Introduction and the theme of the investigation
The Environmental Impact Assessment (hereafter referred to as EIA), system originated in 1969 when it was first introduced in the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (NEPA) in the United States of America (Baker and Wood, 1999) and later spread to countries around the world. Today South Africa is one of the countries around the world that has adopted and adapted the EIA system as part of its environmental law (promulgated in the Environmental Conservation Act (73 of 1997, under Section 21, 22 and 26) and management (Sandham and Pretorius, 2008). EIA can be seen as an evaluation process. This process is aimed at the determination, evaluation and or assessment of the consequences that any development might have on the environment, whether negative and or positive. This assessment is used to aid decision-makers, prior to approval, to determine/ decide if a proposed development should continue or not (Jay et al, 2007, DEA, 2010 and DEA 2012).
South Africa adapted the EIA system and imbedded its core principle (protection of the environment) into the country’s constitution. The Constitution of the Republic of South Africa (No. 108 of 1996), section 24, dictates that, “Everyone has the right- (a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or well-being; and, (b) to have the environment protected, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures…” The South African government implemented the National Environmental Management Act (No 107 of 1998) with the purpose to enforce section 24 (b) of the constitution. This act (hereafter referred to as NEMA) goes one step further as it asserts under Section 2, that all interested an...
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.... If incorporated into the current EIA system, these tools might stretch the timeframe required to do a PP process, but it also have the potential to get the general public to a point where they can trust and become interested regarding the environment they live in and the decisions that affect their environment. After all, trust has to be earned as the folk saying goes.
The Aim of this research
The aim of this research is to find out if there is any way that this seemingly shortage in participation can be improved. One of the possible solutions for this problem proposed is the Participatory Research methodologies, especially Rapid Rural Appraisals (RRA) and Participatory Rural Appraisals (PRA). The aim is to see if the current PP process can integrate some of the PRA methodologies in order to improve the current situation regarding the actual ‘participation’ in PP
Identifying stakeholders and collaborators is the second step to the “Nine Step Stairway to Effective Evaluation”. Although all steps are essential, this is probably the most important because an extensive review of who is involved and who will be affected by the evaluation is identified (DiClemente et al., 2013). Once identified, it is critical to note that there may be needs or issues that may need to be addressed from all those involved so it would behoove one to be open to suggestions. Bottom line is to collaborate (DiClemente et al., 2013).
Rule: National Environmental Policy Act ("NEPA"), 42 U.S.C. § 4321 establishes that it is necessary to take actions to review and protect the environment mitigating any potential damages. Administrative Procedure Act ("APA"),
...tained a streak of sustaining a strong society when suggesting their laws into the Criminal Justice System. Nonetheless, the recent proposal discussed on whether environmental harm should be criminalized has sparked controversy. There are many pros and cons that can be acknowledged in this case. One main thing is certain; the environment is very sacred to every human being and should be well cared for. Thus, there are many other techniques that can do this rather than it simply being placed in the Criminal Code. Civilians need to have a fair chance to deal with problems and as a whole; they can come together to help this environmental issue. Non-legal regulators can work together with society to better our world. Taking legal action would make things more complicated than need be when considering a law that has more negatives to our justice system than positives.
Participatory Action Research [PAR] is a “process concerned with developing practical knowing in the pursuit of worthwhile human purposes, grounded in a participatory worldview…. [and bringing] together action and reflection, theory and practice, in participation with others in the pursuit of practical solutions to issues of pressing concern to people, and more generally the flourishing of individual persons and communities”. (Reason & Bradbury, 2001). PAR is also context specific and strongly based
Stufflebeam’s CIPP Model (Context, Input, Process, and Product) was created in 1983. This evaluation approach deals with an effective way of examining several distinctive facets of the development process. The context evaluation phase of the CIPP Model establishes the main idea of the program and the evaluation procedure. This phase supports in the decision making associated with development, and authorizes the evaluator to recognize the requirements, strengths, and resources in order to deliver the program design that will be constructive and valuable. In the input evaluation phase, data is gathered about the mission, expectations, and program development. The rationale of this process is to measure the program’s approach, capability and design strategy aligned with research, the awareness of the program stakeholders’ needs, and unconventional plans posed in related programs. The Process evaluation examines the effectiveness of the program’s execution. In this stage, program activities are examined, acknowledged and measured by the evaluator. The product evaluation, measures the successful and unsuccessful influences the program had on its stakeholders. The short-term and long-term outcomes are estimated in this phase as well. In the course of this phase, perceptiveness of stakeholders and significant staff are questioned, examining outcomes that influence the program stakeholders. Utilizing mixed methodologies guarantee all outco...
