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s or transparency inhow decisions are reached.
IAIA 2000 Impact Assessment and Project Appraisal December 2000
During a review of EIA procedures at the national
level in Australia, the Commonwealth EnvironmentalProtection Agency (CEPA) identified eight guidingprinciples it considered appropriate for the developmentof an effective and efficient EIA system: participation;
transparency; certainty; accountability;integrity; cost-effectiveness;flexibility; and practicality(CEPA undated, page iii). When defining theseprinciples it states that (CEPA undated, page 15):“Transparency requires that all factors relevantto assessment decisions are clearly identified bythe decision-maker. For example, the factorstaken into account by the assessing authority indetermining the appropriate form of assessmentshould be clearly defined.”
The notion of transparency directly affects several ofthe other eight guiding principles for effective EIA.CEPA(undated, page 15) states that a transparent processprovides certainty in the EIA process through ensuringall obligations, opportunities and decisions inthe procedure are clearly set out. It also partially providesaccountability to participants and stakeholders,and makes the EIA decision-makers accountable. Theneed for EIA processes and practitioners to be accountableto the public has been highlighted by Sippe
(1990) and Canadian Environmental AssessmentAgency and Environment Canada (1996).Finally, the integrity of an EIA system, which is importantfor ensuring that all participants have faith in theoutcomes, can be achieved in part through having “anopen, transparent system withclearly defined objectivesand processes and realistic opportunities for participationby all stakeholders” (CEPA undated, page 16).Subsequently, in examining the opportunities forpublic participation in the Australian EIA system,Kinhill Engineers Pty Ltd (1994, page 5) stated thatadequate and appropriate opportunities for participation
are an essential contributor to the transparency of
the EIA process. Other authors have since identified
transparency as an important element of effectiveEIA. Ridgway et al (1996, page 72) reiterated theguiding principles for EIA established by CEPA (undated).They defined EIA transparency in the context
that “all assessment decisions, and their basis, shouldbe open and accessible”.Bisset (1996) states that a basic principle of EIA is
that it should be transparent in that the process shouldhave clear, easily understood requirements for EIAcontent; it should ensure public access to information;identify the factors that are to be taken into account indecision-making; and acknowledge limitations anddifficulties in decision-making. Sippe (1997) furtheridentifies the need for ‘understandability’ in EIA decision-making.
Coupled with transparency, the steps in the decision-making process have direct bearing on the effectivenessof EIA process. Sadler (1996, page 23) andRidgway et al (1996, page 74) advocate that EIAshould provide the basis for environmentally sounddecision-making in which terms and conditions areclearly specified and enforced. Compliance with rules
and procedural requirements for EIA by decision-makers is important for effective EIA (Ortolanoet al, 1987, Ortolano, 1993).Several of Sadler’s 14 principles for the design anddevelopment of effective EIA processes are of particularinterest with respect to the way inwhich decisions
are reached in EIA and the co