Effectiveness Of Environmental Impact Assessment Research Articles

Public Participation and Environmental Impact Assessment in Mainland China and Taiwan: Political Foundations of Environmental Management

What role can public participation play in environmental management? Among major tools for environmental management, Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been widely practised in many countries. Its effectiveness, however, varies depending on the extent to which transparency and public participation are incorporated in its process. In this article, we analyse the role of public participation in environmental management by examining the operation of EIAs in two polities, Mainland China and Taiwan. In both cases, a lack of transparency and public participation had severely limited the effectiveness of EIA during the initial years when it was first introduced. Both polities have attempted to address the respective limitations of their EIA systems, and both have made some progress while encountering problems inherent in their underlying political institutions. The two cases illustrate the dynamic connections between political institutions and environmental management in developing countries.

The interminable issue of effectiveness: substantive purposes, outcomes and research challenges in the advancement of environmental impact assessment theory

An analysis of studies of the outcomes of environmental impact assessment (EIA) indicates that its role in consent and design decisions is limited, due primarily to passive integration with the decision processes it is intended to inform. How much EIA helps sustainable development is largely unknown, but it is hypothesised that it is more than is typically assumed, through a plethora of causes, including emancipation of stakeholders and incremental change in the bureaucracy, companies and scientific institutions. To enhance the effectiveness of EIA, research should focus more on theory about the nature and operation of diverse causal processes, even though the concepts, methods and analytical challenges would be substantial.

Contribution of a European spatial data infrastructure to the effectiveness of EIA and SEA studies

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEA) frequently rely on spatial analysis underpinned by spatial data. However, the potential of spatial analysis is often not fully exploited. A questionnaire survey prepared by the European Commission (EC) revealed the existence of problems with the use of spatial data for the preparation of EIA and SEA reports, that have important implications for the preparation of environmental impact studies. This survey has been conducted in the context of the preparation of an extended impact assessment of a proposal for a Directive on INSPIRE—an Infrastructure for Spatial Information in Europe. The INSPIRE initiative intends to deal with a range of barriers that now prevent the widespread use of spatial data in support of good governance that contributes to sustainable development. If INSPIRE could help overcoming the problems related with the availability, access and interoperability of spatial datasets, it would decrease the time and cost needed for the preparation of EIA and SEA reports, improve their quality and reliability and facilitate public participation. Therefore it would contribute to better and more transparent environmental decision-making, thus promoting sustainable development.

THE CONSIDERATION OF IMPACTS UPON THE AQUATIC ENVIRONMENT IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS IN ENGLAND AND WALES

Considerable research has been undertaken on the quality of Environmental Impact Statements as an indicator, albeit superficial, of the effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) practices. Yet there remains a paucity of empirical data on practices at the more detailed level (e.g., for the consideration of certain environmental components and stages of the EIA process), despite the importance of such analyses for the development of grounded measures for enhancing effectiveness. This study contributes to the development of a detailed empirical understanding of EIA practices by examining analyses of impacts upon the aquatic environment (Water Impact Assessment (WIA)) for a sample of 50 development proposals in England and Wales. The research results indicate that WIA practices have improved over time, but a significant proportion of assessments remain unsatisfactory, and the quality of core elements of WIA (e.g., the consideration of alternatives and impact prediction) is particularly problematic. It is suggested that changes made to the EU EIA legislation have not significantly affected WIA practices in England and Wales. However, practices are not as problematic as research indicates is the case for ecological, socio-economic and cumulative impact assessments. Further strengthening the legislative provisions for EIA would partially address a number of specific problems (e.g., inadequate scoping and provision for monitoring). Nevertheless, a comprehensive and concerted strategy for enhancing effectiveness will be required if WIA is fulfil its potential for contributing to the management maxim of sustainable development.

Environmental impact assessment of projects in the People's Republic of China: new law, old problems

After more than 20 years of experience with environmental impact assessment (EIA), the government of the People's Republic of China is set to introduce a new EIA Law, in September 2003, in which strategic environmental assessment (SEA) complements the current project-oriented EIA process. In general, the new law does not attempt to modify the existing EIA system in any radical ways, suggesting that the government consider current practices satisfactory. In order to assess the likely prospects of the new EIA Law for project-level EIA, this paper presents an evaluation of the current EIA process in China, first, establishing the historical context of the current process and, second, considering the main issues and concerns relating to the institutional and procedural arrangements, and practical implementation of the process. The main problems highlighted are as follows: the narrow historic focus on pollution of air, water and soil, at the expense of the consideration of wider environmental, social and health impacts; environmental protection agencies being funded by development-oriented local government administrations; the lack of consideration of alternatives in EIA processes; and the lack of effective public participation. More specific procedural issues are also discussed. On the basis of this analysis, we make recommendations for improving the effectiveness of EIA at the project level. The introduction of SEA in the new law marks a real step forward for EIA in China, although it appears to exclude central government policies, and there are improved provisions for public participation. However, the prospects for EIA in China will remain mixed as long as the new law leaves project-level EIA largely unchanged.

