The document outlines the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, highlighting the roles of various stakeholders including project proponents, practitioners, reviewers, decision-makers, and the public. It emphasizes the importance of public involvement in EIA, detailing steps from screening and scoping to prediction, mitigation, and management of environmental impacts. EIA is presented as a critical planning tool that integrates ecological, social, and economic considerations into project decision-making.

1. EIA Process

2. Stakeholders in EIA
Five principal groups
• Project proponents
• EIA practitioners or service providers (consultants)
• Reviewers
• Decision-makers
• Public
Project proponents: who are responsible for commissioning and paying for the
EIA process. Proponents usually include government ministries and
departments, private sector companies and development agencies, Private
Sector.
EIA practitioners or service providers who undertake or provide inputs to the
EIA process. They include individuals; organizations; research and academic
institutes; NGOs; and both local and international consulting companies.

3. Reviewers who are responsible for 'quality control'. They are responsible
for determining the level of environmental assessment required
(screening), and ensuring that the EIA process proceeds according to
agreed, clear and comprehensive terms of reference (ToR).
They also review the EIA process and communicate their findings to
decision-makers and other stakeholders.
Depending on the complexity and scope of the project, an independent
review panel may be formed for a specific project. Such panel members
may be recruited from government ministries, universities and institutes,
and environmental NGOs, together with local and international experts.
The public should be notified of the EIS (Environmental Impact Statement)
and requested to present their views and comments and these would be
assembled by the EIA Agency for consideration.

4. Decision-makers who are responsible for making decisions on project
development once an environmental impact statement (EIS) has been
submitted. They may include central government, local authorities and
development agencies (DoE).
The public who are the most important stakeholders. The public can
contribute ideas and information that can help to avoid unforeseen
problems, improve project design and contribute to monitoring.
Experience also shows that development projects imposed on local
communities often fail or under-perform because they lack a sense of
local ownership and public support. They can also result in conflict.

5. EIA provides a mechanism for public involvement in decision-making.
The public also includes interest groups.
 These are groups that might not be directly affected by a
development proposal, but which have interests in particular aspects
of the environment, such as conservation organizations, NGOs and
CBOs. Many of these groups can make valuable contributions to
EIAs.

6. Before introduction of EIA
• Government planning and decision-making:
“D-A-D” ---- “Decide, Announce, Defend”
•Role of NGOs, citizens:
“Critics” “Objectors” “Protestors”
•Environmental conditions:
Steadily deteriorating
WHAT CHANGES CAN EIA BRING?
After introduction of EIA
• Government planning and decision-making:
“D-D-D”- --- “Discuss, Decide, Deliver”
• Role of NGOs, citizens:
“Stakeholders” “Contributors” “Participants”
• Environmental conditions:
Deterioration slows; some areas improving

7. IMPORTANCE & BENEFITS of EIA
Role of EIA in Addressing Some Common Planning Problems

8. 8
IMPORTANCE & BENIFITS: EIA (continued)
Role of EIA in Addressing Some Common Planning Dilemmas

9. 9
First and foremost EIA should be seen as a planning tool and an
integral part of the project cycle, providing information to
decision-makers in a clear and systematic way. EIA should result
in a better understanding of the linkages between ecological, social,
economic and political systems.
To achieve these objectives effectively, EIA needs to:
 ensure public and stakeholder involvement
 ensure multi-disciplinarity
 focus on the process, not just the production of an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
EIA as a planning tool

10. 10
EIA Process
It is a process comprising a series of steps.
 Screening and preliminary assessment
 Scoping
 Impact prediction and mitigation measures
 Environmental impact statement (EIS)
 Review
 Decision making
 Management and monitoring
 Audit

11. 11
EIA process
• Scope
• Evaluate baseline situation
• Identify & choose alternatives
• Identify and characterize potential
impacts of proposed activity and
each alternative
• Develop mitigation measures and
monitoring
• Communicate and documentation.
Phase I:
Initial inquiries
Phase II:
Full EIA study
(if needed)
• Understand proposed
activities
• Screening of activities
• Conduct preliminary
assessment (if needed)

12. 12
Screening the activity
Screen each
activity
Based on the
nature of the
activity, what
level of
environmental
analysis is
indicated?
SCREENING is the process of asking
a very basic set of questions about
the nature of activity.
Screening is the process by which the
appropriate level and type of EIA is
determined for a given project on the basis of
its likely environmental impacts.
Methodology for screening includes:
 desk study,
 reconnaissance survey,
 literature available.

