1) EIA – Definition, History and Objective. 2) Reasons for using EIA 3) Key elements of EIA 4) Benefits of an EIA 5) Major Environmental Issues 6) PROCEDURE FOR EIA 7) IMPACT OF A PROPOSED PAPER INDUSTRY 8) Impact Mitigation 9) Key components of Monitoring 10) Public Involvement in the EIA Steps 11) Hierarchy in EIA 12)Impact indicators

1. Dr. Revanuru Subramanyam
Department of Civil Engineering
NATIONAL WORKSHOP
ON
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT OF MINING INDUSTRIES
04-05th November, 2019
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

2. • 1.EIA – Definition, History and Objective
• 2. Reasons for using EIA
• 3. Key elements of EIA: Screening, scoping identifying
and evaluating impacts, mitigations and issuing
environmental statements
• 4. Benefits of an EIA
2

3. EIA
• EIA is a systematic process to identify, predict and evaluate the
environmental effects of proposed actions and projects.
• A broad definition of environment is adopted. Whenever
appropriate social, cultural and health effects are also
considered as an integral part of EIA.
• Finally, particular attention is given in EIA for preventing,
mitigating and offsetting the significant adverse effects of
proposed undertakings
3

4. Definition
• The International Association for Impact Assessment
(IAIA) defines an environmental impact assessment as
"the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and
mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant
effects of development proposals prior to major decisions
being taken and commitments made".
4

5. EIA is a tool that is applied…
 before major decisions are taken and when all alternatives
are still open;
 to inform all stages of decision making, including final
approval and the establishment of conditions for project
implementation;
 with public participation and consultation; and
 to integrate environmental considerations and safeguards
into all phases of project design, construction and
operation
5

6. Duration for EIA will depend on
The size and complexity of the proposed project.
The extent of co-operation received from the project
sponsor and third parties such as local government.
The level of interest and support demonstrated by the
community.
The ability of the project team to sustain interest in the EIA.
The skills of the EIA team.
The EIA techniques employed.
6

7. History
• The National Environmental Policy Act 1969 of USA is the
legislative basis for EIA. The policy was the result of wide
spread recognition in the 1960s that some major
environmental problems were created by the government’s
projects (power stations, dams and reservoirs, industrial
complexes).
• The legislation made mandatory to assess the
environmental consequences of all projects by federal
agencies.
• In 1990s, many developed and some developing countries
designed their EIA legislation. e.g. New Zealand (1991),
Canada (1995), Australia (1999), Vietnam (1993), Uganda
(1994), Ecuador (1997), India (1994) and PNG (2000).
• Today, EIA is firmly established in planning process in
many of these countries. 7

8. Purposes/Aims and Objectives
The immediate aim of EIA is to inform the process of
decision-making by identifying the potentially significant
environmental effects and risks of development proposals.
Objectives related to this aim are to:
• improve the environmental design of the proposal;
• ensure that resources are used appropriately and
efficiently;
• identify appropriate measures for mitigating the potential
impacts of the proposal; and
• facilitate informed decision making, including setting the
environmental terms and conditions for implementing the
proposal. 8

9. Purposes/Aims and Objectives (cont.)
 The ultimate (long term) aim of EIA is to promote
sustainable development by ensuring that development
proposals do not undermine critical resource and
ecological functions or the well being, lifestyle and
livelihood of the communities and peoples who depend on
them.
Objectives related to this aim are to:
 protect human health and safety;
 avoid irreversible changes and serious damage to the
environment;
 safeguard valued resources, natural areas and ecosystem
components; and
 enhance the social aspects of the proposal.
9

10. Regions Major Environmental Issues
Africa The continent has the world’s poorest and most resource dependent
population. It carries the highest health burden due to severe
environmental problems. These include desertification and soil
degradation, declining food security, and increasing water scarcity.
Asia and
Pacific
Rapid economic growth, urbanization and industrialization have
helped in poverty alleviation but also increased pressure on land and
water resources, widespread environmental degradation and high
pollution levels. Mega- cities are a particular focus of environmental
and health concerns.
Eastern
Europe and
Central Asia
Despite progress with economic restructuring and environmental
clean up, there is a legacy of industrial pollution and contaminated
land during communist era. In many areas, emissions of particulates,
SO2, lead, heavy metals and toxic chemicals continue to expose the
residents to health risks, and, in the Balkans, war and regional
conflict have exacted a heavy environmental and social toll.
Latin
America
and the
Caribbean
Approximately three-quarters of the population live in urban areas.
Many cities are poor, overcrowded, polluted and lack basic
infrastructure. The major environmental issue is the destruction of
tropical forests and consequent loss of biodiversity, which is
especially serious in the Amazon basin.
10

11. Reasons for using EIA
EIA is to allow an informed public and professional to
make intelligent choices among alternative courses of
action.
It can be used as a tool in planning so as to mitigate or
eliminate undesirable effects by modifying design or
construction etc.

