An integration of public participation in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is significant in terms of its implication for sound decision and a sustainability of development projects. Accordingly, the Thai EIA system provides a public participation process for stakeholders in an assessment and review of the EIA study process. There are a number of different participatory techniques to facilitate public participation. However, in Thailand traditional public participation methods like public hearing is preferred. The public hearing process in the Thai context, stakeholders including the project proponents and the opponents are brought together in a forum to express their view points and recommendations for the proposed projects in order to influence the decision-making process. Frequently, this process leads to violent conflict among stakeholders. This study aimed at trying to close the gap between regulators and civil communities with respect to public participation in the Thai EIA system. A case study approach was applied for this study. The study revealed that appropriate public participation is essential and may lead to enormous benefits for the proponents and stakeholders. Where public participation is ignored and ineffective conducted, environmental conflicts and problems may be created for project implementation and sustainability.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are drivers of Thailand's economy and represent the largest number of all firms in Thailand. SMEs in Thailand always face safety and environmental issues, while worldwide safety and environmental management systems are difficult to implement within limited resources. This research aimed to develop a conceptual framework for an alternative integrated occupational health, safety, and environmental management system (OHS&EMS) that fits the characteristics of small and medium-sized steel manufacturer. This research is qualitative, and a literature review on the safety and environmental management system literature and interviews with experts as well as focus group discussions were conducted. The results were analyzed using content analysis. It was determined that the Plan-Do-Check-Act (PDCA) is the cycle that must be maintained for an alternative integrated management system with key requirements, including organization and stakeholder assessment, hazard identification and risk assessment, environmental aspects, action plans for risk and impact mitigation, internal audit, and corrective action and management review. For the success of alternative management system implementation, communication processes that will convince SMEs to accept and realize the benefits of an integrated OHS&EMS must be carried out prior to its implementation. Less documentation must be considered in order to avoid the difficulty of management system implementation. Furthermore, it is suggested that SMEs need support from external parties in terms of finances and consultation, as well as surveillance audits in order to ensure the continual improvement of their safety and environmental performance. The Thai government should improve the legal framework, provide financial support and training to promote OHS&EMS to Thai enterprises.

Many coal-fired power plants in Thailand are often faced with opposition and conflict resulting from their severe environmental impacts, in particular air pollution, affecting the public living near the projects. The public has lost confidence in the environmental monitoring and mitigation plans of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system since many ongoing projects cause severe problems to their environmental and social impacts. To handle the issue, public participation becomes a key element of the development of the power plant project since the participation process can create mutual understanding among stakeholders including engaging the public in the decisionmaking process. This research aims to evaluate the present status of public participation in development of power plant projects. The case study, the Hin Krut Coal-fired Power Plant Project was studied and analyzed. The Thai EIA legislation and EIA system were identified in the analysis with an emphasis on the opportunities of public participation, as well as the strengths and weaknesses of the public participation process. The study found that the development of power plant project could be more successful where the appropriate public participation is undertaken. It also can help avert confrontation and conflicts among stakeholders. Some lessons learnt from the study are revealed for improving and promoting the public participation process in Thailand.

The integration of public participation in Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EHIA) is very significant in terms of its implication for sound decision-making and the sustainability of development activities. In this regard, the Thai EHIA system provides public participation in an implementation of mega development projects. This participation is carried out through a number of techniques, particularly a holding of public hearings. In public hearings within the Thai EHIA context, shareholders are brought together in a meeting to express their concerns and propose recommendations on a planned project in order to direct the decision-making process. Repeatedly, public hearing practice leads to violent conflict among stakeholders. This study is intended to state the significance of public participation in the Thai EHIA system and to evaluate the current practice of public hearing as participation practice in development of a coal-fired power station. The Krabi coal-fired power plant project was examined as the case study. The study discovered that the requests for public hearing as public participation practice in the EHIA system have been stimulated curiously by Thai laws and regulations. Thus, Thai citizens request meaningful participation in the decision-making processes concerning controversial issues. The suggestions for the development of a successful participatory process of project development must include the consideration by the government in having transparency in operations and listening to public opinion since the beginning of the process, in order to be informed of the real needs of people in affected area, and enhancing the capacity of the community academically.

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