Environmental+Impact+Analysis

**Environmental Impact Analysis in Brunei 2003**

=EIA mandatory for future dev't projects =

Wednesday, June 6, 2012

DEVELOPMENT projects in the future will be legally required to undergo the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) under the proposed 'Environmental Protection and Management Order 2012'. The announcement was made yesterday by the acting director of the Department of Environment, Parks and Recreation (JASTRE) during a seminar on EIA, which was held to mark the annual World Environment Day. HjhZaianiHjNoorkhan said the Ministry of Development (MoD) is finalising the 'Environmental Protection and Management Order 2012'. "The emphasis placed on environmental protection is not to say we cannot continue with our development projects. What is needed is that we adopt planned development that focuses on environmental protection and the impact of development on the environment," she said. In her opening remarks, the acting director commented that the proposed legislation is in line with the government's efforts towards achieving the National Vision 2035. The mandatory EIA was also in response to His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of BruneiDarussalam'stitahdelivered during the 26th National Day in 2010, whereby the monarch highlighted the need for substantive laws to protect the environment. During the seminar yesterday, the Permanent Secretary (Administration and Finance) at MoD, HjMohdLuftiHjAbdullah noted that the EIA is imperative towards environmental protection. "Recognising the value and contribution of the environment in national development, we need to undertake steps to ensure this precious source is utilised (and) not exploited. What means and methods can be used to achieve this goal? The answer lies in EIA," he remarked. He elaborated that the EIA is "not merely a tool or process" used to identify and evaluate environment related projects or activities. The EIA could also be used to shape preventative measures as well as in the monitoring and conservation of the environment towards addressing the threats and risks of pollution in development projects. HjMohdLufti further stated that the guidelines and laws for the enforcement of EIA is currently being formulated by MOD through JASTRE. "These guidelines and laws, when put in place, will require all parties including government departments and agents as well as the private sector and to prepare the EIA before their projects and activities are implemented," he said. Commenting on this year's World Environment Day theme of 'Green Economy: Does it include you?', he noted that the EIA is in line with the 'green economy' approach. <span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium; vertical-align: baseline;">Organised by the JASTRE in collaboration with Chemsain (Brunei) SdnBhd and Varitas Brunei Darussalam, the seminar was among the ongoing initiatives by JASTRE to raise awareness on environmental protection in the country. <span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: medium; vertical-align: baseline;">The Brunei Times

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #335183; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.63em;">Environmental Impact Analysis Format
<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 21px;">( <span style="background-color: #f0f0f0; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 21px;">[|Scotland] <span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 21px;">)

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em;">1. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a process which identifies the environmental effects (both negative and positive) of development proposals. It aims to prevent, reduce and offset any adverse impacts.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em;">2. Within the overall EIA process there are 2 main stages.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em;">In the first stage the applicant undertakes an assessment so that environmental issues can be taken into account during the design of the project. This involves consultations, data collection and environmental studies to identify the effects and propose mitigation measures to prevent, reduce and offset them. This is reported in an environmental statement (ES) which is submitted in conjunction with the planning application.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em;">The planning authority then undertakes the second main stage by critically evaluating the statement, seeking further information from the applicant if necessary and taking into account additional consultations and public representations. This is to ensure the planning authority has sufficient reliable information to understand the likely environmental effects and specify any mitigation measures before the planning application is determined.

<span style="background-color: #ffffff; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana,Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 1.3em;">3. The types of project for which an EIA has been undertaken are typically complex, with a wide range of environmental effects. They often occupy extensive sites and are in sensitive locations. They are likely to raise issues which are not always easy to resolve and which often attract contentious representations. For such projects EIA provides a systematic approach to obtaining and considering environmental information