On The Public Participation In The Assessment System Of Environmental Impact In China

Environmental issues is closely related to each one of us.The mode depending on the Government has been unable to cope with the reality of the crisis and take up the responsibility of environmental protection under the condition of growing and highlighting environmental problems.With the rise of awareness of civil rights,we should establish the channels of public expression.It is necessary that the institutionalization of public participation prevent and solve environmental problems.Public participation in environmental impact has become an important aspect of EIA worldwide.Following the trend,China also introduced the institutionalization of public participation in environmental impact assessment procedures.Public participation is included in the concept of modern democracy.Effective public participation can realizes target which the precautionary principle of EIA and minimize the extent of damage brought about by environment activties.It is a important task we should adopt sutitable way to express public opinions and make it reflected in the environmental decision-making in the existing social conditions and political systems.The article is divided into four parts.The first part reviews the development process of public participation in EIA,definies the basic connotation of public participation,makes an analysis for the legal basis and social function on public participation.The second part studies the United States ,Japan and Taiwan's public participation system in the EIA process.The third part analysize the practice of public participation in the system of the EIA process in China.Combining with the relevant provisions of foreign experience and success,the part makes a detailed analysis of public participation and then point out six problems currently. The fourth part put forwards the idea of the construction for China's public participation in EIA,which include reasonable definition for the scope of participants,protection of the right to know,Perfection of the participatory process,enforcement of the environmental NGO's role,conversion in the role of government and establishment of relief measures.