There are severe criticisms and perceptions of inadequacy about the success of the current EIA system as a tool for environmental impact management. Environment.co.za has for 8 long years been one of those criticizing and challenging the legislation. In recent years we've seen some NGO's gain strength and numbers and it is now good to see that we have a team dedicated to being part of the current DEA process, a team of NGO's who are spending their time studying all the documentation and collecting comments from various other sectors and individuals.
The Custodian Project, in partnership with the Federation for a Sustainable Environment serves on the Steering Committee for the DEA's Environmental Impact Assessment and Management Strategy.
Representatives for the NGO sector are Rico Euripidou, Ted Holden, Chris Galliers, Mariette Liefferink and Mercia Komen.
The Custodian Project invites NGO's, organisations and individuals to submit comment on the documentation below.
Report 1:
THEME: GOVERNANCE AND ADMINISTRATION (DRAFT REPORT)
SUB-THEME: PROCEDURES AND ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURES
Prepared by ENACT INTERNATIONAL
Download the PDF (1 Mb)
Report 2:
SUBTHEME 2: Knowledge and information:
Prepared By DEA: Madeleine Oosthuizen, Chantal Matthys, Wayne Hector
SSI: Gillian Maree
Download the PDF (1 Mb)
Report 3:
SUBTHEME 3: Public Participation
Prepared By: Phelamanga Projects
Download the PDF (700 Kb)
Report 4:
SUBTHEME 4: COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT:
Prepared By: SE Solutions (Pty) Ltd, Sean O’Beirne
Download the PDF (600 Kb)
Report 5:
SUBTHEME 5: QUALITY ASSURANCE AND INDEPENDENCE OF ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONERS
Prepared By: MLA Sustainability Matters (Marlene Laros) / DEA: Madeleine Oosthuizen, Chantal Matthys, Wayne Hector
Download the PDF (500 kb)
Report 6:
SUBTHEME 6: Representative demographics within service providers and civil society:
Prepared By: The Green Connectio, Christy Bragg, Roshan Stanford, Liz Mcdaid, Basier Dramat,
Lynette Munro
Download the PDF (1.4 Mb)
Report 7:
SUBTHEME 7: EMPOWERMENT OF MARGINALIZED COMMUNITIES
Prepared By: The Green Connection
Download the PDF (600 Kb)
Report 8:
SUBTHEME 8: SKILLS OF EAPs AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS
Prepared By: DEA: Madeleine Oosthuizen, Chantal Matthys, Wayne Hector
SSI Environmental: Janet Loubser, Mark Freeman
Download the PDF (2.3 Mb)
Report 9:
SUBTHEME 9: QUALITY OF TOOLS
Prepared By: DEA: Madeleine Oosthuizen, Chantal Matthys, Wayne Hector
SSI Environmental: Gerard van Weele, Malcolm Roods
Download the PDF (900 Kb)
Report 10:
SUBTHEME 10: Co-operative Governance: EIM tools
Prepared By: The Green Connection
Download the PDF (600 Kb)
Report 11:
SUBTHEME 11: QUALITY OF TOOLS
Prepared By: Madeleine Oosthuizen : DEA;
STTT Champion: Mercia Komen: NGO Sector
(Federation for a Sustainable Environment)
Download the PDF (3.7 Mb)
Please do not submit your comments to the Department of Environmental Affairs, instead please send your comments to us on enviroadmin@environment.co.za and we will make sure your comments reach the correct people.
Alternatively you can comment online at Custodian Project
General Concerns about Current EIA systems:
- Concerns voiced relate to both the efficiency and the effectiveness of the system.
- There are concerns about time frames and costs (direct and indirect) for conducting studies and inefficiencies in administrative and decision-making processes.
- The current environmental impact management system tends to use EIA as the only legislative tool for impact assessment and management. It is often seen as a “magic wand” despite the fact that the tool has limitations. EIA is often not the most appropriate tool to use, especially in the case where the impacts are minimal or low, in which case the tool becomes rather “heavyhanded.”
- A common complaint from Interest and Affected Parties (I&APs) and civil society is that the environment is not being effectively protected, and there is tendency from this sector to call for tighter regulations and more consultation.
- Environmental Impact Management is seldom complemented by strategic tools.
- Environmental Frameworks (EMFs) and Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) are applied within limitations and mostly on a voluntary basis.