Evaluation of the effectiveness and quality of environmental impact assessment in the Federal Republic of Germany

This study uses empirical research of 145 projects on environmental impact assessment (EIA). The researchers generated and tested hypotheses based on questions about the effectiveness and quality of EIA. By means of EIA, aspects of proactive thinking have entered into procedural decisions more than previously presumed and modifications in the spatial dimensions of projects have played an especially prominent role. The three most important factors affecting the scale of general project modifications are: the degree to which the subject matter and methodological aspects of a study are prescribed by §5 of the EIA Act (Scoping); the early, intense involvement of authorities, experts, and third parties in the scoping; and the degree to which the project's effects and impacts are analyzed and forecast in the environmental impact study (EIS). EIA and EIS practice has moved beyond the ‘experimental phase’ and routines have now emerged for certain parts of the procedure.

Capacity building for trade impact assessment: lessons from the development of environmental impact assessment

This paper examines difficulties in creating capacity to undertake impact assessments of trade policy and possible approaches to overcoming them, particularly in developing countries. The assessment of trade agreements and related policies can be a highly complex task, involving many different specialist disciplines. Also, many hurdles have to be overcome to integrate an effective impact assessment process into policy- formulation and decision-making mechanisms. Difficulties in some ways similar, in other ways different, have been encountered in developing effective environmental impact assessment (EIA) systems. This paper reviews experience with EIA capacity-building, and considers how the lessons learned might be applied to initiatives to build capacity for the impact assessment of trade policy.

AN ASSESSMENT OF ENVIRONMENT FOR WASTEWATER TREATMENT SYSTEM BY LCA TECHNIQUE

Social system and production system in the modem society are closely related to the wide field, and it becomes a complicated thing. Various environmental problems exist in the social structure. It is necessary to analyze the effect from various sides for the solution of such problems. Especially, the load to the environment may be made to increase in the integrated network infrastructure, if the consideration from the stage of plan and design to environmental harmony-ness is not sufficiently carried out. In this study, it stood at the viewpoint of life cycle of facilities until the disposal from the design, and environmental effect of disposal, operation and construction in the social foundation facility was determined quantitatively. Considering this background, as one step in solving these environmental problems the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) technique for environmental impact assessment will be examined in this research. As the result, the LCA technique can be called that the application to social foundation facilities represented for the waste water treatment system is also sufficiently possible and that to also make in addition, the wide-area environmental problem to be an object is possible, and that it is a point the quantitative evaluation, and that it is the very effective environmental impact assessment technique.

Transparency in environment impact assessment decision-making: recent developments in Western Australia

Transparency in decision-making, involving the establishment of explicit goals and objectives combined with open, facilitative procedures, has recently been advocated as an important principle for effective environmental impact assessment (EIA). This paper examines recent changes to EIA practice in Western Australia that emphasise clear procedures for decision-making. Current practices focus on objectives established for relevant environmental factors identified during the screening and scoping stages of EIA. These objectives are then used as decision criteria for project decision-making following public review. An example from a recent assessment is provided. Some strengths and weaknesses of this approach to transparent EIA decision-making are also examined.

FORUM: Exploring the EIA/Environmental Management Relationship.

