Reason
for Using EIA EIA has been developed
as a result of the failure of traditional project
appraisal techniques to account for environmental
impacts. Many development projects in the past
were designed and constructed in isolation from
consideration of their impacts on the environment,
resulting in:
• higher costs
• failure of projects
• significant environmental change, and
negative social effects
Aim
of EIA Application
Despite differences in individual EIA systems
throughout the world, the EIA process shares certain
common aims:
• to provide decision-makers with analysis
of the total environmental consequences, so that
decisions can be made based on complete and balanced
information
• to assess and present intangible, non-quantifiable
effects that are not adequately addressed by cost/benefit
analysis and other technical reports
• to provide a source of information on
a proposal to the public
• to formalize the consideration of alternatives
to a proposal being considered, in order that
the least environmentally harmful option can be
chosen, and
to improve the design of new developments and
safeguard the environment through application
of mitigation and avoidance measures
Disadvantage of not doing EIA If EIA is not incorporated into project planning, there is enhanced
probability of:
• costly litigation, prosecution, expensive clean-ups, and sudden burden of providing monetary compensation
• expensive surprises down the line which can result in significant losses to developers and project proponents
• loss of public trust in public and private institutions or with individual in position of authority
• worsening environmental conditions leading to a deterioration of the natural resource base of the economy
• consumer/public backlash against industries and businesses responsible for environmental disasters
