Projects that undergo environmental impact assessment (EIA) are rarely rejected. Online registries and anecdotal evidence suggest that authorities approve almost all proposed and assessed projects, though often with mitigation requirements. The objective of this study was: 1) to identify the rules or criteria that reviewers and authorities must observe when considering the acceptance or rejection of projects; and 2) to understand how rare cases of rejection decisions are justified by reviewers. Data were collected through literature and regulatory reviews, and content analysis of review reports related to five Canadian and seven Brazilian rejected projects. Reviewers from Canada and Brazil adopted similar approaches to decision-making based on qualitative reasoning. Rejection recommendations were based on reasons, such as significance of biophysical impacts, sensitivity of locations and community values. The influence of reviewers’ recommendations on final decisions remains unknown. The study highlights practical implications and calls for greater transparency and rigor in EIA decision-making.

经过环境影响评估 (EIA) 的项目很少被拒绝。在线注册和轶事证据表明，当局批准了几乎所有提议和评估的项目，尽管通常有缓解要求。本研究的目的是： 1) 确定审查人员和当局在考虑接受或拒绝项目时必须遵守的规则或标准；和 2) 了解审阅者如何证明拒绝决定的罕见情况。通过文献和监管审查以及对与五个加拿大和七个巴西被拒绝项目相关的审查报告的内容分析收集数据。来自加拿大和巴西的审稿人采用了类似的基于定性推理的决策方法。拒绝建议是基于原因，例如生物物理影响的重要性、地点的敏感性和社区价值。审稿人的建议对最终决定的影响仍然未知。该研究强调了实际意义，并呼吁提高环评决策的透明度和严谨性。