What is an EIA?

An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the assessment process of the significant effects a development is going to have on the environment, whether positive or negative. The purpose of an EIA is to identify and assess the potential impacts of a project on the environment, and to determine whether the project can be modified to minimize or avoid those impacts. EIA also aims to enhance the decision-making process by providing relevant information to the decision-makers and the public and by promoting public participation in the process.

It can also help to ensure that the project is designed and implemented in a way that minimizes or avoids potential environmental impacts.

An EIA process typically includes several stages, including screening, scoping, impact analysis, mitigation and impact management, consultation and public participation, reporting, and decision-making. The EIA process is usually required by law for certain types of projects, such as large infrastructure projects, mining, and energy projects.

It is very important to stress the fact that the EIA process only assesses the significant effects, rather than all possible effects regardless of their sometimes low impact.

LEGISLATION: Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations 2017

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