13. Desk Study:
To collect the secondary information and choking out the methodology for
carrying out the EIA study and fixing of responsibilities of the EIA team
members for preparing a complete EA addressing all issues.
 Gathering and reviewing existing environmental data (secondary
data) relevant to the proposed development, in the form of top
sheets, physical maps, thematic maps showing details of soil type,
geology, seismic activity, hydrology etc.
 Collect all the earlier carried out environmental and engineering
studies in project influence area.
13

14. Reconnaissance survey
To collect the first hand information about the project area and
develop a perspective of the entire team and revise the methodology
and work program.
 Verifying the data collected during desk study, assessing the likely
impacts, identifying the major/main issues and preparing the
methodology for detailed investigation.
14

15. Screening Statement:
- compiles the primary and secondary data thus collected, and checking
with the legal framework of Bangladesh Government, thus suggesting
the requirement/category of the Environmental Assessment Required.
- There are 3 possible outcomes of a screening process:
a. Where significant concerns exist or where there is a lot that is unknown
about project impacts, a full EIA study is necessary.
b. If environmental impacts of a project are known and can be easily
mitigated, a limited environmental study and mitigation plan may
undertaken.
c. If screening identifies no concerns, further environmental analysis is
not necessary, and the project may proceed without the EIA study.
15

16. 16
Screen the activity
Screen each
activity
Based on the
nature of the
activity, what
level of
environmental
analysis is
indicated?
Screening classifies the activity
into a RISK CATEGORY:
VERY LOW RISK
VERY HIGH RISK
MODERATE OR
UNKNOWN RISK
EIA process ends
Do full EIA study
Do preliminary
assessment
The outcome of the screening
process determines the next step in
the EIA process

17. 17
Preliminary Assessment
Conduct a
Preliminary
Assessment
A rapid, simplified
EIA study using
simple tools
The purpose of a preliminary
assessment is to provide documentation
and analysis that:
Screening determines
whether the
preliminary
assessment is
necessary
 Allows consultant to determine whether or not
significant adverse impacts are likely
 Allows the reviewer to agree or disagree with
the consultant’s determinations
 Sets out mitigation and monitoring for
adverse impacts

18. 18
Preliminary Assessment
Typical Preliminary
Assessment outline
1. Background (Development
objective, list of activities)
2. Description of the baseline
situation
3. Evaluation of potential
environmental impacts
4. Mitigation & monitoring
5. Recommended Findings
For each activity it covers, a preliminary
assessment has 3 possible findings:
 The project is very unlikely to have
significant adverse impacts. (EIA
process ends)
 With specified mitigation and
monitoring, the project is unlikely to
have significant adverse impacts
 The project is likely to have significant
adverse impacts (full EIA study is
required).

19. Screening
• Screening is the process used to determine whether a proposed
project or activity requires an EIA and, if so, what level of
environmental review is necessary.
Purpose:
• Identify those projects or activities that may cause potential
significant impacts
• Identify special conditions/analyses that may be required by
international funding bodies
• Categorize the project as one where:
– Full-Scale EIA required
– Some further environmental analysis required
– No further environmental analysis required (No EIA)

21. 21
Asian Development Bank (ADB) Screening
Categories
All Projects
Category A
Projects that
typically require
an EIA study
Category C
Projects that
typically do not
require an IEE
Category B
Projects that
typically
require only
an IEE
Examples:
•Forestry Research
& Extension
•Rural Health
Services
•Marine Sciences
Education
Examples:
•Forest Industries
•Water
Impoundment
•Industries
Examples:
• Renewable
Energy
• Aquaculture
• Tourism
Development
• Infrastructure
Rehabilitation

22. 22
World Bank Screening Categories
Category A: An EIA is typically
required
Category B: An IEE is usually sufficient
Category C: Typically no environmental review
is required
Category D: Environmental Projects
Environmental review required, but may be
incorporated in feasibility study.
ALL PROJECTS

23. 23
Typical Proposals Requiring Full-Scale EIA
 Infrastructure projects (road, railway, port development,
etc.)
 Water and wastewater treatment plant
 Large-scale industrial activities
 Resource extractive industries and activities
 Waste management and disposal
 Substantial changes in farming or fishing practices.

24. Scoping
A process of interaction between government agencies and project
proponents.
Scoping is the process of identifying the key environmental issues
that have potential impact/interaction with the environment and is
perhaps the most important step in an EIA.
Identifies:
– spatial and temporal boundaries for the EIA
– important issues and concern
– information necessary for decision making
– significant effects and factors to be considered
Establish the Terms of Reference (TOR) for full-scale EIA.

