Consultation in planning stages
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[highlight]Environmental impact assessment[/highlight]
is the formal process used to predict the environmental consequences (positive or negative) of a plan, policy, program, or project prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action.
[highlight]Public concerned[/highlight]
means the public affected or likely to be affected by, or having an interest in, the environmental decision-making; It refers to a subset of the public at large who have a special relationship to a particular environmental decision-making procedure. To be a member of the “public concerned” in a particular case, the member of the public must be likely to be affected by the environmental decision-making, or the member of the public must have an interest in the environmental decision-making.
[highlight]Appropriate consultation time[/highlight]
Is sufficient time for informing the public and for the public to prepare and participate effectively in the decision making. It also takes account of prompt notice of the decision.
[highlight]Required information[/highlight]
is defined as all information relevant to the decision-making must be made available. This is not limited to environmental information; this means information in whatever form.
[highlight]Independent element[/highlight]
is external assistance by, for instance, consultants specialising in public participation who have assisted the project proponent and/or public authority during the public participation stages of the decision-making process.
[highlight]Representations[/highlight]
The project applicant must give the public the opportunity to submit, in writing, in person, digitally, or in any other appropriate way, any comments, information, analyses or opinions during the public participation procedure.
[highlight]Significant[/highlight]
Significance is to be determined by analysing the characteristics of the project, such as the size, use of natural resources, risk of accidents etc.; the location of the project, such as the environmental sensitivity of geographical areas likely to be affected by projects; and the characteristics of the potential impact, including the extent of the impacts in terms of geographical area and affected population.
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