Abstract
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is key to the robust environmental management of industrial projects; it is used to anticipate, assess and reduce environmental and social risks of a project. It is instrumental in project planning and execution, and often required for financing and regulatory approval to be granted. The International Seabed Authority currently requires an EIA for deep-sea mining (DSM) in areas beyond national jurisdiction (the Area), but the existing regulations present only a portion of a robust EIA process. This article presents an ideal EIA process for DSM, drawing upon the application of EIA from allied industries. It contains screening, scoping and assessment phases, along with the development of an environmental management plan. It also includes external review by experts, stakeholder consultation, and regulatory review. Lessons learned from application of EIA elsewhere are discussed in relation to DSM, including the integration of EIA into UK domestic law, and the reception of EIAs prepared for seabed ore extraction in the Exclusive Economic Zones of New Zealand and Papua New Guinea. Finally, four main challenges of implementing the EIA process to DSM in the Area are presented: 1) EIA process for DSM needs to incorporate mechanisms to address uncertainty; 2) detailed requirements for the EIA process phases should be made clear; 3) mechanisms are needed to ensure that the EIA influences decision making; and, 4) the EIA process requires substantial input and involvement from the regulator.
Highlights
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a key aspect of the planning and environmental management of commercial and industrial projects
It concentrates on the EIA process, rather than on the technical aspects of preparing an EIA, which are covered in more detail for deep-sea mining (DSM) by others [e.g. 13–15]
Four typical approaches are used to determine the need for an EIA: 1) preliminary study or initial environmental evaluation, where the need for an EIA is considered through an early assessment, generalised across an industry or area; 2) case-by-case, where the need for EIA is individually assessed; 3) an established list of projects or activities stating which require or do not require an EIA [as in the Legal and Technical Commission (LTC) recommendations in 16]; and 4) by thresholds, where the need for EIA is based on specific measures and limits according to predefined criteria [31]
Summary
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a key aspect of the planning and environmental management of commercial and industrial projects. This article examines the use of EIA as a tool for environmental protection and management in the context of DSM, drawing upon the application of EIA from allied industries It concentrates on the EIA process, rather than on the technical aspects of preparing an EIA, which are covered in more detail for DSM by others [e.g. 13–15]. This article first discusses a number of key concepts relevant to the EIA process, and describes the existing regulatory framework, before outlining the ideal EIA process for DSM incorporating these concepts It describes some lessons learned from previous applications of EIA in related situations, and summarises the main challenges in implementing this EIA process for DSM under the current regulations
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
