ENVS402 Environmental Impact Assessment. undertaking EIA. 1 ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma

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ENVS402 – Environmental Impact Assessment

Chapter 3: Steps involved in

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Introduction

There are two aspects of project management:

1. First how EIA is linked to the main stages of the

project cycle.

2. Secondly, there are some important issues in the

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Project Cycle

1. Project Concept/Identification Stage

2 Prefeasibility Stage

2. Prefeasibility Stage

3. Feasibility Stage

4 Design and Engineering Stage/Project

4. Design and Engineering Stage/Project

Appraisal and Decision Phase

5 Implementation Stage

5. Implementation Stage

6. Monitoring Stage

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Project Cycle

http://www.unescap.org/drpad/vc/images/M8_fig_2.jpg

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A. Project Concept/Identification)

1.

Screening and initial Environmental Examination (IEE) can

be applied at this stage

2.

Alternatives can be proposed and analyzed

Major benefits:

y

identification of "viable" alternatives (from an environmental

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viewpoint), and

y

provision of an early indication of likely significant impacts

for further EIA work

for further EIA work.

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B. Pre-feasibility Stage

The main EIA activities, at this stage, are:

y

identification of issues/impacts for investigation and,

y

formulation of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the EIA.

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The term used for this activity is "scoping"

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C. Feasibility Stage

EIA study should be carried out:

y

during feasibility stage in conjunction with economic,

technical and design work,

y

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EIA

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y

preliminary EIA works such as scoping and preparation

of TOR should be carried out during project

pre-feasibility stage,

y

g

y

if EIA is carried out late in project cycle as an "add on",

the process of EIA becomes cumbersome, time

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h EIA

consuming and expensive to incorporate the EIA

recommendations in the project construction.

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D. Project Appraisal and Decision

y During the project appraisal, a decision is made by the proponent

b h d i b h l di i or by the government, and in some case by the lending agencies, as to whether the project is viable.

y At this stage, EIA results will be put into consideration with g , p

feasibility study.

y An application for authorization(s) has to be made by the project

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proponent to a local/central government agency.

y This decision is the final and determines whether a project is to be

implemented. implemented.

y The EIA report also plays an important role in this decision

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E. Implementation of the Project

y At this stage, in the project cycle, the EIA report will act as a

"reference" guide to the implementation and use of mitigation reference guide to the implementation and use of mitigation strategies and monitoring schemes.

y Thus, the usefulness of an EIA report does not end with the

"official" authorization to proceed. It may form a basis for management plan to assist project implementation and

management practice. For example, EIA report recommendations g p p , p can form a part of contract tender documents.

y Lastly, after the project is completed, an "audit" can be made to

d i h l h EIA' di i h l determine how close the EIA's predictions were to the actual impacts of the project. This forms a valuable records for others conducting EIAs on similar projects in the future.

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F. Management of EIA Study

EIA is multi-disciplinary and intersectoral: EIA differs from other types of project related studies in the scope and breadth of the work and usually include a diversity of topics ranging from y y p g g

archaeological investigations to noise/vibration assessments.

EIA reports should be accessible to all interested parties:

h d d b h f l

Such reports are read/used by the project proponents, financial backers, experts, authorising agencies and other organisations who deserve a rights to comment on an EIA report and submit their views g p on the desirability of a project and, of course, the members of the public.

y Th th i h ll f f ilit ti i ti d y Thus, there is a challenge of facilitating open communications and

understanding of the main issues.

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I

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Important issues in management of EIA

1 F

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1. Focus on the main issue

2. Involve the appropriate persons

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3. Link information to decisions

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4. Present clear options for mitigation

5. Provide information in a form useful to

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P i i l 1 F

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Principle 1. Focus on the main issue

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It is important that EIA does not try to

cover too many topics in too much detail

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Do not waste time and effort on irrelevant

issues

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Principle 2. Involve the appropriate persons

It is important to be selective when involving people in

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the EIA process

Generally, three categories of people are required in carrying out EIA:y, g p p q y g

• Those appointed to manage and undertake the EIA process (usually a

co-ordinator and a staff of experts)

• Those who can contribute facts, ideas or concerns to the study, including

scientists, economists, engineers, policy makers, and representatives of interested or affected groups

• Those who have direct authority to permit, control or alter the project –

that is, the decision makers – including for example the developer, aid agency or investors, competent authorities, regulators and politicians.

