Processes of EIS

• In some countries, the pre- study phase is called the initial Environmental Examination (IEE).
• The outcome of the IEE is sometimes used to determine whether or not the impacts of the proposed project are such that a full scale EIA has to be performed.
• In the post-study period the EIS is reviewed, the actual decision is made and the impacts are monitored.
• The major purpose of a review of the contents of an EIS by an independent commission is that the decision maker has the guarantee that the decision he makes is based on correct information
• At the end of the project, an EIA should be followed by an audit. An EIA audit evaluates the performance of an EIA by comparing actual impacts to those that were predicted.

The general outline of an environmental impact assessment (EIA) consists mainly of the following components:

• A description of the proposed project and its objectives.
• A description in ecological and economical terms of the existing situation in the area directly affected by the project and of the natural resource use
• A description of the autonomous developments in the area, in as far these developments may be of importance for the contents and the conclusions of the environmental impact study.
• Identification of the potential impacts and definition of the scope of the assessment, including agreement on geographical boundaries, selection of methods for environmental impact study.
• Identification of the potential impacts and definition of the scope of the assessment, including agreement on geographical boundaries, selection of methods for evaluation and presentation.
• A description of the relevant project alternatives. This may include alternative solutions for the problem, but also alternative methods for achieving the project objectives.
• Design of the study program. This includes selection of impacts to be studied, selection of the prediction methods that will be applied and agreement on the depth of the study.
• Prediction of the impacts, Not only impacts as a direct result of the project are
• considered, but also the impacts resulting from developments which are induced by the project, the irreversible and irretrievable use of the natural resources is usually estimated as well.
• If adverse impacts are identified, possible measures have to be formulated. The effectiveness of such measures to reduce negative impacts should be described as well as their feasibility and the costs and benefits involved.
• Assessment of the impacts, which includes a comparison of the various project alternatives and the mitigating measures, with the situation without the project.