The environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a valuation of the possible impacts that a proposed project may have on the environment. The study should be focused towards “sustainable development” while having a minimum damage to the environment. This study is done for an assessment of all elements in the environments under physical, biological and social spheres and also comprises an extended cost benefit analyses. The experts involved in this study should work together as a team rather than work as individuals. The resulting EIA report is a valuable document for decision makers, which is used to decide whether or not to proceed with the proposed project. However, many EIA studies are not conducted scientifically and resulting reports are poor in quality, lack of required information; hence decisions makers often face difficulties when they arriving a decision. Would you like to propose any mechanism to improve the quality of an EIA study and to increase the usefulness of an EIA report?
Dear,
To make a good decision on a topic necessitates to include and consider all aspects of the problem. I am working on EIA of agricultural productions. To reach a better decision we consider three important factors or three E: Energy, Environment and Economic. Now we have three objective and we can reach better decision. Also in this condition we can use a wide range of models to find the best answer for our questions. i.e. in one of our projects at the last step we used multi objective evolutionary algorithm to minimize the environmental aspects of the work and maximize the economical facet of the work simultaneously. Finally, we could deliver our results with more details and we could increase the usefulness of the project for readers.
Regards
As far as the usefulness of EIA report is concerned in most developing and third worl it is often limited to secure environmental approvals. However, the actual assessment of impacts are often not very detailed. In Kuwait we most often do project specific EIA and also undertake strategic EIA which covers a broader horizon of activities. Certainly for a comprehensive EIA teh thematic data is basic requirement which is lacking in many countries and most of the EIA consultants don't have either means of willingness to generate this. If an EIA has solid under pinning environmental baselines and a detailed assessment and management plan the long term effects can certainly be minimized and even be positive.
The process of preparation of an EIA report is really meticulous and elaborate, at least theoretically. But the fact remains that EIA report are often poor in quality and coverage. But the technical persons cannot take the whole responsibility. The public, the administrators and the even the media should be ready to take their own responsibilities in providing the right platform for conducting an effective EIA study and critically evaluating the reports prepared / published. When questions are arising the report writers will be more accountable and try to make it best or even better.
Any EIA s of the necessity project oriented. Apart from scientific evaluation of possible impacts on ecology, environment, other resources and human as well as animal health, inhabitants living in location of the project and nearby should also be consulted and their opinions be considered on merit and be given priority as they are to be affected most. This exercise should be carried out prior to hearing of experts, community leaders and civil societies concerned.
I guess if countries adopt strategic EIAs it will be more useful. EIAs should be based on detailed primary data is sometimes lacking in EIAs done by several consultants. Most of the environmental data exists with government agencies that is not available to EIA consultants.
Good EIA depends largely on :(1) precise knowledge of the resource and all the environmental parameters; the capability of predicting the future impact of each of the available management alternatives using mathematical modeling.
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