Environmental Impact Assessment

Running head: Environmental Impact Assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

Environmental Impact Assessment
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Response to question no.1
‘The Limits to growth’ discusses about the anthropogenic impact of the environment
and explains the how the increasing population have left an imprint in the natural
environment that the resources which once seemed limitless have started to decrease. The
recent decades have seen considerable discussion in academic research and in the media
about the environmental impacts of human activity, especially those that have been related
to climate change and biodiversity, but far less attention has been paid to the shrinking
resource base for humans. The most urgent of these issues appears to be the decline in oil
reservoirs, a phenomenon which is popularly referred to as “peak oil” since the total global
production had appeared to have reached a maximum peak and was then declining. The
major reason had been resource depletion and population growth which have grown
considerably and have been producing immense pressure on the planets natural resources.
These issues of increasing population and limits to growing have been addressed by few
scientist in the last century and new technologies an ideas to address the limits of Growth
were discussed in the ground breaking book that was published in 1972 and named the
‘Limits to Growth’.
In order to address the issue of depleting resources and to explore options for energy
and resources that can be exploited safely with the lesser environmental impact, and cleaner
sources of energy. The government of Australia has appointed the Department of
Environment and Energy which looks into the processes through which sustainable
development can be initiated and managed. The Department of Environment and Energy
looks into the probable options of harnessing energy and power through cleaner and
sustainable means. The department also looks into addressing the issues related to climate
change and protection of the environment. The department has a plethora of policies and
projects that are designed, monitored and implemented under the purview of the
department. It is involved in the looking after of the Environmental Protection of the habitats,
the improvisations of energy options and cleaner fuels along with energy efficient programs,
the protection of the bio diversity and the assessment of environment and the assessment of
the impact created though human activities and conserving the biodiversity that is existent in
the nature.
Response to Question no.2
The states of Queensland and Western Australia have EIA procedures that are
implemented in a manner that revolves around the practice of assessing the impact created

Environmental Impact Assessment
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by the project to the environment. Both the states have their guidelines laid down which
follow the national framework pointed out by the Department of planning and environment.
The following table will outline the details of the EIA procedures in the both the states and
look into the similarities and differences (Epa.wa.gov.au 2019).
The Environmental impact assessment in Western Australia is assessed and
reviewed under the Environmental Protection Act 1986 or the “EP Act” which is the central
process of considering and evaluating the environmental impacts of projects in Western
Australia. The process involves a final approval which is decided on the projects by the
Minister for Environment after various assessments, recommendations and process
decisions by the Environmental Protection Authority or the EPA which is an independent five
person statutory body. The Office of the Environmental Protection Authority or the OEPA is
the government body which ensures the implementation of the EPA for environmental
impact assessments and is designated with the enforcement powers (Epa.wa.gov.au
2019).
.
On the contrary the Queensland also has a similar framework for the Environmental impact
assessment which follows the guidelines laid down by the Environmental Protection Act
1994 and there two different types of assessment in Queensland which include an
Environmental Impact Statement instead of an Environmental Impact Assessment. The EIS
is performed under two different bodies and under the purview of two different acts which are
the Environmental Protection Act 1994 and the State development and Public Works
Organisation Act of 1971 also known as the SDPWO Act. The table below will compare the
process between the EIA of Western Australia with that of the EIS of Queensland. EPA
prepares a report and recommendations for the Minister for Environment.
Western Australia Queensland
The process is an Assessment under the
Environmental Protection Act 1986.
Environmental Impact Statement instead of
an Environmental Impact Assessment
Office of the Environmental Protection
Authority or the OEPA is the government
body which ensures the implementation of
the EPA
The EIS is performed under two different
bodies, Department of Environment and
Science and the Coordinator-General,
Department of State Development,
Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning.
In WA the EIA is initiated through referral of Involves an EIS process which is generally

Environmental Impact Assessment
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significant proposal to the EPA authority. limited to assessing applications for an
environmental authority or lease.
The next stage involves the EPA to decide
whether to assess a referred proposal. After
the decision is made, an assessment of
proposals is made. The EPA prepares a
report and recommendations for the
Minister for Environment for approval. The
EPA’s report and recommendations are
made publically available on the EPA’s
website and implementation of the
proposals are made.
On the contrary the applicants may request
for an assessment EIS or the Coordinator-
General decides on the declaration of the
project as coordinated or not. The
assessment depends on the nature of the
project and the EIS is exempted if the
project is assessed under the SDPWO Act
then the EIS under EP act is not required.
The EP act is monitored by the Chief
Executive form the department of
Environment and heritage protection.
Where the EP act EIS is Implemented it
involves either voluntary application by the
proponent is induced through the site
specific EIS.
The EIA in WA is a central body and
is regulated by the OEPA (Epa.wa.gov.au
2019).
The EIS in QLD depends on the
nature of the project and the regulatory
body may vary from the Coordinator
General in case of the SDPWO Act and the
Chief Executive in case of the EP Act.
(Epa.wa.gov.au 2019).
Response to question no.3
The importance of public participation in Environmental Impact Assessment is one of
the major criteria of the assessment procedures. The opinion of the public on the issues
related to environmental impact of any project is immensely necessary since the common
public is one of the major stakeholders for any project that is being assessed in any region.
The opinions of the local communities and the public have to be taken into account while any
project is being implemented since a great deal of impact is to be associated with the local
communities and the public as a whole. The EPA on many a case decides on the public
publishing of the environmental review by the proponent and any other information
necessary for the public for a public review. In the Western Australia the Public review