Earth Today | Support for EIA regulations

MOMENTUM IS once again building for the introduction of environmental impact assessment (EIA) regulations, with a leading environmental consultancy firm throwing its support behind renewed calls for action.

Head of Environmental Solutions Limited Eleanor Jones said that there is a clear need for agreed regulations that can form the standard for how EIAs are conducted and made best use of. She was also quick to add that the introduction of EIA regulations must be accompanied by a relook at the entire project cycle and how that is monitored and managed by the environmental authorities.

“The regulations are important. The environmental due diligence process also needs to be fully integrated with the project cycle so that from the very beginning, you examine what the potential impacts might be and begin to integrate that into your design and development considerations and not simply look at the EIA as a document which is submitted like a thesis to be examined and then you get a permit at the end – after which time there is nothing that says you have to comply with what the recommendations are,” she told The Gleaner.

According to Jones, whose firm has done EIAs for a variety of projects over the years, what has happened in the past is that there have been EIAs of varying quality done by different players in the space while some EIA recommendations have not been reflected in the agreed permit conditions.

“EIA regulations alone will not solve the problems. We need a wholistic approach to environmental due diligence that must be informed by a progressive process not an end-of-the-pipe process,” she said.

Jones’ comments come in the wake of the Jamaica Environment Trust’s (JET) submission of its updated recommendations, including proposed language, for the regulations, arguing that the time has come to establish a modern regulatory system to guide the assessment of the environmental and social impacts of development projects.

“The update reflects both the long history of engagement on this issue and the opportunity provided through Jamaica’s Open Government Partnership (OGP) process. JET first submitted detailed recommendations on EIA regulations in 2011. Since then, the regulations have remained in draft despite being referenced in policy discussions for many years,” explained Dr Theresa Rodriguez Moodie, chief executive officer of the JET.

“More recently, the commitment to finalise the EIA regulations has been included in Jamaica’s OGP National Action Plans for 2021–2023 and 2024–2026. As part of our participation in the OGP MultiStakeholder Forum, JET saw an opportunity to help move the process forward in a practical way. We, therefore, updated and expanded our earlier submission, incorporating input from other members of civil society, academics, and EIA practitioners, and adding proposed regulatory language to support the drafting process,” she added.

According to the NGO’s boss, the JET sees its latest submission “as part of an ongoing process, not a one-off intervention”.

“We remain available to provide input and feedback where useful and appropriate, particularly as the drafting process moves forward. We will also continue to advocate for a transparent, consistent, and participatory process so that stakeholders across Jamaica can meaningfully contribute before the regulations are finalised,” Rodriguez Moodie noted.

She added that their efforts were timely given that Jamaica is anticipated to advance a number of major development and infrastructure projects in the coming months, “including projects facilitated under the NaRRA (National Reconstruction and Resilience Authority)”.

“At the same time, Jamaica still does not have binding EIA regulations. This means that whether an EIA is required is largely determined on a case-by-case basis by the National Resources Conservation Authority. In practice, this can lead to inconsistency, where some large projects undergo a full environmental assessment while others may not, depending on how the decision is made,” she explained.

“Given that NaRRA projects are intended to support development while also addressing environmental and climate risks, it is especially important that there is a strong, predictable EIA framework in place to guide decision-making. Clear regulations would ensure greater consistency, transparency, and public participation and help ensure that environmental and social impacts are properly assessed before decisions are made,” Rodriguez Moodie added.

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