In this particular region of Africa, it is hard to ignore the impact that environmental degradation has. As climate change ramps up, there are new issues and new problems that will face all parts of the Earth. No region will be unaffected as the environment continues to change and current trends persist into the future. Sea level rise will affect coastal communities, warming trends will affect crop yields, and pollution will make some areas unlivable. Though the entire planet feels at least some effect of environmental change and global warming, there are particular regions where the effect is greatest. In these regions, environmental change or degradation can add to an already unstable and volatile situation. Increased environmental hardship or unpredictability can be the final factor that leads to a conflict.
Community environmental impact analysis is a systematic process for identifying, describing and evaluating community natural and human resources & makes improvement about their management. The main points which are considered under the environmental impact analysis-:
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) entails a multifaceted appraisement of the possible aftermath caused by a project or action on the surrounding man-made and natural environment (Wood, 2003). This systematic process requires the involvement of all interested stakeholders in the process and the public, in order to achieve a widespread consent on the planned project and mitigation strategies proposed [European Commission (EC), 2014].
Starting with the 1972 UN Convention, environmental politics became a phenomena that swept across the world and the EU was not immune to this contagious excitement and began the process with seven unique Environmental Action Programs (EAP). The first program began in 1973 and had three major points: (1) the prevention, reduction and containment of environmental damage, (2) the conservation of an ecological equilibrium, and (3) the rational use of natural resources. This was a very traditional approach and would be expanded upon in the future but a...
Our Congress created the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in 1969 in order to establish an environmental foundation for mankind. This policy endorses harmony between humans and the vast ecosystems surrounding them. To obtain this goal and provide our future with resources as well, NEPA is separated into two titles. The first title declares the policy in detail while the second title focuses on the Council on Environmental Quality. The CEQ oversees the effectiveness of current methods, the reactions of the environment to those methods, and implements revisions as necessary.
1.1 Objective: The objective of the Environmental Site Assessment Phase 1 was to identify purpose for which it was conducted. ESA Phase 1 can be executed for various purposes such as identification of specific incident on site, probable areas of environmental obligation, designated substances and for baseline study to development of Phase 2 ESA. [5]
The development of environmental regimes involves a five-fold process. The first process is the agenda setting and issue definition stage, which identifies and brings attention to an issue to the international community. Secon...
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the evaluation of the effects likely to arise from a major project (or other action) significantly affecting the environment (Jay, et al., 2007). It is a systematic process for considering possible impacts prior to a decision being taken on whether or not a proposal should be given approval to proceed (Jay, et al., 2007). Consultation and public participation are integral to this evaluation. EIA is thus an anticipatory, participatory environmental management tool (Jay, et al., 2007).
Oelofse. C. 2001. Sustainable Development: Theoretical and conceptual issues, LA 21 Training Programme. School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Natal, Durban
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) refers to a tool that assists in limiting the potential environmental damage of various developments that are undertaken in an area (Handley & Handley, 2001). Other researchers and scholars consider EIA as a key aspect of many large-scale planning applications; whereby, the EIA is used as the technique that help developers understand the potential environmental impacts of any major development proposal (Wathern, 1988). EIA entails information gathering practice that is carried out by both the developer and other relevant bodies to enable the Local Planning Authority appreciate the potential environmental effects of any form of development before giving directions on its commencement or stoppage (Dougherty & Hall, 1995; Wathern, 1988). Therefore, EIA can simply be described as the scientific and public consultation process that helps identify the potential impacts of any proposed project on the environment; that is, the biophysical component of the physical environment.