Brian D. Clark PADC Environmental Impact Assessment and Planning Unit Project Director Events throughout the world substantiate the view that planning and decision-making systems need a better integration of environ mental, economic and social considerations. Many organizations are showing considerable interest in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and its role in project planning and policy evaluation and as an aid to decision-making. Consequently, it was decided to hold a NATO Advanced Study Institute on EIA for the following reasons. First there is evidence of uncertainty, particularly amongst many scientists and decision-makers, as to the nature, scope and object ives of EIA. Secondly, there is much confusion over the objectives and utility of certain EIA methods. Third, there appears to be a gulf developing between decision-makers and what they require from EIA, and the ability of the scientist to provide information which is scientifically rigorous. Finally, there appears to be little concern as to the relationship between "impact prediction" and the actual consequences ofa development activity, suggesting that if EIA is not to become both politically and scientifically disreput able greater emphasis should be placed on prediction, monitoring and post-audit studies. As will be seen from the contents of this volume the ASI attempted to address all of the above topics and indeed many more. It was perhaps inevitable that the ASI raised more questions than were answered but this is indicative of the vigorous debate that is now taking place about the role and utility of EIA.

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Overview.- Aims and Objectives of Environmental Impact Assessment.- Environmental Impact Assessment from the Point of View of a Developing Country.- Selected National Procedures.- The U.S. Model of Environmental Impact Assessment.- Environmental Impact Assessment in Canada.- Environmental Impact Assessment and the Planning Process.- Environmental Impact Assessment at the Planning Level: Two Systems.- Role of Environmental Impact Assessment in Plans and Policies.- EIA The Relationship Between the Environmental Scientist and the Decision-Maker: A British Perspective.- EIA The Relationship Between the Environmental Scientist and the Decision-Maker: A Canadian Perspective.- Methods.- to Methods for Environmental Impact Assessment.- EIA Manuals: General Objectives and the PADC Manual.- Methods for Environmental Impact Assessment: Theory and Application (Emphasis on Weighting-Scaling Checklists and Networks).- A Method for Evaluating Environmental Impacts from Land Development Projects.- Social Impact Assessment: Methodological Overview.- The Theory and Application and Application of Modelling in Environmental Impact Assessment.- Adaptive Environmental Assessment and Management: Some Current Applications.- Assessment of Specific Impacts.- The Environmental Impact Assessment of Highways.- Current Trends in Landscape Evaluation.- The Atmospheric Component of Environmental Impact Assessment.- Water Pollution Impacts.- Risk and Hazard Assessment.- Social Impact Assessment: The State of the Art.- Auditing.- Environmental Impact Assessment, Monitoring and Post-Development Audits.- Names and Addresses of Faculty.- Names and Addresses of Participants.