Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is used to identify the environmental and social impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision makers. Environmental and economic benefits can be achieved through EIAs, for example reduced cost and time of project implementation and design, avoided treatment/ clean-up costs and impacts of laws and regulations.