Analysis of Coastal Area Utilization by Consultation of Marine Environmental Impact Assessment Related-Systems

This study presented politic proposals and diverse utilization-type in coastal areas by analyzing results of reviewed related-statements of marine environment during the one year period of 2007 by Marine Environmental Impact Assessment Center. Total of 358 cases were reviewed, which was a significant increase from 270 in 2006. Consultation on the utilization of sea areas (CUSA) accounted for the largest number of 165 (46.1%) and it was followed by 104 cases of environmental impact assessment (EIA) (29.0%) and 89 cases of prior environmental review (PER) (24.9%). As such, evaluation statements (EIA+PER) related to consultations of the Ministry of Environment accounted for approximately 54% of the entire cases reviewed. To analyze the overall results of reviewing marine-related evaluation statements, utilization and planning were conducted by 47.9%, 38.4% and 13.7% in the South Sea, West Sea and East Sea of Korea, respectively. In evaluation statements (EIA+PER), port construction, industrial complex construction, urban management plan and road construction took up most of the part by 40.9%, 20.2%, 10.4% and 7.3%, respectively. In terms of CUSA-statement, it was evaluated that consultations were mostly carried out on use and reclamation of public water surface in coastal areas and on sea aggregate extraction process in EEZ. The largest number of plans for coastal use were established for Jeollanam-do, followed by Gyeongsangnam-do, Chungcheongnam-do, Gyeongsangbuk-do and Gyeonggi-do. In particular, development plans were concentrated on Jeollanam-do and Gyeongsangnam-do with stable marine environment and outstanding view of the nature. In most cases, these regions are adjacent to the areas designated as a sea area for environmental management and fisheries resources protection zone. Therefore, conflicts exist between development and preservation. Also, rather than random development, more detailed marine environmental impact assessment, gathering of public opinions and politic harmony are essentially required. For efficient coastal management and environmentally sound and sustainable development, fulfilling consistent and transparent coastal policies as well as active and reliable decision making to center on coastal environment by management bodies will be important.