There is an unseen risk of danger in our everyday life due to hazardous substances that follows a modern society. In Becks theory, the risk society, Beck describes that society can work to prevent the environmental effects on a manageable, local level (Beck, 2000). A detailed development plan (DDP) and especially an environmental impact assessment (EIA) can be seen as an action from society to prevent or lower the environmental effects. To what extent to the society fulfill this purpose, is a matter of debate.

The aim of the thesis was to see how the process of Detailed Development Plans (DDP) is working on a local level in Sweden and how the quality is reflected in the process. More specifically, the thesis investigates the role of EIA actors involved in the DDP process, as well as whether these processes may be inadequate from an environmental conservation perspective.

Eight years have passed since the legislation of Environmental Assessments and Environmental Impact Assessment of Plans and Programs was introduced in the Swedish Environmental Code and a study of the implementation is both interesting and necessary.

The research questions for the study are as follows.   

• How well are the environmental objects integrated in the process and does that have any effect on the quality of the DDP process?
• What do EIA actors consider important to affect a good DDP process?
• What role do the County Administrative Boards (CABs) have in the DDP process?