A. Environmental Impact Assessment refers to both a decision making process and a document that provides a systematic, reproducible, and interdisclipinary evaluation of the potential physical, biological, cultural, and socioeconomic effects of a proposed action and its practical alternatives. Proposed actions may include projects, programs, policies, or plans. As a decision making process, EIA provides a means for decision makers to better integrate environmental, social, and economic concerns. It provides the opportunity for all stakeholders in a proposed action, including the public, to participate in the identification of issues of concern, practical alternatives, and to identify opportunities to avoid or mitigate adverse impacts. The process begins with a decision to proceed with EIA, implementation of plans for public participation and stakeholder involvement, documentation of purpose and need, scoping of important issues and interests in the proposed action as well as its alternatives, development of baseline information on the natural and human environments, assessment of impacts and development of a decision making document, and plan for mitigation of impacts. It can culminate in follow-up monitoring and mechanisms to secure compliance with conditions for approval. While there is widespread agreement on basic principles of EIA their application differs internationally, particularly in the degree to which alternatives are assessed, the public involved, and follow up considered to be part of the process.
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A. By identifying potential alternatives and adverse impacts, nations can better achieve goals for sustainable development, avoid or mitigate adverse environmental, social and cultural impacts, reduce costs, better plan for needed infrastructure and avoid loss of irretrievable resources.
A. There are seven basic components of an effective EIA program:
The establishment by law of a substantive national environmental policy that encompasses the concept of EIA.
The creation of EIA regulations and requirements that implement environmental laws in ways that are systematic, rigorous, and practical.
The establishment of a regulatory system for preparing EIAs, or for coordinating, guiding, and reviewing the preparation of EIAs by others.
The identification and clarification of organizational roles and responsibilities within the general framework of EIA regulations and procedures.
The coordination of EIA preparation and review activities and decision-making among government agencies, private developers, environmental consultants, and the public.
The ongoing evaluation of the success of the program and holding program personnel accountable for its success.
The encouragement of public participation in all aspects of the EIA process.
A. An EIA can be both the document and decision-making process that provides a systematic, reproducible, and interdisciplinary evaluation of the potential effects of a proposed action and its practical alternatives on the physical, biological, cultural, and socioeconomic attributes of a particular geographic area. In the United States, though, the actual document, is referred to as the Environmental Impact Statement or EIS.
A. There are 13 major components to an effective EIA report:
Cover page
Summary of the proposed action the accurately describes the EIA report, stresses final conclusions, areas of controversy, and issues to be resolved.
Table of contents
A brief statement on the purpose and need for action in proposing alternatives, including a description of the proposed action.
A presentation of the environmental impacts of the proposed action and all reasonable alternatives in comparable form, including the no-action alternative. The reason why alternatives were recommended or eliminated should also be illustrated.
A succinct description of the environment of the area to be affected by the alternatives under consideration.
A description of different means of meeting the basic purpose and need of a proposed action. The goal is to identify the least environmentally damaging alternative that satisfies the basic purpose and need of the proposed action.
A discussion of the environmental impacts of the various alternatives being considered.
A listing of the written comments submitted by reviewing governmental agencies, public and private organizations, and interested individuals, and comments submitted in public hearings on the report. Responses to comments to the comments should follow the comment directly, or reference the particular comment requiring any specific response.
A list of the names and a summary of the professional qualifications of persons who were primarily responsible for the preparation of the EIA report or significant background materials.
A list detailing the agencies, organizations, and persons that have been sent copies of the report.
An index or listing of the major components of the EIA report.
Appendices containing materials in connection with the EIA report that substantiate analyses fundamental to the report, relate to the decisions made, and that should be circulated with the report.
A. The role of an EIA reviewer is to ensure that both the substantive and procedural requirements for preparing an EIA have been met. The public and various stakeholders conduct a review of an EIA document during public participation or in response to notification and opportunities to review and comment on an EIA or project proposal. The reviewer functions to see that any bias in the EIA is overcome, identify important information gaps and alternatives that have been overlooked, provide related expertise, etc. The presence of a reviewer can help to prevent the requirements for EIA from being merely a paperwork exercise.
A. Once a decision is made that EIA is necessary for a proposed action, a team is assembled and the formal scoping process begins. This process usually includes consultation within and between governmental departments and public and government participation in one or more scoping meetings. The purpose of scoping is to identify reasonable alternatives and issues and concerns related to the proposed action; provide early identification of areas (including data gathering and research) that will need attention for evaluation of their significance; and facilitate consideration of alternatives and mitigation. Scoping is an ongoing process, but it is most effective and useful when begun early in the planning process.