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The impact of impact studies

L'impact des études d'impact

Extrait

Le 1ier janvier 1970 le «National Environmental Policy Act» est devenu une loi aux Etats-Unis, et a été renforcé par des dispositions judiciaires. Cette loi rend obligatoire, entre autres, la présentation d'informations concernant l'effet, sur l'environnement, des travaux publics ou privés projetés et autorisés par le gouvernement fédéral, ainsi que la suggestion de projets alternatifs. Un des évènements qui a influencé l'adoption de cette législation est le rejet de pétrole survenu à Santa Barbara en janvier 1969. Quant à l'environnement marin, la disposition la plus importante relative aux prévisions d'impact concerne l'étude des stations côtières où peuvent être situées des décharges de déchets ou des centrales nucléaires ou de désalination. Quoique beaucoup d'études entreprises par l'industrie aient été superficielles, les enquêtes publiques ont fait apparaître la nécessité d'une application critique des techniques écologiques connues depuis les travaux classiques deLorenz (1863), brièvement évoqués parHerdman (1920) etElmhirst (1932). L'impact des études d'impact pourra non seulement relever le niveau des études sur l'environnement marin, mais aussi clarifier l'application actuellement assez incohérente, par des écologistes pragmatiques, de concepts théoriques aussi contestables que ceux de la diversité ou stabilité des communités.

Summary

1. On January 1, 1970 the National Environmental Protection Act became law in the United States, and has been further strengthened by judicial interpretations. This act requires, among other things, a presentation of information to justify the effect of projects on the environment of both public and private works controlled by the permit process of the federal government, and to suggest alternatives. One of the events which influenced passage of this legislation was the Santa Barbara oil spill of January 1969.

2. Insofar as the marine environment is concerned, the most significant activity related to the requirement for impact statements is the study of coastal situations where waste outfalls, atomic power plants or desalination plants may be located. Although many of the studies sponsored by industry have been cursory, the need for critical application of ecological techniques known since the classical studies ofLorenz (1863) and touched upon in brief notes byHerdman (1920) andElmhirst (1932) has become obvious through the public hearing process.

3. The impact of impact studies may not only be to raise the standards of environmental studies in the sea, but also to clarify the present somewhat incoherent application by pragmatic ecologists of such debatable theoretical concepts as diversity and community stability.

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Hedgpeth, J.W. The impact of impact studies. Helgolander Wiss. Meeresunters 24, 436–445 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01609532

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