# Permitting and Environmental Law Lexicon

Standard English terminology for environmental law, permitting and consenting: environmental impact assessment, integrated permits, water and waste, chemicals, nature protection, contaminated land, environmental liability, climate regulation, construction permits and zoning, and administrative procedures and enforcement.

Cross-references: see `real-estate.md` for land transactions and easements; `energy-infrastructure.md` for permitting of power plants, offshore wind and grid assets; `corporate-ma-jv.md` for environmental due diligence in transactions; `litigation-settlement.md` for enforcement appeals.

## Core Concepts

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| environmental law | Body of rules governing protection of the environment; distinct from planning/zoning | Ecological law (non-technical); Environmental regulation (narrower) |
| sustainability | Principle that economic activity should meet present needs without compromising future generations | Eco-friendliness (informal) |
| precautionary principle | Decision-making principle: action to prevent environmental harm may be taken even absent scientific certainty | Preventive principle (distinct concept) |
| polluter-pays principle | Principle that costs of pollution and remediation fall on the polluter | Pollution liability (narrower) |
| prevention principle | Principle that environmental harm should be prevented at source | Source prevention |
| sustainable development | Development that reconciles environmental, social and economic objectives | Green development (informal) |
| integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC) | Historical EU framework (now IED) for integrated permitting of major industrial installations | Integrated pollution control (imprecise) |
| best available techniques (BAT) | Most effective economically viable techniques for preventing/reducing emissions; binding for IED installations | Best practices (informal); Best available technology |
| BAT reference document (BREF) / BAT conclusions | EU documents codifying BAT for a sector; BAT conclusions are binding on permit conditions | BREF notes |
| environmental management system (EMS) | Organizational framework for managing environmental performance; often ISO 14001 certified | Environmental policy (narrower) |

## Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| environmental impact assessment (EIA) | Procedural assessment of likely significant environmental effects of a project before consent | Environmental review (informal); EIA study (the document is "EIA report") |
| EIA Directive | Directive 2011/92/EU as amended by 2014/52/EU governing project-level EIA in EU | EIA law |
| screening | First-stage assessment whether a project requires a full EIA | Screening decision |
| scoping | Determination of the content and extent of the EIA | Scoping opinion |
| environmental impact statement / EIA report | Developer's report documenting the assessment | EIS (US usage); Impact study |
| non-technical summary (NTS) | Plain-language summary of the EIA report required for public consultation | Executive summary |
| public consultation / participation | Mandatory opportunity for the public and authorities to comment on EIA | Public inquiry (specific UK procedure) |
| Aarhus Convention | 1998 UN/ECE convention on access to information, public participation and access to justice in environmental matters | Aarhus Treaty |
| Annex I / Annex II project | EIA Directive categories: Annex I — mandatory EIA; Annex II — case-by-case screening | Listed project (ambiguous) |
| significant effects | Threshold triggering EIA obligations; includes cumulative, trans-boundary and indirect effects | Material effects (commercial term) |
| strategic environmental assessment (SEA) | Plan/program-level environmental assessment under Directive 2001/42/EC | Strategic assessment (ambiguous) |
| appropriate assessment (AA) | Assessment under Habitats Directive art. 6(3) for plans/projects affecting Natura 2000 sites | Natura assessment |
| transboundary EIA (Espoo) | Cross-border EIA procedure under the Espoo Convention | International EIA |
| mitigation measures | Measures to avoid, reduce or offset adverse environmental effects | Compensation (specific concept) |
| monitoring requirements | Post-consent obligations to track environmental effects and mitigation effectiveness | Follow-up (informal) |

## Integrated and Sectoral Permits

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| environmental permit | General term for authorization to carry out activity with environmental impact | Environmental license |
| integrated environmental permit | Single permit covering all emissions/environmental aspects of an IED installation | Integrated permit |
| Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) | Directive 2010/75/EU governing industrial installations (replaced IPPC); revised in 2024 | IED Directive (redundant) |
| large combustion plant (LCP) | Combustion installation with thermal input ≥ 50 MW; subject to stricter IED Chapter III rules | Large combustion installation |
| BAT-associated emission levels (BAT-AEL) | Emission ranges linked to BAT; basis for permit emission limit values | Emission ranges |
| emission limit value (ELV) | Legally binding maximum emission level in permit | Emission cap (ambiguous) |
| air emissions permit | Authorization for releases to air; may be part of integrated permit or standalone | Atmospheric permit |
| water discharge permit | Authorization for releases to surface water or sewers | Wastewater permit |
| waste permit / waste management license | Authorization for handling, treating or disposing of waste | Waste authorization |
| noise permit / noise consent | Authorization or conditions for noise emissions | Sound license |
| Seveso establishment | Site storing hazardous substances above Seveso III thresholds; subject to major-accident controls | Seveso plant |
| Seveso III Directive | Directive 2012/18/EU on control of major-accident hazards involving dangerous substances | Seveso Directive |
| safety report / major-accident prevention policy (MAPP) | Mandatory documentation for Seveso establishments | Seveso report |

