Environmental Impacts Assessment in Nam Ly Bridge – Ho Chi Minh City, Viet Nam

The people’s demands have been increasing rapidly while the resources are limited. To satisfy the increasing demands, people search for every opportunity to develop the economy. Because of that, investing in infrastructure construction is a need to develop economic regions, which is a progress in the development of the society.

When human brings in financial to change the patterns of use of land, water and other natural resources, they will receive back profit from economic development, but will also change the other elements of the environment. The question is how to reduce these changes, but still aiming for economic growth.

TRINH THI THU HA made a research which objectives were to:

1. study environmental impacts assessment methods

2. compare of the Vietnam’s policies and ADB’s policies in EIA

3. study environmental impacts assessment of construction project in Vietnam

Conclusion

EIA is one of a number of policy tools that are used to evaluate project proposals. It is also a relatively recent development when compared to use of economic appraisal methods in Vietnam.

For most construction projects in Vietnam that will invest funds from many different capitals, they are required to comply with laws and regulations to implement the project. EIA must be researched in Preparation stage and presented in the Appraisal stage.

The contents of the EIA is usually consists of nine parts: Introduction; Description of the Project; Description of the Environment; Alternatives; Anticipated Environmental Impacts and Mitigation Measures; Economic Assessment; Environmental Management Plan; Public Involvement and Disclosure; and Conclusions.

The EMP described how the mitigation and other measures enhance the benefits of environmental protection that will be implemented. It explains how the measures will be managed, who will implement them, and when and where they will be implemented. During project implementation, the clients must implement properly the approved content of the EIA, to ensure that negative impacts on have been mitigated and environment, community has been protected for the sustainable development objectives.

There are differences between Vietnamese policies and the sponsors’ policies for EIA in Vietnam such as ODA projects, World Bank and Asian Development Bank which also have regulations and guidelines that established EIA applies to projects funded. Possible policies and activities required of them in different way, but the process is relatively the same for the building and approving the EIA. In Vietnam, in addition to the applicable policies of the sponsors for the project, the EIA also have to establish compliance with current policies of the government of Vietnam.

However, if there are differences between the policies of Vietnam and the donor's policies, they must apply the policies of the donors, which is required in the loan terms.

Recommendation

1. Adjustment or harmonization of policies and laws in the implementation of EIA, without gaps to the policies of the donors (ADB, World Bank, etc.).
2. The Government should establish training programs for students of the EIA and raise awareness and capacity about the protection and management for environmental leaders, department managers and community.
3. Establish public databases and share the parameters of environmental quality for other projects in Vietnam.
4. There should be public participation during the implementation of EIA. The project must be publicly reviewed and evaluated by the public.
5. Full finance for the EIA study.

Abstract

The demand of people increase rapidly while the resources are limited. To satisfy the increasing demands, people search for every opportunity to develop the economy. Because of that, investing for construction of infrastructure is a need to develop economic regions, is a progress in the development of the society.

When human bring in financial to change the patterns of use of land, water and other natural resources, they will receive back profit from economy development, but will also change the other elements of the environment like natural condition and social.

Reducing the burden of environmental impacts is necessary if development is to become sustainable. Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) has become of ever increasing importance as a tool for development decision-making.

Environmental impact assessment, as a national instrument, shall be undertaken for proposed activities that are likely to have a significant adverse impact on the environment and are subject to a decision of a competent national authority.

In practice, EIA is applied primarily to prevent or minimize the adverse effects of major development proposals.