Jamaica is faced with a number of serious environmental problems. Perhaps the most promising approach to address these problems is to subject development proposals to a process of environmental review while they are in the central government's planning approval process. Jamaica has never had such an environmental review process. In this thesis an attempt was made to develop the framework for an environmental review process that can be integrated into the Jamaican planning approval process. Guided by case studies of the environmental review processes in three U.S. states and Puerto Rico, as well as an analysis of Jamaica's unique conditions as they affect the implementation of an environmental review process, an attempt was made to synthesize a framework for an environmental review process that can be both implementable and effective in Jamaica. In addition, an attempt was made to suggest some general strategies for achieving the implementation of the environmental review process. A simple yet potentially effective EIA framework was developed. However, the necessary preconditions for effective implementation, i.e., political support, do not exist in Jamaica. Unless the environment becomes a major issue in Jamaica's political economy, it is unrealistic to expect the implementation of an effective process. / Master of Urban and Regional Planning