ABSTRACT
The previous chapter highlighted the importance of mitigation in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) follow-up and the role of the proponent in a largely self-regulation context. This chapter also focuses on the role of proponents in environmental management with a particular emphasis on adaptive environmental management. It provides a theoretical and practical perspective on the importance of EIA as an environmental management tool based on review of the follow-up literature and a case study from Western Australia. In terms of the contextual framework in which EIA followup occurs, it showcases a regulatory setting which promotes proponent responsibility for follow-up during both the pre-and post-decision stages of EIA. It also advocates a focus on environmental outcomes rather than on the extent of mitigation implementation, compliance with consent decision conditions or scientific analysis of EIA techniques.
