Stakeholders in the EIA Process: What is Important for them? The Case of Road Construction

Public participation is one of the conditions for an effective environmental impact assessment. Quite often public participation is limited to the general public but various organizations, governmental and non-governmental institutions, business enterprises are left aside. The paper analyses the attitudes of different enterprises/organizations with focus on a road construction (Siaurine Street) case in Vilnius, Lithuania in regard to the environmental impact assessment process. The survey indicated that only a very small part of respondents from different enterprises and organizations has been approached in particular environmental impact assessment process, although the construction project was relevant for nearly half of all surveyed enterprises. Companies, located in the territory of the planned Siaurine Street, highlighted that the major significant components of environmental aspects are noise and air pollution, between socio-economic environment - suitable infrastructure, human well-being and business and job opportunities. The type of company’s activity, income, number of employees and their distance to the Siaurine Street were the main factors determining respondent choices.