Professor Dr. Le Thac Can ;
Vietnam Envirronment & Sustainable Development Institute
P201, B26, 19 Huynh Thuc Khang, Ha Noi, Vietnam
Phone: (84-4) 37765632, Fax:(84-4-37765633
E-mail: lethaccan@yahoo.com; vesdi.office@gmail.com
Summary
For preparation of a good Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA) Report of an investment project it is necessary to carry out Public Participation (PP) of this report. The Environmental Protection Laws of Vietnam promulgated in the year 1993 and 2005 and related under law regulations have defined the needs of carrying out PP during EIA process. Starting from experience of PP in EIA process in the country on 08 December 2008 MONRE issued Circular Nr 05/MONRE concerning “Guidances on PP in Strategic Impacts Assessment (SEA), Environmental Impacts Assessment (EIA) and Environmental Impacts Commitment (EIC) Process”.
These guidances have positively contributed to enhancement of PP in EIA process. The guidances have rightly determined the rights and the tasks of the Commune People Committees, of the People Front Committees in PP relating to EIA process. However the decision that these committees should fulfill this task only in 15 official working days is too difficult, even irrealisable, because these commune committees have many difficulties in environmental knowledge, time and financial constraints. According to the Guidelines after 15 days from the reception of EIA information from the investment project if the commune committees have not replied to the project they are considered as agreed with project proposal. Public participation for EIA of the project could lost its meaning.
According to the same guidance many other organizations, such as administrative organizations at level above commune level, environmental management offices, local people organizations, professional NGOs working in the field of natural resources and environment still have no opportunity in PP. The paper analyzed these difficulties and proposed ways for enhancement of PP in EIA of investment projects in the actual development conditions of the country.
Keywords
Public Participation, Environmental Impacts Assessment, Investment Projects, Commune People Committees, Commune Front of People, EIA Report, EIA Report Appraisal, People Organizations, Professional NGOs, Information, Financial Resources, Time Resources.
