This thesis screens the general Austrian EIA for its economic efficiency and in particular referring at the example of the GKI EIA, a hydro power plant in Tyrol with regard to prevalently temporal inefficiencies. The most substantial factors that have the possibility to delay EIA are for instance double handlings of the same fields in several reports, the treatment of irrelevant aspects such as economic factors, officially ordered resubmissions of documents, modifications on the part of the applicant and a public opposition towards the project. The GKI EIA in particular reveals only sporadic occurrences of double handlings. Economic factors have however been integrated into the EIR partial reports more frequently. In addition, Austrian EIA procedures were analysed by means of an unique gathered dataset for specific determinants that affect an EIA's proceeding duration. The findings portend to several factors that adversely impact the EIA duration such as the number of partial audits, number of resubmissions, the number of modifications and the public opposition with statistical significance. Due to the characteristics of the dataset a temporal separation (at completion of the EIR) is possible where an allotment of the respective variables was carried out. The results' significance thereby increases, while interestingly the public opposition is only expressed after the completion of the EIR. In turn, this implies an objective and non-hedging stance by the authorities with the demand of official enhancements orders. Moreover, project specific effects are not present before the EIR. However, after its completion Infrastructure, Waste, Mining and Other Projects appear to have a reduced duration relative to water energy projects. Furthermore, there are no significant differences among states.
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