Environmental Impact Assessments

KEY DEFINITIONS

Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) are examinations or reviews of the potential environmental consequences of a proposed plan or development, that are intended to help inform the relevant authority if the plan or development should be approved. The goal is to ensure that the proposals are environmentally sound, thus balancing environment and development needs. In some places, Environmental and Social Impact Assessments (ESIAs) are mandated, which have an expanded scope that explicitly integrates social responsibility and equity into the considerations for approval; however, regular EIAs may still include social considerations.

EIAs were first outlined in 1987 by the UNEP “Goals and principles of environmental impact assessment”, with much refinement to the guidelines for the assessments over the last 4 decades. Agenda 21, the 1992 Programme of Action for Sustainable Development, also recognized the vulnerability of small island developing states like those in the Caribbean and the need to integrate EIAs into planning to ensure sustainable development (Chapter 17). Thus, EIAs are a global obligation as well as a local need. They reflect good environmental practices such as prevention, the precautionary approach, and our duty to do no harm. In addition to reducing environmental damage, EIAs also improve project design/siting and integration into the local setting, ensuring public acceptability; promote more informed decision-making for planners and developers; increase accountability and transparency; and lead to more effective projects in the long term by ensuring they meet their financial and/or socio-economic objectives. A well-executed EIA is a win-win for all.

In Grenada, EIAs are defined and governed by the Physical Planning and Development Control Act, which defines them as: “the process of collection, analysis, evaluation and review of information on the likely effects of a proposed development on the environment and the means to overcome adverse effect which enables the [Planning and Development] Authority to determine whether development permission should be granted and with what conditions” (p. 772). This definition makes it clear that EIAs are not simply a box to tick to grant approval, but are intended to be a decision support tool that must be done BEFORE approval of any development and the results of the EIA should dictate any changes that must be made to the plan to avoid or mitigate the identified environmental risks.

Provisions of the Physical Planning and Development Control Act for EIAs

• The Act states that the Minister may make regulations for criteria and procedures, minimum contents of EIA, public participation, qualifications of EIA team, and establishment of the EIA committee (p. 793)

• The Authority shall not grant permission for a proposed development “unless it has first taken the report on the EIA into account” (p. 793)

• The following types of developments must be subject to an EIA (pp. 866-867):

  1. Hotels or resort complex of more than 50 rooms

  2. Sub-divisions of more than 10 lots

  3. Residential development of more than 25 units

  4. Any industrial plant, which in the opinion of the Authority is likely to cause significant adverse environmental impact

  5. Drilling, quarrying, sand mining and other mining activities

  6. Marinas

  7. Land reclamation, dredging and filling of ponds and swamps

  8. Airports, ports and harbours

  9. Dams and reservoirs

  10. Hydro-electric projects

  11. Desalination plants

  12. Water purification plants

  13. Sanitary landfill operations, solid waste disposal sites, toxic waste disposal sites and other similar sites

  14. A power plant

  15. An incinerator, sanitary landfill operation, solid waste disposal site, sludge disposal site or other similar site

  16. Gas pipeline installations

  17. Wind turbines

  18. Communication towers

  19. Any development projects generating or potentially generating emissions, aqueous effluent, solid waste, noise, vibration or radioactive discharges

  20. Any development involving the storage and use of hazardous materials

  21. Any coastal zone development

  22. Any development in wetlands, marine parks, national parks, conservation areas, environmental protection areas or other sensitive environmental areas

  23. Any other projects identified by the Authority.

• The Authority has to consider how the proposed development will affect persons or the community in the area in question, and “any representations made by persons who may be affected by the proposed development” as well as “impact on public health, safety and welfare” are material considerations to be taken into account (p. 796).

• The Act has provisions for engaging the public from the time a development plan is being drafted through to adoption, an application for planning permission is received, through the stages of the EIA process, and continuing to the review of the EIA report.

In addition to the information provided here, we encourage you to read the Physical Planning and Development Control Act, publicly available on the Laws of Grenada website, for a fuller understanding of its contents.