• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.15-28
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• 2023

In the Republic of Korea, the target project scope of the small-scale EIA is stipulated as the plan area above around 5,000~60,000m² depending on a type of project and classification of land use. Whereas, the lower limit of the corresponding local government EIA project is generally located above the small-scale EIA's limits, and overlapping ranges exist. This situation has been enlarged since road construction and district unit planning were included as the target projects for small-scale EIA in the "Enforcement Decree of the Environmental Impact Assessment Act", which was partially revised in November 2016, and the current consultation system needed discussion in that small-scale EIA is allowed to be done without gathering review opinions at the local level. In fact, projects subjected to local government EIA but consulted as small-scale EIAs may seem insignificant because of a small number of total cases; however, it is worth paying attention to the fact that a local government may not add a target project due to the small-scale EIA. This study suggested the three policy measures for improving small-scale EIA to enhance the effectiveness of local government EIA: supplementing the institutional arrangements to incorporate the review opinion from the local region in small-scale EIA, giving priority to local EIA for conducing the projects in overlapping ranges with partial amendments on EIA law regarding exceptions to local government EIA, including small target projects (not to be small-scale EIA targets) to the ordinance that are deemed necessary to be conducted as local government EIA. Even though a positive function of small-scale EIA has been confirmed, efforts should be made to improve the situation in which many projects within local governments are consulted without review from the region.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Environmental Restoration Technology
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• v.14 no.5
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• pp.113-125
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• 2011

Since the government of Korea (Ministry of Environment, MOE) introduced the policy applying 'Biotope-Area-Ratio-Indicator (BARI)' to huge residential land developments which Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) should be performed, MOE has come to have the necessity to apply the indicator concretely at the stage of Prior Environment Review System (PERS) and EIA in various types of large scale land development projects. This study was conducted with the aim of supporting the application of BARI and related decision making in various other types of EIA projects as well as residential development projects through remodeling the system to apply the indicator of the past. Through the analysis of the problems in applying the past BARI and experimental appraisals to 11 types of EIA projects, the results and implications as follows were drawn. First, it's possible to extend the range of applications of BARI, which has been applied to only residential land development project, to all kinds of projects with area-typed land use pattern out of environmental impact assessment target projects. Second, it's also possible to set a target value into which regional characteristics and differences among locational properties are reflected. In addition, it's come to be able to differentially apply the target value of BARI according to the condition of the existing site. Third, it's improved to be able to suggest a macroscopic target value at the stage of PERS and to set detailed target values in each detailed land use at the stage of EIA. The key point underlies inducing methodology to determine target values to secure more permeable land coverage ratio for detailed land use patterns at the stage of EIA by making it possible to calculate BARI of the present land cover condition of the EIA target projects.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.226-240
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• 2022

Local governments over a certain size in Republic of Korea may conduct Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) considering regional characteristics if it is necessary, in accordance with Article 42 of the 「Environmental Impact Assessment Act」. However, it was investigated that the number of local government EIA operation in many local governments was less than initial expectations. In order to improve it, the status of ordinances and consultation guidelines which are different for each local government need to be compared, and the institutional issues forthe relevant local governments must be found considering regional characteristics. Furthermore, detailed regulation and guidance on the local government EIA procedure should be included in the consultation guidelines and related information need to be provided. In this study, focusing on the case of Incheon Metropolitan City, the status of local government EIA ordinances in metropolitan cities and provinces with a similar condition was investigated, and the types and scope of target projects were compared and analyzed. In addition, consultation guidelines forIncheon Metropolitan City were written, and improvements on the procedure flow and overall schedule designation derived from the process were presented. In the case of Incheon Metropolitan City, there were no detailed information officially announced regarding the regulations of the local government EIA ordinance and follow-up management, so the administrative system of the local government needed to be reinforced in this field. Meanwhile, considering the status of local environment and geography, some target project types were deemed necessary to be added: port construction projects, water resource development projects, railroad construction projects, and military facilities installation projects. The results of this study will provide useful information to local governments which want to improve their operation effectiveness by reorganizing the local government EIA system and preparing specific guidelines.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.21 no.2
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• pp.247-254
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• 2012

