Welcome to Environmental Studies 305: Environmental Impact Assessment, a three-credit, senior-level course designed to introduce you to a systematic process for predicting and evaluating the significant environmental consequences of a proposed action or undertaking. This process—environmental impact assessment—has been applied primarily to new infrastructure projects, such as power plants, highways, pipelines, dams, mines, airports, incinerators and landfills. Assessment processes have also been used to consider the implications of new technologies, plans and policies that may result in significant social and biophysical effects. This course focuses on environmental assessment processes—what they are meant to accomplish, and how they are designed or should be designed to be effective, efficient and fair.