Some aspects of environmental regulation of shale gas activities

Two aspects of the environmental regulation of the shale gas activities are analysed in the research: does the current EU legislation on the environmental impact assessment require obligatory EIA for shale gas activities? Are exploration activities regulated in a similar way? Legislation of Lithuania, Latvia, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands is analysed with respect to transposition of the EIA Directive. Author makes a conclusion that none of the analysed Member States currently provides for obligatory EIA neither for shale gas activities nor for exploration activities. However, various Member States have taken individual steps towards amending national legislation. Such changes at the national level might result in the amendments of the respective EU legislation, and through it – in subsequent changes of the national legislation. Keywords: environmental law, energy law, shale gas, environmental impact assessment