LECTURE NOTES ON

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT

IV B. Tech II semester (JNTU (A)-R13)

P.PAVITHRA
Assistant Professor

G.PULLAIAH COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY

CIVIL ENGINEERING
 UNIT-II
EIA METHODOLOGIES
Process And Framework Of EIA
The united nation conference on Human environment held at Stockholm in
june,1972 urged developing countries to take appropriate steps for the protection and
improvement of human environment. Long term and sustainable development can only
be achieved through sound environmental management. Needs methodologies, analytical
tools and conceptual frameworks to integrate environmental concerns in development
plans, programmes and objects. National international funding agencies are eager to
identify and adopt methodologies to improve project financing making projects more
multidisciplinary, less sectoral, and more responsive to ecological constraints and
parameters.
Though the bad effects of development activities are identified it may not always
be possible to make a quantative evaluation in terms of money of certain environmental
effects or the cost of long term damage.
Environmental impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the most important tools to
assess the viability of any development project from all point of view including cost ,
environment and sustainable development/. The preparation EIA is closely related to cost
benefit analysis EIA has to specially deal effectively with the following.
i. Risk evaluation in terms of long-term consequences, with special reference to
events with high negative effects like desertification, rehabilitation,
deforestation etc.
ii. Comparative weighing with the present and future costs and benefits.

DEFINITION AND FRAME WORK OF E I A

Environmental impact analysis (EIA) is a study of the effects of a proposed action
on the environment. Environment in this context will include all aspects of the natural
and human environment. Environment is made up of both biophysical and socio
economic elements. Thus depending upon the scale of the proposed action, EIA may
include studies of air, water. Land ecology, sound , weather, flora and founa, human
health, urban migration, economics, resources etc. EIA will seek to establish the
condition of physical , biological, social, economic and other parameters before and after
a project is undertaken. The type and the number of parameters to be studied in different
projects will vary from project to project. Impact means change , either positive or
negative from a desirability standpoint. A environmental impact analysis is, therefore , a
study of the probable changes in the various socioeconomic and biophysical
characteristics of the environment which may result from a proposed or impending
action.
For any given project, there can be a number of alternative approaches including a
zero option approach, which mean not taking up the project at all. Each option will have
economic coasts and benefits, as well as losses and beneficial environmental impacts.
Adverse environmental impacts may be reduced at a higher projects cost. Economic
benefits to an individual industry may have to be reduced to some environmental cost
resulting in social benefit. All feasible alterative are supposed to be studied in an EIA of
any project. EIA should finally determine mix of environmental and economic coasts and
benefits.
The framework for EIA can thus summarized as:

1. The study of the effects of a proposed action on the environment.

2. The comparison of various alternatives by which a desired objective may be

realized and seeks to identify the one which represents the best combination of
economic and environmental coasts and benefits.

3. The prediction of changes in environ-mental quality which would result from the
proposed action.
 4. An attempt to weigh economic costs and benefits .

5. A decision making tool.

DESCRIPTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING

Environment in India is made of villages, towns, cities etc; and their surroundings
made up of irrigated land, forest land , rivers, hillocks, wastelands, reservoirs etc. In pre-
independence days, Indian villages, towns, and cities used to present a peaceful and
meaningful life. But with increasing population, industrialization and urbanization, the
physical scenario in Indian villages, towns and cities has deteriorated with corruption,
improper implementation of rules and regulations and lack of civic sense.
Comfortable housing , sufficient quality of safe drinking water, proper civic
amentias like drains, roads, street lights, parks and gardens and other public conveniences
have become a rarity. Construction of big dams, and starting of big industries without
considering their impact on environment have resulted in rehabilitation of villages,
inundation of forests, reduction in flora and fauna, pollution of air, water and land,
increase in slums, deforestation, desertication etc. Industrialisation around Bombay and
Hyderabad, Bhopal gas tragedy, smog atmosphere in Delhi during winters, load quality
of life in Rajasthan and Orissa villages , pollution of Dhal lake in Kashmir are all
examples of improper development without caring for the environmental impact.

