What is an environmental impact statement?

Environmental impact statement is a written statement to draw conclusions on how the procedure is likely to affect the environment. In the US, the Act on the National Environment of Environmental Policy (NEPA) adopted in 1970, it stipulates that the federal government and individuals or companies must show the public to take steps that could affect the environment. The considered environment is not only an environmentally friendly, biological and geological environment, but also the social structure of the country.

Environmental impact statement (EIS) is ready for the government and should include the following:
1. An impact on the environment that is inevitable through the action.
2. All alternatives to action.
3. The impact of short -term environmental use on long -term environmental production capacity.
4. A statement on the use of resources that cannot be replaced as part of the event.
5. The overall effect on the environment related to the action and other possible effects onThe environment, called secondary effects.

The environmental impact statement is then subject to review. After reviewing, government or private business is either allowed to continue the action or not to continue. NEPA sometimes approves one of the proposed alternative events instead of the proposed event.

Environmental impact statement may not be prepared for all events. Some steps are excluded from requiring an impact on the environment. For example, Forest Service can usually take steps such as controlled burning or removal of trees in small quantities without making an impact on the environment.

Nepa recently reworked its definitions of categorical exclusion and implemented new definitions of what the environmental impact. Any Actions taken by a federal agency or companies are now excluded.In other cases, the company or government agency must now only file an environmental assessment (EA), instead of a longer environmental impact form.

Environmentalists who believed that previous politicians had worked well, changed changes. On the other hand, small businesses and large corporations have supported changes, because certain steps that companies taken by the company may be expensive if the environmental impact statement must be published. Some, however, feel that softening of the rules is inappropriate when the environment is already at risk of many behavior practiced companies and individuals.