What follows is an extract from the Executive Summary of the Review on the Effectiveness and Efficiency of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process in South Africa.

This year marks the tenth year of formalised Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) in South Africa. It is therefore appropriate at this point in time to review the effectiveness and efficiency of this important instrument.

The Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT) initiated this study in 2007 to assess the effectiveness and efficiency of regulated EIA since its implementation in 1997.

The study comprised of the evaluation of a selection of case files (502); the utilisation of a general questionnaire to solicit the views of a wide range of stakeholders; the evaluation of existing statistical information held by the authorities and evaluation of other environmental management instruments. Finally, South Africa’s EIA system has been compared with that of other countries where similar effectiveness review exercises have been undertaken.

Effectiveness is measured through assessing the ability of EIA to serve its purpose and meet the objectives set for it.

Efficiency will be measured considering the time implications of the EIA system.

The time the EIA process takes is the most important aspect of efficiency as it is under constant scrutiny and attack from applicants. The monetary cost of EIA is also important.