open access

Vol 67, No 2 (2016)
Review article
Submitted: 2016-03-09
Accepted: 2016-03-21
Published online: 2016-06-28
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Environmental and health impact assessment for ports in Thailand

Chamchan Chanchang, Pornchai Sithisarankul, Thanawat Supanitayanon
·
Pubmed: 27364177
·
IMH 2016;67(2):112-116.

open access

Vol 67, No 2 (2016)
MARITIME/OCCUPATIONAL MEDICINE Review article
Submitted: 2016-03-09
Accepted: 2016-03-21
Published online: 2016-06-28

Abstract

Port development in Thailand is an essential part of the national maritime interest in connection with ship and shore activities. The growth of maritime industry and transportation has led to the expansion of ports’ areas and capacity. Each port type causes different environmental impacts. Therefore, the Port Authority of Thailand has set up guidelines on ports’ environmental management. This is divided into 3 major phases; namely, planning, construction and operation commencement periods. The Report of Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EIA, HIA and EHIA) is regarded as the environmental management process in the planning period. It is a key tool to anticipate and prevent any adverse effects that might occur on the environment as well as community health resulting from the project implementation. This measure, in turn, creates advance preparation on both the preventive and problem-solving means before the project gets off the ground.

At present, the majority of new projects on port development have still been in the process of information gathering for EHIA submission. Some cannot start to operate due to their EHIA failure. For example, the Tha-sala port which did not pass EHIA, mainly because emphasis had been focused on adhering to legal regulations without taking into consideration the in-depth analysis of data being conducted by community entities in the area. Thus caused the project to be finally abolished. Impact assessment on environment and health should be aimed at detailed understanding of the community in each particular area so that effective data of objective achievement in preventing environmental problems could actually be carried out and welcomed by the concerned society.  

Abstract

Port development in Thailand is an essential part of the national maritime interest in connection with ship and shore activities. The growth of maritime industry and transportation has led to the expansion of ports’ areas and capacity. Each port type causes different environmental impacts. Therefore, the Port Authority of Thailand has set up guidelines on ports’ environmental management. This is divided into 3 major phases; namely, planning, construction and operation commencement periods. The Report of Environmental and Health Impact Assessment (EIA, HIA and EHIA) is regarded as the environmental management process in the planning period. It is a key tool to anticipate and prevent any adverse effects that might occur on the environment as well as community health resulting from the project implementation. This measure, in turn, creates advance preparation on both the preventive and problem-solving means before the project gets off the ground.

At present, the majority of new projects on port development have still been in the process of information gathering for EHIA submission. Some cannot start to operate due to their EHIA failure. For example, the Tha-sala port which did not pass EHIA, mainly because emphasis had been focused on adhering to legal regulations without taking into consideration the in-depth analysis of data being conducted by community entities in the area. Thus caused the project to be finally abolished. Impact assessment on environment and health should be aimed at detailed understanding of the community in each particular area so that effective data of objective achievement in preventing environmental problems could actually be carried out and welcomed by the concerned society.  

Get Citation

Keywords

port, wharf, EIA, HIA, EHIA

About this article
Title

Environmental and health impact assessment for ports in Thailand

Journal

International Maritime Health

Issue

Vol 67, No 2 (2016)

Article type

Review article

Pages

112-116

Published online

2016-06-28

Page views

1520

Article views/downloads

2996

DOI

10.5603/IMH.2016.0021

Pubmed

27364177

Bibliographic record

IMH 2016;67(2):112-116.

Keywords

port
wharf
EIA
HIA
EHIA

Authors

Chamchan Chanchang
Pornchai Sithisarankul
Thanawat Supanitayanon

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