EIA Process

The EIA process runs in 5 phases. All phases take in interested parties as a great part of the EIA process. The process itself is described in detail in the draft for the baseline studies (Terms of Reference). Each phase adds more knowledge so that after completing of the baseline studies and the subsequent consequence evaluation there might be a public hearing of a final draft for a report.

As a link in the EIA process the terms of reference for the specific assessments have been out for public hearing and were presented in the public meetings in Sisimiut, Maniitsoq and Nuuk in January 2009. The public was here able to bring comments and elaborating questions for the project and the assessments and also suggest possible changes and additions. The terms of reference was also for hearing at the relevant jurisdiction authorities of the Self Rule as well as at the municipal authorities and NGO's.

During the whole process the public gets involved through public meetings and directly through stakeholder meetings and meetings with organisations (Photo: Greenland Development)

In the following survey and field study phase a range of studies was carried out. The assessments, collectively called the baseline studies, concern nature, environment, archeology, health and social relations. The goal of these studies has been to give a detailed description of the affected area and the current conditions - meaning the conditions before the project is started. The assessments were finished in fall of 2009. The overall results were presented in public meetings in January 2010. The collected results are not published individually but will be used in the continuing work with a consequence evaluation which must describe and evaluate the impacts that the project has.

In the phase following the possible impacts of the project will be described and assessed and it will be noted how it is expected to handle and diminish important consequences. A condition for this is that the technical design of the project is settled because factors as size and technical terms decide the physical impact that must be evaluated.

As the last part of the process is a publication where the public gets an opportunity to comment on the conclusions from the process, for instance in public meetings, before the final report is sent to the environmental authorities. 

When the EIA assessment is finally approved of the authorities, initiatives to diminish consequences, monitoring plans, and other elements can be implemented in the design of the whole project and the planning of the construction and operation phases. The will be a monitoring throughout the life of the project on some effects.