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Environmental Impact Assessment
Introduction
Environmental Impact Assessment is a tool used for decision making regarding projects, developments and programmes such as incinerators, airport runways, pig rearing and peat extraction. EIA is intended to identify the Environmental, Social and Economic impacts of a proposed development prior to decision making.

Legal Background

This means that it is easy to identify;

  1. The most environmentally suitable option at an early stage.
  2. The Best Practicable Environmental Option.
  3. Alternative processes.

The project managers can then address these problems in order to avoid or minimise environmental impacts in conjunction with their project planning. This results in the likelihood of the project planning stages running smoother

In the UK the word impact is often dropped from the title hence The Institute of Environmental Assessment.

 

 The Environmental Assessment is carried out by the Developer although the task is often carried out by Environmental Consultants. Environmental Assessment is carried out in order to produce an Environmental Statement. The Environmental Statement must include:
  1. A description of the project: location, design, scale, size etc.
  2. Description of significant effects.
  3. Mitigating Measures
  4. A Non-Technical summary.

There are two steps in EIA. The two stages are

  1. Preliminary Assessment: Carried out in the early stages of planning
  2. Detailed Assessment: Carried out during project planning until the project plan is completed and are reported formally as an Environmental Statement.

Detailed Notes on EIA are available here

Real Example Guidelines from DEFRA on developing semi-natural land

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