ESIA process - step 5 - Decision Making

Summary

The decision-making process in an Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) involves the approval of the ESIA report, issuing environmental clearance, and granting project permits. After a positive review, the environmental authority approves the report and issues clearance with conditions for mitigating negative impacts. The final decision, often made by the sector ministry, assesses whether the project is acceptable with its potential impacts at the proposed location. Published decisions allow stakeholders to appeal, and once the clearance and permit are in place, project implementation can begin. The final step of the ESIA is follow-up.

Takeaways

• 😀 Decision making is the fifth step in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process.
• 😀 The main goal of this step is to approve the ESIA report, issue environmental clearance, and permit the project.
• 😀 The environmental authority reviews the ESIA report and issues environmental clearance if the review is positive.
• 😀 Environmental clearance comes with conditions focused on mitigating negative impacts, including implementing an environmental and social management plan.
• 😀 The final decision on issuing a project permit is typically made by the sector ministry, which is a political decision.
• 😀 The political decision considers whether the project is desirable with its potential impacts at a specific location.
• 😀 Environmental clearance and project permits, along with their justification and conditions, are published for transparency.
• 😀 Stakeholders have the right to appeal if they believe the decision lacks proper justification or disagree with the clearance and permit.
• 😀 After receiving environmental clearance and a project permit, the implementation phase of the project can begin.
• 😀 The final step in the ESIA process is the follow-up phase, which occurs after the implementation begins.

Q & A

What is the fifth step in the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) process?

The fifth step in the ESIA process is decision making, which involves the approval of the ESIA report, issuing environmental clearance, and permitting of the project.

Who is responsible for approving the ESIA report?

The environmental authority is responsible for approving the ESIA report after a positive review.

What happens after the ESIA report is approved?

After the ESIA report is approved, the environmental authority issues an environmental clearance, which includes conditions for mitigating negative impacts and implementing the environmental and social management plan.

What role does the sector ministry play in the ESIA process?

The sector ministry is usually the one that makes the final decision regarding the issuance of a project permit, which is a political decision considering whether the project with its impacts is acceptable in that location.

What is the basis of the decision regarding environmental clearance and project permitting?

The decision is based on whether the project is deemed acceptable in terms of its impacts and location, and is often a political decision.

Can stakeholders appeal the decision on environmental clearance and project permitting?

Yes, stakeholders can appeal the decision if they find the justification of the decision inadequate or if they disagree with the environmental clearance and project permit.

What happens once the environmental clearance and project permit are issued?

Once the environmental clearance and project permit are issued, the project implementation can begin.

What is the final step in the ESIA process?

The final step in the ESIA process is follow-up, which occurs after project implementation has started.

What is typically included in the environmental clearance issued by the authority?

The environmental clearance typically includes conditions that address the mitigation of negative environmental and social impacts, as well as requirements for implementing the environmental and social management plan.

Why is decision making in the ESIA process considered a political decision?

Decision making is considered a political decision because it involves determining whether the project, with its associated impacts, is acceptable for the country at the specified location.