Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
8
International and Individual State
Environmental Impact Analysis Programs
8.1 Introduction
Many countries and U.S. states followed the National Environmental Policy
Act (NEPA) model by developing their own environmental policy state-
ments, enabling legislation, and ultimately introducing regulations to
address the growing environmental concerns. All of these programs drew
from the NEPA experience to some degree, sometimes embracing the con-
cepts, and at other times rejecting some of the components, but always
considering NEPA and adapting to local situations. Presented below are
example programs for several countries and two states with well-developed
comprehensive programs and long histories. The summaries are presented
in part as comparisons to NEPA, reflecting the history of development and
“lessons learned.” Also, once you are familiar with NEPA, after assimilating
Chapters 1 through 7 of this topic, a description of other programs in relation
to the first and most mature program is more meaningful.
8.2
Canadian Environmental Program
Canada has promulgated both federal and provincial environmental legisla-
tion and the two are complementary. The federal legislation (originally passed
as the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, S.C. 1992, and recently
revised as CEAA 2012) and implementing regulations, as summarized below,
draw heavily from the U.S. NEPA experience. This summary is based on the
original Act, as the new Act is not designed to result in substantive changes.
New regulations under CEAA 2012 have not been fully promulgated and
there is no history with the revisions. The summary of the 1992 CEAA is
followed by comments on anticipated changes based on the 2012 Act and
associated regulations. The Canadian approach to environmental protection
enhances and adds to the U.S. NEPA experience, recognizing conditions in
the large open spaces of Canada, and the strong provincial governments.
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