ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT (EIA):


By
B. K. PURANDARA
SCIENTIST
RCNIH, BELGAUM
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....

(National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, (NEPA)
Section 2, as enacted by the Congress of the United
States of America

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.

(Environmental Impact Assessment Law,
1600/20002.10.28, adopted at the 30th Meeting of the
Standing Committee of the 9th National Peoples
Congress, Peoples Republic of China)
What is the purpose of EIA ?


To allow government officials, business
leaders, and all concerned citizens to
understand the likely environmental
consequences of proposed actions, and to
cooperate in making wise decisions that
restore and maintain the quality of our
shared environment for future generations.

R. B. Smythe
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 improving



Source: Hui, Y.M. (Simon), Environmental Protection Dept., HKSAR
KEY ELEMENTS OF EIA
1. EIA must be undertaken EARLY in the
development of proposed projects, plans,
and programs, and must be completed
BEFORE a decision to proceed is made.

2. EIA must be an OBJECTIVE, IMPARTIAL
analytical process, not a way of
promoting or selling a proposal to
decision-makersit must use accepted
scientific principles and methods.
KEY ELEMENTS OF EIA
3. EIA must analyze all REASONABLY
FORESEEABLE environmental impacts or
effects of a proposed action effects
may be short-term, long-term, direct, or
indirect.

4. The process of EIA must be OPEN to
government officials at all levels, to
potential stakeholders (those with direct
interests in the proposed action), and to
the PUBLIC.
KEY ELEMENTS OF EIA
5. There must be an early, public SCOPING stage in
EIA to consider ALTERNATIVES and to help focus
subsequent analysis on the MORE SIGNIFICANT
potential impacts rather than studying all
possible environmental effectsthe GOAL is to
reach a decision.

6. Government officials responsible for
implementing EIA must ENCOURAGE (not just
tolerate) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION in the process
from the scoping stage forward.
KEY ELEMENTS OF EIA
7. In all EIA processes, effective MITIGATION
MEASURES must be identified and includedto
avoid, minimize, or reduce the adverse effects
of all potentially significant impacts.

8. EIA reports must include an ENVIRONMENTAL
MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) or Action Plan to
MONITOR the implementation phase of the
project, plan, or program and provide for
CORRECTIVE actionssuch action plans must
have assured FUNDING and be legally
enforceable.
HOW CAN NGOs PARTICIPATE
EFFECTIVELY IN EIA?
1. Start with a COOPERATIVE attitude: your
goal is to HELP the persons responsible
to use the EIA process to benefit BOTH
environment and development.

2. LEARN as much as possible about the
proposal before forming your opinions;
IDENTIFY the responsible persons and
agencies; ASK them for all available
information so that you are well-informed.
HOW CAN NGOs PARTICIPATE
EFFECTIVELY IN EIA?
3. IDENTIFY yourself and your organization;
tell officials that you want to participate in
the EIA process as soon as it begins
also tell them WHY you want to participate
and HOW you can contribute to making
the process USEFUL for them.

4. Be polite, but also be persistentthe new
EIA law gives you both the RIGHT and the
RESPONSIBILITY to be a participant.
HOW CAN NGOs PARTICIPATE
EFFECTIVELY IN EIA?
5. Do not claim to be an expert on complex
issues if you are nottry to CONSULT
OTHERS who have special knowledge and
skills.

6. Whenever you raise an environmental
PROBLEM, offer a possible SOLUTION
an alternative strategy, or location, or
design, etc.
HOW CAN NGOs PARTICIPATE
EFFECTIVELY IN EIA?
7. Provide officials with specific COMMENTS
and RECOMMENDATIONS from your NGO
in writing, as EARLY in the decision
process as possible.

8. STAY INVOLVED in the process, even if
your position and your recommendations
are not initially accepted. Continue to
make your concerns known to all in a
RESPECTFUL but PERSUASIVE manner.
Basic Concepts for
Assessing Environmental
Impacts
In EIA, the term
impacts is used
instead of effects
of activities.
What is an
impact?
Review: Definition of EIA
Environmental
Impact Assessment is
A formal process for identifying:
likely effects of activities or
projects on the
ENVIRONMENT, and on
human health and welfare.
means and measures to
mitigate & monitor these
impacts

Environment is
broadly interpreted:
physical, biological,
and social.

What is an impact?
The impact of an activity
is a deviation (a change)
from the baseline
situation that is caused
by the activity.
To measure an impact, you
must know what the
baseline situation is.
!
The baseline
situation is the
existing
environmental
situation or
condition in the
absence of the
activity.

