ENP 301 : ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

L t
Lecture -8

Part - II: EIA Methods and Techniques

Session 6 : Concept of Significant Impacts, Alternative Evaluation

September 29, 2009

Course Instructor:
Er. Ashwani Kumar,
Asstt. Prof.
Faculty of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad - 9
 Summary of session 7

z Type of EIA methods

{ Interaction Matrix Methods
z Simple Matrix – Leopold Matrix
z Stepped Matrices or Cross Impact Matrix
z Other Matrices Methods

{ Working with Matrix: Important Point

{ Network methods
z Network Diagram
z Impact Tree
z Directed Diagraph

Course Instructor:
Er. Ashwani Kumar,
Asstt. Prof.
Faculty of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad - 9
 Phases of EIA
Phase 1: Defining the Goals

Phase 2: Identifying the Potential Impacts Steps for Identification of Impacts ?

Step 1: Base line study for
Environmental Settings
Step 2: Classification of
Impacts
Step 3: Development of
Analytical Framework
Step 4: Screening
St 5:
Step 5 Scoping
S i

Phase 3: Predicting the Significant Impacts

Phase 4: Evaluation of Impacts

Phase 5: Incorporation of Measures or Alternatives for Impact

Minimizations

Phase 6: Reporting

Phase 7: Monitoring and Feedback

Course Instructor:
Er. Ashwani Kumar,
Asstt. Prof.
Faculty of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad - 9
EIA Process

Course Instructor:
Er. Ashwani Kumar,
Asstt. Prof.
Faculty of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad - 9
 Phase 3: Measuring the Baseline Conditions

9 Purpose
p of EIA is to p
predict the impact
p with p
project
j and thus it
is important to know the condition without the project i.e.
Baseline

9 Precise evaluation of conditions will lead to accuracy in

prediction.

9 Understand the pattern of natural fluctuations

9 Baseline study already discussed

Course Instructor:
Er. Ashwani Kumar,
Asstt. Prof.
Faculty of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad - 9
 Phase 3: Establishing the Approaches for Prediction
of Impacts

z Testing Effect of Project: Available tools

{ Case Studies
{ Models
{ Laboratory studies
{ Field perturbation experiments
{ Ecological Theory

z Main purpose is to strengthen the understanding of the

area and nature of project's impact at test level.

z It is not the full-fledged prediction, but setting-up of a

areas specific tested approach.

Course Instructor:
Er. Ashwani Kumar,
Asstt. Prof.
Faculty of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad - 9
Phase 3: Establishing the Approaches for Prediction
of Impacts
1. Case Studies
Potential:
{ Can guide to establish an approach
{ Can
C provideid the
th insight
i i ht into
i t the
th applicable
li bl methods
th d already
l d in i practice
ti

Limitations:
{ Availability Limited
{ Even
E if credibility
dibilit is
i in
i from
f off approval,
l it may nott be
b taken
t k as only
l
method.
{ Areas Specific in nature
{ Also, several un-measurable factors may differ.

2. Models
Potential Strengths:
{ Increased level of Computational capabilities, GIS, SPSS etc.
{ Better accuracy

Limitation:
{ Too mathematical; difficult to understand by regulators, general public
and few other stake holder.
holder
{ Better accuracy demand a large input dataset, which is difficult to collect
and compile in required input format/structure
 Phase 3: Establishing the Approaches for Prediction
of Impacts

3. Laboratory studies
Potential:
{ Extremely helpful to understand the reactions and process likely
to take place in case of factual project

{ Specially in case of chemical, physical and biological reactions

Limitations:
{ As the scale changes from laboratory to actual field, the whole
process may change

{ Require deep understanding to boundary conditions/ limiting

factors and other controlling parameters

{ Some process may become uncontrolled

Course Instructor:
Er. Ashwani Kumar,
Asstt. Prof.
Faculty of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad - 9
 Phase 3: Establishing the Approaches for Prediction
of Impacts

4. Field perturbation experiments

Potential:
{ Incorporating the complex natural process happening
simultaneously and observing the behaviors of environmental
Component.

Limitations:
{ It is only indicative and carry limitations same way as in case
of laboratory experiments.

Course Instructor:
Er. Ashwani Kumar,
Asstt. Prof.
Faculty of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad - 9
 Phase 3: Establishing the Approaches for Prediction
of Impacts

5. Ecological
g Theory:
y
Potential:
z Develop an theoretical assessment framework

z Cover the multi dimensional synthesis of various aspects

Limitations:
z Generally, not included in EIA and remained neglected

z Limited understanding of ecological systems

Course Instructor:
Er. Ashwani Kumar,
Asstt. Prof.
Faculty of Planning, CEPT, Ahmedabad - 9
Thank you.
you