ImpactAssessment

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Whatisthepurposeof EnvironmentalImpactAssessment
a PROCESS for decision-making, It is NOT a formula for preparing a document.

What is the purpose of EIA ?

To encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation....

What is the purpose of EIA ?

To implement a strategy of sustainable development, prevent adverse impact on the environment after the implementation of plans and construction projects, and promote coordinated development of the economy, society, and environment.

sustainable development
(of economic development, energy sources, etc) capable of being maintained at a steady level without exhausting natural resources or causing severe ecological damage:

MethodstoenhanceSustainable Development
EnvironmentalImpactAssessment(EIA) SocialImpactAssessment(SIA) HealthImpactAssessment(HIA) PovertyandSocialImpactAssessment (PSIA) SustainabilityAssessment(SA) Etc.

IntegratedAssessment
Comparesthediffrentimpactsandadressesthe tradeoffsbetweenthem.

Thefocuswillbeonthetradeoffsbetweentrade (economic),environment andpoverty(social).

What is the purpose of EIA ?

To LOOK before you LEAP!
EIA is now a required process in more than 100 nations. The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) is a global network with 2,700 members from more than 80 countries.

WHAT CHANGES CAN EIA BRING?

Before introduction of EIA: Government planning and decision-making: D-A-D ---Decide, Announce, Defend

Role of NGOs, citizens: Critics Objectors Protestors

Environmental conditions: Steadily deteriorating

WHAT CHANGES CAN EIA BRING?

After Implementing EIA: Government planning and decision-making: D-D-D ---Discuss, Decide, Deliver

Role of NGOs, citizens: Stakeholders Contributors Participants Environmental conditions: Deterioration slows; some areas may improve

InitialEnvironmental Examination(IEE)
Initialenvironmentalexamination isintendedasalowcostenvironmental evaluationthatmakesuseof informationalreadyavailable

PurposeofIEE
Describestheproposedprojector activityandexaminesalternatives Identifiesandaddressescommunity concernstoextentpossible Identifiesandassessespotential environmentaleffects Directsfutureaction

ObjectivesofIEE
Identifyallpotentialenvironmental concernsrelatingtoaproposed projectoractivity. Identifyallsignificantenvironmental issues (SEIs) ResolvesimpleSEIs Developthefocusforfollowupstudies basedonunresolved SEIs

PossibleIEEOutcomes
1. Norequirementforfurther environmentalstudy;proposalnot anticipatedtohavesignificantimpact. 2. Limitedenvironmentalstudyneeded; environmentalimpactsareknownand canbeeasilymitigated. 3. FullscaleEIArequired;impacts unknownorlikelytobesignificant
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IEEintheOverallEIAProcess
Project Screening Identifies projects that typically contain potential significant issues Initial Environmental Examination 1. Identifies potential significant environmental issues associated with a project 2. Grades effects and identifies actual Significant Environmental Issues (SEIs) 3. Resolves simple SEIs 4. Recommends further action for resolving outstanding SEIs

Full-Scale EIA or Other Additional Study Resolves any remaining significant environmental issues

IEEFlowChart
1. Identify Potential Significant Environmental Issues 4. Resolve SEIs Where Possible (Review
Alternatives/Develop Environmental Management Plans and Protection Measures)

2. Obtain Information

3. Effects Classification/ Identification of Significant Environmental Issues (SEIs)

IEE is the final EIA Report, including: SEIs

YES 5. Are all SEIs resolved?

NO

The IEE makes recommendations for further study: Full-Scale EIA

Environmental impact assessment (EIA):

Not to harm the environment on a short term or long term Proposed project has the good intent & addresses an identified problem

BioPhysicochemical
Nature&people Land
ErosionandSiltation Bankstability Drainage Soilcharacteristics

Groundwater
Regional

Hydrology Water table Water Pollution

Atmosphere
Air

Surfacewater
RegionalHydrology WaterPollution

pollution Dust Pollution Noise Pollution

Thebaselinesituation
In characterizing the baseline situation, many environmental components MAY be of interest
The components of interest are those that are likely to be affected by your activityor upon which your activity depends for its success
Water Quantity, quality, reliability, accessibility Erosion, crop productivity, fallow periods, salinity, nutrient concentrations Populations, habitat Soils

Fauna

Env Health Disease vectors, pathogens Flora Composition and density of natural vegetation, productivity, key species

Special Key species ecosystems

Whatisanactivity?
We are discussing the impacts of activities. What are activities?

9 a desired

An activity is:
accomplishment or output E.g.: a road, Factory, or river diversion to irrigate land

Accomplishing an activity requires a set of actions

ACTIVITY: ACTIONS:
market access Survey, grading, culvert road construction, compaction, rehabilitation etc. . .

A project or program may consist of many activities

Important steps in EIA

Identification, Prediction and evaluation
Natural environment of man consist of air, water, land, noise, flora and fauna, & man-made environment consists of socio-economic aspects, aesthetics, transportation etc. Predictive methods will define the quantity or special dimensions of impact on an environmental resources How much or where the impact may occur Methods of evaluation determine the groups that may directly affected by the project or action.

Factors to be considered in making assessment decisions:

Magnitude: Will the impact be irreversible, what will be the rate of recovery or adaptability of an impact area Risk: To accurately assess the risk, both the project activity and the area of the environment impacted must be well known and understood. Duration: will the activity be long or short term. Importance: This is defined as the value that is attached to an environment component. Mitigation: Are solutions to problems available. Existing technology may provide a solution to a silting problem expected during constructions of access road The possible assessment decisions (1) No impact (2) Unknown and potential adverse impact (3) Significant impact.