Principles and Guidelines for Social Impact Assessment in the USA

The performance of social impact assessment (SIA) is governed by the US National Environmental Policy Act of 1970 and guided by the 2003 version of the Principles and Guidelines for Social Impact Assessment. Six principles address an understanding of local and regional context, identifying the key components of the human environment, using appropriate methods and assumptions, providing appropriate material for decision making, addressing issues of environmental justice, and establishing the means to evaluate and monitor mitigation. A model of social impact assessment is developed, and variables are identified.