Introduction

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a critical process used globally to evaluate the potential environmental effects of proposed development projects or policies before they are implemented. Originating in the United States with the enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969, EIA has since become a foundational tool in environmental management and sustainable development. The EIA process involves a series of steps, including project screening, scoping, impact identification, impact prediction, evaluation, monitoring, auditing, and mitigation. Each of these methodologies ensures a thorough examination of potential environmental impacts, fostering informed decision-making and the integration of environmental considerations into project planning.

Objectives

After going through this unit you will be able to:

1. understand EIA with its origin and development;

2. explain various EIA methodologies(screening, scoping and many more)