CHOICES FOR EIA PROCESS DESIGN AND MANAGEMENT

The EIA process provides the framework for structuring EIA activities, events, documents and methods. An overview of examples of design and management choices available to EIA process participants is presented. The choices pertain to (1) general EIA process design and management; (2) EIA process inputs, outputs and linkages; and (3) EIA process adaptations. The available choices are more extensive than are generally recognised in EIA process characterisations. EIA process participants can select the mix of choices that best suit proposal characteristics, environmental conditions, contextual factors and their interests and priorities. An awareness of the available choices is a good first step. EIA quality and effectiveness analyses could, with appropriate adaptations and refinements, help distinguish among blends of choices that are recurrently more and less effective.