Reviewing 1990s SEA/EIA in the Aosta Valley (Italy) by a set-oriented perspective

Actual and systematic application of environmental assessment in the Autonomous Region of the Aosta Valley (Italy) since 1991 enables to analyse a sizeable number of studies accumulated over a decade of experience and to study their evolution in time. The peculiarity of these studies, something quite rare in Italy, is the fact that they are both standard EIA on individual projects and SEA studies, since they were carried out on urban planning techniques. This research analyses a statistical sample with two groups, initial-wave studies (1991–1992) and more recent ones (1997–1998), by means of characteristic profiles emphasising both content and differences. To better correlate the research and its regional context, we present a brief geoeconomic description and a concise summary of local provisions on the subject of environmental impact evaluation. The results of the analysis, done with innovative multivariate methods for environmental reviewing, are discussed at three progressive levels of conceptual investigation, also to underline the importance of adopting a set-oriented perspective. Having emphasised both limitations and scope of the adopted method, the final conclusions include some suggestions on to improve study management on a regional scale.