. Land use planning approach in Portugal Workshop on Land Use Planning Nicosia, 24th September 2012

2. Land use planning approach in Portugal • Backround • LUP approach • Challenges • Lookingforward

3. Background | Seveso Covered establishments (end of 2011) • 120 lower tier • 62 upper tier

4. Background | Seveso 86 municipalities •  50% with 1 LT establishment •  Inland: mostly LNG/LPG storage, pyrotechnics

5. Background | Seveso • 5 municipalities  50% of UT establishment  Close to the major seaports (Sines, Setúbal, Aveiro, Leixões)

6. Background | Land use plans • National land use plan • Regional land use plans • Special plans • Harmonization of public interests with spatial expression • Taking into account: • Economic and social development • Sustainability • Intergenerational solidarity

7. Background | Land use plans • Municipal land use plans • Detailandurbanplans Balanced distribution of land uses and functions between economic development and environmental quality

8. Background | Licensing procedures • Industrial establishments • Petroleum products storage • LPG storage • LNG storage • Explosives storage and production • Warehouses • Biocides and plant protection products storage

9. Background > LUP approach in Seveso Limiting consequences of major accidents through land-use policies Licensing procedures Land use plans Seveso Directive

10. Land use planning approach | Seveso • Elements likely to be affected • Hazardous zones Technical advice on the risks Decisions

11. Land use planning approach | Seveso Consequencebased approach exclusion of worst case scenarios [< 10-6/year] • Hazardous zones

12. Hazardous zones • Major accident scenarios • Lethal zone • AEGL 3 (1h) | 7 kW/m2 | 0,14 bar | LFL/2 • Irreversible effects zone (IEZ) • AEGL 2 (1h) | 5 kW/m2| 0,05 bar

13. Hazardous zones • Major accident scenarios • Environmental effects • Qualitative evaluation • Spill-control and containment systems

14. Vulnerability • Elements likely to be affected • Highly populated areas (including temporary) • Buildings posing challenges to evacuation • Emergency services • Residential areas (rural and isolated can be allowed in IEZ) • Environmental sensitivity areas

15. Land use planning approach | Seveso • Elements likely to be affected • Hazardous zones Technical advice on the risks Decisions

16. Land use planning approach | Seveso • Siting of new establishments and modifications • New developments • Land use plans

17. Land use planning approach | Seveso Environmental impact assessment Land use compatibility assessment • Siting of new establishments and modifications • New developments • Land use plans

18. Land use planning approach | Seveso Compatibility assessment (infrastructures, urbanizations, etc.) • Siting of new establishments and modifications • New developments • Land use plans

19. Land use planning approach | Seveso Strategic environmental analysis Hazardous zones mapping Land use restrictions • Siting of new establishments and modifications • New developments • Land use plans

20. Challenges • Case by case analysis • Hazardous zones mapping • Information for LT establishments • Suitability of scenarios • Interface with licensing legislation and authorities • Land use legislation • Municipal plans: extensive process of revision • Land use classes vs sensitive elements

21. Looking forward • Legislation (pending approval) • Clarification of overall approach • Hazardous zones mapping • Table of fixed distances for some dangerous substances • Systematic approach on existing establishments

22. Looking forward • «Clear well described system» • «Responsibilities described» • «Decisions can be understood» - and predicted Thank you! Sara Vieira Portuguese Environment Agency sara.vieira@apambiente.pt