In Argentina, there are two key documents in the environmental assessment of mining projects:
- Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a technical study that any mining company must submit before commencing any activity with a potential environmental impact. This report identifies and evaluates the effects the project may have on the environment, proposing measures to prevent, mitigate, or compensate for those impacts.
Submitting the EIA is a mandatory requirement for obtaining environmental approval for a mining project.
- Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
The EIS is an administrative act by which the competent authority (generally the Provincial Mining Secretariat or the Ministry of the Environment, depending on the jurisdiction) approves or rejects the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
A mining project can only proceed with an approved EIS.
Public Hearings
Public hearings are a mechanism for citizen participation that allows communities to express opinions and concerns about a mining project before the EIA is approved. In Argentina, they are regulated by the General Environmental Law (Law No. 25,675) and are mandatory in certain cases according to provincial regulations.