This paper seeks for the set-up plan in the reasonable target area of environmental assessment. Domestically, the target area of environmental assessment is set up by the adjustment of opinion collection about the assessment scope result of an environmental factor. In a foreign country, the boundary of the target area for a development project is established with the environmental, economical, and social viewpoint based on the standard for significantly environmental impact. Based on the analysis of the present condition at home and abroad, the first set-up plan for the reasonable target area of environmental assessment is the preparation of the detailed term definition related to the target area of environmental assessment. The second is the arrangement of the judgement standard for significantly environmental impact. The quantitative assesment item can apply the present standard or regulation, and the qualitative assessment item can establish the standard based on factual and objective data. The last is the preparation of the reference material or the guideline for deciding the initial target area by the judgement standard and determining the final target area by opinion collection in the stage of scoping.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.277-290
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• 2013

This study was carried out to propose the new procedure to apply Habitat Evaluation Procedure(HEP) of target species using delphi technique, which is suitable to develop endangered species with few researches and ecological knowledges. To identify habitat quality of specific species in development project site, we can develop habitat model and create habitat suitability maps. In this study, we select the Common Kestrel(Falco tinnunculus) as target species in four areas(Paju, Siheung, Ansan, Hwaseong) which is located near the Seoul metropolitan area. The Delphi technique was selected to get the reliable information on the species and habitats requirements. Through the delphi approach, seven habitat components were determined as suitable variables for the Common Kestrel: density($n/km^2$) of small mammals, area($km^2$) of bare-grounds, pasturelands and riparian, and open area(%), spatial distribution and area of croplands, landscape diversity, breeding sites(tall trees, cliffs, high-rise buildings), and the length of shelf. Habitat variables used in this model were classified into two categories: % of suitable land-cover type(open areas, croplands, pasturelands, wetlands, and baregrounds) and the quality of feeding sites(within 250m from edges of woodlands). Habitat quality of the Common Kestrel was assessed against occurred sites derived from the nationwide survey. Predicted habitat suitability map were closely related to the observed sites of the endangered avian species in the study areas. With the habitat suitability map of the Common Kestrel, we assess the environmental impacts with habitat loss after development project in environmental impact assessment.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.322-333
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• 2018

This study was carried out to measure atmospheric environmental improvement effect and estimate its social benefit of thermal power plants through Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) for quantitative analysis about operational performances of EIA. In this study, 'EIA outcome' is defined as whether or not the system is implemented, therefore, environmental standard to be followed by each project and consultation contents were compared. In total 60 cases of thermal power plant construction projects that have been consulted over the past 10 years since 2010, major air pollutants have been significantly reduced after the implementation of EIA. The $PM_{10}$ reduced annual 3,745 tons, $NO_2$ by 74,569 tons, and $SO_2$ by 37,647 tons, which were estimated at approximately 240 billion won~5 trillion 967 billion won per year for social benefit. This means the total cost of power plant operations will be cut to 7 trillion 192 billion won~178 trillion 994 billion won over a 30-year period. The reduced amount of air pollutants emitted by energy generation facilities across the country is worth 50%, and its economic value is larger than the annual Current Health Expenditure in Korea. This is meant by the fact that all projects are subject to uniform criteria under the existing relevant regulation, but that each project plans are optimized according to the characteristics of target areas and projects through the process of EIA.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.27 no.5
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• pp.281-289
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• 2018

The Korean environmental impact assessment(EIA) system, and explored ways to improve it as a more efficient and viable institution relevant to the demand of our time and conditions in study. The first problem this study identified is found in the fact that the party to write up the assessment report is itself the business operator or the one who is planning to work out the business plan. This structure translates into placing an order with an agent for EIA report. The reporting job may br subcontracted to the agent at a cost far below the rate specified in the 'Standard for Estimate of Agency Fee for Environmental Impact Assessment.' This practice also causes the vicious circle of producing a report that is written to justify the project or business in question or it leads to rough-and ready and poor documentation to minimize the time required. Second, in order to achieve the goal of the plan or business, which is the target of EIA, the local residents tend to ve regarded as an obstacle. This means elimination of the local people from participating in the EIA or their opinion being frequently ignored. This is the seed of distrust and hostility that sometimes provoke disagreements or fierce conflicts. The first proposal to improve these problem is to improve the factors that cause poor documentation of the assessment report as well as improve the understanding of the EIA system. This study proposes the following measures for improvement. The agency cost for EIA should be paid by the business operator or a third party that can ensure faithful implementation of the payment. A system should be established to verify transparent estimation of the agency cost. In order to enhance the professional quality of EIA agents, there should be implementation of qualification test for industrial engineer of related engineers in addition to the current EIA Qualification Test. The second proposal for improvement is to improve the citizen participation process by instituting a legal framework to make clear the purpose of the briefing session for local residents, which is held as a procedure of EIA, and to ensure more positive publicity during the stage of listening to the opinion of the local community. For a smooth and rational communication process, a moderator and a communicator of opinion, as is the case in a public hearing, could be instituted to clearly get the purpose of the briefing session across to the residents and to help to carry out the explanation and Q & A sessions according to the categories of the opinion of the residents. At present, the notification of the public inspection of the draft of the assessment report and briefing session for the residents is made on the newspaper and internet network. But some people have difficulty with access to this method of announcement. A higher participation rate could be secured if a legal provision is added to specify putting up placards in specific places such as the entrance to the place for the briefing session for residents or the building of administrative agencies of the area concerned.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.112-121
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• 2020

