Environmental Management: Principles and practice

Environmental impact assessment
There is no universal definition of what exactly environmental impact assessment
(EIA) is, so it is best treated as a generic term for a process which seeks to blend
administration, planning, analysis and public involvement in pre-decision assessment.
A shorter explanation might be ‘an approach which seeks to improve development
by a priori assessment’ (Boxes 6.1 and 6.2). Figure 6.1 illustrates how EIA fits into
planning, Figures 6.2 and 6.3 show how it relates to other approaches.
Identifying consequences of a proposed activity is common sense, rather than
a revolutionary idea. However, for much of history it has not been the planning and
management approach adopted. Impact assessment has been evolving for over a
quarter-century, but it is still imperfect and is often misapplied or misused. The field
has been dominated by EIA; however, there are a number of approaches running
parallel (and sometimes overlapping), with broadly similar goals, frequently
exchanging information, techniques and methods, which are of value for
environmental management. These include social impact assessment (SIA) (see later
this chapter), hazard assessment, risk assessment, technology impact assessment,
eco-auditing, CBA, and a range of forecasting or futures scenario-prediction methods
(Ryecroft et al., 1988). These approaches have a lot in common: for example, there
is usually an effects focus; they are systematic, focused, interdisciplinary and
comprehensive, and generally iterative.
EIA can offer much more than simply a common-sense approach to
development: it can be a policy instrument, a planning tool, a means of public
involvement and part of a framework crucial to environmental management and the
drive for sustainable development. Some view impact assessment as a philosophy
rather than just a technique; Graham Smith (1993:12) argued that it should be treated
as ‘a bridge that integrates the science of environmental analysis with the policies of
resource management’.
Attitudes towards EIA vary from the view that it is just a required rubber-
stamping activity, or that it determines optimal development, to the idea that it has a
vital role to play in improving environmental management and planning to achieve
sustainable development (Lawrence, 1997).
Until recently planners and managers mainly asked:
♦
Is it technically feasible?
♦
Is it financially viable?
♦
Is it legally permissible?

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CHAPTER SIX
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