Decription:

The process of assessment of environmental effects (AEE) is a fundamental part of a comprehensive, sustainability-based regime for processing resource consents under the Resource Management Act (1991).

Although AEE is obligatory, there are few guidelines available to assist practitioners in their preparation. Problems arise because of the poor quality of many AEE's, leading to delays in consent processing, and applicants too often consider an AEE to be a burden rather than a necessary contribution towards quality assurance.

As well as an international perspective on environmental impact assessment by Barry Sadler, whose expertise in this field is internationally recognised, this book contains a wealth of practical advice on many of the important issues surrounding preparation of an adequate AEE. These include discussion of important matters relating to environmental risk, the involvement of Maori in the resource consent process, consultation and the role of public participation, as well as techniques for scoping and comparison of alternatives, and evaluation.

The contents of this book are based on papers presented at a CAE conference on Assessment of Environmental Effects, held in Wellington in 1999. The material has been prepared by people from diverse backgrounds, all with a wealth of practical experience in the many aspects of AEE.

CAE, in publishing this book, furthers its commitment to advancing knowledge and improving practice in fields relevant to New Zealand's economic growth and social progress, consistent with the principles of sustainability.