The document discusses environmental impact assessment (EIA), which is defined as systematically identifying and evaluating potential environmental impacts of proposed projects. An ideal EIA system applies to all projects with significant environmental effects, compares alternatives, and includes public participation and enforcement. The goals of EIA are to conserve resources, minimize waste, recover byproducts, efficiently use equipment, and enable sustainable development.

1. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
Prepared by
Prof. B. Mohanty
Department of Civil Engineering
SALITER, Ahmedabad

2. Introduction…
Defined as the systematic identification and
evaluation of potential impacts of proposed
projects, plans or actions on physical,
chemical, biological, cultural and socio-
economic components of environment.

3.  EIA planning tool, helps planner in predicting
future impacts of different developments.
 EIA must be conducted for projects like
highways, airports, canals, dams, power plants
etc. which disturb environment.
 Applicable for developmental activities which
involves plans, programmes and policies.

4. Need of EIA
 When a project undertaken it disturb
environmental equilibrium.
 To maintain quality of environment it is essential
to study impacts of project on environment.
 This also suggest remedial measures for
development of projects.

5. An ideal EIA system…
 Apply to all projects that have a significant
environmental effects.
 Compare alternatives of proposed effect,
management techniques, mitigation measures.
 Preparation of EIS (Environmental Impact
Statement).
 Include broad public participation and
administrative review procedure.

6.  Be timed to provide information for decision
making.
 Be enforceable.
 Include monitoring and feedback procedures.

8. Goals of EIA
 Resources conservation
 Waste minimization
 Recovery of by product
 Efficient use of equipments
 Sustainable development

9. Methodology of EIA
 Organizing the job
 Performing the assessment
 Writing the EIS
 Review of EIS

11. Organizing the job
 Interdisciplinary team is constituted to conduct
analysis of impacts on environment.
 Consists of a group of geologists, agronomists,
chemists, ecologists, hydrologists, engineers, etc.
 Decide whether project is required or not.

12. Performing the assessment
 Site visit
 Identification and evaluation
 Discussion of alternatives
 Preparation of checklist
 Measurement of environmental impact due to
project

13. Preparation of EIS
 EIS is conclusion of EIA
 It is a written statement to ensure that policies and
goals of NEPA (National Environment Policy Act)
included in ongoing project.
 It contains following items:
1. Description of site
2. Description of proposed project, purpose of action,
goals and objectives.
3. Environmental impact of proposed project

14. 4. Alternatives of activity
5. Relationship of proposed activity to the existing
land use plans
6. Relationship between local short term uses and
long term productivity of resources involved
7. Indentifying measures that can be taken in order
to minimize adverse effects
8. Incorporating the modifications in proposed
project

15. Review of EIS
 After completion of EIA report, public must be
informed and consulted on proposed project.
 Anyone likely to be affected by the project is
entitled to have access to the executive summary
of the EIA.

16.  The affected person may include:
Bonafide local residents
Local associations
Environmental groups active in area
Other person located at project sites
 They have to give suggestion
 One month given for public inspection
 After final review decision is taken either
approve or reject of proposed project.

17. EIA in India
 Formal legislation for EIA. It has been enacted
by making an amendment in the Environment
Protection Act 1986.
 Limited involvement of public and government
agencies in the initial phases.
 No provision in place to cover landscape and
visual impacts in the Indian EIA regulations.

18.  Earlier scoping was done by consultant or
proponent with an inclination towards meeting
pollution control requirements, rather than
addressing the full range of potential
environmental.
 Most reports in English and not in the local
language. In some case, executive summary is
translated into local language.

19. Limitations of EIA
1. Should undertaken at policy and planning level
rather than the project level.
2. Possible alternatives is often small
3. There is no criteria to decide what types of
projects undergo EIA. Because many projects
do not require in depth EIA.
4. Lack of comprehensive environmental
information, base limitations of time,
manpower, financial resources.

20. 5. More research and development of improved
methodologies required to overcome limitations
relating in data.
6. EIA report too academic, bureaucratic and
lengthy. Difficult to understand for common
people.
7. In actual, EIA ends immediately after project
clearance, no follow up taken.

21. Critical issues in EIA guidelines
 Can local environment cope with additional
waste and pollution that the project will
produce?
 Will project location conflict with nearby land
use?
 Can project operates safely without serious risk
of accidents or long term health hazards?
 Is there sufficient infrastructure to support the
project?

22.  How much resources will project consume and
are adequate supplies of these resources
available?
 What kind of human resources will it require or
replace and what will be its social impacts?
 What damage will it cause to national/regional
assets such as natural resources, tourist areas or
historic or cultural sites etc?

24. Introduction
 Main aim to quantify environmental
performance and position of an
industry/organization.
 It is done for improving performance and
position.
 Act as tool for achieving sustainable
development.

25.  According to USEPA, EA is a systematic,
documented, periodic and objective review by a
regulated entity of facility operations and
practices related to meeting environmental
requirements.
 Govt. of India march 13, 1992 made mandatory
for all industries to provide annual
environmental audit reports of their operations.

26.  EA provide answers to the following questions:
What are we doing ? Are we compliance with
govt. regulations, guidelines, code of practice,
permit conditions ?
Can we do it better ? Are there non regulated
areas where operations can be improved to
minimize the impact on environment ?

27. Components of EA
I. Assessment :
 Provides expert judgment/opinion on hazards,
associated risks and management and control
measures.
 It provides basis for recommendations to
improve the organization’s management
systems and environmental performance.

28. II. Verification :
It determines and document performance by
evaluating the application of and adherence to
policies and procedures.
It certifies validity of data and reports, evaluates
the effectiveness of management systems.

29. Basic steps in audit process
 Pre-audit activities
 Audit process
 Post audit activities

30. Types of EA
 Compliance audit
 Environmental management audit
 Due diligence audit
 Supplier audits
 Programmes audit
 Single issues audits
 Risk definition or hazard identification

31. Benefits of auditing
 Ensuring compliance, not only with
laws, regulations but also with company policies
and requirements of environment.
 Enabling environmental problems and risks to
be anticipated and responses planned.
 Demonstrate organization impact on
environment.

32.  Increase management and employee awareness
of environmental issues.
 More efficient resources use and financial
savings.
 Promotes “Good Practice”.
 Providing better private and public image and
security to top management.

34. ASSIGNMENT NO. - 3
1. Discuss various air pollution controlling equipments with
their advantages and disadvantages.
2. Enlist different air pollutants with their sources and
effects.
3. Explain the effects of air pollutants on human, plants and
materials.
4. What are the different effects of noise pollution on
human, animals and plants and to control the noise
pollution?
5. Write a note on EIA.
6. Briefly explain environmental audit?