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ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEWS AND CASE STUDIES: Decision Making in theEnvironmental Impact Assessment Process

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  09 February 2015

Robert Evans
Robert Evans*
Affiliation:
Robert Evans, PhD, PE, CHP, Senior Health Physicist, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region IV Office, Arlington, Texas.
*
Address correspondence to: Robert Evans, Senior HealthPhysicist, US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Region IV Office, 1600 East LamarBoulevard, Arlington, TX 76011; (telephone) 817-200-1234; (fax817-200-1188; (e-mail) robert.evans@nrc.gov.
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Abstract

This article analyzes the decision-making processes used by governmentagencies when trying to decide whether to approve or reject projects thatimpact the environment. This article examines some of the real-life inputsinto the decision, as well as the influences on the decision maker. Forexample, some academics suggest that decision makers are more influenced bythe environmental impact assessment process itself than by the conclusionsof the assessment. Three case studies are presented. I provide an overviewof each project and the various influences on the respective decision maker.I demonstrate that decision makers tend to elevate social, cultural, andpolitical concerns over the natural environment. I also demonstrate thateach decision maker was influenced by a particular social, cultural, orpolitical aspect unique to each situation. I recommend further research inthe expanding use of analytical tools and models in environmental decisionmaking. These tools may encourage the decision maker to give moreconsideration to the results of the environmental impact assessment versusother external influences.

Environmental Practice 16: 290–301 (2014)

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Features
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Environmental Practice , Volume 16 , Issue 4 , December 2014 , pp. 290 - 301
Copyright
© National Association of Environmental Professionals 2014 

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