Many authors have commented on the lack of public participation in Thailand on environmental issues and the EIA process in particular (for example, see Tan 1998, Staerdahl et al. 2003). There is no provision in the EIA regulations for public participation. The draft EIA does not have to be released to the public, public comments are not asked for, and, critically, the government does not have to respond to public concerns. Usually after the EIA is given to the government for review, the public is not given access to it. Public hearings are seldom held.