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How long does NCEC take to review an EIA or scoping report?

The statutory NCEC review periods for classification forms, scoping reports, Category 2 and Category 3 EIAs and related plans, and how they add up.

NCEC rules. 5 min read.

Short answer

NCEC decides on the classification form within 10 working days, reviews a Category 2 EIA within 30 working days and reviews a Category 3 EIA within 60 working days. A Category 3 scoping report is reviewed within 15 working days, extendable by up to 10 working days, after which it is treated as approved if NCEC stays silent. NCEC reviews each submission only after the fee is collected, and a request for corrections starts a new full review period. Adding the statutory periods alone, a Category 3 project needs at least 85 working days of NCEC review before any correction round.

Key terms used in this guide 11 terms
Category 1 activities
Activities expected to produce low environmental impact that does not exceed the perimeter of the activity's site. Arabic: أنشطة الفئة الأولى (meaning “activities of the first category”) Permits reg. Art. 4(4), First
Category 2 activities
Activities expected to produce moderate environmental impact throughout the different stages of the activity. The impact may be alleviated and controlled, and does not largely exceed the perimeter of the activity's site. Arabic: أنشطة الفئة الثانية (meaning “activities of the second category”) Permits reg. Art. 4(4), Second
Category 3 activities
Activities expected to produce significant environmental, social and economic impact, which may exceed the perimeter of the activity's site and adversely affect the sustainability of environmentally sensitive areas and receptors. Arabic: أنشطة الفئة الثالثة (meaning “activities of the third category”) Permits reg. Art. 4(4), Third
Environmental audit study
The study that Category 2 and 3 activities, and any activity NCEC names in a reasoned decision, submit with the renewal of the permit to operate. It is prepared by an NCEC licensed provider using the structure in Appendix 1 of the Audit regulation. The 1446H regulation no longer defines the term. Arabic: دراسة التدقيق البيئي (meaning “environmental audit study”) Audit reg. (1446H) Art. 5 and Appendix 1
Environmental classification form
A form submitted to the Center used to determine the category of the suggested activity in terms of environmental impact. Arabic: استمارة التصنيف البيئي (meaning “the environmental classification form”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) study
Study aimed at determining, estimating and evaluating the environmental impact of any activity classified by the Center as category 2 or 3, with the objective of incorporating environmental considerations into the final design of the activity, along with economic, social and security considerations, and identifying the necessary alternatives and measures to protect the environment. Arabic: دراسة تقييم الأثر البيئي (meaning “study of the assessment of the environmental impact”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental management plan (EMP)
Measures taken by the person to ensure and sustain environmental compliance. It is submitted as part of the procedures to obtain the environmental permit. Arabic: خطة الإدارة البيئية (meaning “the environmental management plan”) Permits reg. Art. 1
Environmental rehabilitation
Any procedure conducted on an environmentally degraded site or one that is affected by environmental damage or pollution, to restore its natural state of environmental balance, in accordance with the standards set by the competent authority. Arabic: إعادة التأهيل البيئي (meaning “environmental re-qualification (restoring to a fit state)”) Rehab reg. Art. 1
Modification of an activity
Any action that modifies the designs of the activity without changing the type of activity (translated from the Arabic guide). Arabic: تعديل نشاط (meaning “modification of an activity”) Permit guide, definitions
Rehabilitation plan
Plan that must be submitted to NCEC for certain Category 1 activities designated at classification, as part of a Category 2 or 3 EIA, whenever an incident requires rehabilitation of the damaged site, or on NCEC request after inspections or audits. Arabic: خطة إعادة التأهيل البيئي للمواقع المتدهورة (meaning “plan for the environmental rehabilitation of degraded sites”) Rehab reg. Art. 5, First (1)
Scoping report
Report detailing the scope of work of the environmental impact assessment of category 3 activities. Arabic: تقرير نطاق دراسة تقييم الأثر البيئي (meaning “report of the scope of the environmental impact assessment study”) Permits reg. Art. 1

All 49 terms in the NCEC glossary

On this page
  1. What are the statutory review periods?
  2. When does the review clock start?
  3. What happens to the clock when NCEC asks for corrections?
  4. How does deemed approval of a scoping report work?
  5. What about management plans and rehabilitation plans?
  6. How long does the whole review sequence take?
  7. What can go wrong?
  8. Checklist for planning the review timeline

What are the statutory review periods?

