Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a significant,anticipatory, environmental management tool. International debatefocuses on its enhancement to meet the challenges of sustainabledevelopment as well as demands for scientifically robust integratedand participative decision-making. This handbook hopes to improvepractices by contributing an international, multidisciplinary,ready-reference source to this debate. Volume I addresses EIA principles, process and methods. Part 1maps the EIA process and its impact on decision. It positions EIAin the context of sustainable development and relative to otherdecision tools, including economic valuation. It also positionsstrategic environmental assessment (SEA) in a similar way. Part 2addresses the elements of the EIA process and significant impactassessment topics (air, water, ecological, social, risk, landscapeand visual) not only in terms of good practice but alsomethodological evolution. This volume concludes by addressingcumulative impact assessment and SEA methods. Volume II provides a unique consideration for EIA implementationand practice in Europe, Africa, the Far East, South America andNorth America. It uses a number of project types to provide 'how todo' guidance and addresses practice in policy and planassessment. This book should be read by legislators, decision-makers,economists, developers, industrial managers and consultantsinvolved in this significant field.