Environmental Impact Assessment

1. PREPARED BY:
Manoj Sharma
Msc.Ag (Agri- Economics)
Agriculture and Forestry
Univesity
EIA and IT’S PROCESS
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2. What is EIA ?
 A study of the effects of a proposed project, plan or
program on the environment
 Sadler, B. 1996.
“ Environmental impact assessment is a process of
identifying, predicting, evaluating, and
mitigating the biophysical, social, and other
relevant effects of proposed projects and physical
activities prior to major decisions and
commitments being made ”
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3. History of EIA
 USA: first nation to start EIA (National Environmental
Policy Act, 1970)
 Formalization and extension through UN conference on the
Environment in Stockholm , 1972
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4. EIA in Nepal
 Sixth Five Year Plan (1980-1985) - first mentioned the need
for EIA for major infrastructure projects
 Eighth Five Year Plan (1991-1995) – need of EIA at the
stage of feasibility study
 National EIA Guideline, September 1992 and gazette in
July 1993
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5. EIA process
Scoping
Impact analysis
Reporting
Review
Decision making
Monitoring
A brief statement of
environmental issues
Determine:
Whether environmental
effects are significant
OR,
Mitigation measures
can be adopted
Phase I
Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
Phase II
Environmental Impact
Studies (EIS) or simply
EIA
If it provides definite
solution
NO
EIA
If needed
Screening
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6. Screening
Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not
Required
EIA
Required
Monitoring
EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE
Review
Scoping/
Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale
EIA
Evaluate
Options
EIA Not
Approved
EIA
Review
Decision
Making
EIA
Approved
A flowchart of EIA Process
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7. Screening
 No all development projects require an EIA, as some
projects may not pose an environmental threat
 Screening is the process used to determine
o Whether an proposed project or activity requires an EIA
and,
o If so, what level of environmental review is necessary
Phase I
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8. IEE
 The output of the screening process - Initial
Environmental Examination (IEE)
 Actually, a low-cost environmental evaluation that makes
use of information already available
 Possible IEE outcomes:
o full or comprehensive EIA required,
o Limited EIA required, and
o no EIA required
Phase I
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9. IEE Flow chart…….
1. Identify Potential
Significant Environmental
Issues
2. Obtain Information
3. Effects Classification/
Identification of Significant
Environmental Issues (SEIs)
4. Resolve SEIs Where
Possible (Review
Alternatives/Develop
Environmental Management
Plans and Protection
Measures)
The IEE makes
recommendations
for further study:
Full-Scale EIA
IEE is the final
EIA Report
5. Are all SEIs
resolved?
YES NO
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10. Screening
Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not
Required
EIA
Required
Monitoring
EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE
Review
Scoping/
Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale
EIA
Evaluate
Options
EIA Not
Approved
EIA
Review
Decision
Making
EIA
Approved
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11. Scoping
A process of interaction between government agencies
and project proponents
A stage for members of the public or NGOs to learn about
a proposed project and to voice their opinions
Identifies the key issues and impacts to be considered
Lays the foundation of an effective process, saves time
and money, and reduces conflict
Establish terms of reference (TOR) for EIA study
Phase II
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12. Terms of Reference contents:
o Project Description (i.e., type, magnitude, location,
alternatives and constraints)
o Environmental Setting (i.e., delineation of study area,
listing of environmental resources and sensitive or special
value areas)
o Background Reports (e.g., aspects of the environmental
setting, previous projects with relevant impacts or
resources)
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13. .
Screening
Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not
Required
EIA
Required
Monitoring
EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE
Review
Scoping/
Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale
EIA
Evaluate
Options
EIA Not
Approved
EIA
Review
Decision
Making
EIA
Approved
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14. Impact analysis and Prediction
Criteria for impact Possibilities
Type biophysical, social, health or economic
Nature direct or indirect, cumulative, etc.
Magnitude or severity high, moderate, low
Extent local, regional, trans-boundary or global
Timing immediate/long term
Duration temporary/permanent
Uncertainty low likelihood/high probability
Reversibility reversible/irreversible
Significance unimportant/important
Phase II
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15. Cont…
Tools used for impact analysis
o Checklists
o Matrices
o Networks
o Overlays and geographical information systems (GIS)
o Expert systems
o Professional judgment
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16. Mitigation and impact management
 To avoid, minimize or offset predicted adverse impacts
 Different approaches for Impact management:
•Avoid
•Replace
•Reduce
•Restore
•Compensate
Phase II
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17. Reporting
 Different Names for Report:
o Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA
Report,
o Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
o Environmental Statement (ES)
Phase II
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18. The content of report:
 A description of the project,
 Alternatives of mitigation management,
 A description of the aspects of the environment likely to be
significantly affected by the proposed project,
 Measures to prevent, reduce and possibly offset adverse
environmental effects,
 An indication of any difficulties (technical deficiencies or
lack of know-how) encountered while compiling the
required information
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19. Screening
Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not
Required
EIA
Required
Monitoring
EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE
Review
Scoping/
Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale
EIA
Evaluate
Options
EIA Not
Approved
EIA
Review
Decision
Making
EIA
Approved
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20. Review
 To establish if the information in an EIA report is sufficient
for decision-making
 EIA review methods involves
o general checklists,
o project specific checklists,
o review packages,
o expert and accredited reviewers,
o public hearings,
o extended review frameworks etc.
Phase II
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21. Decision making
 A decision to approve or reject a proposed project
 Possible decision outcome;
o Approval
o Approval with conditions
o Approval subject to ongoing investigation
o Further investigation required
o Request for a supplementary, or new, EIA report
o Rejection
 Ministry of Forest and Environment: Report approval of
EIA and environmental auditing
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22. Screening
Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not
Required
EIA
Required
Monitoring
EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE
Review
Scoping/
Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale
EIA
Evaluate
Options
EIA Not
Approved
EIA
Review
Decision
Making
EIA
Approved
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23. Monitoring
An important part of project implementation
Monitoring serves mainly three purposes:
o Ensuring that required mitigation measures are being
implemented,
o Evaluating whether mitigation measures are working
effectively,
o Validating the accuracy of models or projections that
were used during the impact assessment process
Phase II
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24. Screening
Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not
Required
EIA
Required
Monitoring
EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE
Review
Scoping/
Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale
EIA
Evaluate
Options
EIA Not
Approved
EIA
Review
Decision
Making
EIA
Approved
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25. EIA Audit
 Determine impacts
 Check that conditions arising from EIA are being met
 Test accuracy of EIA predictions
 Identify areas where EIA could have been improved
 Compile lessons learned for future EIAs
Phase II
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26. CONCLUDING THOUGHTS
 The integration of environment into development planning
is the most important tool in achieving sustainable
development.
 Thinks to be remember:
o The EIA process should be adaptive.
o The EIA process needs to be inclusive and transparent.
o The process should not be seen as an administrative task.
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