## Water Law

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Water Framework Directive (WFD) | Directive 2000/60/EC establishing integrated water management at river-basin level | Water Directive |
| river basin management plan (RBMP) | Plan setting environmental objectives and measures per river basin under WFD | Basin plan |
| good ecological / chemical status | WFD environmental objective for surface and groundwater bodies | Good water quality (informal) |
| Bathing Water Directive | Directive 2006/7/EC on quality of bathing waters | Bathing Directive |
| Urban Waste Water Treatment Directive | Directive 91/271/EEC on collection and treatment of urban wastewater | Sewage Directive |
| Drinking Water Directive | Directive (EU) 2020/2184 on quality of water intended for human consumption | Water quality directive |
| Floods Directive | Directive 2007/60/EC on assessment and management of flood risks | Flood directive |
| water abstraction | Taking water from surface or groundwater; typically requires permit | Water extraction (informal) |
| water abstraction license | Permit authorizing water abstraction | Abstraction permit |
| groundwater body | Volume of groundwater within an aquifer; WFD management unit | Aquifer (specific geological term) |
| priority substances | List of substances of particular concern under WFD | Priority pollutants |
| marine spatial planning | Framework under Directive 2014/89/EU for spatial planning of marine waters | Marine zoning |
| Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) | Directive 2008/56/EC aiming at good environmental status of marine waters | Marine directive |

## Waste Law and Circular Economy

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Waste Framework Directive (WFD-Waste) | Directive 2008/98/EC establishing the legal basis for EU waste management | Waste Directive |
| waste hierarchy | Priority order: prevention, preparing for reuse, recycling, other recovery, disposal | Waste pyramid (informal) |
| end-of-waste criteria | Conditions under which a substance ceases to be waste | End-of-waste status |
| by-product | Substance that is not waste where specific conditions met | Side-product |
| extended producer responsibility (EPR) | Obligation on producers to finance end-of-life management of their products | Producer liability (broader) |
| packaging and packaging waste | Regulated under Directive 94/62/EC (to be replaced by Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation) | Packaging waste only |
| WEEE (waste electrical and electronic equipment) | Regulated under Directive 2012/19/EU | E-waste (informal) |
| battery regulation | Regulation (EU) 2023/1542 on batteries and waste batteries | Battery directive (replaced) |
| landfill | Waste disposal site for final deposit of waste | Dump (informal) |
| Landfill Directive | Directive 1999/31/EC on the landfill of waste | Landfill rules |
| shipment of waste | Cross-border movement of waste; governed by Regulation (EC) 1013/2006 | Waste transport |
| hazardous waste | Waste with properties listed in Annex III of WFD-Waste | Dangerous waste (UK usage) |
| circular economy | Economic model minimizing waste and maximizing resource efficiency | Green economy (broader) |

## Nature Protection

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| Habitats Directive | Directive 92/43/EEC on conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora | Habitat Directive |
| Birds Directive | Directive 2009/147/EC on conservation of wild birds | Wild Birds Directive |
| Natura 2000 network | Network of Special Areas of Conservation (Habitats Directive) and Special Protection Areas (Birds Directive) | Natura areas |
| Special Area of Conservation (SAC) | Site designated under Habitats Directive | SAC site |
| Special Protection Area (SPA) | Site designated under Birds Directive | SPA zone |
| appropriate assessment (AA) | Assessment under Habitats Directive art. 6(3) of plans/projects likely to affect Natura 2000 site | Natura assessment |
| imperative reasons of overriding public interest (IROPI) | Exceptional ground allowing plan/project affecting Natura 2000 to proceed despite adverse assessment | Overriding interest |
| compensatory measures | Measures to offset adverse effects on Natura 2000 integrity | Environmental offsets |
| species protection | Protection of listed species under Habitats/Birds Directives | Species conservation |
| CITES | Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (1973) | CITES Treaty |
| Nature Restoration Regulation | Regulation (EU) 2024/1991 on nature restoration | Nature Restoration Law (colloquial) |
| Invasive Alien Species Regulation | Regulation (EU) 1143/2014 on prevention and management of invasive alien species | IAS Regulation |
| biodiversity net gain (BNG) | Policy requirement that developments deliver a net positive effect on biodiversity | Biodiversity offset |

