engleski

Environmental protection and the outcomes of environmental impact assessment procedure

Environmental impact assessment, along with neminem laedere (no-harm) and precaution principle, has emerged as an essential element of a preventive approach to environmental protection and resilient development, and has accordingly received considerable attention. It provides decision￾makers with information as to the possible effects of a proposed activity before the activity takes place, thereby allowing for an informed decision as to whether that activity should be allowed to proceed, whether further measures are required before such authorization is granted, or whether other alternatives are preferable. Besides ecological there are also social impacts affecting people and communities in which they live as a result of projects. Environmental impact assessment programs have changed the way project proponents and the authorities charged with approving projects proceed. The most evident change is the inclusion of measures in project proposals to mitigate adverse environmental effects. On the other hand, once the competent body pursuant to the opinions received excludes the possibility of significant environmental impact, it issues within the screening process the administrative decision establishing that it is not necessary to implement the environmental impact assessment procedure. The analysis is made of sources of law, as well as the shortcomings of environmental impact assessment in practice as a one-time exercise. In authors opinion the environmental impact assessment exercise is often conducted late in planning, often long after project proponents have become attached to a particular design concept. The authors are focusing attention on the disputable practice of steering screening procedure so as to avoid environmental impact assessment and the general absence of follow- up to check on whether mitigation measures were implemented. Properly conducted environmental impact assessment yields more far-reaching benefits in a decision- making process which implements i holistic approach embedding social impact of project as well.

environmental impact assessment, environmental protection, screening, social impact

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