Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• What is EIA?

  EIA is a process that aims to identify:

  • the short-term impacts of construction on the coastal environment
  • the long-term impacts of building new sea defences or changing a policy from hold the line to no active intervention or managed realignment
• What assessments does EIA include?

  EIA is includes assessments of:

  • impacts on water movement (hydrology) and sediment flow, which can affect marine ecosystems because of changes in sediment load
  • impacts on water quality, which can affect sensitive marine species
  • possible changes to flora and fauna, including marine plants, fish, shellfish and marine mammals
  • wider environmental impacts such as air quality and noise pollution, mainly during construction