BY

GAMINI RAJAKARUNA
• The Environmental Impacts of a construction
projects are dealt with at the Design Stages
through Planning Process.
• Environmental Impact assessment (EIA) now
forms the part of planning application for an
increasing number of projects and its purpose is
to ensure that the possible effects or impacts of a
proposed development on the environment at an
identified at an early stages..
• Measures to prevent or limit these impacts ,referred to
as mitigation , are incorporated into the proposal
before permission for the development is given.
• In certain circumstances , it is not possible to provide
sufficient mitigation, then the results may be the
refusal of planning process.
• How ever there is no requirement to refuse
permission if adverse impacts are predicted or even
to impose conditions of mitigation, if the economic
benefits outweighed the environmental damage that
may result.
• In UK this requirement is incorporated in the
Town and Country Planning Regulations 1999.
• The Regulations require that an EIA must be
carried out before consent is granted for
certain major developments that are likely to
have a significant impact on the environment.
• The Project that are covered by the regulations
are listed below.
• Two categories of projects are defined.
• Those listed in Annex-1 of the Regulations ,
known as Schedule -I projects will require EIA in
every case.
• Those listed in Annex-II known as Schedule –II
projects ,require EIA only if its judged that the
project is likely to give rise to significant
environmental effects.
 SCHDULE-I PROJECTS.(EIA is mandatory)

• Crude –oil refineries.

• Thermal power stations.
• Nuclear fuel processing plants.
• Iron and steel melting plants.
• Asbestos processing plants.
• Chemical works
• Railway, Airports and major Roads
• Ports and inland waterways.
• Waste incinerators
• Groundwater abstraction and recharging
• Water resources transfer works.
• Water treatment plants
• Oil and gas extractions
• Dams
• Oil, gas and chemical pipe lines
• Pulp and Paper production plant
• Quarrying and open cast mining
• Overhead power lines
• Oil, petrol and chemical installations.
 SCHEDULE-II-PROJECTS(EIA IS
OPTIONAL)
• Agricultural projects.
• Mineral extraction projects.
• Energy induestry:Production,transfer and storage.
• Metal production and processing.
• Mineral Processing
• Chemical Industry.
• Food industry.
• Textile,learher ,wood and paper industries
• Rubber industry
• Infrastructure projects, including industrial estate
developments,Urbarn Developments
• Tourism and Leisure Projects.
 ROLE OF CPM ON EIA PROCESS.
• The procedure for an EIA follows a series of
prescribed stages.
• 1.CPM on behalf of the Developer will approach
the Local Planning Authority(LPA) and request an
opinion on the need for an EIA.
• 2.If in the opinion of the LPA, an EIA is
required,CPM on behalf of the Developer will
produce and Environmental Environmental
Statement.(ES)
• 3.This is a report based on survey undertaken
by the an appropriate Environmental
Consultant and it is the responsibility of CPM
to procure services of such Professional.
• 4.This survey will be systematic analysis of the
predicted impacts of the development on the
environment.CPM must get this done before
the Feasibility stage of the Project
This stage normally described as Pre-Feasibilty Stage
• The ES report itself must contain the
following.
• a).A description of the development
describing the preparation ,construction, and
operations. It must also consider the potential
growth of the project and any associated
development.(Inputs from CPM will be very
useful at this stage)
• b).The predicted effects or impacts of the
development with the data obtained from the
synthetic analysis used to identify and assess
the impact.
• c).The proposed mitigation ,or measures to
avoid reduce or remedy the adverse
impacts.(Some inputs from CPM is needed.)
• d).An outline of possible alternative
developments schemes, with the rationale for
the choice of the presented scheme.(Input of
CPM is required)
• e).Non –technical summary. This may provide
members of the public and pressure groups
who may wish to object to the scheme.(Inputs
of the CPM required).
• 5.Then the CPM will be submitted this ES
along planning application and the LPA must
inform a number of statutory organizations
such as Environmental Authority.
• Following diagram shows the EIA process.
• The potential impact of a development on the
environment may be controlled by the
Building Regulations during the design phase
and the construction phase of the project ,
although the primary function of the
regulations is to ensure the health and safety
of people in and around buildings. (CDM
Regulations that CPM should adhere to).
• Also these regulations lay down minimum
standards for such aspects as the
structure,insulation,energy efficiency and
drainage of new buildings and alteration to
existing buildings.
• All of these factors can have an impact of on the
environment ,ranging from excessive energy use
due to poor levels to contamination of surface
waters if foul sewers allowed to discharge them.
• Compliance with regulations is dealt by the
Building Control Officers in the local authorities
building control services or independent
approved inspectors.
• Guidance on how compliance with the
regulations may be achieved is provided in a
series of approved documents(where CPM must
have through understanding)which indicate the
required performance of materials and structures
and give examples and solutions to achieve the
performance.
• The approved documents are not legally binding
and if CPM can show that alternative methods
and materials will achieve the required
performance as laid down in the regulations
those alternatives will satisfy the regulations.
• This is of a particular concern in CPMs who
involved in innovative “Sustainability Oriented
Projects "that may be using novel materials or
designs unfamiliar to the Building Control
Officers.
• Therefore in “Green Building Projects "it may
worthwhile CPM to consider appointing a
LEEDS, or BREEM certified Assessor to get his
services from the Design Stage of the Project.