12. Types of Impact
 The effects of a proposal may be:
• predictable or unpredictable;
• direct or indirect;
• positive (beneficial) or negative (harmful);
• temporary or permanent;
• short, medium or long-term;
• one-off, intermittent or continuous; immediate or delayed;
• certain or uncertain;
• avoidable or unavoidable;
• reversible or irreversible;
• localised or widespread;
• small or large;
• individual or cumulative;
• significant or of no consequence 12

13. PROCEDURE FOR EIA
Screening
Scoping
Impact analysis (identification, prediction & evaluation)
Impact mitigation
Reporting
Review
Decision making
Monitoring

14. *Public involvement typically
occurs at these points.
It may also occur at any
other stage ofthe EIA Process
Information from this process
contributes to effective EIA in the future
No EIA
Initial
environmental
examination
EIA required
Approved
Not approved
Redesign
Resubmit
Proposal
identification
*Public involvement
Screening
Scoping
Impact analysis
Mitigation
and impact
management
EIA report
Review
Decision-making
Implementation
and post-EIA
monitoring
14

15. SCREENING
 The screening is the first and simplest tier in project
evaluation. It helps to clear those types of projects, which
from past experience are not likely to cause significant
environmental problems.
 The activity may take one of the following several forms:
1) Measurements using simple criteria such as size or
location.
2) Comparing the proposal with list of projects rarely
needing an EIA (e.g. schools) or definitely needing one
(e.g. coal mines).
3) Estimating general impacts (e.g. increased in
infrastructure needed) and comparing these impacts
against set thresholds.
4) Doing complex analyses, but using readily available data.
15

16. Step 1: Screening
 This step determines:
• whether or not EIA is required for a particular
project
• what level of EIA is required
 Screening Outcomes:
 Full or comprehensive EIA required
 Limited EIA required
 No EIA required 16

17. Tools for Screening
 Project lists:
• Inclusive — listed projects must undergo EIA
• Exclusive — listed projects exempted from
EIA
 Case-by-case examinations:
• determine whether projects may have
significant environmental effects
• if so, project should undergo EIA
 Combination of above
17

18. Mandatory EIA
Case-by-case
consideration
of requirement
for EIA
EIAruled out
Inclusive threshold
Indicative threshold
Exclusive threshold
Screening Process
18

19. Step 2: Scoping
 begins once screening is completed
 the most important step in EIA
 establishes the content and scope of an EIA report
Outcome:
 identifies key issues and impacts to be considered
 lays the foundation of an effective process, saves time
and money, and reduces conflict
19

20. 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
consultations
Actors
proponent, EIA consultant, supervisory authority
for EIA, other responsible agencies, affected public
and interested public 20

21. The scoping process
 prepare a scope outline
 develop the outline
through informal
consultation with
environmental and
health authorities
 make the outline
available
 compile an extensive list
of concerns
 evaluate relevant
concerns to establish
key issues
 organise key issues into
impact categories (study
list)
 amend the outline
accordingly
 develop ‘Terms of
reference’ (ToR) for
impact analysis
 monitor progress
against the ToR, revising
as necessary 21

22. SCOPING
22

23. EXAMPLE : SCOPING
IMPACT OF A PROPOSED PAPER INDUSTRY
A PAPER INDUSTRY IS PROPOSED TO BE ESTABLISHED IN A
LOCALITY AND THE EFFLUENT IS PROPOSED TO DISCHARGE
IN ADJACENT RIVER
ETP WILL BE INSTALLED TO BRIING THE DISCHARGE
DOWN TO PERMISSIBLE LIMIT
THERE ARE FEW OTHER INDUSTRIES ALREADY ESTABLISHED
DISCHARGING EFFLUENT TO THE RIVER AT ALLOWABLE
LIMIT
PEOPLE BATH IN RIVER WATER AND DRINK AFTER
TREATMENT
SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE DEPEND ON FISHING FOR
OCCUPATION
23

24. PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL
ENVIRONMENT
THE LEVEL OF INCREASE
GASEOUS AIR POLLUTANTS
POSSIBLE CHANGE IN NOISE
LEVEL
CHANGE IN DOWNSTREAM DO
DUE TO DISCHARGE OF
AQUEOUS EFFLUENT (ORGANIC
MATTER)
BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT
EUTROPHICATION (EFFLUENT
CONTAINING N ,P)
PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT
FISH KILLS
MAJOR ISSUES
(SCOPING)
24

