Abstract Pressures are mounting for the simplification of environmental impact assessment (EIA). This phenomenon is drawing increasing scholarly attention, but studies have not gone far beyond speculating what could happen as a result of recently implemented or proposed regulatory changes. This paper takes a more longitudinal look at simplified EIAs. The main objective was to analyze the perceived outcomes of a number of simplified EIA processes, using Brazil as the empirical context. More specifically, this paper aimed at understanding: 1) how simplified EIAs have been conceptualized and implemented in southeastern Brazil; and 2) how developers and civil servants in that region perceive the outcomes of simplified EIAs. This study adopted a sequential mixed method research approach. Data was collected through literature reviews, 261 telephone-based interviews and 10 face-to-face interviews. Degrees of EIA simplification can vary significantly within and across jurisdictions. In any case, simplification is often framed as a win-win solution to EIA ineffectiveness, through which regulatory and procedural changes are made to ease the process, while, at the same time, maintaining or providing better environmental protection. This approach is more frequently applied to potentially low-impact processes. Chi-square tests of the data collected through telephone interviews in the Brazilian state of Minas Gerais indicated that developers tend to perceive EIA processes as difficult and slow regardless of how simplified it is. Most civil servants, who were directly involved in the implementation of simplified EIAs in state environmental agencies, argued that simplified EIAs are driven mostly by environmental agencies, as these institutions have long been unable to cope with an ever-increasing load of license applications. Policy outcomes of simplified EIAs in the territory are not sufficiently monitored by state agencies. Civil servants revealed concerns about the potential long term effects of EIA simplification on the ground, as they have had limited resources for audits and inspections.

中文翻译：

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环境影响评估中简单的有吸引力的概念：对巴西东南部结果的看法

摘要 简化环境影响评估 (EIA) 的压力越来越大。这种现象正在引起越来越多的学术关注，但研究并没有远远超出推测最近实施或提议的监管变化可能会发生什么。本文对简化的 EIA 进行了更纵向的研究。主要目标是分析一些简化的 EIA 过程的感知结果，使用巴西作为经验背景。更具体地说，本文旨在了解：1) 简化的环境影响评估是如何在巴西东南部概念化和实施的；2) 该地区的开发商和公务员如何看待简化环境影响评估的结果。本研究采用顺序混合方法研究方法。通过文献综述收集数据，261 次电话采访和 10 次面对面采访。EIA 简化的程度在司法管辖区内和不同司法管辖区之间可能会有很大差异。在任何情况下，简化通常被认为是解决环评无效的双赢解决方案，通过这种方式，监管和程序上的变化可以简化流程，同时保持或提供更好的环境保护。这种方法更频繁地应用于潜在的低影响过程。在巴西米纳斯吉拉斯州通过电话采访收集的数据的卡方检验表明，开发人员往往认为 EIA 过程既困难又缓慢，不管它有多简单。大多数直接参与国家环境机构实施简化环境影响评估的公务员，认为简化的环境影响评估主要是由环境机构驱动的，因为这些机构长期以来无法应对越来越多的许可证申请。该领土简化环境影响评估的政策结果没有得到国家机构的充分监督。公务员对当地环境影响评估的潜在长期影响表示担忧，因为他们用于审计和检查的资源有限。