Environmental impact assessment: theory and practice

This comprehensive treatment of environmental impact assessment (EIA) provides an authoritative contemporary review of theory and practice over the past ten years. EIA is viewed as both science and art, reflecting the concern both with technical aspects of appraisal and the effects of EIA on the decision-making process. Adopted in many countries, with different degrees of enthusiasm since its inception in the early 1970s, ELA is established as a major procedure for assessing the environmental implications of legislation, the implementation of policy and plans and the initiation of development projects. Enshrined in legislation in the USA, Canada, Australia, the Netherlands, Japan and, latterly, in the European Community, EIA is an integral part of environmental management. The 'science and 'art' of EIA are inextricably linked, but the distinction between them is useful and is reflected in the organization of the book. An introductory chapter provides a short synopsis of EIA before Part II examines methodological aspects. Part III deals with monitoring and auditing of impacts, the evaluation of assessment, and with training requirements. Part IV looks at applications throughout the world, including those in the Eastern bloc and in the Third World. Part V reviews EIA in the context of international agencies. The phasis throughout is on the post-1978 period, in view of several pivotal events in the development of EIA in that year.