Pursuant to the EIA Law (PD 1586, 1978), the EIS System covers all development projects which are classified as Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs) or those projects that are located in Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs) that have potential significant negative impacts on the environment and the human population. Projects which have no potential significant negative impacts on the environment and the population are classified as Non Covered Projects (NCPs). These projects are usually small scale projects at the local level. There are 4 types of ECP projects and 12 categories of ECAs (as declared by Proclamation No. 2146, 1978). Technical Notes 1 provides the list of ECPs, ECAs and NCPs.
For projects declared by the proponent to be not located in ECA (i.e., NECA) would have to show proof that would be validated by the DENR or other authorized agencies under the EIA System regulations.
The EIA law does not exclude from the EIA coverage those non-environmentally critical projects (NECPs) which when located in ECAs may have significant negative impacts. On the other hand, certain projects which regardless of their location have been established not to produce negative impacts, because of their inherent clean technology and their very nature, are not covered under the EIA system.