Aquatic Pollution and Coastal Management

Unit 12 : Environmental impact assessment

12.3.Definition of EIA
There is no universally adopted standard or ideal of EIA and various authorities have come forward to define in their own terms keeping in view the objectives they want to achieve.

There is great Diversity of Definitions

• EIA is an activity to identify, predict and to describe in appropriate terms the pros and cons (Penalties and benefits) of a proposed development (UNEP).
• EIA is an activity designed to identify and predict the impact on the bio-geo-physical environment and on man’s health and wellbeing of legislative proposals, policies, programmes, projects and operational procedures and to intercept and communicate the information about impacts.
• EIA is an assessment of all relevant environmental and resultant social effects which would result from a project.
• EIA consists in establishing quantitative values for selected parameters which indicate the quality of environment before, during and after the action.
• EIA is a process as well as format for acquiring, analyzing and reporting the facts and understanding about the natural environment.
• UNEP (1988): EIA is a management tool that attempts to predict the likely environmental impacts, finds ways to reduce unacceptable impacts and to shape the project to suit the local environment and present these predictions and options to decision makers.

E = Early – begins at the inception of development in order to identify opportunities and constraints and guide the design of the project.
I = Integrated – linked to engineering and economic studies.
A = always – Continues to accumulate data throughout the project cycle monitoring and implementation of protective measures.