Research on Improving EIA Through Causality Analysis

The Korea Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system was introduced in 1977 through the Environmental Conservation Act. It has progressed through many laws and regulations promoting the balance between development and conservation, and functioning as a Preventitive environmental policy. Despite the efforts to minimize environmental damage from development and to uplift social awareness of environmental preservation, deficient impartiality and objectivity in completing and investigating environmental assessments, there have continously existed conflicts among related stakeholder, neglecting arrangements and ineffectiveness of public participation. This research present EIA obstacles and analyzes the overall status of the EIA through surveys from related experts. On the basis of this research, the actual complications regarding the developer, public participation, examiner and consultant are brought about. Also, remedies are proposed to ensure effective EIAs and restore confidence in them.