This text explains what constitutes good practice in applying environmental assessment as an environmental management tool. A wide range of case studies and other student text features are employed to demonstrate how the different methods, techniques and disciplines of environmental assessment can be used. The authors address the key concepts for environmental assessment procedures: methods for using E.A.; techniques for impact prediction and evaluation; environmental risk assessment; EA consultation and participation; project management; environmental statement review and post-project analysis; and strategic environmental assessment. Worldwide case studies include: gas pipelines, hydroelectric power plants, gold mining, river crossings, waste-to-energy plants and gravel extraction in England, Scotland, Ireland, Canada, the USA, Venezuela, the Netherlands, Iceland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, South Africa and Ghana.

D. Owen Harrop and J. Ashley Nixon are both environmental management consultants for CORDAH, Aberdeen.

1. Introduction to environmental assessment: purpose and proceedures 2. Environmental assessment methods 3. Techniques for impact prediction and evaluation 4. Environmental risk assessment 5. Consultation and participation: the public role in environmental assessment 6. Managing the EA process 7. Quality assurance in EA: ES review and post-project analysis 8. Strategic environmental assessment 9. EA in practice 10. The final word 11. Further reading