## Chemicals and Biocides

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| REACH | Regulation (EC) 1907/2006 on registration, evaluation, authorization and restriction of chemicals | REACH Regulation (redundant but acceptable) |
| registration (REACH) | Mandatory registration with ECHA for substances manufactured/imported ≥ 1 tonne/year; use "REACH registration" as abbreviated form after first use | Substance registration (imprecise) |
| SVHC (substances of very high concern) | Substances meeting CMR, PBT, vPvB or equivalent criteria; listed on Candidate List | Candidate substances (imprecise); hazardous substances (too broad) |
| authorization (REACH) | Formal approval required to use Annex XIV substances; use "REACH authorization" as abbreviated form after first use | License to use (imprecise); substance authorization (imprecise) |
| restriction (REACH) | Restriction on manufacture, use or placing on the market (Annex XVII) | REACH ban (imprecise); substance prohibition |
| ECHA (European Chemicals Agency) | EU agency administering REACH, CLP, Biocides and PIC; spell out on first use, abbreviate thereafter | ECHA Agency (redundant); chemicals authority |
| CLP Regulation | Regulation (EC) 1272/2008 on classification, labeling and packaging of chemicals; use "CLP" as abbreviated form after first use | GHS Regulation (the CLP implements GHS but is not identical) |
| safety data sheet (SDS) | Document providing hazard and safe-use information on chemicals | Material safety data sheet (MSDS — superseded pre-REACH terminology); data sheet (too generic) |
| Biocidal Products Regulation (BPR) | Regulation (EU) 528/2012 on the making available and use of biocidal products; use "BPR" as abbreviated form after first use | Biocides Directive (superseded); Pesticide Regulation (different instrument) |
| POPs Regulation | Regulation (EU) 2019/1021 on persistent organic pollutants; abbreviate as "POPs" after first use | Stockholm Convention (related international instrument, not the EU regulation) |
| mercury regulation | Regulation (EU) 2017/852 on mercury | Mercury rules (informal); Minamata Regulation (it implements the Minamata Convention but is not identical) |

## Contaminated Land and Environmental Liability

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| contaminated land | Land where substances in, on or under cause harm or risk of harm | Polluted land (informal) |
| contamination | Presence of substances above background at levels capable of causing harm | Pollution (broader) |
| orphan site | Contaminated site where no liable party can be identified | Abandoned site |
| historic contamination | Pre-existing contamination predating current operator or transaction | Legacy pollution |
| environmental liability | Responsibility for preventing, remedying or paying for environmental damage | Environmental responsibility (informal) |
| Environmental Liability Directive (ELD) | Directive 2004/35/EC on environmental liability with regard to prevention and remedying of environmental damage; use "ELD" as abbreviated form after first use | Polluter Pays Directive (informal) |
| environmental damage | Damage to protected species and habitats, water or land (ELD definition) | Environmental harm (broader) |
| remediation / remedial action | Measures to restore damaged environment to baseline | Clean-up (informal) |
| primary / complementary / compensatory remediation | ELD three-tier remediation scheme | Remediation stages |
| site investigation / Phase I / Phase II ESA | Environmental site assessments; Phase I is desk-based; Phase II is intrusive | Site survey (informal); ESA report |
| land remediation plan | Plan setting out proposed remediation measures and objectives | Clean-up plan |