/ An important measure of the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the extent to which it achieves its goals for environmental protection and management. To determine this requires an examination of environmental outcomes for projects that have undergone EIA. The utility of the predecision stages of EIA in influencing environmental decisions has been well documented by others. It is argued here that EIA can also play a useful role in providing for ongoing adaptive environmental management. The hypothesis of this research is that EIA does influence environmental management activities and outcomes for development projects and that this influence occurs during three stages based on the principal approval decision point-predecision, postdecision, and transitional stages. This hypothesis was tested with respect to six case studies in Western Australia (WA). The majority of management actions were proposed during the predecision stage along with the formulation of impact predictions, although significant environmental management activities were established during the other stages of the EIA process. New management actions were implemented during the postdecision stage in response to the occurrence of unexpected impacts. Adaptive management activities were initiated during the transitional stage of EIA through the setting of environmental objectives in the predecision stage that left scope for a flexible approach to be adopted for achieving these objectives. During project assessment in WA, strong emphasis is placed on the need for ongoing monitoring and management programs. The implementation of these programs was found to be central to successful achievement of project and environmental performance objectives. The case studies demonstrate that a strong relationship exists between EIA and ongoing environmental management performance in WA.KEY WORDS: Environmental impact assessment; Ongoing management; Effectiveness; Audithttp://link.springer-ny.com/link/service/journals/00267/bibs/24n3p281.html

Environmental Impact Assessment in Spain: A Critical Review

Spanish environmental legislation and the implementation of Directives 85/337/EEC and 97/11/ EC on environmental impact assessment (EIA); an analysis of the main factors that influence the effectiveness of EIA in Spain, those factors being characterised as either internal (that is, inherent in legislation) or external, that is, other factors, which can vary from political to social issues. A comparison between the theory and the practice; and an assessment of the likely efficacy of the amended EIA Directive in Spain. Conclusion that certain failings are caused by failings in the text of the EIA Directive itself; although certain national legislative mechanisms in Spain have gone beyond the terms of the Directive, EIA in Spain is a politicised and arbitrary process and legislation is not usually respected, leading to a high proportion of unsatisfactory EIA and irregular implementation.

Quality and effectiveness of environmental impact assessments: lessons and insights from ten assessments in Canada

Evaluations of environmental impact assessment (EIA) experiences are often anecdotal, raising the issue of generalizing beyond unique local conditions. A cross section of ten EIA reports is systematically reviewed in an effort to address this concern. The analysis is first placed in context with an overview of concepts and frameworks for assessing EIA quality and effectiveness. After presenting the study methodology, the ten EIAs are subjected to both a screening and a performance analysis. Examples of recurrent problem areas identified include: overall study design; the generation and evaluation of alternatives; the consideration of impact significance; uncertainty; cumulative effects potential and sustainability; and impact management integration and implementation.

A systematic review of Tanzanian environmental impact statements

Over 30 environmental impact assessments (EIAs) have been carried out in Tanzania to date. The majority of these were required by international development agencies. Legislation to make EIA a national requirement is to be introduced in Tanzania in the near future. The present situation provides an opportunity to assess the current effectiveness of EIA in Tanzania and to determine how it could be improved. Eighteen Tanzanian environmental impact statements (EISs) were reviewed using a procedure modified from that of the UK Institute of Environmental Assessment. In addition to the generally poor standard of Tanzanian EISs, inadequacy of public participation was found to be a key factor in limiting the effectiveness of EIA. Many of the deficiencies found during the EIS review could be rectified relatively easily and this paper seeks to offer some recommendations as to how this could be achieved.

Environmental impact assessment as a tool for on going environmental management

An important measure of the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the extent to which it achieves its goals for environmental protection and management. To deter-mine this requires an examination of environmental outcomes for projects that have undergone EIA. Four case studies from Western Australia are described During project appraisal, strong emphasis was placed on the need for ongoing monitoring and management programmes. The implementation of these programmes was found to be central to successful achievement of project and environmental performance objectives. The case studies demonstrate that a strong relationship exists between EIA and ongoing environmental management in Western Australia.

Quality control mechanisms and environmental impact assessment effectiveness with special reference to the UK

The fundamental components of an effective environmental impact assessment (EIA) system are formulated. It is proposed that EIA effectiveness can only be ensured if there are good quality control mechanisms in place. Nine categories of quality control are proposed: legislative, procedural, evaluative, professional, public/relevant agency, administrative, judicial, follow-up and international These newly proposed mechanisms can be applied to gauge the completeness, comprehensiveness and effectiveness of existing EIA systems in a variety of social and political contexts. The UK environmental assessment system was used as an example to demonstrate how quality control mechanisms can be applied to evaluate EIA effectiveness. It is concluded that considerable improvements could be made, particularly in legislative control, while public/relevant agency, professional and international controls have done much to raise EA quality in the UK.