26. Background information section should include:
• Project Description (i.e., type, magnitude, location, alternatives
and constraints)
• Environmental Setting (i.e., delineation of study area, listing of
environmental resources and sensitive or special value areas)
• Background Reports (e.g., aspects of the environmental setting,
previous projects with relevant impacts or resources)
Specific EIA requirements typically include:
• EIA objectives
• Institutional context (i.e., legal and policy requirements)
• Significant issues of concern (SEIs)
• Required information and data, methodologies for impact
assessment
• Process for incorporating public input
Scoping (continued)

27. 27
Main EIA techniques used in scoping are baseline studies, checklists,
matrices and network diagrams.
Types of Scoping:
Closed scoping: wherein the content and scope of an EIA Report is
pre-determined by law and modified through closed consultations
between a developer and the competent authority.
Open or Public scoping:
a transparent process based on public consultation.
EXAMPLE : SCOPING
A cement industry is proposed to be established in a locality and
the effluent is proposed to discharge in an adjacent river.
 Physical and chemical environment
 Biological environment
 Human (social) environment
 Human (economic) environment
Scoping (continued)

28. 28
Physical and chemical environment:
1. The level of increase gaseous air pollutants
2. Possible change in noise level
3. Change in downstream water quality due to discharge of aqueous
effluent (organic matter).
Biological environment:
1. Eutrophication (effluent containing Nitrogen and Phosphorus)
2. Public health impact
3. Fish kills.
Human (social) environment:
1. Affect on fisheries and aquaculture may create problem for
fisherman
2. Urbanization trend and related problem
3. Scope of job creation.
Human (economic) environment:
1. Possibility of increasing drinking water treatment cost
2. Productive hour loss due to environmental degradation
3. Heath treatment cost

29. 29
Prediction and Mitigation
Once the scoping exercise is complete and the major impacts to be
studied have been identified, prediction work can start.
Realistic and affordable mitigating measures cannot be proposed
without first estimating the scope of the impacts, which should be in
monetary terms wherever possible.
Compare "without project" scenario !!
Recommendations for mitigating measures. (measures which
minimize any identified adverse impacts and enhance
positive impacts).
This phase of an EIA will require good management of a wide range of
technical specialists with particular emphasis on:
 Prediction methods
 Interpretation of predictions, with and without mitigating
measures
 Assessment of comparisons.

30. 30
Purpose of mitigation:
 to avoid, minimise or remedy adverse impacts
 to ensure that residual impacts are within acceptable levels
 to enhance environmental and social benefits
Common (desirable)
Rare (undesirable)
Alternative sites or
technology to
eliminate habitat loss
Actions during
design, construction and
operation to minimise
or eliminate habitat
loss
Used as a last resort
to offset habitat loss
Avoidance
Mitigation
Compensation
Impact Mitigation Framework
Prediction and Mitigation (continued)

31. Stakeholder Consultation
Identification of stakeholder's primary as well as
secondary.
 Primary stakeholders include people having direct
impact.
 Secondary stakeholders include village representatives,
women's group, voluntary organizations, field level
officers and staff, other government officials.

32. 32
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
EIA report is a decision document. It is necessary for developers,
decision makers and stakeholders.
Objective of EIS:
 To enable the developer to plan, design and implement mitigation
measures for significant adverse environmental impact and to
maximize social benefits from a proposed project.
 For the decision makers to objectively evaluate the proposed
project.
 To provide information on environmental impacts and mitigation
measures for local communities and any other stakeholders
to contribute their opinions.

33. 33
Review of EIA Report
 Review the quality of the EIA report.
 Take public comments into account.
 Determine if the information is sufficient.
 Identify any deficiencies to be corrected.
Objective of Review:
• Assess the adequacy and quality of an EIA report.
• Take account of public comment.
• Determine if the information is sufficient for a final decision to be made.
• Identify any deficiencies to be addressed before the report to be
submitted.

34. Key Aspects to be addressed in EIA Review
 Are the beneficial and adverse impacts properly explained?
 What are the risks (probability of occurrence and magnitude of
consequences) of adverse impacts; are they properly evaluated?
 What impacts would the project have on environmentally sensitive
areas, Endangered species and their habitats, and on recreational and
aesthetic areas?
 Is the “No Project” scenario acceptable?
 Are any of the alternative sites suggested in the report, considered
suitable from an environmental considerations, though it may
increase the cost of the project?
 Did similar projects implemented earlier cause significant adverse
impacts and if so, whether the present proposals have incorporated
adequate measures to minimise adverse impacts at the proposed site?

