Evolução do sistema de avaliação de impacto ambiental no Brasil com ênfase no estado de São Paulo

Abstract

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been seen as a planning instrument, in other words, as an instrument to prevent environmental damages. In order to fulfill its role, it is organized a series of sequential activities which is called environmental impact assessment process. In Brazil, the EIA is associated with environmental licensing, assisting as a support for the issuance of environmental licenses for activities with potential risk of causing environmental impact. Although the environmental impact assessment method has been practiced for over 50 years worldwide, bringing innumerous benefits in its process, still has a great number of criticisms regarding the effectiveness of its procedure. This paper examined the progress of EIA and its effectiveness in Brazil, with emphasis on the State of São Paulo. The exploratory research was based on bibliographies and documents, revealing the evolution of the licensing process with EIA from 1990 to 2015, presenting the main positive and negative points of the modifications made in the resolutions ruled by the country. Although the EIA has more than 40 years of institutionalized practice around the world, deficiencies are found in EIA work, such as in the stages of the process and between the actors involved and the participatory action of Brazilian environmental management. public participation should be mandatory in all licensing steps.