An Environmental Impact Assessment is a formal process used to predict the environmental consequences (positive or negative) of a plan, policy, program, or project prior to the implementation decision. It proposes measures to adjust impacts to acceptable levels or to investigate new technological solutions. Although an assessment may lead to difficult economic decisions and political and social concerns, environmental impact assessments protect the environment by providing a sound basis for effective and sustainable development.
The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider the environmental impacts when deciding whether
or not to proceed with a project. The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an environmental
impact assessment as "the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other
relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made. EIAs are unique in that
they do not require adherence to a predetermined environmental outcome, but rather they require decision makers to account for
environmental values in their decisions and to justify those decisions in light of detailed environmental studies
and public comments on the potential environmental impacts
