The Practice Of Public Participation In Environmental Impact Assessment In Oromia Regional State Case Of Habesha Steel Mills

The need for public participation in Environmental Impact Assessment has been widely accepted under national and international human rights instruments. Ethiopia has recognized the system of Environmental Impact Assessment as it contributes to sustainable environmental protection efforts, fosters implementation of the right to clean and healthy environment, and facilitates the public participation in decision making process. Hence, decision-makers in Ethiopia are expected to use EIA to consider the impacts of their actions on the environment. One of the central elements of EIA process is public participation. The main objective of this study are, to examine the practicability of public participation in EIA process particularly for the case of Habesha Steel Mills Plc. to address this objective interviews with concerned parties, observation and document analysis of the EIA document taken into account. Based on this, I have argued that the practicability of public participation in EIA is insignificant, the laws concerning the use of EIA are inadequate, low level of public awareness, the public were not involved early enough during the project planning and EIA process, adequate information was not provided to the public, and the public concern or inputs not have impact on decision making process. The study concludes by proposing relevant solutions and recommendations.

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