ASSESSING METHODS OF ANALYSIS OF ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

The quality of environmental impact statement (EIS) is assessed using tools that address both the formal and content aspects by the application of analysis methods. Although there are some common criteria, the methods have the possibility to address the specificities, resulting in a study conducted from each case. For example, the methodology of Lee and Colley (1999) was used to evaluate the quality of EIS in different countries. In Brazil, however, environmental agency determines, according to the terms of reference, the list of topics to be considered in the study, but the government does not check the quality of its contents. In this context, the present research evaluated the quality of the EIS Waste Treatment and Disposal Center of Caraguatatuba, Sao Paulo, Brazil using two different methodologies of analysis - Environmental Impact Statement Review Package (Glasson, Therivel and Cladwick, 2005) and Guide to Technical Analysis of EIS (Sanchez, 2008) - and compared the results that both methods provided. These results showed that both methods led similar conclusions about the quality of the study, classified as low. The gaps were about the analysis of alternatives, the methodology for assessing impacts and the proposing of mitigation measures and environmental programs. Also this suggested that this kind of methodologies could be useful on the EIS quality improvement by the consultants - working out - and the environmental agencies and can be applied as a systematic analysis tool related to impact system assessment of the Sao Paulo state.