What Is an Environmental Site Assessment?

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) can be defined as the process of predicting the environmental consequences of project development. Environmental impact assessment aims to evaluate and express the impact of any available method in the decision-making process on the environment. It is an important method to ensure the survival of people under environmental conditions. It is a method and system for analyzing, predicting and assessing the possible environmental impacts after the implementation of planning and construction projects, proposing countermeasures and measures to prevent or mitigate adverse environmental impacts. ^[1]

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) can be defined as the process of predicting the environmental consequences of project development. Environmental impact assessment aims to evaluate and express the impact of any available method in the decision-making process on the environment. It is an important method to ensure the survival of people under environmental conditions. It is a method and system for analyzing, predicting and assessing the possible environmental impacts after the implementation of planning and construction projects, proposing countermeasures and measures to prevent or mitigate adverse environmental impacts. ^[1]

The environmental impact assessment consists of several procedures that make the environmental impact assessment smoother. The environmental impact assessment process is designed to determine if and to what extent an environmental impact assessment is required in a particular situation, to maximize the benefits of the environmental impact assessment, to keep the process simple and flexible, and to avoid duplication of existing planning processes. The principles are as follows:

(1) Transparency: All assessment bases and decisions must be publicly available;
(2) Determine: The timing and procedures of the project or evaluation should be recognized in advance, and all participants must follow;
(3) Participation: all locations can use the program in a timely and appropriate manner;
(4) Practical: The project or evaluation procedure should provide results and information and can be used for decision-making and planning;
(5) Flexible: The project or evaluation procedure should be able to make changes to effectively deal with proposed and decision-making situations;
(6) Economics: The project or evaluation process and its results can ensure that society protects the environment at the lowest cost;
(7) credible: professional evaluation should be carried out according to the goals;

(8) Responsibility: The team leader or decision maker shall be responsible to all parties for their actions and decisions during the evaluation process. ^[1]

The important steps and key points of environmental impact analysis are listed below:
1. Scoping This process helps to determine the scope of the environmental impact assessment and identify key issues for the environmental impact assessment before a detailed study. It is determined that Fan Ye is an open and cooperative work that should be implemented in the early stages of project planning. Planning agencies can quickly identify major issues by scoping. Figure 51.2 illustrates the method of scoping. ^[1]

2. Baseline research Baseline research is an important reference point for environmental impact assessment. Baseline refers to the general social, economic and ecological background information of the proposed project area. The following are the two main purposes of collecting baseline data: (1) to explain the status and trends of environmental factors based on predicted changes, and to compare and evaluate the importance; (2) to provide a method for detecting actual changes through monitoring.
3. Forecasting and assessing impacts Covering and considering impact predictions and uncertainties, and comparing impact prediction methods. Forecasts should be based on available project environmental baseline data and can be expressed through quantitative or even qualitative terms. ^[1]

4. Restrictions Briefly explain the concept, purpose, and type of restriction methods and prevent adverse effects. Restrictions consist of three main methods, each with different effects:
Prevention: The most effective way to deal with adverse effects is better than trying to mitigate them through special restrictions.
Minimize: If adverse effects cannot be prevented, methods to reduce adverse effects should be taken;
Remedy: When adverse effects cannot be prevented or reduced, they need to be remedied through corrections or compensation measures. ^[1]

5. Monitoring Monitoring is the most important issue in environmental impact assessment. It is necessary to explain the monitoring principles, types and systems, and also to check whether the ongoing development meets the planning requirements. There are three types of monitoring: baseline monitoring, impact monitoring, and compliance monitoring. Monitoring should be persistent and implemented over time. Interruption of monitoring may make the impact assessment of the project less accurate. ^[1]