A thorough assessment of environmental impact should always begin with a detailed definition of the purpose of the project and a definition of the scope of the impact assessment.  What is the ultimate goal that we hope to achieve with this project and what environmental aspects will we consider in the assessment of impacts?  Once we understand what the goals are, we can then proceed with a description of the proposed project and the assessment of impacts in accordance with the scope of the assessment.  The scoping of the assessment should not be overlooked and should be given adequate time and resources to ensure that all significant stakeholders have an opportunity to input the process to ensure that the assessment will cover all important issues.  There is much that could be said about the importance of scoping in the EIS process, but I won't go into that here.   I do have one last comment regarding your discussion of the focus of an environmental assessment.  You mentioned placing priority on human beings, the environment or on some aspect of the environment such as water.  I think we have to acknowledge that ALL projects are undertaken for the primary purpose of addressing a human need or benefiting humans in some way even if it's purpose is primarily environmental protection or enhancement. For example, if the project purpose is to improve water quality by eliminating pollution sources (i.e., a project that focuses on the environment), doesn't that goal have wide ranging long-term benefits to human populations in terms of drinking water, irrigation, food production, fisheries, wildlife, recreation, human health and well-being?  Improvements in the environment should always result in benefits to humans.  A project that benefits humans while degrading the environment is not sustainable long-term and will eventually fail and require another project to repair the damage.  A well scoped EIS will identify these issues and provide ways to eliminate or mitigate potential damages at the design stage.

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A thorough assessment of environmental impact should always begin with a detailed definition of the purpose of the project and a definition of the scope of the impact assessment.  What is the ultimate goal that we hope to achieve with this project and what environmental aspects will we consider in the assessment of impacts?  Once we understand what the goals are, we can then proceed with a description of the proposed project and the assessment of impacts in accordance with the scope of the assessment. 

The scoping of the assessment should not be overlooked and should be given adequate time and resources to ensure that all significant stakeholders have an opportunity to input the process to ensure that the assessment will cover all important issues.  There is much that could be said about the importance of scoping in the EIS process, but I won't go into that here.  

I do have one last comment regarding your discussion of the focus of an environmental assessment.  You mentioned placing priority on human beings, the environment or on some aspect of the environment such as water.  I think we have to acknowledge that ALL projects are undertaken for the primary purpose of addressing a human need or benefiting humans in some way even if it's purpose is primarily environmental protection or enhancement. For example, if the project purpose is to improve water quality by eliminating pollution sources (i.e., a project that focuses on the environment), doesn't that goal have wide ranging long-term benefits to human populations in terms of drinking water, irrigation, food production, fisheries, wildlife, recreation, human health and well-being?  Improvements in the environment should always result in benefits to humans.  A project that benefits humans while degrading the environment is not sustainable long-term and will eventually fail and require another project to repair the damage.  A well scoped EIS will identify these issues and provide ways to eliminate or mitigate potential damages at the design stage.