The baseline
situation is a key
concept in EIA.
More
19
The baseline situation
In characterizing the
baseline situation,
many environmental
components MAY be
of interest
Water Quantity, quality, reliability,
accessibility
Soils Erosion, crop productivity,
fallow periods, salinity,
nutrient concentrations
Flora Composition and density of
natural vegetation,
productivity, key species
Fauna Populations, habitat

Special Key species
ecosystems
Env Health Disease vectors, pathogens
The components of
interest are those that
are likely to be affected
by your activityor
upon which your
activity depends for its
success
The baseline situation
The baseline situation is not
simply a snapshot.
Describing the baseline situation
requires describing both the
normal variability in
environmental components &
current trends in these
components.
time
W
a
t
e
r

t
a
b
l
e

This chart of
groundwater levels
shows both variability
and a trend over time.

Both are part of the
groundwater baseline
situation.
Types of impacts & their attributes
Direct & indirect impacts
Short-term & long-term
impacts
Adverse & beneficial
impacts
Cumulative impacts
The EIA process is
concerned with
all types of impacts and
may describe them in a
number of ways
Intensity
Direction
Spatial extent
Duration
Frequency
Reversibility
Probability
But all impacts are
NOT treated
equally.
!
It is ESSENTIAL in EIA to focus on
the most significant impacts.
Dont waste effort & time analyzing
and discussing impacts that are
less important.
Specifically,
What is an activity?
ACTIVITY:
market access
road
rehabilitation
ACTIONS:
Survey, grading, culvert
construction, compaction,
etc. . .
a desired
accomplishment or
output
E.g.: a road, seedling
production, or river
diversion to irrigate
land
An activity is:

Accomplishing an activity
requires a set of actions
We are discussing the impacts of activities.
What are activities?
A project or program may
consist of many activities
The EIA process
Scope
Evaluate baseline situation
Identify & choose alternatives
Identify and characterize potential
impacts of proposed activity and
each alternative
Develop mitigation and monitoring
Communicate and document
Phase I:
Initial inquiries
Phase II:
Full EIA study
(if needed)
Our focus!
Understand proposed
activities
Screen
Conduct preliminary
assessment (if needed)
ENCAP EA-ESD Course: Basic
Concepts for EIA. Visit
www.encapafrica.org
25
Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Understand the proposed activity
Understand the
proposed
activities
Why is the activity
being proposed?
What is being
proposed?
ALL EIA processes begin with
understanding WHAT is being
proposed, and WHY.
The question
WHY IS THE ACTIVITY BEING PROPOSED?
Is answered with the development objective (D.O.).
If we dont
understand
it, we cant
assess it!
building a road
increasing access
to markets
We must understand the
Development Objective to identify
environmentally sound alternatives


Not a D.O.!

Is a D.O.
Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Screen the activity
Screen each
activity
Based on the
nature of the
activity, what
level of
environmental
analysis is
indicated?
SCREENING is the process of asking
a very basic set of questions about
the nature of activity.
These questions:
do NOT require analysis.
do NOT require detailed knowledge
about the proposed sites, techniques or
methods
Example screening questions:
Does the activity involve:
Penetration road building?
Large-scale irrigation?
Introduction of non-native
crop or agroforestry
species?
Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Screen the activity
Screen each
activity
Based on the
nature of the
activity, what
level of
environmental
analysis is
indicated?
screening classifies the activity into
a RISK CATEGORY:
VERY LOW RISK
VERY HIGH RISK
MODERATE OR
UNKNOWN RISK
EIA process ends
Do full EIA study
Do preliminary
assessment
The outcome of the
screening process
determines the next step
in the EIA process
ENCAP EA-ESD Course: Basic
Concepts for EIA. Visit
www.encapafrica.org

Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Screen the activity
Each donor agency
and national EIA law
has its own set of
screening questions.
!
Screening is the topic
of an upcoming
module

Phase 1 of the EIA process:
The Preliminary Assessment
Conduct a
Preliminary
Assessment
A rapid,
simplified EIA
study using
simple tools
(e.g. the
USAID IEE)
The purpose of a preliminary
assessment is to provide
documentation and analysis that:
Screening
determines whether
the preliminary
assessment is
necessary
!
Allows the preparer to
determine whether or not
significant adverse impacts are
likely
Allows the reviewer to agree or
disagree with the preparers
determinations
Sets out mitigation and
monitoring for adverse impacts
Phase 1 of the EIA process:
The Preliminary Assessment
Typical Preliminary
Assessment outline

1. Background
(Development objective,
list of activities)

2. Description of the
baseline situation

3. Evaluation of potential
environmental impacts

4. Mitigation & monitoring

5. Recommended
Findings
For each activity it covers, a
preliminary assessment has 3
possible findings:
The project is very unlikely
to have significant adverse
impacts. (EIA process ends)
With specified mitigation
and monitoring, the project
is unlikely to have
significant adverse impacts
The project is likely to have
significant adverse impacts
(full EIA study is required)
What is mitigation?
Mitigation is. . .

