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Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process for identifying and evaluating environmental impacts of development projects, including the proposal of measures to mitigate negative impacts and the preparation of an Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
An EIA should be carried out for any project with potential significant negative impacts on the environment. In order to decide if a project requires an EIA or not an EIA Screening procedure is followed.
Key Points
EIA is an ex ante environmental assessment of projects. It involves a systematic assessment of the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project and its alternatives, in order to propose appropriate measures to mitigate negative environmental impacts and optimise positive effects, and assist the decision-making process. The main stages can be distinguished as follows:
EIA Screening
Screening refers to the decision to carry out the EIA, based on national legislation, the nature of the project and the sensitivity of the environment.
EIA Scoping
Scoping is the operation used to define the aspects that need to be covered in the EIA study, such as the key environmental issues to consider, time-frame, geographical scope and specific methodologies to be employed. The views and concerns of key stakeholders should be taken into account in defining the scope of the EIA.
EIA study
A baseline study describes the initial state of the environment within the selected boundaries of the study area. It also includes the description of the “no project” scenario, based on assumptions regarding future changes. Another important step is the identification and evaluation of environmental impacts . The impacts are the differences between the situation with , and the situation without the project. The identification and evaluation of impacts are necessary for all alternatives under study, in order to compare them and provide recommendations on the selection of the most environmentally sound alternative. It may be decided to undertake a more detailed assessment of a preferred alternative. The last part of the study provides Recommendations, mitigation/optimisation measures and the Environmental Management Plan (EMP) . Measures should be proposed to mitigate negative impacts (mitigation measures), as well as to optimise positive effects. The EIA recommendations must also provide an Environmental Management Plan (EMP), specifying the way the proposed measures should be implemented, and a monitoring plan.
Decision
Based on the EIA the project, or the preferred alternative, can be approved without changes or conditions; approved with minor changes; subjected to major changes that justify new studies; or judged unacceptable, even with corrective measures, and therefore refused.
Public participation
Participation and consultation of stakeholders must be integrated in this process within the local institutional framework. Particular care should be taken to (a) make full use of the experience and know-how of the populations living in the environment being studied, (b) take into consideration the needs, values and interests of the populations concerned, including women and marginalised social groups. Public participation should be provided for from the earliest stages of the process.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): Draft Terms of Reference
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Guidance and Reports on EIA
 Coherence in Environmental Assessment, OECD/DAC, 1999
Directory of Impact Assessment Guidelines, IIED, 1998
EIA in Developing Countries: An Overview (2003)
EIA resources, UNEP
Environment Guide, a guide to environmental screening, DFID, 2003)
Environmental Impact Assessment for Developing Countries in Asia, ADB, 1997
Environmental Management Plans, World Bank, Environmental Department, 01/1999
Fundamentals of Environmental Impact Assessment, IADB, 2002
GDRC resources on EIA
Guidance on EIA - EIS Review, 06/2001
Guidance on EIA - Scoping, EC, 06/2001
Guidance on EIA - Screening, EC, 06/2001
Guidelines for the Assessment of Indirect and Cumulative Impacts as well as Impact Interactions, EC, 05/1999
Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment Best Practice, IAIA
Roads and the environment: a handbook, World Bank, 1997
Terms of Reference for Environmental Assessment of Development Projects, OECD, 1999
UNEP Environmental Impact Assessment Training Resource Manual, Second Edition, 06/2002
EIA in the EU
Council Directive of 27 June 1985 on the assessment of effects of certain public and private projects on the environment (85/33/EEC)
EC EIA Directive
Environmental Assessment, EC-DG Environment
Guidance on EIA
UNECE Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo, 1991)
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Environmental Impact Assessment 
