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© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Chandrappa, D. B. Das, Environmental Health - Theory and Practice,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64484-0_3
Chapter 3
Environmental Impact Assessment
Abstract Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process to ensure early and
adequate information on the likely impact on environment due to the development
projects. EIA was formally established in the USA in 1969. It received a significant
boost in Europe after the EC Directive on EIA was introduced in 1985 and since
then the scope of EIA has developed and changed continually. EIA evaluates both
the beneficial and adverse environmental impacts of a proposed development/project, along with the interrelated socio-economic, human-health and cultural impacts.
In addressing the above points, this chapter discusses the theory and practice of EIA
in detail with relevant examples.
3.1 Introduction
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process to ensure early and adequate
information on the likely impact on environment due to development projects.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, international law started imposing EIA
requirements.
For example, Article 11 of Kuwait Regional Convention for Cooperation on the
Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution, 1978, provides that each contracting country shall attempt to include an evaluation of the possible environmental
effects in planning activity involving projects within its territory, especially in the
coastal areas. As on date, EIA is practiced in more than 100 nations (Petts 1999;
Wood 2003), including developing as well as transitional economies (Lee and
George 2000).
EIA was formally established in the USA in 1969. It received a significant boost
in Europe after the EC Directive on EIA was introduced in 1985 (Glasson et al.
1999) and since then the scope of EIA has developed and changed continually
(Morgan 1998; Stephanie et al. 2012). The link between the project implementation
stage and EIA process is often weak (Welford 1996) and many environmental
impact statements fail to meet even the minimum standards (Glasson et al. 1999;
Jones et al. 1991).
Multilateral and bilateral lenders have incorporated the requirements of the EIA
in their project eligibility criteria (OECD 1996) with interests in ensuring public
participation in the EIA process (Mutemba 1996).
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2021
R. Chandrappa, D. B. Das, Environmental Health - Theory and Practice,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-64484-0_3
Chapter 3
Environmental Impact Assessment
Abstract Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process to ensure early and
adequate information on the likely impact on environment due to the development
projects. EIA was formally established in the USA in 1969. It received a significant
boost in Europe after the EC Directive on EIA was introduced in 1985 and since
then the scope of EIA has developed and changed continually. EIA evaluates both
the beneficial and adverse environmental impacts of a proposed development/project, along with the interrelated socio-economic, human-health and cultural impacts.
In addressing the above points, this chapter discusses the theory and practice of EIA
in detail with relevant examples.
3.1 Introduction
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process to ensure early and adequate
information on the likely impact on environment due to development projects.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, international law started imposing EIA
requirements.
For example, Article 11 of Kuwait Regional Convention for Cooperation on the
Protection of the Marine Environment from Pollution, 1978, provides that each contracting country shall attempt to include an evaluation of the possible environmental
effects in planning activity involving projects within its territory, especially in the
coastal areas. As on date, EIA is practiced in more than 100 nations (Petts 1999;
Wood 2003), including developing as well as transitional economies (Lee and
George 2000).
EIA was formally established in the USA in 1969. It received a significant boost
in Europe after the EC Directive on EIA was introduced in 1985 (Glasson et al.
1999) and since then the scope of EIA has developed and changed continually
(Morgan 1998; Stephanie et al. 2012). The link between the project implementation
stage and EIA process is often weak (Welford 1996) and many environmental
impact statements fail to meet even the minimum standards (Glasson et al. 1999;
Jones et al. 1991).
Multilateral and bilateral lenders have incorporated the requirements of the EIA
in their project eligibility criteria (OECD 1996) with interests in ensuring public
participation in the EIA process (Mutemba 1996).