Environmental impact assessment and Persian Iraq: Difference between pages
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'''Persian Iraq''' or '''Iraq-i Ajam''' ({{PerB|عراق عجم}}) is an obsolete term for the central region of [[Iran]], including cities such as [[Isfahan]], [[Ray, Iran|Ray]], [[Qazvin]], and [[Kashan]]. From the [[11th century|11th]] to [[16th century|16th centuries]], the term "Iraq" referred to two distinct regions: Arabian Iraq (''Irāq-i arab'') and Persian Iraq (''Irāq-i ajam''). Arabian Iraq corresponded with ancient [[Mesopotamia]] (roughly the current nation of [[Iraq]]), while Persian Iraq corresponded with ancient [[Medes|Media]]. The two regions were separated by the [[Zagros Mountains]]. |
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{{Portalpar|Sustainable development|Sustainable development.svg}} |
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{{Environmental law}} |
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==References== |
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An ('''EIA''') is an assessment of the possible impact–positive or negative–that a proposed project may have on the [[natural environment]]. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider environmental impacts used to decided whether to proceed with the project. The [[International Association for Impact Assessment]] (IAIA) defines an environmental impact assessment as "the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the [[Biophysics|biophysical]], social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made."<ref>"[http://www.iaia.org/modx/assets/files/Principles%20of%20IA_web.pdf Principle of Environmental Impact Assessment Best Practice]." International Association for Impact Assessment. 1999.</ref> What happens after overall assessment EIA remains as it is and after the commissioning of project total project scenario moves towards different side. The most important requirement is to give EIA a complete statutary status. It may in other countries but in India it is still to be incorporated. |
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*"Irak-i-Ajami". [[11th edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica|1911 Encyclopædia Britannica]]. |
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*"Iraq". [http://www.britannica.com/ Encyclopædia Britannica Online]. Retrieved January 30, 2006. |
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The [[United States Environmental Protection Agency|United States Environmental Protection Agency]] pioneered the use of [[pathway analysis]] to determine the likely [[human health]] impact of environmental factors. The technology for performing such analysis is called [[environmental science]]. The principal phenomena or pathways of impact include [[soil contamination]], [[air pollution]], [[noise health effects]], and [[ecology]] impacts, including [[endangered species]], [[geological hazard]]s, and [[water pollution]]. Pathway analysis and [[The Natural Step]] definitions subsequently became the basis of the global [[ISO 14000]] series of [[environmental management]] standards and the more recent [[ISO 19011]] [[auditing standard]]; however, these ISO standards are not in common use in the U.S. and most other countries. |
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After an EIA analysis, the [[Precautionary principle|precautionary]] and [[polluter pays principle]]s may be applied to prevent, limit, or require [[strict liability]] or [[insurance]] coverage to a project, based on its likely harms. |
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Environmental impact analysis is sometimes controversial. |
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Related analysis of social impacts is achieved by [[social impact assessment]]. Analysis of business impacts is achieved by [[context analysis]]. Design impacts are assessed in relation to [[context theory]]. |
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==EIA around the world== |
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===Australia=== |
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At the federal level, EIA provisions are contained within the EPBC Act (the ''Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999''). At the State [ie provincial] level, each jurisdiction has EIA provisions typically contained in land use planning law. For example in New South Wales (NSW), EIA is performed under either Part 3A, Part 4 or Part 5 of the ''Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979'', depending on the type of development. Overlap between federal and state requirements is addressed via bilateral agreements or one off accreditation of state processes, as provided for in the EPBC Act. |
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===China=== |
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The Environmental Impact Assessment Law (EIA Law) requires an environmental impact assessment to be completed prior to project construction. However, if a developer completely ignores this requirement and builds a project without submitting an environmental impact statement, the only penalty is that the environmental protection bureau (EPB) may require the developer to do a make-up environmental assessment. If the developer does not complete this make-up assessment within the designated time, only then is the EPB authorized to fine the developer. Even so, the possible fine is capped at a maximum of about US$25,000, a fraction of the overall cost of most major projects. The lack of more stringent enforcement mechanisms has resulted in a significant percentage of projects not completing legally required environmental impact assessments prior to construction.<ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Wang |
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|first=Alex |
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|authorlink= |
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|coauthors= |
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|title=Environmental protection in China: the role of law |
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|work= |
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|publisher= |
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|date=2007-02-05 |
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|url=http://www.chinadialogue.net/article/show/single/en/745-Environmental-protection-in-China-the-role-of-law |
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|format= |
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|doi= |
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|accessdate= }}</ref> |
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China's [[State Environmental Protection Administration]] (SEPA) used the legislation to halt 30 projects in 2004, including three hydro-power plants under the [[Three Gorges]] Project Company. Although one month later (Note as a point of reference, that the typical EIA for a major project in the USA takes one to two years.), most of the 30 halted projects resumed their construction, reportedly having passed the environmental assessment, the fact that these key projects' construction was ever suspended was notable. |
