The purpose of Environmental Impact Assessments
The aim of Environmental Impact Assessments is to protect the environment by ensuring that a local planning authority when deciding whether to grant planning permission for a project, which is likely to have significant effects on the environment, does so in the full knowledge of the likely significant effects, and takes this into account in the decision making process. The regulations set out a procedure for identifying those projects which should be subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment, and for assessing, consulting and coming to a decision on those projects which are likely to have significant environmental effects.
The aim of Environmental Impact Assessment is also to ensure that the public are given early and effective opportunities to participate in the decision making procedures.
The stages of Environmental Impact Assessment
There are 5 stages to the process:
- Screening
- Scoping
- Preparing an Environmental Statement
- Making a planning application and consultation
- Decision making
Read more at: environmental impact assessments
Image source: www.eea.europa.eu
