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Special
attention should be paid to the economic effect that could
be reached when the proposed development is implemented:
-
increase of average income, living standard and purchasing
capacity,
-
increase of income in the municipal budget,
-
increase of other economic activities (service, marketing,
etc.).
At the
same time, it should be assessed whether the proposed economic
advantages will be adequate to the potential changes in the
environmental quality or social structure. For instance, additional
labour force could cause sweeping changes in the existing
sex and age structure of the permanent inhabitants of the
territory, in the sphere of health care, education and social
care.
Potential alternatives
Potential alternatives for the implementation
of the project can be regarding its:
-
location - in case if the proponent has intended
an activity on the plot, which does not correspond with
the land use elaborated in the municipal development and
spatial planning, the location of the object can be changed
so that it meets the land use requirements;
-
scale - theoretically an object of big scale with
big industrial output will have greater impact upon the
environment than a company that manufactures the same production,
but with lower output;
-
technologies (processes and equipment) - this alternative
is a change of technologies for such technologies that have
less negative impact upon the environment.
Public involvement and information
Study
of the public opinion and public involvement in the EIA
is a part of a democratic state government. The society
- every member of it has rights to get acquainted with the
materials prepared by the proponent, submit written comments,
and take part in the discussion about the significance of
the particular project. Public involvement is being carried
out during two environmental impact process realisation
stages:
1. Initial public hearing during the initial stage
of EIA is with an aim to study public opinion about the
particular project before the beginning of next research
stages. Usually quite small number of people take part in
the initial public hearing, interest and comprehension is
low.
2. Public hearing of the draft statement is for population
and interested persons to submit written comments. All information
regarding the project should be placed in public places
(municipal building, school, library, post office). Additionally
there is day for discussion so that interested persons can
express their opinion.
Public
involvement is an unalienable part of hazardous waste management
in order to ensure successful functioning of the system.
It is essential to raise general public awareness and education
level to form motivation and relevant behaviour.
When
the society is involved in the environmental protection, it
is possible:
to influence politicians to consult public interests,
to achieve implementation of amendments of law.
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"We
shall ensure that all citizens and interested groups
have access to information and are able to participate
in local decision-making processes. We will seek
opportunities for education and training for sustainability,
not only for the general population, but for both
elected representatives and officials in local government."
Aalborg
Charter, 27.05.94.
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When
the society is involved in the solution of problems, the
process should correspond the following principles:
openness - people should be openly told why and
how the problem is being solved in the particular case
so that they can understand and accept the ongoing processes;
co-operation - successful co-operation with the
society mainly depends on the accurate choice of target
audience and research of the problem;
partnership and responsibility.
The
society has to be informed about both the theoretical
aspects of the management of hazardous waste and about
the concrete projects. Information has to be comprehensible,
simple and easy to perceive. Co-operation with the society
should be as a continuous teaching-learning process, both
from the point of view of the society and from the point
of view of the organisers, because it is the way to gain
experience and possibility to assess the drawbacks.
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