13. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
For several years the public has been taking a greater interest in the effects of large scale projects involving municipal development, highways, airports, water and sewage treatment plants, pipelines, river diversions, industrial and petrochemical plants, mining and forestry facilities, landfills and spills. In many instances the public has objected to property rights. There is growing public support and enforceable legislation in developing jurisdictions for the belief that environmental assessment is an essential component of all stages of project planning, implementation, operation, and site decommissioning.