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A joint investigation by SEPA and the Ministry of Land and Resources in 2004 showed that 30 to 40 per cent of the mining construction projects went through the procedure of environment impact assessment as required, while in some areas only 6 to 7 per cent did so. This partly explains why China has witnessed so many mining accidents in recent years. |
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SEPA alone cannot guarantee the full enforcement of environmental laws and regulations, observed Professor [[Wang Canfa]], director of the centre to help environmental victims at [[China University of Political Science and Law]]. In fact, according to Wang, the rate of China's environmental laws and regulations that are actually enforced is estimated to be barely 10 per cent.<ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Gu |
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|first= Lin |
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|authorlink= |
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|coauthors= |
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|title=China Improves Enforcement of Environmental Laws |
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|publisher=China Features |
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|date=2005-09-29 |
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|url=http://www.chinese-embassy.org.uk/eng/zt/Features/t214565.htm |
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|format= |
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|doi= |
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|accessdate= }}</ref> |
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===Nepal=== |
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In Nepal, EIA was started in early 1980s, particularly in the donor-assisted projects. In 1982, Nepal established the Environment Impact Study Project (EISP) under the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation to initiate activities for the formulation of necessary policies and laws and create public awareness and the environmental matters. The Constitution of the kingdom of Nepal 1990; Water Resource Act, 1992; Electricity Act, 1992; Electricity Regulation, 1993 and Hydropower Development Policy, 1992 emphasized on the protection of the existing environment and stated that no significant adverse environmental impact in terms of physical, biological, social, economic and cultural aspects should occur due to any development project. The government of Nepal introduced the National Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines (NEIAG) in 1993.These guideline provided a general methodology for conducting an EIA study but there was no approval process and legal requirement of an EIA study. |
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Progresses were made in the Environmental protection issue during the 8th five year plan (1992-1997). The following development in Environmental protection were achieved during that time: |
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* Formulation of Environmental Protection Act 1992 |
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* Establishment of Ministry of Population and Environment |
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* Development of National Environmental Policies and Action Plan, EIA guidelines developed |
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* Consideration of environmental concerns in hydropower projects |
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* Development of industrial, irrigation and agricultural policies that undertook environmental concerns |
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===EU=== |
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The EIA [[European Union directive|Directive]] on Environmental Impact Assessment of the effects of projects on the environment was first introduced in 1985 and was amended in 1997. The directive was amended again in 2003 following the 1998 signature by the EU of the [[Aarhus Convention]] on [[public participation]] in environmental matters. The issue was enlarged to the assessment of plans and programmes by the so called ''[[SEA]]-Directive'' in 2001 which is now in force and establishes a mix of mandatory and discretionary procedures for assessing environmental impacts.<ref>{{cite web |
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|last=Watson |
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|first=Michael |
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|authorlink= |
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|title=Environmental Impact Assessment and European Community Law |
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|work= |
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|publisher=XIV International Conference "Danube-River of Cooperation" |
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|date=November 13-15, 2003 |
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|url=http://www.members.tripod.com/~danubedita/library/2003watson2.htm |
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|format= |
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|doi= |
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|accessdate= }}</ref> |
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Under the EU directive, an EIA must provide certain information to comply. There are seven key areas that are required: |
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1. Description of the project |
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* Description of actual project and site description |
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* Break the project down into its key components, ie construction, operations, decommissioning |
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* For each component list all of the sources of environmental disturbance |
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* For each component all the inputs and outputs must be listed, eg, [[air pollution]], noise, [[hydrology]] |
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2. Alternatives that have been considered |
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* Examine alternatives that have been considered |
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* Example: in a [[biomass]] power station, will the fuel be sourced locally or nationally? |
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3. Description of the environment |
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* List of all aspects of the environment that may be effected by the development |
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* Example: populations, [[fauna]], flora, air, soil, water, humans, landscape, cultural heritage |
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* This section is best carried out with the help of local experts, eg the [[RSPB]] in the UK |
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4. Description of the significant effects on the environment |
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* The word significant is crucial here as the definition can vary |
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* 'Significant' needs to be defined |
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* The most frequent method used here is use of the [[Leopold matrix]] |
