Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) laws and guidelines are essential regulatory tools designed to ensure that development projects are planned and implemented in a manner that minimizes adverse effects on the environment and human health. These legal frameworks aim to integrate environmental considerations into decision-making processes before project approval, thereby promoting sustainable development. EIA laws provide the statutory basis for environmental evaluation, while guidelines offer procedural clarity, technical standards, and methodological approaches to conduct assessments effectively. Together, they help protect ecosystems, natural resources, and public health by identifying potential risks and recommending mitigation measures. At the international level, the foundation for EIA practices was laid by the United States through the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, which made environmental assessment mandatory for major federal actions significantly affecting the environment. NEPA introduced the concept of Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), public participation, and inter-agency coordination, which later influenced EIA systems worldwide. International organizations such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), World Bank, and World Health Organization (WHO) have also contributed to EIA development by issuing environmental safeguards, health risk assessment frameworks, and environmental management standards. The Rio Declaration of 1992 emphasized EIA as a national instrument for sustainable development, particularly Principle 17, which recommends that environmental impact assessment should be undertaken for activities likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts. In many countries, EIA laws are embedded within