## Climate and Air Quality

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| EU Emissions Trading System (EU ETS) | Cap-and-trade scheme for greenhouse gases under Directive 2003/87/EC | EU ETS scheme (redundant) |
| EU ETS 2 / ETS for buildings and road transport | Separate ETS covering buildings, road transport and small industry from 2027 | ETS II |
| allowances (EUAs) | Tradable allowances each representing one tonne CO₂eq | Emission permits (ambiguous) |
| Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) | Regulation (EU) 2023/956 imposing carbon costs on imports of certain goods | Carbon tariff (informal) |
| Effort Sharing Regulation (ESR) | Regulation (EU) 2018/842 setting binding annual national GHG emission limits for non-ETS sectors | Effort Sharing |
| Fit for 55 package | Package of EU climate legislation aligning with 2030 55% emission reduction target | Fit-for-55 |
| European Climate Law | Regulation (EU) 2021/1119 setting climate-neutrality target by 2050 | Climate Law (unqualified — ambiguous in international context) |
| LULUCF Regulation | Regulation (EU) 2018/841 on land use, land use change and forestry | LULUCF rules |
| Taxonomy Regulation | Regulation (EU) 2020/852 establishing framework for sustainable investments | EU Taxonomy |
| Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) | Directive (EU) 2022/2464 on corporate sustainability reporting; use "CSRD" as abbreviated form after first use | NFRD (predecessor — Non-Financial Reporting Directive, now repealed) |
| Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) | Directive (EU) 2024/1760 on human rights and environmental due diligence in value chains; use "CSDDD" as abbreviated form after first use | CSDD (non-standard); supply-chain diligence directive |
| National Emission Ceilings Directive (NECD) | Directive (EU) 2016/2284 setting national emission ceilings for air pollutants; use "NECD" as abbreviated form after first use | National Air Quality Directive (confuses with Ambient Air Quality Directive) |
| Ambient Air Quality Directive | Directive 2008/50/EC (and 2024 revision) setting air quality standards | AQ Directive |
| greenhouse gas inventory | National or facility-level accounting of GHG emissions | GHG register |

## Construction, Planning and Zoning

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| building permit / construction permit | Authorization to carry out construction works | Building license |
| planning permission (UK) / development consent (UK projects) / zoning permit (US) | Consent allowing a development under planning law | Planning permit (US) |
| land-use plan / zoning plan | Municipal planning instrument allocating land uses | Urban plan (broader) |
| master plan | Higher-level spatial plan setting general land-use structure | City plan |
| building regulations | Technical requirements for construction (structure, fire, energy, accessibility) | Construction standards |
| certificate of occupancy / use permit | Authorization to put completed building into use | Habitation certificate |
| expropriation / compulsory purchase | State acquisition of private land for public purpose in return for compensation | Eminent domain (US) |
| public-interest declaration | Administrative decision affirming public utility of a project | Public utility declaration |
| heritage / listed building consent | Consent to works affecting protected heritage assets | Heritage permit |
| archaeological investigation | Investigation of archaeological remains before or during construction | Archaeological survey |

## Administrative Procedure and Enforcement

| Correct English term | Usage / meaning | Avoid |
|---|---|---|
| competent authority | Public authority designated to grant permits or exercise enforcement | Licensing authority (narrower) |
| environmental inspectorate | Enforcement body monitoring compliance (e.g., EPA, UK EA, national equivalents) | Environmental police (informal) |
| inspection | On-site or desk verification of compliance | Audit (distinct in commercial usage) |
| compliance notice / improvement notice | Administrative order requiring action within time-limit | Compliance letter (informal) |
| enforcement notice | Order requiring cessation or remedy of non-compliance | Enforcement letter |
| stop notice | Order halting activity posing imminent environmental risk | Cease notice |
| administrative fine / civil penalty | Non-criminal financial penalty for environmental non-compliance | Fine (ambiguous) |
| environmental offense | Criminal offense under environmental legislation | Environmental crime (informal) |
| Environmental Crime Directive | Directive (EU) 2024/1203 on protection of the environment through criminal law | Ecocide Directive (colloquial) |
| appeal | Challenge of permit decision or enforcement action to higher authority or court | Opposition (ambiguous) |
| judicial review | Court review of lawfulness of administrative decision | Court appeal (narrower) |

## Section Headings

| Correct English heading | Avoid |
|---|---|
| ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE | Environmental Requirements |
| PERMITS AND CONSENTS | Licenses and Authorizations |
| ENVIRONMENTAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES | Environmental Warranties |
| ENVIRONMENTAL INDEMNITY | Pollution Indemnity |
| CONTAMINATION AND REMEDIATION | Clean-Up Obligations |
| REPORTING AND MONITORING | Environmental Reporting |
| HEALTH, SAFETY AND ENVIRONMENT (HSE) | HSE Requirements |
| CLIMATE AND SUSTAINABILITY | ESG Clauses |

## Notes

- **Environmental "permit" vs "consent" vs "license"**: EU usage varies. "Permit" is the dominant term under the Industrial Emissions Directive; "consent" appears in UK planning and water legislation; "license" is used for discrete activities (e.g., waste, abstraction). Default to "permit" unless the source text or jurisdiction uses another term.