EIA AUDITING TO DETERMINE ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE

Environmental auditing is an important tool for providing an account of post-development environmental impact assessment (EIA) activities. In the past much EIA auditing has focused on predictive techniques and prediction accuracy, which provide little information on the actual environmental outcomes. However, of central interest in determining the effectiveness of EIA is the extent to which the environment is managed and protected as a result of the EIA process as it is intended. A framework is presented for EIA auditing which focuses on the environmental management outcomes of projects that have undergone EIA. The audit methodology for determining EIA effectiveness focuses on several distinct EIA components: impact prediction; occurrence of actual impacts; and the management of potential and actual environmental impacts. These are examined with particular attention to impact and environmental management outcomes. The results are stored in a computerized database which can be used as an implementation record for individual projects that have undergone EIA or for the statistical analysis of large numbers of projects collectively to present an overall picture of EIA environmental management performance. This approach to EIA auditing has applications for project managers, EIA assessment authorities, policy-makers and academics alike. Some preliminary results of an EIA audit of six case studies in Western Australia are presented. These indicate that the EIA process has focused attention on significant issues. Correlation exists between issue identification and the implementation of environmental management actions irrespective of predictive accuracy. Some management activities have avoided impacts occurring. Many impacts have been responded to irrespective of whether they were predicted accurately or even considered in predictions. Overall, an effective environmental management regime was established by the EIA process utilized for the six case studies.

Environmental assessment procedures and issues in the Pacific Basin-Southeast Asia region

Introduction International concern about the environmental effects of development has grown rapidly over the last three decades. At first, environmental problems were perceived mainly as problems for wealthy countries. Now they have become recognized as problems for poor and rich countries alike, and consideration of the environmental effects of development has become a central rather than a peripheral issue in the planning and assessment of development programmes. Environmental problems relate to questions of ecologically sustainable development including resource use, the maintenance of productive ecosystems and biodi-versity, and human physical and social health. Environment is defined in its broadest sense to incorporate both the natural and the cultural dimensions. Most developing countries in the Asia and Pacific regions are very much aware of the costs of environmental degradation and the effects of development planning and, in some, there are now many years of experience in attempting to assess, mitigate, and monitor adverse environmental impacts of development projects and programmes. However, in other countries, formative steps are only now being taken towards such assessments. This paper focuses on the procedures and the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment (EIA) of 17 countries as they were reported at a training w. orkshop on environmental assessment for development planning at Griffith University in Brisbane, Australia, in July 1988. All but three of the 37 participants at the workshop came from the Pacific Basin and Southeast Asian countries (as -shown in Table 1) and included government officials, academics, and representatives from industry. All were either practitioners or intending practitioners in EIA but with a variety of backgrounds in planning, engineering, conservation, pollution control, or natural resource management. The purpose of the workshop was to assist in manpower development in the region and to advance the practice of environmental assessment in development planning.

The EC EIA directive: Two initiatives, one issue

Considerable attention has been given to the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment (EIA) since the 1970s. Relatively few research studies, however, have approached EIA as an instrument of environmental governance, and have explored the mechanisms through which EIA influences the behaviour of actors involved in planning processes. Consequently, theory in this area is underspecified. In this paper we contribute to theory-building by analysing the effectiveness of a unique EIA system: the Danish system. In this system the competent authority, instead of the project proponent, undertakes EIA reporting. Additionally, the public, rather than experts, play a central role in quality control and the Danish EIA community is relatively small which influences community dynamics in particular ways. A nation-wide survey and expert interviews were undertaken in order to examine the views of actors involved in EIA on the effectiveness of this anomalous system. The empirical data are compared with similar studies on governance mechanisms in other countries, especially the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, as well as with earlier evaluations of EIA effectiveness in Denmark. The results indicate that the more extensive role attributed to the competent authority may lead to higher EIA effectiveness when this aligns with their interests; the influence of the public is amplified by a powerful complaints system; and, the size of the EIA community appears to have no substantial influence on EIA effectiveness. We discuss how the research findings might enhance our theoretical understanding of the operation and effectiveness of governance mechanisms in EIA.

An ecological approach to environmental impact assessment

Carbon cycling analysis is presented as a means for assessing anthropogenic perturbations in an ecosystem. Data from oligotrophic, eutrophic, and dystrophic (bog) lakes are used to show general trends in the lacustrine carbon cycle. The oligotrophic lake is an unstressed system and the eutrophic lake is under nutrient enrichment with high algal standing crops and productivity. The bog lake is a pH-stressed environment that is primarily a grazing ecosystem. It is hoped that a more effective environmental impact assessment will result from the use of carbon cycling as a unifying concept in ecosystem analysis.