1. INTRODUCTION :Local officials, planners, and developers increasingly recognize that
economic development and environmental quality are equally important
components of community growth. Unfortunately, this awareness comes after
decades of environmental neglect: sprawling development beyond urban
boundaries, rapid and irreversible conversion of prime agricultural land, loss of
unique plant and animal communities, and increased pollution of water and air
resources. It goes without saying that development often has substantial
impacts on the quality and quantity of a community’s air, land, water, and
biological resources; yet, economic development often takes precedence over
environmental protection.
PURPOSE:The purpose of this chapter is to help community members and local
officials take a leadership role in ensuring that future development reflects
environmental protection as well as fiscal, social, and economic community
goals. This chapter defines environmental impact assessment; explains reasons
for conducting an impact assessment; discusses who should be involved in the
process and the limitations of the process; and provides guidance on how to
conduct an environmental impact assessment.
ADVANTAGES:The benefits of economic development are often more immediate,
important, and obvious to community members and local officials: the creation
of good-paying jobs; provision of affordable housing; and diverse shopping
opportunities satisfy many of the priority needs and desires of local consumers.
The benefits of environmental protection are often less evident and immediate,
but are nonetheless important as natural resources continue to become scarce
and threats to environmental and human health are ever-present. Yet, tradeoffs
between economic development and environmentalprotection

2. THE RELATION SHIP BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT AND
DEVELOPMENT :-
The development of the economy is based on mainly 3 productive
sectors such as primary, secondary and teritiary sectors .
* for the production of goods and services environment provides basic
raw materials to the economy.
* the activities that are production and consumption generates some
waste material which is through in to the environment in simply the
environment acts as a link.
* environment is the basis to provide different types of crops to the
people. The people are caused for the environmental by their im proper
activities.
THE IMPACT OF POLLUTION ON ENVIRONMENT :* The rapid economic growth leads to high rate of exploitation of
resources than their regeneration.
* Water is polluting due to wastes from houses, hotels, industrial
houses etc..,
* Air polluting due to dust stroms, forest fires, automobiles, fertilizer
industrie,etc..,

3. Around the world
Australia
The history of EIA in Australia could be linked to the enactment of
the U.S. National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) in 1970, which made
the preparation of environmental impact statements a requirement. In
Australia, one might say that the EIA procedures were introduced at a
State Level prior to that of the Commonwealth (Federal), with a majority
of the states having divergent views to the Commonwealth. One of the
pioneering states was New South Wales, whose State Pollution Control
Commission issued EIA guidelines in 1974. At a Commonwealth
(Federal) level, this was followed by passing of the Environment
Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act in 1974. The Environment
Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC) superseded
the Environment Protection (Impact of Proposals) Act 1974 and is the
current central piece for EIA in Australia on a Commonwealth (Federal)
level. An important point to note is that this Commonwealth Act does
not affect the validity of the States and Territories environmental and
development assessments and approvals; rather the EPBC runs as a
parallel to the State/Territory Systems.[10] Overlap between federal and
state requirements is addressed via bilateral agreements or one off
accredition of state processes, as provided for in the EPBC Act.

4. Environmental impact statement
The adequacy of an environmental impact statement (EIS) can be
challenged in federal court. Major proposed projects have been blocked
because of an agency's failure to prepare an acceptable EIS. One
prominent example was the Westway landfill and highway development
in and along the Hudson River in New York City.[45] Another prominent
case involved the Sierra Club suing the Nevada Department of
Transportation over its denial of the club's request to issue a
supplemental EIS addressing air emissions of particulate matter and
hazardous air pollutants in the case of widening U.S. Route
95 through Las Vegas.[46] The case reached the United States Court of
Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, which led to construction on the highway
being halted until the court's final decision. The case was settled prior to
the court's final decision.
Several state governments that have adopted "little NEPAs," state
laws imposing EIS requirements for particular state actions. Some those
state laws such as the California Environmental Quality Act refer to the
required environmental impact study as anenvironmental impact
report.[47]

5. History
Environmental impact assessments commenced in the 1960s, as part of
increasing environmental awareness.[notes 1] EIAs involved a technical
evaluation intended to contribute to more objective decision making. In
the United States, environmental impact assessments obtained formal
status in 1969, with enactment of the National Environmental Policy
Act. EIAs have been used increasingly around the world. The number of
"Environmental Assessments" filed every year "has vastly overtaken the
number of more rigorousEnvironmental Impact Statements (EIS)."[3] An
Environmental Assessment is a "mini-EIS designed to provide sufficient
information to allow the agency to decide whether the preparation of a
full-blown Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is necessary."[4][5]

6. This is the impact of drilling.

7. By
N.Anusha.
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