Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) has been known as a useful tool which

incorporates environmental factors in making a decision regarding new

development. In other word EIA is a study to identify, predict, evaluate and
communicate information about the impact on the environment of a proposed
project and to detail out the mitigating measures of the project approval and
implementation.
The objectives of EIA are to examine and select the best alternatives from
various options beside to determine significant impact of the activities or project to
the environment. EIA also want to recommend mitigating and control measures of
the project, identify the environment management plan (EMP) and also environment
monitoring programmed. In our country the EIA state under a legal requirement
which is under section 34A, Environmental Quality Act 1974.there is 19 prescribed
activities stated under this act which is agriculture, petroleum, drainage & Irrigation,
land reclamation, fisheries, forestry, housing, industry, infrastructure development,
mining, airport, power generation & transmission, quarries, railways, transportation,
resort &recreational, waste treatment & disposal, water supply and lastly ports.
An EIA study has to be conducted by the competent individual. The
competent individual has to be registered with Department of Environment under
EIA Consultant Registration Scheme. The EIA reports which are conducted by
individuals who are not registered with the DOE will be rejected. The steps in EIA
process are starting with project screening follow by project scoping. There is two
main things that need to be taken seriously which are site suitability and term of
reference. Then the EIA can be conducted and submitted to DOE. DOE will review
and the EMP will be written base on EIA report.
As the conclusion EIA needed essentially as a planning mechanism for
preventing environment problem due to an action. It will ensure that the potential
problem can be detected at an early stage in the project planning and design.