ARC 873 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

SHORT NOTES ON ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT DEFINITIONS

ONWUBIKO ENYINNAYA K.

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SEA (STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT)

Strategic environmental assessment (SEA) is a systematic decision support process, aiming to

ensure that environmental and possibly other sustainability aspects are considered effectively in
policy, plan and programme making. It is the process by which environmental considerations are
required to be fully integrated into the preparation of Plans and Programmes and prior to their
final adoption. The objectives of the SEA process are to provide for a high level of protection of
the environment and to promote sustainable development by contributing to the integration
of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of specified Plans and
Programmes.

Eleven sectors are specified in the Directive and Competent Authorities (Plan/Programme
makers) must subject specific Plans and Programmes for these sectors to an environmental
assessment where they are likely to have significant effects on the environment

The eleven sectors are as follows: Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries, Energy, Industry, Transport,
Waste management, Water management, Telecommunications, Tourism, Town and Country
Planning or Land use.

EIR (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT)

Environmental Impact Report (EIR) is a written record of an EIA exercise submitted to the deciding
authority. It identifies and examines the likely environmental effects of the continuing operations
of an existing facility or those of a proposed project and proposes measures to avoid, mitigate,
or offset them. An EIS is only a part of the EIA process and not its definitive product. Also called
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

EID (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT DESIGN)

Environmental Impact Design is concerned with modifications to the design of development

projects to achieve positive impacts such as:

Habitat creation as a result of afforestation projects

Coastal management projects which contribute to ecological and recreational objectives

flood defense projects which create greenways

public open space projects which contribute to surface water management objectives

bridge designs which enhance the landscape and contribute to non-transportation

objectives

EID is specific to design professions because they are primarily tasked with the creation &
execution of development projects.
EIA (ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process by which the anticipated effects on the
environment of a proposed development or project are measured. If the likely effects are
unacceptable, design measures or other relevant mitigation measures can be taken to reduce
or avoid those effects.