Screening and Scoping in Environmental Impact Assessment, 1999-2002

The aims and objectives of the research project were to:<br> <li>identify the characteristics and nature of the way in which 'significant environmental effects' are currently determined and articulated under the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulations, 1999 (EIA);</li><br> <li>explore the use of 'fuzzy set' theory to understand the way in which significance is evaluated by a range of stakeholders at different EIA decision stages leading up to the submission of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for final project authorisation decision-making;</li><br> <li>theorise the evaluation of the significance of environmental effects and develop heuristic models of EIA information appraisal and decision-making in the stages leading up to the submission of EISs; and</li><br> <li>evaluate the extent to which fuzzy sets may be employed to develop improvements in procedures used to evaluate significant environmental effects in screening, scoping and impact prediction in EIA.</li><br>