Impact Assessment (IA) simply defined is the process of identifying the future consequences of a current or proposed action. The “impact” is the difference between what would happen with the action and what would happen without it. The terms “impact” and “effect” are frequently used synonymously (as in US National Environmental Policy Act Regulations 1508.8). The concept of “environment” in Impact Assessment evolved from an initial focus on the biophysical components to a wider definition, including the physical-chemical, biological, visual, cultural and socio-economic components of the total environment. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) definition adopted by IAIA is “the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the bio-physical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made.”