The permits regulation sets a fixed decision period for each submission. Most periods are counted in working days.

Classification form10 working days
Classification after corrections10 working days from receipt of the missing information
Extension for activities not on NCEC listsUp to 10 days
Category 2 EIA30 working days per round
Category 3 scoping report15 working days, plus up to 10
Category 3 EIA60 working days per round
Objection to a permit decision15 working days to file, 30 for NCEC to decide

The NCEC guide on EIA procedures repeats the same classification, scoping and EIA review periods.EIA guide, p. 8 to p. 11

Table sourcePermits reg. Art. 5(2) and (3), Art. 7(4), Art. 8, Art. 10

When does the review clock start?

NCEC reviews each submission only after the fee is collected. The regulation counts the 10 working day classification period from the date of the form, and each study review period from the date NCEC receives the study.Permits reg. Art. 5(2)

The NCEC EIA guide counts the same 10 working days from receipt of the form instead. The extension of up to 10 days for activities not previously classified is written as days, not working days, in both texts.EIA guide, p. 8 to p. 9 and Art. 5(3)

Fee ceilings are set in the fees regulation, and the actual amounts are fixed in NCEC's own dues charter.Fees reg. Art. 3(1)

What happens to the clock when NCEC asks for corrections?

A request to rectify or complete information ends the review round. A new full period then runs from the resubmission:

  • Classification form: a final decision within 10 working days of receiving all required information or the amended form.Permits reg. Art. 5(2)(b)
  • Category 2 EIA: a final decision within 30 working days of receiving all required information or the amended study.Permits reg. Art. 7(4)(b)
  • Category 3 EIA: a final decision within 60 working days of the modified study.Permits reg. Art. 8 Second (2)(b)

For both Category 2 and Category 3 studies, the regulation calls the decision after corrections the final decision. It does not describe what happens if the corrected study still falls short.Permits reg. Art. 7(4)(b) and Art. 8 Second (2)(b)

How does deemed approval of a scoping report work?

NCEC must approve the scoping report or send comments within 15 working days of receiving it. It may notify you of an extension of up to 10 additional working days.Permits reg. Art. 8 First (2) and (3)

If NCEC sends neither approval nor comments by the end of the extension, you must treat the scoping report as approved. You must then follow it when preparing the Category 3 EIA.Permits reg. Art. 8 First (3)

The text ties deemed approval to the extension period. It does not say what applies if NCEC neither replies nor notifies an extension.Permits reg. Art. 8 First (3)

If NCEC does comment, the Category 3 EIA must take those comments into account. The regulation sets no separate period for re-reviewing a revised scoping report.Permits reg. Art. 8 Second (1)

The timetable for preparing the Category 3 EIA belongs in the scoping report, and NCEC may ask for it to be changed.Permit guide, section 1(a)

What about management plans and rehabilitation plans?

Category 1 activities need NCEC approval of an environmental management plan. The permits regulation does not set a review period for that plan.Permits reg. Table 1

Rehabilitation plans have their own periods under the rehabilitation regulation:

  • Category 1 activities designated by NCEC have 30 working days from the classification decision to submit the plan, and NCEC decides within 15 working days.Rehab reg. Appendix 1
  • A revised Category 1 plan is reviewed within 5 working days.Rehab reg. Appendix 1
  • A plan inside a Category 2 or 3 EIA is reviewed within the EIA review period.Rehab reg. Appendix 1
  • A plan inside an audit study is reviewed within the audit review period.Rehab reg. Appendix 1

Management and rehabilitation plans submitted inside an EIA or audit study carry no extra review fee.Permit guide, section 1(c)

How long does the whole review sequence take?

The figures below add up the statutory NCEC periods only. They exclude study preparation, fieldwork, fee payment and any presentation NCEC requests.

Category 2, no corrections10 + 30 = 40 working days
Category 2, one correction round40 + 30 = 70 working days
Category 3, no corrections10 + 15 + 60 = 85 working days
Category 3, scoping extension used95 working days
Category 3, one EIA correction round145 to 155 working days

These sums are arithmetic from the regulation, not published NCEC targets. In practice, the time needed to prepare the full Category 3 study after scoping sits between the two NCEC reviews and is outside NCEC's control.

