Environmental Impact Assessment of Manufacturing Industry Projects

Abstract

This article is focused on manufacturing industry and its significant environmental impact aspects coverage in environmental impact assessment (EIA) reports in Lithuania. Firstly, the paper describes how a significant impact can be determined and what sources should be used in its identification. Secondly, the significant environmental aspects related to manufacturing industry are identified. The main result of the paper is the depiction of how identified significant environmental aspects are covered, if they are covered at all, in the EIA reports. The research shows that current EIA practice assesses a negative manufacturing industry impact related to air emissions and direct consumption of natural resources and energy. In general, current EIA practice is concentrated on local and direct environmental impact assessment, while it has the shortcoming to assess an indirect and global impact. Current EIA practice also has a limitation in the evaluation of climate change issues and total cumulative effects of manufacturing industry on the environment.