The implementation of
measures designed to
reduce the undesirable
effects of a proposed
action on the
environment

Mitigation is the topic of
an upcoming module!
To arrive at findings:
Identify, Predict and Judge
Identify potential
impacts
Judge the
significance of
potential impacts
Predict potential
impacts
Arriving at the FINDINGS in a preliminary
assessment requires 3 steps:
Many resources describe the potential
impacts of typical small-scale activities.
Determine which potential impacts are likely
to become actual, and quantify these
impacts to the extent possible.
1
2
3
Determine whether the predicted impacts are
indeed significant!

THIS WILL OFTEN DEPEND ON HOW
MEASURES THE PROPOSED MITIGATION
EFFECTIVE ARE!
Present tools to assist in identifying
& predicting impacts

Discuss the factors involved in
judging significance
Subsequent modules. . .

We only proceed to
Phase II of the EIA process
if
Phase I indicates that
a FULL EIA STUDY
is required
!
Most small-scale activities do
not require a full EIA study!
Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study
The full EIA study has
very similar objectives
and structure to a
preliminary
assessment.
However, the full EIA
study differs in
important ways:
A formal scoping process
precedes the study to ID
issues to be addressed
Analysis of environmental
impacts is much more
detailed
Alternatives* must be
formally defined. The
impacts of each alternative
must be identified &
evaluated, and the results
compared.
Public participation is
usually required.
A professional EIA team is
usually required.
!
!
!
*includes the project as
proposed, the no-action alternative
at least one other real alternative
!
Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study
With a few additions, the
basic outline of the
preliminary assessment is
the template for the steps
involved in a full EIA study:
Scope
Evaluate baseline
situation
Identify & choose
alternatives
Identify and characterize
potential impacts of
proposed activity and
each alternative
Compare alternatives
Develop mitigation and
monitoring
1. Background (Development
objective, list of activities)
2. Description of the baseline
situation
3. Evaluation of potential
environmental impacts
4. Mitigation & monitoring
5. Recommended Findings
Basic steps of the full
EIA study
C
o
m
m
u
n
i
c
a
t
e

&

D
o
c
u
m
e
n
t

t
h
r
o
u
g
h
o
u
t

In summary,
The full EIA study is a far
more significant effort than
the preliminary assessment.

It is reserved for activities for
which screening or the
preliminary assessment
shows that significant
impacts are likely.
Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study
Who is involved in EIA?
Sponsor of the activity
(usually commissions/conducts the EIA)
Regulatory agencies/
Review authorities
Broad-based public
Public consultation is usually
only REQUIRED for full EIA
studies.
However, it is good practice
for preliminary assessments
because:
Predicting impacts is
FACILITATED by broad-
based public consultation;
Judging significance is very
difficult without it.
Transparency and
accessibility require
disclosure to stakeholders
Communities (men & women)
Civil society
Private Sector
EIA is undertaken early enough
to affect project design
Mitigation and monitoring
developed in the EIA process is
implemented.
Making EIA effective
To be an effective tool for
ESD, EIA must be:
an integral part of the project
development cycle.


Honest


Transparent & accessible
The full EIA study must
consider real alternatives
Impacts must be assessed
honestly.
The EIA products must be clear
and accessible to key actors.
Screening
Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not
Required
EIA
Required
Monitoring
EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE
Review
Scoping/
Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale
EIA
Evaluate
Options
EIA Not
Approved
EIA
Review
Decision
Making
EIA
Approved
You are here
Screening
It would be time consuming and a waste of
resources for all proposed projects and activities
to undergo EIA
Not all development projects require an EIA, as
some projects may not pose an environmental
threat
Screening is the process used to determine
whether a proposed project or activity requires an
EIA and, if so, what level of environmental review
is necessary
Purpose
Identify those projects or activities that
may cause potential significant impacts
Identify special conditions/analyses that
may be required by international funding
bodies
Categorize the project as one where:
Full-Scale EIA required
Some further environmental analysis
required
No further environmental analysis
required
Typical Proposals
Requiring Full-Scale EIA
Infrastructure projects
Large-scale industrial activities
Resource extractive industries and activities
Waste management and disposal
Substantial changes in farming or fishing
practices
Screening Techniques
Assessor or decision-maker discretion
Project lists with thresholds and triggers
Exclusion project lists
Preliminary or initial EIAs
Combination of these techniques
Screening Criteria
Screening criteria typically consider:
Project type, location, size (e.g.,
capital investment, number of people
affected, project capacity, areal extent)
Receiving environment characteristics
Strength of community opinion
Confidence in prediction of impacts
Project Location
Requirements for screening:
The screening checklist should include a
section on site location characteristics,
including, at a minimum, the four categories
of environmentally critical areas:
National Parks
Indigenous peoples area
Tourist area
Ecologically sensitive area
Project Location (Contd)
Site selection defines the location of the
study area and the specific environmental
resource base to be examined
Often the single most important factor
contributing to a projects potential negative
impacts
Regional development plans should be
used as guides to select project locations
where environmental conditions will be
minimally impacted
Type of Project
1. Infrastructure
Commercial Airport
Mass Transit system
Hotel or Resort

Threshold Scale


All
All
> 80 Rooms



Location
-
-

4 Critical
Areas
2. Agriculture and
Natural Resources
Dam or Reservoir
Irrigation


>100 million cu. m.
> 15 sq. km.

