A Comprehensive Pattern for Environmental Impact Assessment of Ports in Iran

Ports in Iran are strategic places which have got important roles in oil export, public trade and country’s income. Construction and operation of ports in costal areas will cause a group of proper and inverse impacts on physiochemical, biological and social-economical environments. Mitigation and management of these impacts are only possible by considering environmental consideration in design, construction and operational phases through environmental impact assessment studies. Preparing of ports’ EIA reports which is a must on the basis of Iran legislation, needs a standard pattern consists of all related resources and parameters. In this paper by describing the different kinds of ports, usual components and facility of them, related activity of each phase and their impacts in impacted environments are presented. Furthermore, base on available international EIA reports and intimated resources, suggested terms of reference for port environmental impact assessment are prepared. These terms which are afforded by studying the involved processes, their impacts and last experiences on ports’ EAI studies, supply comprehensive pattern for evaluation and preparation of these reports by the projects’ administrators and consultants.