Meeting Public Expectations -- Judicial Review of Environmental Impact Statements in the United States: Lessons for Reform in Western Australia?
AbstractBy comparative legal analysis of the America experience, this article examines the positive role of judicial review of environmental impact statements (EIS) in achieving the goals of environmental protection policies. It concludes that reforming the Western Australian Act to provide specifically for judicial review of the environmental impact assessment (EIA) decision making processes will produce greater governmental accountability. Additionally, such external, judicial review of the EIA process would empower the public, enhancing their role in, support for, and commitment to community decisions regarding the appropriate balance between economic development and the conservation and preservation of our natural heritage. |