Example Project Screening Criteria
Example Project Screening Criteria
(Contd)
Type of Project
Threshold
Scale
Location

3. Industrial and Power
Petrochemical
Industry
Oil Refinery
Chlor-Alkaline Industry
Natural Gas separation
Iron/Steel
Cement Industry
Smelting
Pulp Industry
Industrial Estates
Thermal Power Plants
Mining

> 100 tons/day (raw
material)
All
All
100 tons/day (output)
100 tons/day, batch
All
> 50 tons/day
> 50 tons/day
All
> 10 megawatts
All
Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Screening Categories
All Projects
Category A

Projects that
typically require an
EIA study
Category C

Projects that
typically do not
require an IEE
Category B

Projects that
typically
require only
an IEE
Examples:
Forestry Research &
Extension
Rural Health Services
Marine Sciences
Education
Examples:
Forest Industries
Water Impoundment
Industries
Examples:
Renewable Energy
Aquaculture
Tourism
Development
Infrastructure
Rehabilitation
World Bank Screening Categories
Category A: An EIA is typically required
Category B: An IEE is usually sufficient
Category C: Typically no environmental
review
is required
Category D: Environmental Projects
Environmental review required,
but may be incorporated in feasibility study
ALL PROJECTS
Prepare the work plan for the initial
environmental examination (IEE)
Project type on project
screening checklist?
Get specific IAA
requirements
Project scale above the
screening threshold?
Project located in a critical
area?
IAA funding, or any other
special circumstances?
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
YES
YES
No initial
environmental
examination
required (IEE)
YES
Project Screening Flow Chart
Will the project be funded
by an IAA?
YES
YES
NO

Initial environmental examination
(IEE) is intended as a low-cost
environmental evaluation that
makes use of information already
available
Initial Environmental Examination
Purpose of IEE
Describes the proposed project or activity
and examines alternatives
Identifies and addresses community
concerns to extent possible
Identifies and assesses potential
environmental effects
Directs future action
Objectives of IEE
Identify all potential environmental
concerns relating to a proposed project
or activity
Identify all significant environmental
issues (SEIs)
Resolve simple SEIs
Develop the focus for follow-up studies
based on unresolved SEIs
Possible IEE Outcomes

1. No requirement for further environmental
study; proposal not anticipated to have
significant impact
2. Limited environmental study needed;
environmental impacts are known and can
be easily mitigated
3. Full-scale EIA required; impacts unknown
or likely to be significant
IEE in the Overall EIA Process
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

IEE Flow Chart
1. Identify Potential
Significant Environmental
Issues
2. Obtain Information ``
3. Effects Classification/
Identification of Significant
Environmental Issues (SEIs)
4. Resolve SEIs Where
Possible (Review
Alternatives/Develop
Environmental Management Plans
and Protection Measures)
The IEE makes
recommendations
for further study:
Full-Scale EIA

IEE is the final EIA
Report, including:
1. SEIs
2. EPM
3. EMP
5. Are all SEIs
resolved?
YES NO
Identification of Potential
Significant Issues
1. Identify valued environmental/ecosystem
components (VECs)

Professional judgement/past experience
Legislative requirements
Stakeholder and community values

2. Identify the potential for impacts to each VEC
3. Identify potential for cumulative impacts
(i.e.,to the site as a whole and to the region)

