Critical Review of Iwmf
A Critical Review of the Studies for Integreted Waste Management Facilities Phase 1
Chapter 1: literature review of EIA
1. What is EIA
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the environmental, social and economic aspects.
The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider the ensuing environmental impacts when deciding whether to proceed with a project. The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an environmental impact assessment as "the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made." EIAs are unique in that they do 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 of the proposal.
At the end of the project, an EIA should be followed by an audit. An EIA audit evaluates the performance of an EIA by comparing actual impacts to those that were predicted. The main objective of these audits is to make future EIAs more valid and effective.
EIAs began to be used in the 1960s as part of a rational decision making process. It involved a technical evaluation that would lead to objective decision making. EIA was made legislation in the US in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1969. It has since evolved as it has been used increasingly in many countries around the world. EIA as it is practiced today, is being used as a decision aiding tool rather than decision making tool. There is growing dissent on the use of EIA as its influence on development decisions is limited and
Chapter 1: literature review of EIA
1. What is EIA
An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the environmental, social and economic aspects.
The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider the ensuing environmental impacts when deciding whether to proceed with a project. The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an environmental impact assessment as "the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made." EIAs are unique in that they do 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 of the proposal.
At the end of the project, an EIA should be followed by an audit. An EIA audit evaluates the performance of an EIA by comparing actual impacts to those that were predicted. The main objective of these audits is to make future EIAs more valid and effective.
EIAs began to be used in the 1960s as part of a rational decision making process. It involved a technical evaluation that would lead to objective decision making. EIA was made legislation in the US in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1969. It has since evolved as it has been used increasingly in many countries around the world. EIA as it is practiced today, is being used as a decision aiding tool rather than decision making tool. There is growing dissent on the use of EIA as its influence on development decisions is limited and
References: Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance, Cap.499 Guidance Note No1/2010 Christopher Wood & Linden Coppell (1999): An evaluation of the Hong Kong environmental impact assessment system, Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal, 17:1, 21-31 Holder, J., (2004), Environmental Assessment: The Regulation of Decision Making, Oxford University Press, New York; For a comparative discussion of the elements of various domestic EIA systems, see Christopher Wood Environmental Impact Assessment: A Comparative Review (2 ed, Prentice Hall, Harlow, 2002). Jay, S., Jones, C., Slinn, P., Wood, C., (2007), Environmental Impact Assessment: Retrospect and Prospect Environmental Impact Assessment Review 27: 287-300 Lenzen M., Murray, S., Korte, B., Dey, C., 2003, Environmental impact assessment including indirect effects – a case study using input-output analysis, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 23, pp. 263-282 Fernandes, J., (2000), EIA procedure, Landscape ecology and conservation management - Evaluation of alternatives in a highway EIA process, Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 20, pp. 665-680 Daniel, S., Tsoulfas, G., Pappis, C., & Rachaniotis, N. (2004) Aggregating and evaluating the results of different Environmental Impact Assessment methods Ecological indicators 4:125-138 Hitzschky, K., & Silviera, J. (2009) A proposed impact assessment method for genetically modified plants (As-GMP method) Environmental Impact Assessment review 29: 348-368 Judicial review case regarding the Environmental Impact Assessment reports of the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. http://www.info.gov.hk/gia/general/201110/26/P201110260238.htm. Retrieved October 27, 2011 Sadler, B. (1996) International study of the effectiveness of environmental assessment. Environmental Assessment in a changing world: evaluating practice to improve performance. Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, Canada. http://www.iaia.org/Non_Mem bers/EIA/EAE/EAE_10E.PDF accessed 19th November 2004