Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers. By using EIA both environmental and economic benefits can be achieved, such as reduced cost and time of project implementation and design, avoided treatment/clean-up costs and impacts of laws and regulations.
Objectives of EIA
- Improve the environmental design of the proposal
- Check the environmental acceptability of the proposals compared to the capacity of the site and the receiving environment
- Ensure that resources are used appropriately and efficiently
- Identify appropriate measures for mitigating the potential impacts of the proposal
- Facilitate informed decision making, including setting the environmental terms and conditions for implementing the proposal
The long term objectives of EIA are:
- avoid irreversible changes and serious damage to the environment
- safeguard valuable resources, natural areas and ecosystem components
- enhance the social aspects of proposals
- protect human health and safety
