What Is Social Impact Assessment?
Social Impact Assessment (SIA) is a method of analyzing what impact a government
action may have on the social aspects of the environment. These aspects
include (but are not limited to):
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The ways people cope with life through their economy, social systems, and
cultural values.
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The ways people use the natural environment, for subsistence, recreation,
spiritual activities, cultural activities, and so forth.
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The ways people use the built environment, for shelter, making livelihoods,
industry, worship, recreation, gathering together, etc.
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The ways communities are organized, and held together by their social and
cultural institutions and beliefs.
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Ways of life that communities value as expressions of their identity.
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Art, music, dance, language arts, crafts, and other expressive aspects
of culture.
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A group's values and beliefs about appropriate ways to live, family and
extra-family relationships, status relationships, means of expression,
and other expressions of community.
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The esthetic and cultural character of a community or neighborhood-its
ambience.
SIA involves characterizing the existing state of such aspects of the environment,
forecasting how they may change if a given action or alternative is implemented,
and developing means of mitigating changes that are likely to be adverse
from the point of view of an affected population.
Social
Impact Assessment
To contact support, please email nepa.callin@gsa.gov
