The training courses are offered by U.S. EPA are based on internationally accepted principles and delivered in a facilitated style.  Participants learn by active involvement in small group exercises using realistic case studies, role-play, and group discussion.  The training courses are designed for hand-off to trained in-country facilitators through what is usually a three step process.

Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment:

The course provides a framework and principles for understanding how nations may define and design environmental impact assessment processes which can integrate environmental, economic, and social objectives in project and program decision-making.  The course uses a student text and a fictional case study as well as a participatory, facilitated exercises and role-playing.  These teaching methods allow participants to explore environmental policies, procedures and general methods used to prepare and utilize environmental assessments while integrating economic, social and environmental considerations in decision-making on projects, programs, or policies.  Participants understand and have an opportunity to carry out and use internationally recognized elements of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) process such as:

1. Scoping of the range of environmental impacts of concern in a particular project proposal;

2. Development of alternatives to project proposals to enable decision-makers to make choices which can harmonize different project goals;

3. The role and approaches to achieve effective public participation;

4. Identification and analysis of environmental impacts; 

5. Defining and identifying ways to mitigate environmental impacts;

6. How to achieve desired staffing and resource needs for a multi-disciplinary approach;

7. Development and use of the environmental impact assessme in decision-making.

The course is designed for delivery to policy makers both within and outside of government to build shared commitment, concepts and buy-in, and to provide practitioners with a richer understanding of the purpose and goals of EIA and of the process as a whole. The group of participants in training will vary depending upon the course delivery objectives and may include governmental officials from environmental and non-environmental agencies concerned with project and program design and implementation, and persons in related and supportive fields from public institutes, academia, non-governmental organizations and citizen groups, environmental and industrial organizations, and political leaders.

Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment Review

This course is designed to train independent government reviewers of Environmental Impact Assessments in how to effectively carry out their unique role in the EIA process.  It is a four day facilitated course.  It uses four actual draft and final EIAs as case studies with exercises, facilitated discussion, and role-playing to introduce students to fundamental elements involved in reviewing EIAs.  Four U.S. case studies on a range of topics are used with an opportunity to substitute up to three of these where examples are more relevant or local languages are preferred. Criteria are offered for case study selection in consultation with the EPA program manager.  To review these criteria, click here.  This training course can be delivered independently but often recommended best as a sequel to the Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment.  Course topics include:

1. Understanding the role of an independent reviewers of EIA; 

2. How to identify the significant environmental issues in an EIA; 

3. How to set priorities when there are numerous EIA=s to review; 

4. How to put together an interdisciplinary review team which draws upon appropriate technical knowledge and experience; 

5. How to review an EIA for completeness, adequacy, accuracy and appropriate consideration of alternatives; 

6. How to negotiate modifications to project proposals and EIA=s and communicate results of EIA review to EIA preparers/project proponents; 

7. How to ensure effective follow up to mitigation and alternatives;  

8. How to identify and access resources for carrying out the review; and 

9. How to communicate and influence decisions and the EIA process to ensure its effectiveness.

All course participants receive a copy of the student texts for both courses, a resource manual, the final environmental impact assessments for the case studies as an ongoing resource, and a copy of the CD-ROM containing the Environmental Assessment Sourcebook and Environmental Assessment Resource Guide.

For Further Information and Inquiries on EIA Training Courses, Contact: