Environmental Impact Statements

The environmental impact statement (EIS) is a device that allows study, contemplation, and [Page 257]commentary by a broad spectrum of interested parties before commencing with a project or activity that might threaten the environment or cultural assets. A relatively new legal mechanism, EIS requirements recognize that such engineering works as road building, dam construction, and port channelization can have far-reaching and often unexpected ecological and cultural impacts, and before the bulldozers and draglines go to work, these impacts must be identified and responded to. Communication is a key component; the EIS process involves the use of communication by whatever means are available and appropriate to reach and involve interested parties.