This document provides an overview of environmental impact assessments (EIAs). It discusses key components of EIAs including technical, economic, environmental and social factors. It describes assessing natural environments like physical/chemical factors and biological factors, as well as man-made environments like cultural and socioeconomic factors. The primary purpose of EIAs is to encourage consideration of the environment in planning and decision making to arrive at more environmentally compatible actions. Features of the US National Environmental Policy Act are discussed, as well as various Indian environmental laws. Methods used in EIAs in developed countries are listed. The assessment process and guidelines in India are outlined in three steps.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
(EIA)

2. Dr. B. Kaja Magdoom M.S.c., M.Phil., Ph.D
Assistant Professor
PG and Research Department of Zoology
C. ABDUL HAKEEM COLLEGE (AUTONOMOUS)
HAKEEM NAGAR, MELVISHARAM
RANIPET DISTRICT – 632 509
TAMILNADU

3. INTRODUCTION
National Environmental Impact and its Implementation
 National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)-1969 (PL-91-190)
 Effective on January 1, 1970 (First signed act--Magna Cartar for the environment.)
Key components:
Technical (satisfy the standards)
Economic (should be feasible)
Environmental (EIA)
Social (benefits to social life)
Other factors

4. Natural Environment (Bio-physical envt.)
• Physical-chemical environments: soils, geology, topography, surface-water and ground water
resources, water quality, air quality and climatology.
• Biological environments: flora fauna of the area, including species of trees, grasses, fish, birds, and
mammals.
Man-made environments
• Cultural Environment: Historic and archeological sites and aesthetic resources such as visual quality.
• Socio-economic Environment: Humans in the environments including population trends and
population distributions; economic indicators of human welfare; educational systems; transportation
networks and other infrastructure concerns such as water supply, wastewater disposal and solid-
waste management; public services such as police and fire protection and medical facilities.

5. Health Impacts of the projects, plans, programs or policies should be
considered in the decision making process.
In developing countries----Environmental health assessment (EHIA) process
has been proposed (WHOworld health organization 1987)
Nuclear power plants--- Address psychological impacts “can change
damage your mental health, 1982”

6. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
Systematic identification and evaluation of the potential
impacts (effects) to the physical-chemical, biological, cultural
and socioeconomic components of the total environment.

7. The primary purpose of the EIA process, also called the “NEPA process” is;
 to encourage the consideration of the environment in planning and
decision making,
 to ultimately arrive at actions which are more environmentally
compatible.

8. It indicates consideration of
• aesthetics,
• wetlands,
• fish and wildlife values,
• floodplain values,
• navigation,
• recreation,
• water quality,
• food and fiber production,
• mineral needs,
• economics,
• general environmental concerns,
• historic properties,
• flood hazards,
• land use,
• shore erosion,
• water supply and conservation,
• energy needs,
• safety and property ownership.

9. FEATURES OF THE NATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT
(NEPA)
Over 75 countries, this law was adopted for environmental importance.

10. The National Green Tribunal Act, 2010
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974
The Environment Protection Act, 1986
The Hazardous Waste Management Regulations, etc.
 The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
 The Forest Conservation Act, 1980
 Public Liability Insurance Act, 1991
 The Biological Diversity Act, 2002
 Coastal Regulation Zone Notification (CRZ), 1991

11. Cuddalore SIPCOT Industrial Area
Cuddalore Uppanar River Dumping point
Industrial effluent from Cuddalore to Uppanar
River Dumping point
Noiyyal River during the heavy rain

12. These photographs are not taken in cities its absolutely from Village views
Parangipettai Fish landing Centre

13. Worldwide ambient air pollution accounts for
Outdoor Pollutants
Methane
Black carbon
Carbon monoxide
Particulate matter (PM)
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
Indore Pollutants
Radon
Lead
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
Moisture build-up, mould and bacterial growth
Covid only 2%

14. EIA Methods followed in developed nations
•Adhoc method.
•Checklist method.
•Matrix method.
•Network method.
•Overlay method.
•Environmental index using factor analysis.
•Cost/Benefit analysis.
•Predictive or Simulation methods.

15. What are the guidelines for EIA?
It is a means to identify unwanted effects before they occur and determine appropriate mitigation measures.
The EIA process considers the physical and biological impacts of proposed developments on the environment:
air, land, water, plants, animals and people.
What is assessment in EIA?
Essentially, environmental impact assessment (EIA) is an environmental decision support tool,
which provides information on the likely impacts of development projects to those who take the
decision as to whether the project should be authorised.

16. The Important Procedure Involved in the Environmental Impact Assessment in India are:
•Project Proposal: ...
•Screening: ...
•Scoping and Consideration of Alternatives: ...
•Base Line Data Collection: ...
•Impact Prediction and Assessment of Alternatives: ...
•EIA Report: ...
•Public Hearing: ...
•Decision-making

17. Thank you…!