Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Key principles and effectiveness of EIA

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Aims and objectives of EIA

modify and improve design

ensure efficient resource use

enhance social aspects

identify key impacts and measures for mitigating them

inform decision-making and condition-setting

avoid serious and irreversible damage to the environment

protect human health and safety

EIA can:

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

EIA — guiding principles

purposive – meeting its aims and objectives

focused – concentrating on the effects that matter

adaptive – responding to issues and realities

participative – fully involving the public

transparent – clear and easily understood

Source: Sadler, 1996; IAIA/IEMA 1999

The EIA process should be:

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

EIA — guiding principles(continued)

rigorous – employing ‘best practicable’ methodology

practical – establishing mitigation measures that work

credible – carried out with objectivity and professionalism

efficient – imposing least cost burden on proponents

Source: Sadler, 1996; IAIA/IEMA 1999

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Key operating principles of good EIA practiceEIA should:be applied to all proposals with significant impacts

begin early in the project cycle

address relevant environmental, social and health impacts

identify and take account of public views

result in a statement of impacts and mitigation measures

facilitate informed decision making and condition settingSource: Sadler, 1996

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Benefits of EIA include:

environmentally sound and sustainable design

better compliance with standards

savings in capital and operating costs

reduced time and costs for approvals

increased project acceptance

better protection of the environment and human health

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Delays are caused during EIA when:the EIA is commenced too late in the project cycle the terms of reference are poorly drafted

the EIA is not managed to a schedule

the EIA report is inadequate and needs to be upgraded

there is a lack of technical data

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Effectiveness EIA

Results of a study in the Netherlands

(Technical University Delft)

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

The scope of the research

•What was the effect of the EIA in the final decision?•What is the explanation for the results?•What is the contribution of the various actors in the process?

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Effectiveness: actions and/or images

Actions: EIA was effective when

1. The original proposal (design or permit application) has changed because of the results of the EIA

2. The competent authority takes a decision that is clearly influenced by the results of the EIA process

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Effectiveness: actions and/or images

Images: EIA was effective when

1. An actor changed his opinion on the needs or necessity of the proposed activity

2. An actor has changed his opinion on the “reasonability” of the alternatives that were introduced in the EIA

3. An actor has gained insight in alternatives

4. An actor has gained insight in environmental impacts

5. Actors involved have closed “the gap” between their (conflicting) position because of the EIA

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Effectiveness: actions

Effect according to Prop and CA:•On the original proposal (design or permit application): 31•On the final decision taken by the CA: 40

Total effectiveness (actions): 52 EIA’s out of 105

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Effectiveness: imagesEffect according to Prop and CA:1. Changed opinion on the needs/ necessity of the proposed

activity: 12. Changed opinion on the “reasonability” of the alternatives that

were introduced in the EIA: 93. Gained insight in alternatives: 424. Gained insight in environmental impacts: 525. Closed “the gap” between (conflicting) position because of the

EIA: 29

Total effectiveness (images): 68 out of 105Over all effectiveness (actions and images): 79 out of 105

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Extra element: efficiency

Efficiency: when the actor thinks the EIA has had added value for the decision making process, taking into account the time and money spend on the EIA process.

No 29

Little 29

Reasonable/fairly 26

Large 14

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Background information

Total in the Netherlands

Involved in this research

Permit-EIA 122 44

Spatial planning EIA

46 28

Road construction

20 16

Plans and programmes

23 17

Total 211 105

Consultant: CMDC Joint Venture

Background information

Respondents for 105 EIA’s: 590 actors (95%!)

Proponents (Prop)Competent Authorities (CA)Legal Advisors (Leg)National EIA committee (EIA Com)Public involved (Pub)Advisors of proponents (adv Prop)