Natural physical resources (e.g., surface
and groundwater, air, climate, soil)
Natural biological resources (e.g., forests,
wetlands, river and lake ecology)
Economic development resources (e.g.,
agriculture, industry, infrastructure, tourism)
Quality of life (e.g., public health, socio-
economic, cultural, aesthetics)
National commitments (e.g., endangered
species protection)
Commonly Considered VECs
Methods for Identifying Potential
Impacts to VECs
Matrices
Sectoral
Project type
Checklists
Professional expertise and experience with
similar project types
Combination of techniques
Sectoral Matrix Example
Ports and Harbours
Airports
Rapid Transit
Highways
Oil/Gas Pipelines
Development
Projects
Valued Env.
Component
(VEC)
Insignificant Impact Significant Impact Moderate - Significant Impact
Project Checklist Example
Potential Damages:
Actions Affecting
Resources and Values:
1. Disruption of Hydrology
2. Resettlement
3. Encroachment on Precious
Ecology
4. Encroachment on Historic/
Cultural Values
5. Cooling Tower Obstruction
6. Regional Flooding Hazard
7. Waste Emissions Related to
Siting
1. Impairment of Other
Beneficial Water Uses
2. Social Inequities
3. Loss of these Values
4. Loss of these Values
5. Conflicts with Other
Beneficial
Water Uses
6. Hazard to Plant Operations
7. Intensification of Problems
of Pollution Control
Considerations in Determining
Potential Effects
Impacts to:
individual VECs
entire site (i.e., impacts to all VECs
combined)
cumulative impacts to the area (i.e.,
considering other existing and planned
projects)
Impacts from all phases of the project (i.e.,
construction, operation, decommissioning)
Impacts on different time-scales
Impacts from different orders of impact
Orders of Impact Example
Loss of Fisheries Income
Social Tension and Poverty Intensified
Loss of Plain Fisheries
Dry Flood Plains
River Embankment
First Order
Second Order
Third Order
Fourth Order
Data Requirements
Project
Type
Size
Location
Area of potential impact
Physical resources
Biological resources
Economic development resources
Quality of life
Other existing and planned
projects
Sources of Information
Existing reports on environmental resources
in the area
Previous assessment reports
IEE and EIA reports on similar project
types
Reports on other projects in the region
that may cause similar disturbances
Regional planning, policy and other reports
Field studies
Local citizens and traditional knowledge
Effects Classification
Effects vary in significance, depending on
their:
Nature: positive, negative, direct, indirect,
cumulative, synergistic
Magnitude
Extent/location: area/volume covered,
distribution
Timing: during construction, operation,
decommissioning, immediate, delayed, rate
of change
Effects Classification (Contd)

Duration: short-term, long-term,
intermittent, continuous

Reversibility/irreversibility

Likelihood: risk, uncertainty or confidence
in the prediction
Criteria for Evaluating Potential Effects
Importance of affected resource
Magnitude and extent of disturbance
Duration and frequency
Risk/likelihood of occurrence
Reversibility
Contribution to cumulative impacts
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
71
Options for Addressing SEIs
1. Resolve SEIs within IEE
Number of different strategies for
addressing SEIs
Strategies chosen will depend on the
number, type, and significance of
identified SEIs
2. Identify need for future studies to
address SEIs (e.g., full-scale EIA or
other detailed studies)
Possible Strategies for
Resolving SEIs Within the IEE
Re-evaluate regional plans (e.g., to
address cumulative impacts with other
planned projects)
Review project options (i.e., alternatives
and modifications)
Evaluate site mitigation strategies;
including compensation strategies
Likely will use a combination of strategies
Examples of Project Alternatives
No-build alternative
Demand alternatives (e.g., using
existing energy capacity more efficiency
rather than building more capacity)
Activity alternatives (e.g., providing
public transport rather than increasing
road capacity)
Location alternatives
More Examples of Project Alternatives

Process alternatives (e.g., re-use of
process water, reducing waste, different
logging methods)

Scheduling alternatives (e.g., timing of
project construction)

Input alternatives (e.g., use of different
raw materials or sources of energy)
Effects Significance Grading
No effect
Insignificant effect
Unknown significant effect
Significant effect, resolution is within
the scope of the IEE
Significant effect, resolution is
outside the scope of the IEE
Increasing
Severity
Issues with: No Effect
Issues with: Insignificant Effect
Issues with: Unknown
Significant Effect
Issues with: Significant Effects
within the Scope of the IEE
Where To from Here?
Issues with: Significant Effects
outside the Scope of the IEE
No
Further
Action
Required:
Write up
findings in
brief IEE
Write up findings and
recommendations in
IEE report
Action
Required:
Develop the
Environmental
Management Plan
& Protection
Measures to
Resolve Issues

Action
Required:
Identify
Information Needs
and Tasks
Required to
Resolve
Outstanding
Issues In
Additional Studies
Example IEE Report Contents
1. Description of the Project
2. Description of the Environment
3. Screening of Potential Environmental Issues and
Rationale for their Significance Grading
4. Environmental Protection Measures
5. Environmental Monitoring and Institutional
Requirements
6. Recommendations for Additional Studies
7. Conclusions
Terms of Reference Context
IEE
Project
Proceeds
according
to terms of
IEE
Terms of Reference
1. Background
2. Impact Issues
Significant Issues
Relevant Resources
Report Formatting
3. Work Plan
When/Who/How of Task Completion
Full-Scale
EIA
Yes
No
IEE Review:
All potential
SEIs resolved
Scoping
A process of interaction between government
agencies and project proponents
Identifies:
spatial and temporal boundaries for the EIA
important issues and concern
information necessary for decision making
significant effects and factors to be considered
Establishes Terms of Reference for full-
scale EIA
Importance of Scoping
Serves to facilitate efficient EIA by identifying
appropriate areas for consideration (e.g, key
issues, concerns, alternatives)

Reduces likelihood of deficiencies in EIA (e.g.,
ensures that important issues are not
overlooked)

Prevents unnecessary expenditures and time
delays from oversights or unnecessary areas
of study
Terms of Reference Content
Background information section should include:
Project Description (i.e., type, magnitude,
location, alternatives and constraints)
Environmental Setting (i.e., delineation of
study area, listing of environmental
resources and sensitive or special value
areas)
Background Reports (e.g., aspects of the
environmental setting, previous projects with
relevant impacts or resources)
Terms of Reference Content (Contd)

Specific EIA requirements typically include:

EIA objectives
Institutional context (i.e., legal and policy
requirements)
Significant issues of concern (SEIs)
Required information and data,
methodologies for impact assessment
Process for incorporating public input
Work Plan Example
Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5
Detailed Task
Assignment

1. Waterlogging and Soil Salinity
2. Field Data: Collate, Fill Gaps,
Organize
3. Models: Review, Verify,
Reconcile
4. 4.Drainage: Develop Final
Criteria, Perform Design
5. Compile Report
6. Land Acquisition and
Resettlement
7. Project Proponent Document:
Review and Verify
8. Environmental Impact
9. Social Impact and Equity
10. Public Participation
11. Monitoring and Evaluation
Evaluate the IEEs Treatment of Significant Issues
Identify Information Gaps
Review Impact Pathways
Conduct Field Research
Conduct Public Participation
Perform Impact Prediction
Perform Risk Assessment
Evaluate Economic Impacts Review Applicable Standards
Design Environmental Protection Measures
Prepare Environmental Management Plan
Design Monitoring Program
Full-Scale EIA Overview

Input = Outstanding SEIs from IEE
Assessment phase:
Qualitative/quantitative analysis of SEI
SEI impact significance
Mitigation development phase:
Select appropriate mitigation measures
Residual impact significance
EIA Impact Identification Methods

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S
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Qualitative
Quantitative
Selection of Appropriate Methods
Type and size of proposal
Type of alternatives being assessed
Nature of likely impacts
Experience using EIA methods
Resources available
Nature of public involvement
Procedural/administrative requirements
Checklists
ADVANTAGES
Simple to
understand and
use
Good for site
selection and
priority setting
DISADVANTAGES
Do not distinguish
between direct and
indirect impacts
Do not link action
and impact
Qualitative
Matrices
ADVANTAGES
Link action to
impact
Good method for
displaying EIA
results
DISADVANTAGES
Difficult to
distinguish direct
and indirect
impacts
Significant
potential for
double-counting
of impacts
Qualitative
Networks
ADVANTAGES
Link action to
impact
Useful in
simplified form in
checking for
second order
impacts
Handles direct
and indirect
impacts
DISADVANTAGES
Can become
overly complex if
used beyond
simplified version
Qualitative
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
91
Overlays
ADVANTAGES
Easy to
understand and
use
Good display
method
Good for site
selection setting
DISADVANTAGES
Address only
direct impacts
Do not address
impact duration or
probability
Expert Systems
ADVANTAGES
Excellent for
impact
identification and
analysis
Good for
experimenting
Semi-quantitative
to quantitative
DISADVANTAGES
Heavy reliance on
knowledge and
data
Often complex
and expensive
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
93
Impact Significance Determination
Impact
Characteristics
(e.g., spatial extent)
Impact
Importance
(e.g., value)
x =
Impact
Significance
Characteristics Affecting Impact
Significance

Nature of impact (e.g., positive, negative,
synergistic)
Extent and magnitude
Timing (i.e., construction, operation, closure)
Duration (i.e., short, chronic, intermittent)
Reversibility/irreversibility
Likelihood (i.e., probability, uncertainty)
Some Criteria for Significance

Importance: the value that is attached to the
affected environmental component
Extent of disturbance: the area expected to
be impacted
Duration and frequency of disturbance
Reversibility
Risk: probability of an unplanned incident
caused by the project
Assessing Significance
Considerable expert judgement and technical
knowledge are often required to fully
understand the nature and extent of
environmental impacts
Categories of significance include:
no impact unknown impact
significant impact mitigated impact
insignificant impact
Guidelines for Assessing Significance
Use rational and objective methods
Provide consistency for comparison of project
alternatives
Document values and beliefs used in making
judgement decisions
Apply impact significance criteria, e.g.,
Ecological importance/sustainability criteria
Social importance
Environmental standards
Ecological Importance
Effect on plant and animal habitat
Rare and endangered species
Ecosystem resilience, sensitivity, biodiversity
and carrying capacity
Population viability
Community viability
Social Importance
Effects on human health and safety
Potential loss of managed resources (e.g.,
fish, farmland, water)
Recreation or aesthetic value
Demands on public resources
Demands on transportation or other
infrastructure
Demographic effects
Environmental Standards
Permit-based limits on effluent discharge
concentrations.

Clean air standards, water quality standards

Plans or policies that protect or limit use of
natural resources
Impact Mitigation
Evaluate
Environmental
Impacts
Design Environmental
Protection Measures
Review Applicable
Standards
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
102
Mitigation Development
Develop Alternative
Environmental Protection
Measures
Evaluate
Implementation
Costs
Assess
Environmental
Effectiveness
Select Final Environmental
Protection Measures
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
103
Understand the Problem
What is the problem?
When will the problem occur?
When should the problem be addressed?
Where should the problem be addressed?
How should the problem be addressed?
Who stands to lose or gain?
Good understanding of problems is
critical to development of effective
mitigation measures
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
104
Mitigation Options
Alternative ways of meeting societys need for
the project
Changes in project planning and design
Improving monitoring and management
Monetary compensation
Replacing, relocating, rehabilitating
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
105
Environmental Management Plan
Mitigation measures chosen are documented
as part of the EMP which specifies how they
are to be carried out:
State policy and standards
Designate responsibility
Provide schedule for tasks
Allocate responsibility for tasks
Include system for progress reporting
Include system for monitoring/auditing
Develop a contingency plan
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
106
EIA Reporting
Variations in titles but all the same content:
Environmental Impact Assessment report
(EIA report)
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Environmental Assessment report (EA report)
Environmental Effects Statement (EES)
Local usage; often shortened to just EIA
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
107
Effective Reporting
Assists the project proponent to plan (e.g.,
changes to the project design or scheduling
recommended as mitigation measures)
Assists decision makers in deciding whether
to approve or reject proposal, and if
approved with what conditions
Helps the public to understand core issues
of concern
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
108
EIA Report Contents
Executive summary
Objectives of the proposal
Description of proposal and alternatives
Relationship to current land use policies
Description of expected conditions
Evaluation of impacts for each alternative
Mitigation and monitoring plans
Appendices
Executive Summary
Definition: A well written stand-alone
document which contains the information
necessary for the reader to understand the
critical environmental issues and how the
issues are to be addressed and resolved
Audience: targeted at decision makers
and international funding bodies
Special Requirements: international
funding bodies often require executive
summaries to be submitted in English
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
110
Executive Summary (Contd)
What the executive summary MUST contain:
a summary of impacts for each SEI
background information including base maps
offsetting, enhancement, and mitigation
measures for minimizing negative impacts
recommendations and conclusions
summary of the environmental management
plan
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
111
Project Information
Status of project
Planning, design and implementation
strategies
Requirements for materials, water, energy,
equipment
Planned processes and products
Visual aids (e.g., maps)
Options (e.g., siting, layout)
Summary of technical, economic and
environmental features
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
112
Evaluating Impacts for
Each Alternative
Assessment of impacts
Data and predictive methods used
Uncertainty and gaps in knowledge
Compliance with standards
Criteria used to assess significance
Proposed impact avoidance or mitigation
measures
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
113
Environmental Management
and Monitoring Plans
Describe proposed mitigation measures
Contain schedule for implementation
Assign responsibility for implementation
Detail a monitoring program
Detail proposed reporting and review
procedures
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
114
Common Reporting Shortcomings
Object of activity described too narrowly
Incomplete description of activity
Alternatives do not account for the
environment
Key problems not described
Sensitive environment aspects overlooked
Standards and legislation are not described
or alternatives do not comply with them
Some mitigating measures not considered
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
115
Common Reporting Shortcomings
(Contd)
Best alternative not described or described
insufficiently
Serious impacts are not mentioned or not
correctly described
Outdated or ineffective prediction models used
Impacts are not compared with standards or
targets
Incorrect conclusions drawn
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
116
EIA Review
Determines whether the EIA
report is an adequate
assessment of environmental
concerns and is of sufficient
relevance and quality for
decision making
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
117
EIA Review Objectives
Determine whether EIA report provides an
adequate assessment
Collects range of stakeholder opinion
regarding the acceptability of the EIA report
and of the proposed project or activity based
on the EIA findings
Ensures EIA compliance with established
procedures (e.g., Terms of Reference,
existing plans and policies)
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
118
Critical Areas of Review
Compliance with the Terms of Reference
Examination of alternatives,
environmental setting, impact analysis,
mitigation, and impact management and
monitoring
Sufficiency and accuracy of information
Use of scientifically-defensible analytical
techniques
Conduct of the EIA; completeness and
comprehensiveness of the assessment
process
Sufficiency of information provided for
decision-making purposes
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
119
Review Methods
General statistics
Project specific checklists
Ad hoc processes
Expert opinion by accredited reviewers
Public review
Panels of inquiry, independent commissions
Legal approaches
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
120
Review Step-by-Step
Set the intensity of the review (e.g., scale
and depth)
Select review methods and identify review
criteria; make sure to include public input
Select reviewers
Conduct the review
Determine remedial options
Publish review report
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
121
Decision Making
EIA is an ongoing process of review,
negotiation and incremental decision making
Ultimately, an administrative or political
decision is made whether to proceed or not to
proceed with a proposed project or activity
Function of the EIA report is to provide
objective assessment of issues to inform and
facilitate the decision-making process
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
122
Requirements for Decision Makers
Decision makers need an understanding of:
Principles and practices of sustainable
development
EIA aims, concepts and processes
EIA guidelines, policy, law and conventions
EIA implementation within the decision-
making agency or organization
Public involvement processes
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
123
Decision-Making Inputs
Technical
Analysis
(e.g., physical,
ecological,
socio-economic,
other)
Decision
Making
prioritizing
problems and
actions,
ensuring
effective
implementation
EIA
Public
Involvement
Other Input
(e.g., benefit-cost
analysis,
political priorities)
Facts/
Values
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
124
Possible Decision Outcomes
Approval
Approval with conditions
Approval subject to ongoing investigation
Further investigation required
Request for a supplementary, or new, EIA
report
Rejection
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
125
Screening
Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not
Required
EIA
Required
Monitoring
EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE
Review
Scoping/
Terms of
Reference
Full Scale
EIA
Evaluate
Options
EIA Not
Approved
EIA
Review
Decision
Making
EIA
Approved
You are here
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
126
Environmental Monitoring and
Performance Assessment
Goal
Specific Objectives
Monitoring
Monitoring Requirements Environmental
Issues
Performance Assessment
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
127
Monitoring and Performance
Assessment Goal
Demonstrate to governments and the
public that the project or activity
complies with the environmental quality
objectives determined through the EIA
process and achieves good
environmental performance
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
128
Specific Objectives
Detect short- and long-term trends
Recognize environmental changes and
analyze causes
Measure impacts and compare with
predicted impacts
Assess effectiveness of mitigation measures
Improve the monitoring system
Improve practices and procedures for
environmental assessment
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
129
Performance Assessment
From monitoring program:
identify trends, causes and
impacts
assess performance and
compliance
From the assessment:
modify practices and procedures
for environmental protection
modify monitoring program
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
130
Post-EIA Monitoring Report
PROJECT PHASE


FINAL DESIGN STAGE



CONSTRUCTION STAGE




PROJECT ACCEPTANCE




OPERATIONS STAGE
MONITORING ACTIVITY

A. INCORPORATION OF EPMs IN THE FINAL PROJECT DESIGN
B. INCORPORATION OF EPMs INTO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS
C. COMPLETION OF OPERATIONS MANUAL

A. ENVIRONMENT CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR
B. SCHEDULED REPORTS FROM SUPERVISOR
C. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SPOT CHECKS
ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERVISOR PERFORMANCE

THE THREE PARTIES : ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION
SUPERVISOR, PROJECT PROPONENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY; SIGN A STATEMENT THAT THE PROJECT
MEETS EIA REQUIREMENTS

A. PERFORMANCE MONITORING
B. PERFORMANCE REPORTING
C. FOLLOW-UP ACTION, IF REQUIRED
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
131
EIA Audit
EIA audits are a management tool to:
Determine impacts
Check that conditions arising from EIA
are being met
Test accuracy of EIA predictions
Identify areas where EIA could have been
improved
Compile lessons learned for future EIAs
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
132
Concluding Thoughts
Important points to remember are:
EIA is a process which should have
influence at many stages and over a
considerable period of time; it is not an
activity aimed at producing a single set of
results for use at one specific decision-
making stage
The EIA process should be iterative and
adaptive; scoping and assessment should
continually evolve throughout the entire
process as more information becomes
known (i.e., circular process)
EIA Procedures and Decision
Making
133
Concluding Thoughts (Contd)
Additional points to remember are:
The EIA process needs to be inclusive and
transparent
The process should not be seen as an
administrative task; EIA is a powerful
management tool to be used to make
informed and justifiable decisions
Follow-up to review development results is
essential to continually improve and
strengthen the EIA process
CONTENT OF EIA ANALYSIS
Physical components:

Land
Air
Water
Energy
CONTENT OF EIA ANALYSIS
Bio-Cultural components:

Nature
Culture
People
Access
EIA Impact Analysis Summary Table
PHASE: Construction Operation Termination
__________________________________________________
Physical:
Land
Air
Water
Energy
__________________________________________________
Bio-Cultural:
Nature
Culture
People
Access