- **EIA terminology**: Consolidated EU usage post-2014 amendment: "environmental impact assessment" (EIA); "EIA report" (developer's document, not "EIS"); "screening decision"; "scoping opinion". Earlier texts may use "environmental statement" or "EIS" — note and standardize.

- **"Appropriate assessment" (AA)**: Distinct from EIA. Required under Habitats Directive art. 6(3) for plans/projects likely to have significant effect on a Natura 2000 site. Can run in parallel with EIA. Do not conflate.

- **BAT / BAT-AEL / BAT conclusions**: BAT is a qualitative standard; BAT-AEL are numerical emission ranges linked to BAT; BAT conclusions are Commission decisions codifying BAT for a sector and are binding on permit conditions for IED installations.

- **Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) 2024 revision**: Directive (EU) 2024/1785 expanded scope (to include more intensive livestock and battery/metals sectors), added environmental management system obligations and more transparency. Older texts will reference IED 2010/75/EU as the base instrument.

- **"Polluter pays" and ELD**: The polluter-pays principle is codified operationally in the Environmental Liability Directive (ELD). ELD covers water, protected species/habitats and land (limited to risk to human health). It does not create a stand-alone damages claim for private parties.

- **Seveso III**: Applies in tiers (lower-tier vs upper-tier establishments) based on quantities of dangerous substances. Upper-tier operators must prepare safety reports; lower-tier must implement MAPP. Common trigger for M&A environmental DD.

- **REACH — SVHC disclosure**: Suppliers of articles containing SVHCs above 0.1% w/w must notify downstream users and ECHA (via the SCIP database). Article producers/importers are often unaware of this obligation — flag in commercial translations.

- **EU ETS and CBAM interface**: CBAM applies to imported goods in carbon-intensive sectors (cement, iron and steel, aluminum, fertilizers, hydrogen, electricity) and runs in parallel with the phasing out of free EU ETS allowances for these sectors (2026–2034). Under US default the skill renders these terms as "aluminum" / "fertilizers"; the EU regulation itself uses the UK spellings "aluminium" / "fertilisers", so retain the UK forms under `--variant uk` or when quoting the regulation text directly.

- **Aarhus Convention — three pillars**: Access to environmental information; public participation; access to justice. Incorporated into EU law by Regulations 1367/2006 and 2021/1767. Important for translation of public-participation and NGO-standing references.

- **CSRD / CSDDD / Taxonomy**: The EU sustainability reporting stack. CSRD applies from FY 2024 (first wave); CSDDD phased in from 2027; Taxonomy provides the classification framework. Translate titles in full on first use.

- **Planning permission vs. development consent**: In the UK, "planning permission" is the default consent under the Town and Country Planning Act; "development consent" (DCO) applies to nationally significant infrastructure projects under the Planning Act 2008. In continental jurisdictions, translate the local equivalent literally and provide a short note.

- **"Stop notice" / "prohibition notice" / "emergency order"**: All describe immediate enforcement stopping an activity that poses imminent environmental or safety risk. Use "stop notice" (UK Environment Agency usage) or "prohibition notice" (UK HSE usage) as appropriate; for other jurisdictions, translate the local term literally and explain in parentheses.

- **Civil, criminal and administrative enforcement**: Environmental law operates across all three enforcement modes, often simultaneously. When translating, identify the mode clearly — e.g., "administrative fine" for non-criminal penalty, "criminal prosecution" for indictable offense, "civil injunction" for private-law action.

- **"Green" marketing claims**: Translation of environmental marketing claims (green, sustainable, carbon-neutral, biodegradable) is sensitive post-Directive (EU) 2024/825 (Empowering Consumers for the Green Transition) and the pending Green Claims Directive. Avoid creative translations — preserve source terminology and flag ambiguity.

- **Capitalization**: Defined terms like "Permit", "Competent Authority", "Remediation", "Environmental Laws" should be capitalized consistently. International regulation references (REACH, IED, WFD, CLP) are always capitalized.

- **Cross-cutting nature**: Permitting and environmental law intersects with many other domains. When translating a document that touches multiple areas, check: land/real estate (zoning, easements, contaminated land); energy/infrastructure (EIA for power plants, offshore wind); M&A (environmental DD, warranties, indemnities, disclosure schedules); litigation (enforcement appeals, judicial review, citizen suits); finance (green loans, sustainability-linked loans, Taxonomy-aligned financing).