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* The matrix is a tool used in the systematic examination of potential interactions |
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* Example: in a windfarm development a significant impact may be collisions with birds |
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5. Mitigation |
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* This is where EIA is most useful |
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* Once section 4 has been completed it will be obvious where the impacts will be greatest |
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* Using this information ways to avoid negative impacts should be developed |
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* Best working with the developer with this section as they know the project best |
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* Using the windfarm example again construction could be out of bird nesting seasons |
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6. Non-technical summary (EIS) |
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* The EIA will be in the public domain and be used in the decision making process |
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* It is important that the information is available to the public |
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* This section is a summary that does not include jargon or complicated diagrams |
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* It should be understood by the informed lay-person |
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7. Lack of know-how/technical difficulties |
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* This section is to advise any areas of weakness in knowledge |
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* It can be used to focus areas of future research |
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* Some developers see the EIA as a starting block for good environmental management |
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===New Zealand=== |
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In New Zealand, EIA is usually referred to as ''Assessment of Environmental Effects'' (AEE). The first use of EIA's dates back to a Cabinet minute passed in [[1974]] called Environmental Protection and Enhancement Procedures. This had no legal force and only related to the activities of government departments. When the [[Resource Management Act]] was passed in [[1991]], an EIA was required as part of a resource consent application. Section 88 of the Act spells this out. |
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===Sri Lanka=== |
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The importance of the Environmental Impact Assessment as an effective tool for the purpose of integrating environmental considerations with development planning is highly recognized in Sri Lanka. The application of this technique is considered as a means of ensuring that the likely effects of new development projects on the environment are fully understood and taken into account before development is allowed to proceed. The importance of this management tool to foresee potential environmental impacts and problems caused by proposed projects and its use as a mean to make project more suitable to the environment are highly appreciated. |
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===United States=== |
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{{main|Environmental impact statement}} |
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Under [[United States environmental law]] an EIA is compiled to determine the need for an ''Environmental Impact Statement'' (EIS), and originated in the [[National Environmental Policy Act]] (NEPA), enacted in the [[United States]] in [[1969]]. Certain actions of federal agencies must be preceded by an EIS. Contrary to a widespread misconception, NEPA does not prohibit the federal government or its licensees/permittees from harming the environment, nor does it specify any penalty if the EIS turns out to be inaccurate, intentionally or otherwise. NEPA requires that plausible statements as to the prospective impacts be disclosed in advance. The purpose of NEPA process is to ensure that the decision maker is fully informed of the environmental aspects and consequences prior to making the final decision. |
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Usually, an agency will release a ''Draft Environmental Impact Statement'' (DEIS) for comment. Interested parties and the general public have the opportunity to comment on the draft, after which the agency will approve the ''Final Environmental Impact Statement'' (FEIS). Occasionally, the agency will later release a ''Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement'' (SEIS), especially if environmental conditions suddenly change after the issuance of the FEIS. |
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The adequacy of an EIS can be challenged in court. Major proposed projects have been blocked because of an agency's failure to prepare an acceptable EIS. One prominent example was the [[Westway (New York)|Westway]] landfill and highway development in and along the [[Hudson River]] in [[New York, New York|New York City]]<ref>[http://www.elr.info/litigation/vol13/13.20326.htm Court decision] in [[Sierra Club]] v. [[United States Army Corps of Engineers]]</ref>. Another prominent case involved the Sierra Club suing the [[Nevada Department of Transportation]] over its denial of Sierra Club's request to issue a supplemental EIS addressing air emissions of [[particulate matter]] and hazardous [[air pollutants]] in the case of widening US Highway 95 through Las Vegas.<ref>{{cite news |
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|last=Ritter |
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|first=John |
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|coauthors= |
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|title=Lawsuit pits risks and roads |
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|work= |
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|pages= |
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|publisher=[[USA Today]] |
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|date=2003-06-03 |
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|url=http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2003-03-06-vegas-highway-usat_x.htm |
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|accessdate= }}</ref> The case reached the 9th [[Circuit Court]] of the United States, which led to construction on the highway being halted until the court's final decision. The case was settled prior to the court's final decision. |
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Several [[US state]] governments that have adopted "little NEPA's," i.e., state laws imposing EIS requirements for particular state actions and some of those state laws refer to the required environmental impact studies as '''Environmental Impact Reports''' or '''Environmental Impact Assessments'''.<ref>[http://www.sprlaw.com/pdf/spr_little_nepa_ali_aba_0605.pdf Sive,D. & Chertok,M., "Little NEPAs" and Environmental Impact Assessment Procedures]</ref> For example, the [[California Environmental Quality Act]] (CEQA) requires an ''Environmental Impact Report'' (EIR). |
