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A public consultation is a procedure through which public authorities allow any person (citizen, association, local authority) to learn about a project and to submit comments, proposals, or opinions, before a decision is made. It aims to guarantee transparency, information, and public participation regarding projects that have an impact on the environment or on land use planning.
It is not a referendum or a vote.

Depending on the nature of the project and the applicable legal framework, public participation can take several forms provided for by the French Environmental Code.

Prior public debate (concertation préalable)
Organized before the file is submitted, it allows the public to be informed and to debate the merits, objectives, and main characteristics of the project.
It may be organized by the National Commission for Public Debate (CNDP) or directly by the project owner.
🔗 Art. L121-1 et seq. of the French Environmental Code

Single public inquiry
Procedure overseen by an inquiry officer or an inquiry commission.
The public can review the file and submit comments in a paper or digital register, during office hours or public meetings.
At the end of the procedure, the inquiry officer issues a report and reasoned conclusions.
🔗 Art. L123-1 et seq. of the French Environmental Code

Public participation by electronic means (PPVE)
Consultation organized online by the competent authority, without an inquiry officer.
The public can review the file and submit comments on a digital platform for a set period.
🔗 Art. L123-19 of the French Environmental Code

Subsidiary participation
Applies when no specific public participation procedure is applicable. It ensures compliance with the right to participation provided for in Article 7 of the Environmental Charter.
🔗 Art. L123-19-2 of the French Environmental Code

Consultation as part of Concurrent Public Consultation
This is a public consultation organized as part of the environmental authorization procedure.
Introduced by the law on green industry, it allows public participation to be organized concurrently with the administrative review of the file.
Specific features:
o its duration is set at 3 months
o Mandatory public meetings (one opening, one closing)
o Possible office hours held by the inquiry officer
o Procedure applicable by default to projects subject to environmental authorization
🔗 Art. L181-10-1 of the French Environmental Code
🔗 Decree No. 2024-742 of 6 July 2024

The type of public participation (prior public debate, public inquiry, electronic consultation, etc.) depends on the project's level of environmental impact and its regulatory framework. It is determined by the competent administration, mainly the Prefecture or the Regional Directorate for the Environment (DREAL), based on the French Environmental Code.

The project is subject to environmental authorization because it is likely to have an impact on the environment (in accordance with Article L181-1 of the French Environmental Code).
In accordance with Law No. 2023-973 of 23 October 2023 on green industry, and Decree No. 2024-742 of 6 July 2024, this project is being reviewed under a Concurrent Public Consultation procedure. This means that:
• The public consultation is open while State services review the file,
• This consultation must last three months,
• This helps speed up overall timelines while ensuring public participation.

Simply fill in the contribution form. ("Contribute" button at the top of each page). Identify yourself or participate anonymously, indicate whether you wish to follow up on the consultation by ticking the relevant boxes, add an attachment if you wish, fill in the "My contribution" field, and click "Submit my contribution".
Please note: it is not possible to edit a contribution once submitted; it is published online automatically, so be sure to review it carefully before sending.

Yes, regulatory opinions (contributing services, entities issuing regulatory opinions, and relevant local authorities) will be published on the platform during the 3-month consultation period, on the Online consultation page, in the Documents to review section.
You can ask to be notified by email whenever new documents are published, by ticking the relevant box in the form.

The reasoned conclusions of the inquiry officer are sent by the inquiry officer or the inquiry commission following the consultation to the administrative court and to the administrative authority in order to initiate the decision-making phase by beginning the final review of the file.

The applicant and the inquiry officer or inquiry commission may respond to questions from the public.
Responses will be visible:
• together with public contributions on the Online consultation page, in the "public contributions" section, if they are directly linked to the questions.
• on the Online consultation page, in the Documents to review section, if they are included in a summary document published online.

Yes. The platform complies with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). No data is used for commercial purposes. See Personal Data Protection Policy

Yes. Timestamped contributions are legally admissible within the framework of the procedures set out in the French Environmental Code (public inquiry or PPVE).