The goal of the assessment is to ensure that decision-makers take the environment into account when determining whether to proceed with a project or not. The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines Environmental Impact Assessment as the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating, and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant impacts of development proposals before major decisions and commitments are made. Environmental impact assessments are particular because they do not require decision-makers to follow predefined environmental outcomes; instead, they require them to consider environmental values and support their choices with evidence from in-depth environmental studies and public feedback on potential environmental impacts. It is an evaluation of the plan, policy, program, or environmental effects of the current project before deciding to move forward with the proposed course of action. In this sense, Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) refers to plans, programs, and policies typically proposed by government agencies, while Environmental Impact Assessment (EPA) refers to actual projects undertaken by individuals or companies. It is a tool for environmental management used in the approval and decision-making process for projects. Environmental assessments may be subject to judicial review and may be governed by administrative procedural laws related to public participation and decision-making documents.