Environmental impact assessment in context of water structures

Abstract

The process of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been successfully applied as a tool for environmental planning and environmental policy in many countries. It can be seen as a process of identification, prediction, assessment and mitigation of environmental, social and other relevant effects of proposed projects and specific activities and plans and programs prior to the decision-making. The process of the Environmental Impact Assessment represents complex evaluation of impacts of proposed activities (Environmental Impact Assessment - EIA) and proposals of strategic development documents (Strategic Impact Assessment - SEA) on the environment already in the state of their preparation, before their approval and permission. It signifies an efficient and required instrument to prevent the origination of major causes for the deterioration of the components of the environment. Pollution of the individual components of the environment is a major problem and in many cases is a source of unacceptable risks to human health and the environment. Risk analysis is an integral part of a single integrated system analysis of the process of assessing the impact of buildings on the environment, which is to identify, quantify and evaluate potential impacts. This work is focused on the selection criteria for the assessment of water structures, determining of the likelihood and consequence of quantifying the degree of risk, which has been designed after considering the current state of risk analysis methods and the use of environmental quality assessment. Sustainable development, protection and development of the environment take a firm position in the policy of Slovakia. Water as a vital component of environment is closely connected with hydrotechnical structures. Possible negative and positive influences of hydrotechnical structures to the environment are assessed in Slovakia according Act No 24/2006 on Environmental Impact Assessment.