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In the past decade, an environmental impact assessment program has become firmly entrenched in China. Although presentty limited primarily to large and r1edium - sized Construction Projects, a legal basis exists for applying EIA procedures to a wide range of proposals. An EIA administrative process has evolved, but it is not statutorily mandated. The EIA
proce ss does not include formal provisions for citizen notification or involvement.
Four stages are usually included in an EIA investigation: design of the investigation, evaluation of background envirnmental quality, perdication of environmental impacts.
The techniques employed in EIA investigations
are rudimentary but have become increasingly sophisticated. The environmental impact staten1ent, compiled by an investigative group, provides the basis
for an examination by Environmental Protection Departlnent to determine if proposed environn1ental protection measures are adequate and if approval should be granted for the project design to commence.
Views concerning the effectiveness of China IS EIA program differ, but there is agreement that it
should be continued and improved. A major avenue for improvement is to place the evaluation of particular projects in a regional context.