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These various state requirements are yielding voluminous data not just upon impacts of individual projects, but also to elucidate scientific areas that had not been sufficiently researched. For example, in a seemingly routine ''Environmental Impact Report'' for the city of [[Monterey, California]], information came to light that led to the official federal endangered species listing of [[Hickman's potentilla]], a rare coastal [[wildflower]]. |
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==Transboundary EIA== |
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Environmental threats do not respect national borders. European governments realized that to avert this danger, they must notify and consult each other on all major projects under consideration that might have adverse environmental impact across borders. The [[UNECE]] [[Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context]] was negotiated to provide an international legal framework for transboundary EIA.<ref>[http://www.unece.org/env/eia/welcome.html Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context (Espoo, 1991)]</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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*[[Jibal]] |
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*[[Environmental Assessment Institute]] (EAI) (in Denmark) |
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*[[Environmental good]] |
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*[[Environmental impact design]] |
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*[[Environmental impact statement]] |
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*[[Environmental indicator]] |
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*[[Equator Principles]] |
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*[[Health Impact Assessment]] |
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*[[Healthy development measurement tool]] |
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*[[Leopold matrix]] |
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*[[Phase I Environmental Site Assessment]] |
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*[[Social Impact Assessment]] |
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*[[Strategic Environmental Assessment]] |
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==References== |
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{{reflist}} |
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==Further reading== |
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*Petts, J. (ed), ''Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment'' Vol 1 & 2, Blackwell, Oxford ISBN 0-632-04772-0 |
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* ''Environmental Impact Assessment Review'' (1980 - ), [[Elsevier]] |
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* Glasson, J; Therivel, R; Chadwick A, ''Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment'', (2005) Routledge, London |
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==External links== |
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* [http://ec.europa.eu/environment/eia/home.htm European Commission - EIA website] |
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* [http://iatools.jrc.ec.europa.eu European Commission - IA TOOLS website on Impact Assessment Tools] |
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* [http://www.isa.org.usyd.edu.au/research/eia.shtml Environmental Impact Assessment at the University of Sydney] |
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* [http://www.gardenvisit.com/landscape/LIH/landscape_planning/eid.htm Guide to Environmental Impact Assessment and Design] |
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* [http://www.iaia.org/ International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA)] |
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* [http://www.eia.nl Dutch Commission for EIA] |
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* [http://eia.unu.edu UNU Open Educational Resource on EIA: A Course Module, Wiki and Instructional Guide] |
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* [http://www.lowimpactliving.com/scores US Household Environmental Impact Calculator] |
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{{coord missing|Iran}} |
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[[Category:Geography of Iran]] |
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{{Environmental technology}} |
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{{Iran-geo-stub}} |
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[[Category:Environmental economics]] |
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[[Category:Environmental law]] |
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[[Category:Impact assessment]] |
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[[fa:عراق عجم]] |
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[[ar:تقييم الأثر البيئي]] |
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[[cs:Vyhodnocení vlivů na životní prostředí]] |
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[[cy:Asesiad effaith amgylcheddol]] |
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[[da:VVM-redegørelse]] |
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[[de:Umweltverträglichkeitsprüfung]] |
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[[es:Evaluación de impacto ambiental]] |
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[[fr:Étude d'impact]] |
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[[it:Valutazione di impatto ambientale]] |
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[[nl:Milieueffectrapportage]] |
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[[ja:環境アセスメント]] |
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[[pl:Ocena oddziaływania na środowisko]] |
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[[pt:Estudo de Impacto Ambiental]] |
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[[ru:Оценка воздействия на окружающую среду]] |
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[[sv:Miljökonsekvensbeskrivning]] |
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[[ta:சூழற் தாக்க மதிப்பாய்வு]] |
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[[th:การประเมินผลกระทบสิ่งแวดล้อม]] |
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[[uk:Оцінка впливу на довкілля]] |
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[[zh:环境影响评价]] |
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Revision as of 01:07, 11 October 2008
Persian Iraq or Iraq-i Ajam (Template:PerB) is an obsolete term for the central region of Iran, including cities such as Isfahan, Ray, Qazvin, and Kashan. From the 11th to 16th centuries, the term "Iraq" referred to two distinct regions: Arabian Iraq (Irāq-i arab) and Persian Iraq (Irāq-i ajam). Arabian Iraq corresponded with ancient Mesopotamia (roughly the current nation of Iraq), while Persian Iraq corresponded with ancient Media. The two regions were separated by the Zagros Mountains.
References
- "Irak-i-Ajami". 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica.
- "Iraq". Encyclopædia Britannica Online. Retrieved January 30, 2006.
See also
 | This Iran location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |