This document summarizes an environmental impact assessment case study of a fertilizer plant project in Saskatchewan, Canada. It describes the project details, including location, utilities, waste disposal, and rationale. It then assesses some limitations of the case study, noting that impacted study area boundaries were unclear, alternatives to the proposed project and chemical fertilizer use were not properly evaluated, and cumulative impacts and sustainability were not addressed. The document concludes that the environmental impact statement had a narrow project focus and did not fully consider policy alternatives or long-term sustainability.

1. EIA Case study on Fertilizer industry
G.Bharath Balji
M.Tech Ist
Year
Environmental Science & Technology

4. Environmental Impact
Assessment
Definition
•An Impact of an activity is a deviation (a change)
from the baseline situation caused by the activity
Types of Impact
Ecological , physico – chemical, On human interest
EIA
It is a decision making process that systematically
evaluates the possible significant effects that a
proposed project action exert on a natural, social
and human environment in a particular area.

5. HISTORY & DEVELOPMENT OF
EIA
• EIA was first developed in the US as a result of
the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, for
considering possible impacts prior to decision
being taken on whether or not a proposal should
be given approval to proceed
• EIA concept came to India in 1994
• Recognition of EIA consultant and organisation
through Quality Council of India is also one step
ahead to stop the entry of unethical people as
EIA consultant

6. Long term objectives of EIA
To:
•Protect human health and safety
•Avoid irreversible changes and serious damage to
the environment
•Safeguard values resources; natural areas and
ecosystem components;
•Enhance the social aspects of the proposal

7. The process includes following
steps
• Screening
• Scoping
• Impact analysis
• Impact mitigation
• Reporting
• Review
• Decision making
• Monitoring

8. Screening
• The screening process determines whether
the particular process requires of an EIA or
not
Scoping
• Scoping is a single stage, usually involving
the public and other interested parties,
that identifies the key environmental
issues that should be addressed in EIA

9. Impact Analysis
• The type, extent, duration, timing, severity
and the significance of the impact is
analysed
Impact Mitigation
• Ensuring that residual impacts are within
acceptable levels and to enhance
environmental and social benefits
• It is the implementation measures
designed to reduce the undesirable effects
of a proposed action on the environment

10. Reporting
• Report of the EIA is prepared and submitted
to the concerned authority
Review
• In this step, the report is studied thoroughly
for any deficiencies and corrections are
made, public participation is the important
part of this step

11. Decision making
• Involves deciding whether the project is
acceptable or not
• The terms and conditions are finalised in this
step
Monitoring
Involves ensuring the implementation of
conditions attached to a decision, verification
of impacts are as permitted, conforming the
measures are working as expected, taking
action to manage any unforeseen changes

12. Fertilizer project Description
• Saferco Inc . Constructed a “Nitrogen fertilizer”
plant in Saskatchewan in 1992
• On a day basis the plant will produce about 2000
tonnes of Granular urea and 350 tonnes of
hydrogen ammonia for direct sale.
• Ammonia(NH3) and the by-product carbon di oxide
(CO2) are produced first from a combination of
Natural gas, air and water
• Ammonia and carbon di oxide become the raw
material to produce urea and water

13. Project Location
• The project is located near Belle Plaine in
Saskatch
• This site was choosen because of the existing
pipelines and power lines in the area
• The site was close to available roads and
railways, and it was built around 64 hectares

14. Project Utilities
Water:
•They had a contract with water corporation
for an allocation of 3300 million litres of
water/year.
•Raw water will be pumped directly from a
lake
•This raw water can be used in the ammonia
process as a source of supplying hydrogen
and oxygen and also for the fire fighting
process

15. Storm water
• Storm water from the site will be
collected in the storm water
retention pond (SWRP).
• The Transfer of water from the SWRP
to the raw water pond will be
achieved with pumps.
• This water will be treated and used
in the plant as a supplemental source
of water.

16. Liquid/Solid waste disposal
• The sludge pond will be used to collect all
the wastewater produced by the plant,
except storm water which is used in the
plant as a source of water supply.
• Industrial effluent, aerobic treated waste
water and laboratory waste water will be
collected in storage tank and transferred
to sludge pond
• Solid waste will be recycled

17. Reason for the project
• The construction of a major fertilizer plant has
been part of the “Saskatchewan Government’s
Economic Strategy”.
• Having such a plant would create economic
prosperity and generate employment within the
province
• Farmers in Saskatchewan spend approximately
300 million dollars on imported fertilizer each
year.
• This plant would ensure that more of this
money remain within the province to generate
employment.

18. Assessment of the case study
Impacted study area
•There is not a clear rationale in defining the
boundaries of the impacted study areas.
•The boundaries were set on the basis of effect
of the selected subject of the study
•Establishment of these clear boundaries will
result in a better assessment of expected
changes in an ecosystem.

19. Evaluation of Alternatives
• Project alternatives must be analyzed for their
advantages or disadvantages
• However a distinction must be made between
an alternative to the proposed project itself
and alternative designs.
• Reviewers most often ignore to identify
alternatives, but evaluate designs instead of
alternatives to the project.

20. • chemical fertilizers have significant impact on
the environment and consideration of
alternatives to their use must be an essential
part of EIA
• For example, better use of organic waste
instead of chemical fertilizers should have been
considered and discussed.

21. Causes of fertilizers
Soil erosion
• Soil erosion usually occurs by wind and water
erosion, causes a loss in the clay and organic
matter of the soil, and reduces the yields. .
•One centimeter of topsoil loss causes a reduction
in wheat yields of 40kg/ha [26].
• The annual cost of soil erosion to farm economy
was estimated to be $368 millions in 1982 and each
additional year it will cost farmers a further $5.66
millions

22. Soil Acidification
• Most of the soil acidity results from natural causes
• However an excessive application of nitrogen and
sulphur fertilizers is a major contributor to the
increased acidification of many soils .
• Soil acidification reduces crop yields.
• Acid in soils increase will increase from 1.8
million acres in 1984 to 3.6 million acres in 25
years
• which is an increase of 100% by year 2005. The
estimated cost of the acidity in Saskatchewan was
• $190 millions in 1985 .

23. Salinity
•Soil salinity refers to the build up of salt in the
soils.
•It can be primary or secondary salinity. Primary
salinity occurs in natural soils and secondary salinity
refers to soils that have salinated through an
inappropriate farming practice such as excessive
irrigation and or summer fallowing
• It is estimated that saline soils will increase from
1.54 million acres in 1984 to 1.93 million acres in
2008, which is an increase of 25% in 25 years.

24. Conclusions
• Environmental impact statement did not deal with
the concept of sustainable development because the
EIS was project-oriented.
• EIA in Saskatchewan has been mostly concerned
with “the abatement of “pollution” at local level and
“mitigation” of proposed activities.
• EIA in Saskatchewan did not include the cumulative
impact. This is because it is restricted to assess the
impact of individual projects and is kept away from
assessing policies and regulations.
• EIS in Saskatchewan did not include alternatives to
the project