Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the assessment of the
environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program, or actual projects
prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. In this
context, the term "environmental impact assessment" is usually used when
applied to actual projects by individuals or companies and the term "strategic
environmental assessment" (SEA) applies to policies, plans and programmes most
often proposed by organs of state. It is a tool of environmental management
forming a part of project approval and decision-making. Environmental
assessments may be governed by rules of administrative procedure regarding
public participation and documentation of decision making, and may be subject
to judicial review.