Multilateral Development Banks: Public Consultation on Environmental Assessments
NSIAD-98-192
Published: Sep 08, 1998. Publicly Released: Sep 08, 1998.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed certain aspects of the environmental assessment and information disclosure policies and practices of the multilateral development banks, focusing on the: (1) steps the banks have taken to ensure meaningful public consultation on the environmental implications of proposed projects and timely public access to relevant project documents; (2) quality of consultation that occurs on bank-supported projects and the documentation on the consultation that is provided to executive directors; and (3) extent to which the banks provide broad, timely public access to project information, including environmental assessment reports.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Treasury | The Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the U.S. Executive Directors at the Banks to work with other Executive Directors and bank management to seek improvements that will result in executive directors being provided with a complete and accurate record of public consultation on all proposed projects with significant environmental implications. |
Closed – Implemented
The Department of Treasury instructed the executive directors to ensure that the banks provide all executive directors with complete information about consultation with the public on proposed bank projects. As of September 2001, the banks provide all executive directors with complete information on public consultation within 30 days of a consultation report.
|
| Department of the Treasury | The Secretary of the Treasury should instruct the U.S. Executive Directors at the Banks to work with other Executive Directors and bank management to have the banks improve compliance with their guidelines on providing timely public access to project profiles and environmental assessment reports through their Internet home pages. |
Closed – Implemented
In response to GAO's recommendation, the executive directors pressured the World Bank and it improved its Internet access so as to provide timely information to the public about its projects. The complete environmental assessment reports and project profiles are now available on the Bank's website within one month of completion.
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Topics
Developing countriesEnvironmental impact statementsEnvironmental monitoringForeign economic assistanceForeign policiesInternational economic relationsInternational organizationsInternetLending institutionsPublic relationsEnvironmental assessment