Table sourcePermits reg. Art. 5(2), Art. 7(4), Art. 8

What can go wrong?

Most delays come from steps that restart or extend the statutory clocks.

What can go wrong
  • Paying the review fee late delays the start of the clock, because NCEC reviews only after collecting the fee.Permits reg. Art. 7(4)
  • Each request for corrections starts a new review period of 30 working days for Category 2 or 60 working days for Category 3.Permits reg. Art. 7(4)(b) and Art. 8 Second (2)(b)
  • NCEC may decide that a Category 2 study must be redeveloped as a Category 3 EIA, which adds a scoping stage and a longer review.Permits reg. Art. 7(4)(c)
  • NCEC may call you to present the study. The regulation sets no time for this step.Permits reg. Art. 9(3)
  • A Category 3 EIA must include a table of NCEC scoping comments and how each was addressed. Missing responses invite a correction request.Permits reg. Art. 8, Appendix 4, item 9-6
  • An objection filed more than 15 working days after notification is not accepted.Permits reg. Art. 10(1)
  • The regulation counts the classification period from the date of the form but the EIA guide counts it from receipt, so the earlier date is not a safe planning basis.EIA guide, p. 8

Checklist for planning the review timeline

Before you fix a programme, confirm these points:

  • The fee for each submission is paid promptly.
  • The category is confirmed before the study scope is fixed.
  • The Category 3 EIA timetable is included in the scoping report.Permit guide, section 1(a)
  • The programme allows for at least one correction round.
  • Time is reserved for a possible NCEC presentation.Permits reg. Art. 9(3)
Need a realistic EIA programme for your project?

Hills & Field plans the classification, scoping and EIA submissions around the NCEC review clocks and prepares studies that aim to pass in the first round.

Our service: Classification and permit to establish

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References

Each small number in this guide shows the article or section that point comes from. Hover over or tap a number to see it, or open the full list below.

Show all 23 references and the 5 regulation texts
  1. Permits reg. Art. 5(2) and (3), Art. 7(4), Art. 8, Art. 10
  2. EIA guide, p. 8 to p. 11
  3. Permits reg. Art. 5(2)
  4. EIA guide, p. 8 to p. 9 and Art. 5(3)
  5. Fees reg. Art. 3(1)
  6. Permits reg. Art. 5(2)(b)
  7. Permits reg. Art. 7(4)(b)
  8. Permits reg. Art. 8 Second (2)(b)
  9. Permits reg. Art. 7(4)(b) and Art. 8 Second (2)(b)
  10. Permits reg. Art. 8 First (2) and (3)
  11. Permits reg. Art. 8 First (3)
  12. Permits reg. Art. 8 Second (1)
  13. Permit guide, section 1(a)
  14. Permits reg. Table 1
  15. Rehab reg. Appendix 1
  16. Permit guide, section 1(c)
  17. Permits reg. Art. 5(2), Art. 7(4), Art. 8
  18. Permits reg. Art. 7(4)
  19. Permits reg. Art. 7(4)(c)
  20. Permits reg. Art. 9(3)
  21. Permits reg. Art. 8, Appendix 4, item 9-6
  22. Permits reg. Art. 10(1)
  23. EIA guide, p. 8
How to read these references 5 texts cited
  • Art. 7(4)(b) means Article 7, paragraph 4, item (b).
  • First, Second and Third are the numbered parts some articles are divided into. The Arabic texts write them أولاً، ثانياً، ثالثاً (meaning first, second, third).

Every text we cite is listed on our regulations page.

Regulation texts this guide is written from

  • Executive Regulations for Environmental Permits to Establish and Operate Activities
  • Environmental Guidelines for Procedures in Preparing Environmental Impact Assessment Studies (NCEC, EP-M-43)
  • A guide to issuing and renewing environmental permits for the construction and operation of activities (NCEC, LO-1-M-005)
  • Executive Regulations for the Environmental Rehabilitation of Degraded Sites and Remediation of Polluted Sites
  • Executive Regulation for Controls and Procedures Pertaining to Financial Dues for Environmental Licenses, Permits and Services

This guide is general information written from the regulation texts listed above. It is not legal advice. Regulations change, and the official text always prevails. Spotted something out of date? Request a change.