Environmental Impact Report Legal Meaning and Definition

Here is a simplified definition of the legal term Environmental Impact Report.

Environmental Impact Report (noun): A detailed assessment conducted for certain land development or construction projects, with the aim to study how these projects might significantly affect the environment around them. The report typically evaluates impacts on various local aspects such as population, traffic, schools, fire protection, endangered species, archeological artifacts, and general community aesthetics. In many states, submission of this report to local governments is a mandatory step before a project can be approved, unless the government declares there is no potential impact - a decision known as a "negative declaration".