Procedures for the investigation, assessment and communication of the potential consequences or impacts of
activities on the environment -
(a) must ensure, with respect to every application for an environmental authorisation-
(i) coordination and cooperation between organs of state in the consideration of assessments where an activity falls under the jurisdiction of more than one organ of state;
(ii) that the findings and recommendations flowing from an investigation, the general objectives of integrated environmental management laid down in this Act and the principles of environmental
management set out in section 2 are taken into account in any decision made by an organ of state in relation to any proposed policy, programme, process, plan or project;
(iii) that a description of the environment likely to be significantly affected by the proposed activity is
contained in such application;
(iv) investigation of the potential consequences for or impacts on the environment of the activity and
assessment of the significance of those potential consequences or impacts; and
(v) public information and participation procedures which provide all interested and affected parties, including all organs of state in all spheres of government that may have jurisdiction over any aspect of the activity, with a reasonable opportunity to participate in those information and participation procedures; and
(b) must include, with respect to every application for an environmental authorisation and where applicable-
(i) investigation of the potential consequences or impacts of the alternatives to the activity on the
environment and assessment of the significance of those potential consequences or impacts, including
the option of not implementing the activity;
(ii) investigation of mitigation measures to keep adverse consequences or impacts to a minimum;
(iii) investigation, assessment and evaluation of the impact of any proposed listed or specified activity on any national estate referred to in section 3(2) of the National Heritage Resources Act, 1999 (Act No. 25 of 1999), excluding the national estate contemplated in section 3(2)(i)(vi) and (vii) of that Act;
(iv) reporting on gaps in knowledge, the adequacy of predictive methods and underlying assumptions, and
uncertainties encountered in compiling the required information;
(v) investigation and formulation of arrangements for the monitoring and management of consequences
for or impacts on the environment, and the assessment of the effectiveness of such arrangements
after their implementation;
(vi) consideration of environmental attributes identified in the compilation of information and maps contemplated in subsection (3); and
(vii) provision for the adherence to requirements that are prescribed in a specific environmental management Act relevant to the listed or specified activity in question.