35. Key Aspects to be addressed in EIA Review
 What are the unavoidable adverse impacts?
 Are the concerns expressed by likely affected people genuine, and
has the project EIA addressed these concerns adequately?
 Are the magnitude measures, as proposed, reasonably feasible and
are they likely to be implemented (particularly those which have
to be implemented during the operational phase)?
 What are the parameters which need to be monitored during
project construction and operation so that the state of the
environment can be studied throughout the project life?

36. 36
Decision Making
Documents submitted to the authorities and reviewed by decision
making committees.
 To provide key input to help determine if a proposal is acceptable
 To help establish environmental terms and conditions for project
implementation.
Requirements for Decision Makers:
Decision makers need an understanding of:
• Principles and practices of sustainable development
• EIA aims, concepts and processes to be followed
• EIA guidelines, policy, law and conventions
• EIA implementation within the decision-making agency or
organization
• Public involvement processes.

37. 37
Possible Decision Outcomes
• Approval
• Approval with conditions
• Approval subject to ongoing investigation
• Further investigation required
• Request for a supplementary, or new EIA report
• Rejection
Technical
Analysis
(e.g., physical,
ecological,
socio-economic,
other)
Decision Making
prioritizing
problems and
actions, ensuring
effective
implementation
EIA
Public
Involvement
Other Input
(e.g., benefit-cost
analysis,
political priorities)
Facts/
Values
Decision-Making Inputs

38. 38
Management and Monitoring
This part of EIS covering monitoring and management is often referred as
the Environmental Management Plan (EMP).
 Sets out the mitigation measures needed for environmental
management, both in the short and long term
 Institutional requirements for implementation.
The term 'institutional' is used here in its broadest context to encompass
relationships:
 established by law between individuals and government; between
individuals and groups involved in economic transactions;
 developed to articulate legal, financial and administrative links among
public agencies;
All the management proposals need to be clearly defined and cost.

39. Environmental Management Plan (EMP):
EMP will be done for the projects, in the following order of priority, to:
 Eliminate or avoid adverse impacts, where reasonably achievable.
 Reduce adverse impacts to the lowest reasonably achievable level.
 Regulate adverse impacts to an acceptable level, or to an acceptable
time period.
 Create other beneficial impacts to partially or fully substitute for, or
counter-balance, adverse effects.
EMP should be developed for Project Implementation Period and
Operation & Maintenance Period.
Should be Project specific
Must follows the Environmental Code of Practice (ECoP)

40. EMP has 2 parts:
i) Environmental Mitigation Plan;
ii) ii) Environmental Monitoring Plan.
Environmental Mitigation Plan
Mitigation measures will be considered starting with Environmental
Assessment process. Impacts identified severe in consequence category
and or likelihood category will be further analyzed to identify additional
mitigation measures that are potentially available to eliminate or reduce the
predicted level of impact. Potential mitigation measures will include:
 habitat compensation program
 species specific management program
 engineering design solutions
 alternative approaches and methods to achieving an activity's objective
 stakeholders participation in finalizing mitigation measures
 construction practice, including labor welfare measures.
 operational control procedures
 management systems

41. Sub- project
Activity
Potential
Environmental
impacts(s)
Mitigation
Measures
Location Estimated
Mitigation
Responsibility
Impleme
ntation
Supervisi
on
Environmental Mitigation Plan

42. 42
Management and Monitoring (continued)
Key components of monitoring:
 Establish baseline conditions.
 Measure impacts of a project as constructed.
 Verify conformity with established with conditions and acceptable
limits.
 Establish links to environmental management plans.
 Carry out periodic checks and third-party audits.

43. Environment
al Indicator
Parameter
s/ Units
Locati
on
Means of
Monitoring
Frequency
/ Duration
Standards
Responsibilities Estimat
ed Cost
Implementa
tion
Supervisi
on
MITIGATION MONITORING

44. 44
Auditing
EIA audits are a management tool to:
• 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

45. The audit should include an analysis of the technical,
procedural and decision-making aspects of the EIA.
Technical aspects include:
 adequacy of the baseline studies
 accuracy of predictions
 suitability of mitigation measures.
Procedural aspects include:
 efficiency of the procedure
 fairness of the public involvement measures
 degree of coordination of roles and responsibilities.
Decision-making aspects include:
 utility of the process for decision making
 implications for development.