As stated in the terms of reference (TOR) provided by the Environmental Management Authority for conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment:

The purpose of the EIA is to identify and assess (qualitatively and quantitatively) the type and extent of environmental and socio-cultural impacts arising from the proposed project. The EIA must evaluate the cumulative impacts from this proposed project, ongoing projects and other proposed activities within the area and the surrounding environment. It must include an examination of the socio-cultural impacts (positive and negative) of this project on the wider community that can potentially be affected by it. The EIA Report must address these requirements as well as describe strategies for:

• The management or mitigation of any significant negative impacts;

• A structured identification of the risks and hazards associated with all aspects of the proposed project, as inputs to the Emergency Response Plan; and

• Monitoring of the mitigation measures used, to ensure that the desired results are being achieved.

The Applicant must ensure that details provided regarding the design, layout and operations of all activities are sufficient for cumulative impacts to be assessed and for a rigorous assessment of these impacts in the public domain. The assessment must also address potential future project modifications, where these can reasonably be predicted. These all must be addressed in the EIA Report to the satisfaction of the EMA.

It is envisaged that the EIA Report will be based on the results of available research, studies and data, as appropriate, with further studies being conducted where necessary and practicable. The extent to which the limitations, if any, of available information may influence the conclusions of the environmental assessment should be discussed in the EIA Report.

The EIA is intended to:

• Allow communities that can potentially be affected by the proposed project and the wider public to understand the project and its impacts on them and their socio-cultural and physical environment, and to have their views and concerns addressed in the determination of the CEC application;

• Provide decision-making information with respect to the grant or refusal of a CEC;

• Provide information that allows for maximum benefits of the project to the Applicant, the environment, and the local communities and wider public, if a CEC is granted and the project proceeds; and

• Allow regulators to ensure that positive impacts of the project are maximised and negative impacts eliminated or minimised to acceptable levels.