Does enhanced regulation improve EIA report quality? Lessons from South Africa

L.A. Sandham; A.J. van Heerden; C.E. Jones; F.P. Retief; A. Morrison-Saunders

doi:10.1016/j.eiar.2012.08.001

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Does enhanced regulation improve EIA report quality? Lessons from South Africa

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Does enhanced regulation improve EIA report quality? Lessons from South Africa

L.A. Sandham, A.J. van Heerden, C.E. Jones, F.P. Retief and A. Morrison-Saunders

Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Vol.38, pp.155-162

2013

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2012.08.001

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Abstract

Recently, various EIA systems have been subjected to system review processes with a view to improve performance. Many of these reviews resulted in some form of legislative reform. The South African Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) regulations were modified in 2006 with the express intent to improve EIA effectiveness. In order to evaluate to what extent the desired outcome was achieved, the quality of EIA reports produced under the 2006 regulations was investigated for comparative analysis with the preceding regime. A sample of EIA reports from the two legislative regimes was reviewed using an adapted version of a well established method known colloquially as the "Lee and Colley" review package. Despite some improvements in certain aspects, overall report quality has decreased slightly from the 1997 EIA regime. It therefore appears that the modifications to the regulations, often heralded as the solution to improvements in performance have not resulted in improved quality of EIA reports.

Details

Title: Does enhanced regulation improve EIA report quality? Lessons from South Africa
Authors/Creators: L.A. Sandham (Author/Creator) - North-West University
A.J. van Heerden (Author/Creator) - North-West University
C.E. Jones (Author/Creator) - University of Manchester
F.P. Retief (Author/Creator) - North-West University
A. Morrison-Saunders (Author/Creator) - North-West University
Publication Details: Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Vol.38, pp.155-162
Publisher: Elsevier
Identifiers: 991005542844707891
Copyright: © 2012 Elsevier Inc.
Murdoch Affiliation: School of Environmental Science
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 6 Social Sciences; 6.153 Climate Change; 6.153.2227 Strategic Environmental Assessment
Web Of Science research areas: Environmental Studies
ESI research areas: Social Sciences, general