The efficiency of environmental impact assessments relating to noise issues

Zanda Krukle

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a management tool which is used to provide acceptable and sustainable living space through the preemptive appraisal of proposed schemes which have potential negative impacts on the environment quality. This appraisal includes consideration of environment and holistic health factors and contains methods to prevent or reduce possible harmful effects. One of the factors which are considered in EIA’s is noise emissions. The appropriate and effective assessment of environmental noise issues via this process is especially important in countries where noise control systems are underdeveloped and environmental matters are often viewed as restrictive of business activities. In order to determine whether the aim of the EIA relating to environmental noise issues is achieved, the process and results of an EIA for transport sector projects in Latvia are investigated. The research includes analysis of EIA reports, conditions and decisions of the managing institution as well as an analysis of the projects which were the subject of EIA's and are now in operation. The results of this study are a critical examination of the requirements and efficiency of the EIA process, identification of the shortcomings and suggestions for improvements.

Mots clés: efficiency; environmental impact assessment; noise; management

Domaines: Acoustique [physics.class-ph]

Zanda Krukle. The efficiency of environmental impact assessments relating to noise issues. Acoustics 2012, Apr 2012, Nantes, France. ⟨hal-00811229⟩