We are currently in an era where rapid industrial development and growth is conflicting with serious environmental concerns. With each new engineering project that is faced with opposition from those concerned about the environment, the need for satisfactory legislation becomes apparent. The continuing struggle to provide new developments that meet EU rules and regulations is however being met by specialist Environmental Consulting services. By conducting an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), the potential benefits and possible problems of a project can be determined. Through analysing the results that arise from such an assessment, the pro\'s and con\'s can be weighed up and a decision can be made as to whether to proceed with a project immediately, modify the proposal, or abandon the project altogether. The Environmental Consultant conducting the EIA is trained to help companies find their way through the red tape with the objective of realising their development goal. An EIA is designed to identify any positive or negative consequences of a project before it has been given the green light. This allows a chance for the impact to be assessed and the public informed of the results. The criteria associated with a satisfactory EIA vary from country to country, but within the European Union, standards are maintained through the implementation of the EIA Directive. This directive explains the fundamental areas that should be assessed to produce an adequate and unbiased impact assessment. The outcome of the assessment will highlight the affect the project will have environmentally and socially as well as identifying areas of weakness or lack of knowledge. The seven areas of assessment as set out in the directive can be broken up as follows. Project description: This describes the overall project, outlining any decommissioning, construction or general operations proposed to take place. A description of the site will also be required, with any possible disturbance that might be caused to flora and fauna highlighted. The final points should identify any pollution that may be caused through the outlined processes; for example noise pollution. Project alternatives: If there are any aspects of the project that could be achieved in a number of ways, these should be explained here. Having alternative options gives scope for flexibility within a project. Environment description: This section is aimed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the flora and fauna that could be threatened by development. The description also covers existing elements that are culturally and socially important or part of the heritage of the area. Significant environmental effects: The impact on the surrounding environment by the processes involved in the project are measured as either being significantly at risk, or not at risk according to a standardised matrix tool. This can cover anything from damage caused during the project to effects on the environment once the project is completed. Mitigation: After highlighting the areas at risk from a project, it is possible to justify the projects continuation by providing alternative ways of achieving a goal. This is especially important in developments where disturbance can be minimised by scheduling work outside of breeding seasons for example. Non Technical Summary: The purpose of this summary is to provide all the information from the EIA in layman\'s terms so the results can be made available to the public. It is essential that the summary is free of jargon and presented in a simple manner that can be understood by the community. Technical Difficulties: This section is to draw attention to the flaws within the project as identified by the Environmental Consultant. This information can greatly help a project reach its potential with the minimum of risk to the environment or surrounding population and should be seen as a foundation upon which to improve the potential of a project. The implementation of the EIA Directive through environmental consulting services is a sensible step towards uniting the need for development with respect for the environment. Ultimately, by embracing the potential of such legislations, growth and development will no longer be associated with environmental harm, but synonymous with sustainability.
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