Lawrence, David P.2006-07-282006-07-2819971997http://hdl.handle.net/10012/92The EIA planning process has and continues to assume a central role in EIA theory and practice. It encompasses activities prior and subsequent to a proposal decision and operates at both a regulatory and an applied level. It provides the framework for stakeholder interactions, methods application and the determination of conclusions. The EIA planning process is conceptually ill defined, is often poorly applied in practice and has been insufficiently responsive to changing needs and conditions. A pool of knowledge, insights and perspectives, comprised of EIA literature, literature from related fields (most notably planning) and Canadian EIA legislation, guidelines and example EIAs, provide the basis for a means for renewing of the EIA planning process. The resulting EIA planning process is founded upon a redefinition of EIA and a reordering of EIA objectives. The reordered EIA objectives stress the role of EIA in furthering a sustainable environment and in contributing to other environmental and societal objectives. The conventional EIA planning process provides the touchstone for reforming, redesigning and refining the EIA planning process. The conventional process is comprised of a sequence of discrete steps, can be applied in any setting and resembles the rational planning model. Although numerous steps and interactions have been added, the essential features of the conventional process remain unaltered. A reformed EIA planning process is based upon ideal planning process characteristics, blends in variations of and alternatives to the rational planning model, appreciates the lessons of postmodernism and integrates sustainability perspectives and imperatives. A redesigned EIA planning process sees EIA components as continuous activities, rather than as discrete steps, that collectively and progressively probe a decision space. It addresses the regulatory level and it envisions a plurality of processes for a plurality of contexts. This contingent approach is also transcended with core attributes, sustainability principles and frameworks that integrate the EIA planning process with other forms of environmental management. A refined EIA planning process enhances the application of selective EIA activities, notably screening, scoping, significance interpretations, cumulative effects assessment, uncertainty and risk analysis, evaluation, monitoring, auditing and conflict resolution. The resulting process is far from complete and will encounter numerous obstacles to implementation. Nevertheless, it provides a foundation for needed change.application/pdf33007026 bytesapplication/pdfenCopyright: 1997, Lawrence, David P.. All rights reserved.Harvested from Collections CanadaDoctoral Thesis