25. THE HUMAN (SOCIAL)
ENVIRONMENT
THE HUMAN (ECONOMIC)
ENVIRONMENT
POSSIBILTY OF INCREASING
DRINKING WATER TREATMENT
COST
PRODUCTIVE HOUR LOSS DUE TO
ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
HEATH TREATMENT COST
AFFECT ON FISHERIES AND
AQUACULTURE AS A LIVLIHOOD
FOR THE COMMUNITY
URBANIZATION TREND AND
RELATED PROBLEM
SCOPE OF JOB CREATION
MAJOR ISSUES
(SCOPING)
25

26. Step 3: Impact Analysis
→ 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
26

27. Tools for Impact Analysis
 checklists
 matrices
 networks
 overlays and geographical information systems
(GIS)
 expert systems
 professional judgement
27

28. Step 4: Impact Mitigation
 to avoid, minimise or remedy adverse impacts
 to ensure that residual impacts are within acceptable
levels
 to enhance environmental and social benefits
28

29. Framework for Impact Mitigation
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
29

30. Step 5: Reporting
Different name of EIA reports
 Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA
Report)
 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
 Environmental Statement (ES)
 Environmental Assessment Report (EA Report)
 Environmental Effects Statement (EES)
30

31. Contents of the Report
 a description of the project;
• an outline of the main alternatives studied by the developer,
and an indication of the main reasons for this choice,
• a description of the aspects of the environment likely to be
significantly affected by the proposed project;
• a description of the likely significant environmental effects of
the proposed project;
• measures to prevent, reduce and possibly offset adverse
environmental effects;
• a non-technical summary;
• an indication of any difficulties (technical deficiencies or
lack of know-how) encountered while compiling the required
information.
31

32. Step 6: Review
 Review the quality of the EIA report.
 Take public comments into account.
 Determine if the information is sufficient.
 Identify any deficiencies to be corrected.
Who Perform the review?
 environmental agency — Canada (comprehensive
studies), standing commission — Netherlands, inter-
agency committee — USA, planning authority — UK
 independent panel — Canada (public inquiries)
 Public comment and input
32

33. Step 7: Decision Making
 To provide key input to help determine if a proposal is
acceptable
 To help establish environmental terms and conditions
for project implementation
33

34. Step 8: Monitoring
 Ensure the implementation of conditions attached to a
decision.
 Verify that impacts are as predicted or permitted.
 Confirm that mitigation measures are working as
expected.
 Take action to manage any unforeseen changes.
34

35. 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.
35

36. To ensure that significant issues are identified; project
related information is gathered, alternatives are considered.
To avoid biases/inaccuracies in analysis; identify local
values/preferences; assist in consideration of mitigation
measures; select best alternative.
To consider and comment on EIA Report
To monitor the implementation of EIA Report’s
recommendations and decision’s conditions.
To consult people likely to be affected by proposal.
Public Involvement in the EIA Steps
Screening
Scoping
Impact analysis
Mitigation
and impact
management
EIA report
Review
Decision making
Implementation
and monitoring
36

37. BENEFITS OF EIA
 Some of the major advantages of EIA are as follows:
• EIA is a mechanism which helps in planning the efficient use of
human and natural resources
• It may reduce costs and time taken to reach a decision by
ensuring that subjectivity and duplication of efforts are
minimized.
• It identifies the primary and secondary consequences, which
might necessitate the introduction of expensive pollution control
measures
• EIA can identify those areas most susceptible to adverse impacts
and so guide site selection
• EIA can aid the most suitable site in terms of benefit
maximization and reduction of harmful effects
• The results of EIA studies of a selected site aid the determination
of broad environmental, social or health criteria to be used, when
a large number of sites are screened for their suitability.
37

38. Hierarchy in EIA
The EIA studies are broadly categorised as:
• i) Site selection studies: proximity to raw materials,
infrastructure facilities, markets, etc.
• (ii) Rapid or comprehensive studies: one-season
monitoring (i.e., 3-month period), three-seasons
monitoring (i.e., 9- month period) of baseline data.
• (iii) Regional studies: region based on seasonal data
collection and address themselves to the analysis of
assimilative capacity of air, water and land
components of the environment.
• (iv) Carrying capacity studies: resource availability/
utilisation,supply/demand,infrastructure/congestion
and assimilative capacity/residuals. 38

39. Impact indicators
• An impact indicator is an element or a parameter that
provides a measure of the significance of the effect, i.e.,
the magnitude of an environmental impact.
• Some indicators such as morbidity and mortality statistics
and crop yields have associated numerical scales.
• Other impact indicators, however, can only be ranked as
‘good’, ‘better’, ‘best’ or ‘acceptable’, ‘unacceptable’, etc.
39