Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a procedure that ensures that the environmental implications of decisions are taken into account before the decisions are made. The process involves an analysis of the likely effects on the environment, recording those effects in a report, undertaking a public consultation exercise on the report, taking into account the comments and the report when making the final decision and informing the public about that decision afterwards.
EIA, in brief, extrapolates from scientific knowledge to assess the problem consequences of some human interventions on nature. Although EIA uses the techniques of science, it differs from ordinary scientific inquiry, because it is dealing with events which have not yet occurred, may not occur, and whose chances of occurrence may be changed by the very statement that they may occur. Some measures are required to be taken in the future to reduce the anticipated environmental degradation. Before starting a major project, it is essential to assess the present environment without the project, and the likely impact of the project on the environment, when it is completed. Therefore, an EIA has to be made before starting a project. For analysis of EIA, many professions and disciplines have to be involved.
Like economic and engineering feasibility studies, EIA is a management tool for officials and managers who make important decisions about major development projects. The EIA should have the following objectives:
- Predict environmental impact of projects
- Find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts
- Shape project to suite local environment
- Present the predictions and options to the decision-makers
The EIA statement should cover brief description of project, brief description of existing environment, likely impact of project, the mitigation and protection measures, consideration of alternatives, and summary with conclusions. EIA enables environmental factors to be given due weight, along with economic or social factors, when planning applications are being considered. It helps to promote a sustainable pattern of physical development and seawater use in the country.
