Environmental audits: A literature review

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Auditing Practices
• Environmental Impact Assessment

Background:

• Predictive technique audits are crucial for improving environmental impact assessment (EIA) practices.
• Existing literature predominantly focuses on US-based audits, with limited inclusion of UK studies.
• Awareness of relevant literature from other countries like Canada and South Africa is noted.

Purpose of the Study:

• To conduct a literature review on predictive technique audits.
• To assess the potential of these audits in enhancing EIA.
• To consolidate information on predictive technique audits from US and UK literature.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of US and UK publications on predictive technique audits.
• Description of audits conducted for or by specific US agencies (e.g., Bureau of Land Management, Nuclear Regulatory Commission).
• Review of articles on auditing environmental change prediction models.

Main Results:

• Identified key US agencies and studies involved in predictive technique audits.
• Detailed specific auditing activities within the UK.
• Highlighted the role of predictive technique audits in EIA.

Conclusions:

• Predictive technique audits offer significant potential for advancing environmental impact assessment.
• The review provides a foundation for understanding current practices and future research directions in EIA auditing.