What is the goal of environmental impact assessments (EIA)? It is not to block development, extend the development period or increase cost; it is to provide an advance objective and fair assessment to ensure that a project’s impact is properly managed.
If development is inappropriate, that should be settled swiftly instead of wasting huge sums of money on it. This is why the developer, the Environmental Protection Administration (EPA) and the general public expect an expert EIA consultancy to produce an EIA report. If the consultant lacks expertise, the report’s fairness would be questioned. Even if the consultant caters to its client, it would be difficult for the developer to direct the assessment if it lacks expertise.
The main reason past EIA reports were not trusted was interference by government officials. Indeed, nine members of an EIA committee once accused the Cabinet of interference. If EIAs should not be made in the service of policy, then it is even more inappropriate for the EPA commission to evaluate such assessments, using environmental expertise as an excuse for the government to interfere in EIA reports and sacrifice its impartiality. If EIA consultancies are too weak to oppose the developer, it is even less likely that they will deliver reports that oppose the EPA. Do we really want legislation that gives the EPA the power to decide whether a development project should go ahead?
The first time the EPA minister participated in an EIA meeting, it was decided that a mining development should not be allowed to go ahead. It was also decided that EIA task forces would only convene three times in connection to future assessments. This is the right approach: If development is inappropriate, kill the project right away; if it should be allowed to go ahead, pass it as soon as possible. A feasible project should not be allowed to die a slow death due to the differing opinions of EIA committee members.
The EPA is planning to amend the law to assist President Tsai Ing-wen’s (蔡英文) “five major innovative industries” project, so that if a development project uses an existing industrial site, an EIA would not be required. However, assessments should be consistent and specific industries should not be given a pass: Even if an existing site is used, the issue of increased energy consumption and water usage, and the reduction of flood peaks and carbon emissions remain.
The EIA system needs major reform, but deciding how it should be done requires wide-ranging debate.
Chang Yen-ming is a former director of the Taichung office of the Water Resources Agency.
Translated by Perry Svensson
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