The document discusses the basic concepts of environmental impact assessment (EIA). It begins by defining EIA as a formal process for identifying potential environmental and health effects of projects and activities, and for developing mitigation measures. The document then provides a brief history of EIA, noting it was first introduced in the US in 1969 and became law in 1971. It discusses how EIA has been implemented in India since the 1970s. The document outlines the typical EIA process, which involves screening projects, conducting preliminary assessments or full studies, identifying impacts and alternatives, and producing environmental impact statements. It emphasizes understanding the proposed activity and identifying the most significant impacts.

1. ENCAP EA-ESD Course: Basic Concepts
for EIA. Visit www.encapafrica.org
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2. What is EIA ?
 EIA is intended as a proactive, preventative
approach to environmental management and
protection.
 It provides a framework a information basis for
on activities affecting the environment.

3. History of EIA
 EIA was first introduced in the USA within the
framework of the National Environmental Policy
Act(NEPA) in 1969.
 It is become law on January 1,1971.
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4. EIA In India
The Ministry of Environment and Forest, Govt. of
India has been assigned the responsibility for
carrying out Environmental Impact Assessment
of developmental projects and various sectors.
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The Ministry initiated EIA with the river valley
projects had during 1978-79.
The notification of EIA of developmental projects was
issue in 1994 and amended later in 1977 and 2000.
The EIA developmental projects has been done on
the basis of “Executive Order” issuing the provisions
of the Environment (Protection)Act,1986.

5. The Projects Covered
 Industry and Mining- Irrigation and power.
 Transport and Communication.
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The coverage of the project generally includes:
Required public clearance from
the public investment board.
Required international funding.
Project referred from state govt.
or administrative Ministries.
Project in sensitive areas.
Projects on which there are public
complaints.

6. The Philosophy
 Impact assessment is designed as a preventive
measure.
 It should give environmental consideration equal
weight with technical and economic aspects.
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7. Environmental Impact Statement(EIS)
The developmental projects are required to prepare an
environmental Impact Statement (EIS) covering the
following:
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Effect on land including land degradation and
subsistence.
Flora and fauna and lose of biological diversity.
Noise pollution and vibrations.
Risk analysis and digester management.
Recycling and the reduction of waste.
Efficient use of input.

8. Review: Definition of EIA
Environmental
Impact Assessment is
A formal process for identifying:
•likely effects of activities or
projects on the
ENVIRONMENT, and on
human health and welfare.
•means and measures to
mitigate & monitor these
impacts

Environment is
broadly interpreted:
physical, biological,
and social.

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What is an impact?
The impact of an activity is
a deviation (a change)
from the baseline situation
that is caused by the
activity.
To measure an impact, you
must know what the
baseline situation is.
!
The baseline
situation is the
existing
environmental
situation or
condition in the
absence of the
activity.

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The baseline situation
In characterizing the
baseline situation,
many environmental
components MAY be
of interest
Water Quantity, quality, reliability,
accessibility
Soils Erosion, crop productivity,
fallow periods, salinity,
nutrient concentrations
Flora Composition and density of
natural vegetation,
productivity, key species
Fauna Populations, habitat
Special Key species
ecosystems
Env Health Disease vectors, pathogens
The components of
interest are those that
are likely to be affected
by our activity—or
upon which our activity
depends for its
success

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The baseline situation
The baseline situation is
not simply a “snapshot.”
Describing the baseline
situation requires describing
both the normal variability in
environmental components &
current trends in these
components.
time
Watertable
This chart of
groundwater levels
shows both variability
and a trend over time.
Both are part of the
groundwater baseline
situation.

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! It is ESSENTIAL in EIA
to focus on the most
significant impacts.
Don’t waste effort & time
analyzing and discussing
impacts that are less
important.
Specifically,

13. The EIA Process
Fig. Generalized EIA process Flow-Chart 13

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The EIA process
• Scoping
• Evaluate baseline situation
• Identify & choose alternatives
• Identify and characterize potential
impacts of proposed activity and
each alternative
• Develop mitigation and monitoring
• Communicate and document
Phase I:
Initial inquiries
Phase II:
Full EIA study
(if needed)
Our focus!
•Understand
proposed activities
•Screening
•Conduct preliminary
assessment (if
needed)

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Phase 1 of the EIA Process
Screen the
activity
Based on the
nature of the
activity what
level of
environmental
review is
indicated?
Conduct a
Preliminary
Assessment
A rapid,
simplified EIA
study using
simple tools
(e.g. the
USAID IEE)
ACTIVITY IS
OF MODERATE
OR UNKNOWN
RISK
SIGNIFICANT
ADVERSE
IMPACTS
POSSIBLE
SIGNIFICANT
ADVERSE
IMPACTS
VERY UNLIKELY
ACTIVITY IS LOW
RISK (Of its nature,
very unlikely to have
significant adverse
impacts)
ACTIVITY IS
HIGH RISK (Of its
nature, likely to have
significant adverse
impacts)
Phase IIPhase IUnderstand
proposed
activity
Why is the
activity being
proposed?
What is being
proposed?
BEGIN
FULL EIA
STUDY
STOP
the EIA
process

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Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Understand the proposed activity
Understand
the proposed
activities
Why is the
activity being
proposed?
What is being
proposed?
Once we understand the development
objective, we must fully understand
WHAT is being proposed.
This includes associated actions!
PRIMARY ACTIVITY:
construction of diversion dam &
irrigation canal
ASSOCIATED ACTIONS:
• Survey
• negotiate land tenure
• construct borrow pit
• Establish construction camp
• construct temporary
diversion structure
• dispose of soil, debris

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Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Screen 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 like at what level
EIA required.
 EIA process kicks off with project
screening.
 Development bank also screen
projects presented for financing to
decide whether an EIA is required
using there set criteria.

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Phase 1 of the EIA process:
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

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Phase 1 of the EIA process:
The Preliminary Assessment
Conduct a
Preliminary
Assessment
A rapid,
simplified EIA
study using
simple tools
(e.g. the
USAID IEE)
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)

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We only proceed to
Phase II of the EIA process
if
Phase I indicates that
a FULL EIA STUDY
is required
!
Most small-scale activities do
not require a full EIA study!

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Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study
The full EIA study has
very similar objectives
and structure to a
preliminary
assessment.
However, the full EIA
study differs in
important ways:
A formal scoping process
precedes the study to ID
issues to be addressed
Analysis of environmental
impacts is much more
detailed
Alternatives* must be
formally defined. The
impacts of each
alternative must be
identified & evaluated,
and the results compared.
Public participation is
usually required.
A professional EIA team
is usually required.
!
!
!
!

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Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study
 Scoping.
 Evaluate baseline situation (Impact analysis)
 Identify and characterize potential impacts of proposed activity and
each alternative.
 Develop mitigation and monitoring.
 Reporting.
 Compare alternatives.
 Decision making.
Basic steps of the full EIA study

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Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study

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Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study

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In summary,
The full EIA study is a far
more significant effort than
the preliminary assessment.

It is reserved for activities for
which screening or the
preliminary assessment
shows that significant
impacts are likely.
Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study

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