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This Guideline issued in 2000 and revised in 2003, is prepared to fulfill the
responsibility of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) which is stated under
sub article 3 of article 8 of The Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation of
Ethiopia (Proc. No. 299/2000). The sub article requires the authority to provide a
guideline that determines the elements necessary to prepare as well as evaluate an
environmental impact study report.
The main purposes of this guideline are the following:
1. As a reference material - to assist proponents and consultants in carrying
out their environmental assessment related tasks by giving out the necessary
information and by portraying the process flow.
2. providing a consistent and good practice approach to EIA in Ethiopia
3. Providing background information for the context of EIA in Ethiopia
4. Assisting the authorities in determining their roles and responsibilities as
decision-makers in the EIA process
5. Assisting community and NGO groups in realizing their environmental rights
with regard to EIA
To fulfill the above purposes the guideline embodies the following contents:
Chapter 1 describes the purpose and aims of the document
Chapter 2 provides a background to EIA in Ethiopia through describing the
need for an integrated process and the legislative requirements. This sections
includes an overview of the responsibilities of the Competent Agency and
identifies those projects that must be subjected to an EIA.
Chapter 3 describes the Ethiopian approach to EIA. It is a comprehensive
description of each of the phases within an EIA process and identifies the roles
and responsibilities of each party engaging in the EIA process.
Chapter 4 provides an overview of environmental standards that may be
applied in Ethiopia and details how these standards and guidelines may be
established.
Chapter 5 identifies the issues and impacts that may be associated with
development in some of the key sectors in Ethiopia.
Review of CHAPTER 2: Environmental Assessment and Management in
Ethiopia
As a background the document states that past developmental projects didnt
include environmental concerns in their planning and operation which has led to a
seriously degraded environment in the country; and to ensure sustainable
development in the future - environmental assessment and management has been
recognized as an effective tool which is to be included in future development
proposals.
In its Legislative and Policy Context topic of this guideline it briefly discusses the
following:
Environmental
Protection
organs
Establishment
proclamation
(proc.no.295/2002)
Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation (Proc. no. 299/2002)
Environmental Pollution Control Proclamation (Proc. no. 300/2002)
Environmental Policy of Ethiopia (EPE, 1997)
Chapter 2 of the guideline also include the objectives, core values and the principles
of EIA.
The primary objective of EIA is to ensure that impacts of projects, policy and
programs, etc. are adequately and appropriately considered and mitigation
measures for adverse significant impacts incorporated when decisions are taken.
The four core values of EIA are: