MAIN OBJECTIVE OF EQA

• An act relating to the prevention, abatement, control of pollution

and enhancement of the environment
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN
CONSTRUCTION /DEVELOPMENT
Sewerage Treatment Standards,
Controlling discharge of Manufacturing Waste/Poisons, Air
Quality/Pollution,
Noise of Motor Vehicles,
Environmental Impact Assessment of Land Development Projects,
Monitoring Scheduled Wastes from Manufacturing,
Control of Use of Chlorofluorocarbons,
Controlling Marine Pollution,
Emission of lead from Diesel/ Petrol engines ,
Control of Open Burning, etc.-refer to General Act and Detailed Acts
• Empowers Department of Environment to control pollution to air,
noise levels, pollution to soil & inland waters, discharge of oil in
Malaysian seas, no open burning, control use of dangerous
substances, prohibition on disposal of scheduled wastes etc.
• Operators of plant and equipment must obtain a license from DOE
to operate eg. quarries, concrete batching plants, piling equipment
etc.
• For list of catchment areas where standard A of sewer disposal
applies, see Environmental Quality (Sewage and Industrial Effluents)
Regulations 1978.
• For manufacturing and production Activities see EQ (Clean Air) 1978,
which includes control of open burning and industrial discharge
within residential areas.
• For control of Vehicle Noise see EQ (Motor Vehicle Noise) 1987.
• Also applies to equipment like generator sets or piling equipment.
• For Environmental Impact Assessment and the list of prescribed
activities see pages 158-162 of EQ (Prescribed Activities) 1987.
• For Scheduled Wastes see relevant section
• For control of usage of Halons (alkaline + halogen) see EQ
(Prohibition on Use of Chlorofluorocarbons etc.) Eg air con.
• For control of emissions of Petrol and Diesel Engines see particular EQ
sections.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT (EIA)
Purpose
• A planning tool for preventing environmental problems due to an
activity
• Systematically identify, assess and mitigate negative environmental
impacts of major development
• In Malaysia, EIA is required under section 34A, Environmental Quality
Act, 1974 ,which specifies the legal requirements in respect of EIA for
Prescribed Activities.
• It empowers the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment after
due consultation, to prescribe any activity which may have significant
environmental impact as a Prescribed Activity.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT (EIA) (CONT’D)
• The section further requires the Project Proponent of a Prescribed
Activity to submit a report (the EIA) to the Director General of
Environmental Quality before approval for the proposed activity is
granted by the relevant approving authority (Department of
Environment)
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT (EIA) (CONT’D)
• The report normally covers three sections ie.
1. Environmental Impact on surroundings such as disease, dust, floods,
traffic congestion, accidents, increase in noise levels, impact of
increased industrial activity, pollution from vehicles and their
discharges, effect on neighboring catchment areas, effect on
endangered species and loss of supporting fauna, socio economic
impact etc. An environmental report on the potential development
in the long run as well as construction activities needs to be
prepared and submitted for approval to DOE.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT (EIA) (CONT’D)
• The report normally covers three sections ie (cont’d).
2. Proposals for mitigation of negative impacts (ie. reduce the bad
effects)on Environment
3. Prescribed tests and remedies at various stages of development to
monitor changes in the environment. Local Authorities will keep an
eye on the proposals and issues and follow up when approving
plans at planning/building stage, especially on infrastructure and
industrial schemes. Eg. carrying out routine tests and samplings ie.
air quality checks,, water samples, measure noise levels.
EIA PROCEDURES
• Preliminary Assessment
1) Preliminary EIA Report
2) Initiated at the early stage of project planning, standard procedure
3) Submit to the project approving authority and Director General of
Environmental Quality
EIA PROCEDURES (CONT’D)
• Detailed Assessment
1) If developments have potential to generate significant residual
environmental impacts, DOE will inform on the requirement and
terms of reference for Detailed EIA (DEIA) after evaluation of the
Preliminary EIA (PEIA)
2) Submit to Experts Review Panel of DOE
EIA PROCEDURES (CONT’D)
• Report Review
1) To critically review the Detailed Assessment reports
2) To evaluate development and environmental costs and benefits of
the final project plan
3) To formulate recommendations and guidelines to the project
approving authority
ENVIRONMENTAL PROBLEMS

• Global warming from excessive discharge of CO² and methane,

contamination from land-filling, recycling, household and
manufacturing waste.
• Sustainable development policies.
Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Cutting Roads ☼Loosening soil and cutting
embankments can lead to erosion or
landslides caused by water
absorption.
☼Drainage patterns can shift and
affect neighbours. eg Highland
Towers.
☼PREVENTION → Depending on soil
conditions, need to provide berms,
drains and turfing and maintenance.
Sometimes permanent retaining
walls necessary. Eg. NS,EW
Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Silting ☼silt washed down and discharged to
drainage system might clog up drains and
encourage flooding-provide and maintain
silt traps or detention ponds.
☼PREVENTION → Screens/filters in
rivers and drains. Wash trough to clean
vehicles on leaving site. Improper disposal
of solid waste give similar problems.
Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Flood ☼Leveling platforms or changing or
inadequate drainage patterns may cause
skewed -patterns –provide diversions and
channel flow properly.
☼PREVENTION → Provide gabion
walls, sediment basins etc
 Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Clearing Vegetation

☼Affects ecosystem and increases

heat
☼PREVENTION → replanting, or
preserve part of vegetation
Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Dust
☼Working in dry weather might raise
dust carried by winds to adjacent areas -
hose down.
☼PREVENTION → Control level of
activity, use nets. Tests-TSI –Determine
the amount of Total Suspended Particles
in a sample eg. on a plate of glass
Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Pollution
☼Heavy vehicles emit fumes- Maintain
machines in good working order.
☼PREVENTION → Control volume of
emissions and traffic volume.
Development/Construction Activities and
Environmental Problems
☼Noise levels- Use mufflers or less heavy
Noise duty machines, avoid explosives. Control
traffic volume & human activity.
☼Two types of tests : on Ambient noise
(background noise) and Spot noise
(electronic noise).
☼PREVENTION → Provide noise
barriers.
 Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Damage to Property
☼Heavy vehicles cause vibration and
excessive wear and tear on public roads.
☼PREVENTION → Need to plan traffic
and logistics carefully.
→ Control loading of vehicles.
Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Disease
PREVENTION →
☼Properly dispose garbage and effluents
☼check spread of vectors by pest control or eliminating breeding
grounds.
☼Water quality tests include: pH value, TSS (Total Suspended solids),
BOD (Biochemical Oxygen Demand), COD (Chemical Oxygen
Demand), DV (Dissolved Oxygen), E-Coli, Ammonia, Oil and Grease
☼Medical care for workers Health and living/working conditions
☼reduce over-crowding.
Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Accidents
PREVENTION →
☼Deploy proper traffic management
☼Control traffic jams
Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Social Problems/Crimes
PREVENTION →
☼Monitor activities of illegal workers.
Development/Construction Activities
and Environmental Problems
Smog
PREVENTION →
☼Avoid open burning.
☼Control use and escape of dangerous
chemicals.