Legal Literacy - With the rise of environmental damage issues lately, the concept of Environmental Impact Assessment or AMDAL is often a separate discourse among environmental observers, legal practitioners and the public. So what exactly is AMDAL and how was AMDAL regulation formed as one of the instruments that protects the state of the environment in Indonesia?

Understanding Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL)

In general, Environmental Impact Analysis (AMDAL) can be defined as an activity or study conducted to identify, predict, and interpret and communicate the influence of a planned activity (project) on the environment. Meanwhile Government Regulation Number 27 of 1999 concerning AMDAL explains that AMDAL is a study of the major and important impacts of a planned business and/or activity on the environment which is necessary for the decision-making process regarding the implementation of the business or activity. In Indonesia, the obligation to protect the environment through AMDAL is a constitutional mandate, as illustrated in article 28H paragraph 1 of the 1945 Constitution which reads:Everyone has the right to live in physical and spiritual prosperity, to have a place to live, and to have a good and healthy environment and has the right to obtain health services".

According to Daud Silalahi in his book entitled "AMDAL in the Environmental Law System in Indonesia", AMDAL is a process consisting of at least 4 important components, namely:

  • Terms of Reference for the preparation of AMDAL (KA), is the scope of the environmental impact analysis study which is the result of scoping.
  • Environmental Impact Analysis (ANDAL) which is a careful and in-depth study of the important impacts of a planned business or activity.
  • Environmental Management Plan (RKL), which is a document containing efforts to handle important impacts on the environment caused.
  • Environmental Monitoring Plan (RPL), is a document containing efforts to monitor components that are significantly impacted as a result of a planned business or activity.