No, I don't know if anyone in our company said we wouldn't do it if it wasn't an EA. That's not the point. The point is that a regulatory certainty is a key part of doing anything in my business. The regulations have been assessed. There is nothing unless there actually is an environmental assessment trigger.
Separate from the whole issue about public consultation and concern, my point is that the regulations dictate when an EA is required and when not, and this particular event has been tested and there is no environmental assessment trigger.