Q. What do you mean by Costs?
Costs Section 56 of the Environment Act describes costs as including ‘costs to any person and costs to the environment'. The costs of a project are the opportunity costs - the full value of any resource in its best alternative use. This can be estimated by the financial expenses incurred by an operator or proponent in meeting the requirements placed upon them by the authorising body, or any expenses incurred by the Agency in undertaking its actions. Similarly, the cost of a policy or programme can be measured by those it will affect. Costs also add any environmental, human health or other social impacts, which are detrimental in nature. Costs include any capital and recurrent expenditure, administrative costs, enforcement costs and monitoring, and research and development costs.