Problem overview:

     Awareness and visions: Integrating the EIA in project assessment will help project approval agencies have a clearer picture on what kind of impact, in terms of environment, that could occur as a consequence of pursuing a development project.

     Meeting information requirements: The Environmental Impact Assessment is a tool that needs to be used to assure that development projects will not be at the cost of environmental destruction. Many countries have enforced the requirement for EIA assessments before project approval. This example is about enactment of EIA in Korea.

Background:

     Environmental Impact Assessments require an independent, competent review to be effective.

     Enactment of the EIA requirement for development project approval: The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system was introduced by the Environment Preservation Act in 1977 and later strengthened in a new EIA Act enacted in 1993. The EIA Act mandates that Urban development projects, industrial sites building, energy developments have to be tested by the EIA. All the projects subject to the EIA must be approved through a public hearing.

     Enhancement of transparency and efficacy of the process: Since the beginning of this year, in order to enhance the transparency and efficacy of evaluation, the administrative agency responsible for project approval must request consultation and review of the assessment by the Korea Environment Institute (KEI).

     What is the Korea Environment Institute (KEI) ?: The KEI is a government research institute under the guidance of the MOE. The KEI consists of 20 experts in EIAs and is responsible for all the evaluation of the EIA report from the project manager. The administrative agency responsible for project approval should implement the consultation results in the project process, monitor the implementation of consultation results, and assign responsibilities for keeping records of the implementation procedures.

     Post environmental impact assessment after project approval: After the project is approved, the project manager evaluates the post-environmental impact by each assessment factor and submits the results of the evaluation to the MOE and to the administrative agency. Improper project implementation may result in the suspension of construction, sentence up to five years in prison, or fines up to 5,000,000 won.