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Public Involvement in the Indonesian EIA System

Prospects for improvement

Prepared by the National EIA Center, State Ministry for the Environment, Republic of Indonesia

http://www.menlh.go.id/eng/ http://www.menlh.go.id/amdalnet/

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What will we discuss?

INTRODUCTION: EIA Evolution in IndonesiaPUBLIC INVOLVEMENT IN INDONESIAEVALUATION: FindingsPROSPECTS FOR IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS OF THE INDONESIAN EIA CENTER

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EIA Evolution in Indonesia

Implementation Phase:Pre-1987, Act 4/1982 and 1987 – 1993, Government Regulation No. 29/1986.Limited implementation, introduction stage, unfamiliarity of EIA by stakeholders. Public involvement was overlooked.

Developing Phase:1993 – 2000, Government Regulation No. 51/1993.Simplification of EIA process, deregulation. No significant improvement in public involvement implementation.

Refinement Phase:Post-2000, Act 23/1997 and Government Regulation No. 27/1999Public involvement is significantly regulated through specific EIA guidelines, Kep 08/2000.

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Why Public Involvement (PI) in the Indonesian EIA Process

Triggers:

Improvement of the EIA process: Amendment of the Environment Act, 23/1997 & Reg. 27/1999

Demand from political reform 1997

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PI in the Indonesian EIA

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Features of PI in the Indonesian EIA

1. Public Notices,2. Represented by NGOs,3. Involvement of directly affected public in the EIA

Review Commission, 4. Public consultations,5. Submissions,6. Public meetings.

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Environmental issues are best handled with the participation of all concerned citizens (UNCED, 1993),

To promote better understanding of a proposal,

To improve EIA practice,

To ensure the quality, comprehensiveness and effectiveness of EIA,

To obtain better decision (Indonesian EIA Guidelines),

To encourage transparency and trust amongst stakeholders,

To avoid community resentment.

Why PI is Important in the Future

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Support from the World Bank:A joint effort in 2002

GOI and WB require public consultation in the EIA process,Both institutions have similar policies,Need to promote the implementation of the relatively new introduced EIA guidelines No. 08/2000,Demand for more practical information on the public involvement procedures,Products:– Public Consultation Guidebook– Public Involvement Resource Booklet– Public Consultation Training Module– Trial in the Training Delivery

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Results from the Joint Effort

Providing useful guidelines on public consultation,

Trial Training Course was considered valuable for EIA stakeholders,

Providing a trigger and means for evaluation of PI practices.

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Internal Evaluation

Need to monitor the implementation progress of public involvement,

Use a model as a basis for evaluation,

Improve the performance of public involvement.

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Findings: Positive Outcomes

In general, public involvement enhances the transparency of the EIA process;

EIA stakeholders start to implement the guidelines: about 95 project proposals at the national level and more at the provincial and local levels;

Enhancing communication among EIA stakeholders;

Increasing public awareness through public notices;

Increasing public confidence.

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Findings: Complaints

Proponents: increasing time and cost for the EIA process;

Government: concerns that PI will bring conflicts and unreasonable demand and less focused input, constraining development1, 2;

The public and NGOs: doubt toward the goodwill of proponents and government, considered as tokenism.

⇒ PI is remain a challenge

⇒ Need a systematic evaluation of PI implementation

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Prospects for Improvement

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Prospects for Improvement

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Prospects for Improvement

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Prospects for Improvement

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Looking forward

Control and monitoring of PI implementation,Training for EIA stakeholders on PI;Continuous dissemination of PI guidelines, guidebook, booklet;Technical Assistance: development of EIA, PI and more strategic EA.

Targets:Government agencies including top managers such as Mayors and Regents/Bupatis;Private sector companies;EIA practitioners;Community groups, NGOs, and the public at large.

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Follow-up: Programs of the Indonesian EIA Center

Main Tasks:

Formulation and development of policies and guidelines, relating EIA, Environmental SOP, ERA and Environmental Auditing;

Development of EIA methodology and conducting EIA review through the EIA Commission;

Evaluation of the EIA implementation, SOP, ERA and Environmental Auditing.

Crash Programs:Capacity Building of EIA Review Commissions: TOT,Further Evaluation and Improvement of Public Involvement in EIA,Development of ERA Guidelines,Development of Strategic Environmental Assessment,Development of Economic Valuation in EIA,Development of Cumulative Impact Methodology,EIA Accreditation and Certification,Evaluation of EIA Regulations.