Organic pollution due to coastal development increases the distribution of organic pollution indicators (OPI) and disturbs benthic ecosystems by increasing the number of organic pollution indicators dominant in the target area. However, there is a little researches on the organic pollution levels of benthic ecosystems in subtidal target coast of all over Korea. Therefore, this study analyzed the distribution of macrobenthos in subtidal around the coast development sites of EIA, confirmed the distribution of OPI, and produced the benthic health index-map (organic pollution level) of all coasts of Korea. The benthic health index of the sites was calculated using the density of each OPI, and the image program was used for the benthic health index-map. Organic pollution levels varied by projects for EIA and OPI. Lumbrineris sp. was found to be dominant throughout the coast and correlated with the benthic health index in Korea. Through this study, we will be able to confirm the future organic pollution level in the subtidal ecosystems of the project for EIA through the results of research to macrobenthos in subtidal for EIA. In addition, the distribution of Lumbrineris sp. OPI can be used as an indicator to indirectly evaluate the organic pollution level of the development site.

• Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.15-24
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• 2016

This study was analyzed the distribution tendencies and statuses of development projects for EIA projects. According to the result of this study, in the annual analysis, a number of consultations and areas have shown increasing trend across the board. In the project type analysis, there are development project types; urban development, industrial complex, sport facility installation, resort complex development, road construction, which have a lot of developments. In the cities analysis, a number of consultations were about 53% on the top 5 cities, the areas were focused on 75%, and the development projects were concentrated in the southern distribution of Gyeong-gi province. The development axis, from 2004 to 2006, was C-type, but it was extended to O-type until 2010. Therefore, the development will expand into nature conservation zones and forest areas to the east. The development restriction area will be disappeared gradually because the development density of the surrounding Seoul city is more advanced, and we could predict that may be accelerated conurbation between the neighboring cities. Thus, when the development project is located, it would be reviewed difference in existing development project type, project size, and concentration in each city on the basis of environmental capacity.

• Korean Journal of Construction Engineering and Management
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• v.10 no.1
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• pp.156-166
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• 2009

Residential land development projects are tending upwards recently. However, an indiscreet residential land development has tended to damage environment by destroying existing green lands and trees of target lands and generating many cut slopes with transformation of its topography. There are Prior Environmental Review(PER) for district designation and Environmental Impact Assessment(EIA) before approval on development plans. PER is implemented after developing a residential land development plan and EIA is implemented after completing a detail design. As the result, many of residential land development projects are passive to reduce potential environmental problems on the designated sites. Object of this study is to construct an evaluation system on alternatives in the early step of site designation for implementing residential land development projects with environment-friendly and sustainable way. For this, alternative evaluation model is constructed by using Fuzzy Inference and Analytic Hierarchy Process(AHP) method based on Environmental Evaluation Factors of residential land development project, which are proposed in the precedent research. If a decision maker evaluates environment damage by ten-point method, the point is transformed Environmental Performance(EP) by Fuzzy Inference, and then, applying weight that is already calculated by AHP method, Total Environmental Performance(TEP) is calculated. After all, an alternative with the highest TEP is selected as the best one. Using this evaluation system, more than two alternatives of residential land development project site, which can hold location appropriateness in the early under undecided land use plan, can be evaluated quantitatively. As environmental damages, which can be generated by implementing a residential land development project, can be detected in the early step, environmental damages can be removed or reduced at the source.