Course Title:

ENV 606: Environmental and Social Impact Assessment

Md. Jakariya, PhD

Professor, ESM
North South University
email: md.jakariya@northsouth.edu

EIA paper review on

Public participation and environmental impact
assessment: Purposes, implications, and lessons for
public policy making

Assignment submitted by:

Kamruzzaman Sheikh
ID: 2225080676
Spring 2023, MESM
email: kamruzzaman.sheikh@northsouth.edu
Date of Submission: June 11, 2023
Introduction:

The paper titled "Public participation and environmental impact assessment: Purposes,
implications, and lessons for public policy making" explores the need to enhance public
participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and its efficacy in achieving
desired outcomes. The authors highlight that public participation is often taken for
granted, and the underlying rationale for greater participation is not always well
articulated. The paper aims to analyze the different purposes of public participation in
EIA, discuss their implications for decision making, and draw lessons for public policy
making.

Review:

The paper addresses an important and timely topic, shedding light on the role of public
participation in EIA and its broader implications for public policy making. It provides a
comprehensive overview of the purposes of public participation, starting with the
provision of information to the public. The authors emphasize that while this form of
participation may not require active involvement, it plays a crucial role in enabling
affected groups to prepare for project impacts.

Furthermore, the paper delves into the concept of filling information gaps through public
participation. It argues that decision makers often rely on robust and comprehensive
information to make informed decisions regarding the potential impacts and risks
associated with proposed projects. In this regard, public participation becomes
instrumental in ensuring that decision makers have access to a wide range of perspectives
and data, including the aspirations and values of affected populations.

One significant aspect discussed in the paper is the contestability of information. Decision
makers are not only dependent on information provided by project proponents, who may
have their own biases and interests, but they also need to consider alternative sources of
information. Public participation plays a crucial role in contesting proponent information
and scrutinizing alternative proposals. This highlights the importance of diverse
perspectives and the need to avoid dominance by a single professional viewpoint.

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The paper also emphasizes the problem-solving and social learning potential of public
participation. It suggests that public involvement can foster creativity, innovation, and the
identification of effective strategies to mitigate environmental and social issues. The
concept of social and organizational learning is introduced, highlighting the value of
stakeholders working together to address sustainability challenges.

The authors present a thought-provoking analysis of the purposes of public participation in

EIA and their implications for decision making. They provide valuable insights into the
complex nature of public participation and its role in enhancing democratic principles,
shifting power dynamics, and entrenching marginalization.

However, one potential limitation of the paper is the lack of concrete examples or case
studies to support the arguments made. Including real-world examples would have
strengthened the discussion and provided practical illustrations of the concepts discussed.

In conclusion, "Public participation and environmental impact assessment: Purposes,

implications, and lessons for public policy making" offers a critical examination of public
participation in EIA. The paper successfully highlights the diverse purposes of public
participation and their relevance to decision making. It provides valuable insights and
lessons that can be applied to public policy making more broadly. Nonetheless,
incorporating specific case studies would further enhance the paper's overall impact and
applicability.

Reference:

O'Faircheallaigh, C. (2010). Public participation and environmental impact assessment: Purposes,

implications, and lessons for public policy making. Environmental impact assessment review,
30(1), 19-27.

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