Environmental affect assessment

Environmental impact assessment EIA is a assessment of a environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or actual projects prior to the decision to keep on forward with the presentation action. In this context, the term "environmental affect assessment" EIA is ordinarily used when applied to actual projects by individuals or house in addition to the term "strategic environmental assessment" SEA applies to policies, plans & programmes almost often submission by organs of state. it is for a tool of environmental management forming a factor of project approval & decision-making. Environmental assessments may be governed by rules of administrative procedure regarding public participation and documentation of decision making, and may be sent to judicial review.

The aim of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider the environmental impacts when deciding whether or non to continue with a project. The International connection for Impact Assessment IAIA defines an environmental impact assessment as "the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other applicable effects of coding proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made". EIAs are unique in that they hit not require adherence to a predetermined environmental outcome, but rather they require decision makers to account for environmental values in their decisions and to justify those decisions in light of detailed environmental studies and public comments on the potential environmental impacts.

History

Environmental Impact Assessments commenced in the 1960s, as element of increasing environmental awareness. An EIA is prepared to estimate the effects of a proposed development or construction project. EIAs render technical evaluations that are planned to contribute to more objective decision making. In the United States, Environmental Impact Assessments obtained formal status in 1969, with the enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act NEPA. EIAs have been used increasingly around the world. The number of environmental assessments filed every year "has vastly overtaken the number of more rigorous Environmental Impact Statements EIS." An environmental assessment is a "mini-EIS designed to provide sufficient information to let the organization to resolve whether the preparation of a full-blown Environmental Impact solution EIS is necessary."