Subject(s): Environmental impact analysis -- Purpose and nature of environmental impact assessment, projects, environment and impacts, current issues in environmental impact assessment -- Origins and development : National environmental policy act and subsequent US system, worldwide spread of EIA, development in UK, EC directive 85/337 as amended by directive 97/11/EC -- UK agency and legislative context : EIA regulations, town and country planning regulations 1988, UK implementation of directive 97/11/EC -- Staring up early stages : Managing EIA process, project screening, establishing the environmental baseline -- Impact prediction, evaluation and mitigation -- Participation, presentation and review : Public consultation and participation, -- Monitoring and auditing- after the decision : Importance of monitoring and auditing in EIA process, UK case study- monitoring and auditing the local socio- economic impacts of sizewell B PWR construction project -- Overview of UK practice to date : Number, type and location of EIS and projects, EIS quality -- Environmental impact assessment and projects requiring planning permission -- Environmental impact assessment of project not subject to planning control -- Comparative practice, improving the effectiveness of project assessment, strategic environmental assessment