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Principle 3. Link information to decisions about

the project

An EIA should be organized to directly support many decisionsg y pp y

In a typical sequence:

• When the developer and investors first broach the project concept, they consider

likely environmental issues likely environmental issues

• _{When the developer is looking for sites or routes, environmental considerations are}

used to aid the selection process

• _{When the developer and investors are assessing the project’s feasibility, an EIA is in}

progress, helping them to anticipate problems

• When Engineers are creating the project design, the EIA identifies certain standards

for the design to meet

• When a permit is requested a completed EIA report is submitted and also published When a permit is requested, a completed EIA report is submitted, and also published

for general comment

• When the developer implements the project, monitoring or other measures provided

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Principle 4. Present clear options for the mitigation of impacts and for sound environmental management

An EIA should be designed to present clear choices

For instance to mitigate adverse impacts, the EIA could propose:

1. Pollution control technology or design features 2. The reduction, treatment or disposal of wastes 3. Compensation or concessions to affected groups

To enhance environmental compatibility, the EIA could suggest:

1. Several alternative sites

2 Changes to the project’s design and operation 2. Changes to the project s design and operation 3. Limitations to its initial size or growth

4. Separate programs which contribute in a positive way to local resources or to the quality of the environment

And to ensure that the implementation of an approved project is environmentally sound, the EIA may prescribe:

1. Monitoring programs or periodic impact reviews

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Principle 5. Provide information in a form useful

to the decision-makers

The objective of EIA is to ensure that environmental problems f d dd d b d i i k

are foreseen and addressed by decision makers

1. Briefly present ‘hard facts’ and predictions about impacts, y p p p ,

comment on the reliability of this information and summarize the consequences of each of the proposed options

2 Write in the terminology and vocabulary that is used by the 2. Write in the terminology and vocabulary that is used by the

decision makers and the community affected by the project 3. Present the essential findings in a concise document,

supported by separate background materials where necessary 4. Make the document easy to use, providing visuals whenever

possible p

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Generalised EIA Process Flowchart Proposal Identification Screening No EIA EIA Required *Public involvement Scoping Initial environmental examination Th Mitigation and impact Impact analysis

*Public involvement typically occurs at these points. It may also occur at any other stage of the EIA Process The Environmental Impact p management EIA Report Review *Public involvement of the EIA Process. Assessment

Process

Decision-making

Information from this process contributes to effective future EIA Redesign

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The EIA process comprises

F

screening - to decide if and at what level EIA

should be applied

F

scoping - to identify the important issues and

prepare terms of reference

F

impact analysis to predict the effects of a

F

impact analysis - to predict the effects of a

proposal and evaluate their significance

F

mitigation - to establish measures to prevent

F

mitigation to establish measures to prevent,

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The EIA process

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reporting - to prepare the information

necessary for decision-making

review - to check the quality of the EIA

review to check the quality of the EIA

report.

decision-making - to approve (or reject) the

proposal and set conditions

follow up – to monitor, manage and audit

the impacts of project implementation

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public involvement - to inform and consult

with stakeholders

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Benefits of EIA include:

environmentally sound and sustainable

design

better compliance with standards

savings in capital and operating costs

reduced time and costs for approvals

increased project acceptance

better protection of the environment and

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Delays are caused during EIA

when:

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the EIA is commenced too late in the project

cycle

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the terms of reference are poorly drafted

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the terms of reference are poorly drafted

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the EIA is not managed to a schedule

F

the EIA report is inadequate and needs to be

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the EIA report is inadequate and needs to be

upgraded

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Ensuring fairness in the EIA process

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register consultants’ names and terms of

reference

F

name consultants and their expertise in the

F

name consultants and their expertise in the

EIA report

F

publish the terms of reference in the EIA

F

publish the terms of reference in the EIA

report

F

make EIA reports available to the public

F