Before initiating any action like the construction of a dam, or the construction of a long
irrigation canal, or a the construction of a big industry, site –specific environmental
setting has to be understood properly . In an systematic procedure, information on
environmental setting as a quesifiltering mechanism, eliminating consideration of impacts
unrelated to the specific site.

NEED OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ANALYSIS

Development through use of technologies is necessary to improve the standard of
living. In view of the fact that development projects are interfering too much with the
environment, before any development project can be taken up there should be an analysis
of the necessary for the development by comparing the monetary costs and monetary
benefits. Of recent, society has become aware of the need for assessing the effect on the
environment or it is ecological cost and benefit. Environmental impact analysis involves
a combination of the ecological and monetary benefits and coast.
The evaluation of the impact of any development project is a part of many steps to
be followed by any development project. Steps to be followed in a project are listed
below:
i. Prepare a statement of the major objectives of the proposed project.

ii. Analysis the technologic possibilities of achieving the objectives.

iii. Identify actions to achieve the stated objectives. Alternative plans for achieving
the set objectives have to be identified.
iv. Prepare a report on the condition of the existing environment before the
proposed action.

v. Finalize about principal engineering proposals with analysis of monetary

benefit and costs.

vi. Prepare Environmental impacts analysis of the magnitudes (degree, extensive

and importance of impact). The pertinence of each action is reflects by
numerical values of magnitude and importance.

vii. Assess the impacts of the separate actions which comprise the project upon the
different environmental factors.
 viii. Summarize and give recommendations including a discussion on the relative
merits and rationales of the action plan.

For maintaining clean and healthy environment, the state and central government
have a responsibility to protest the environment. Through the department of
Environment, Government of India has to formulate and recommend :national policies
for the improvement of the quality of the environment. Through gathering information,
reviewing programme, conducting investigations and by preparing Environmental impact
Assessment for different projects the departmental of Environment will keep informs the
central Government about environmental status around the country. Environmental
Impact Analysis is thud mandatory for all big projects like constructions of major dams.
Major industries, mining activity, development of townships etc. The environmental
impact statement should include a description of the environmental impact of the
proposed action, unavoidable adverse impacts which would result should action take
place, possible alternatives and discussion on short term versus long-term advantages of
the proposal . It is obligatory to circulate the Environmental impact analysis publicly and
consider both the analysis made by experts and publicly response to it when making it is
final decision on the proposal. The specific purpose of Environmental impact Assessment
, is to influence the decisions to be made for maintaining the environment and its values,
for sustainable development. Through the world has gained by industrialization, we are
now facing many environmental problems like holes in the ozone layer , global warming ,
green house effect, acid rains, deforestation etc. Poverty and environmental degradation
are the two sides of the same coin and a good approach to development through proper
environmental impact analysis will result in better things to happen.

The need for Environmental Impact Analysis can be summarized as:

i. To identify all environmental factors in the project area which will be

influenced by all the activities of the project under consideration.
ii. To identify alternative approaches including no action plan, their levels of
impacts and economic considerations.
iii. To describe the environmental setting, to collect data and the factors associated
with the proposed action. Methods for impact analysis can aid in identifying
data needs and planning field studies.

iv. To identify the tools and methodologies to be adopted in the Environmental

impact Analysis.

v. To evaluate control measures.

vi. To provide information and encourage public participation in evaluating the

impact of the proposed project

CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING A METODOLOGY:

There are number of methodologies evolved by different people. For preparing

Environmental Impact Analysis. Depending upon the specific needs of the user and the
type of project being undertaken, one particular methodology may be more useful than
the other. To select the most appropriate methodology, the following criteria have to be
considered.

i. What is the objective of the proposed E.I.A?

Is the analysis primarily a decision or an information document?. A decision

document is impartment for determining the best course of action , and required
emphasis on identification of key issues, quantification and direct comparison
 of alternative. On the other hand, an informati0on document primarily. On the
other hand , an information document primarily revolves implications of the
selected choices and required a more comprehensive analysis and
concentrations on interpreting the significance of a broad spectrum of possible
impacts.

ii. What are the available resources like money, time , skill , data and computer
facilities? Comprehensive E.I.A. require more of everything.
iii. Is the person in charge of preparing E.I.A. familiar with the type of action
contemplated and the area in which the project has to come up? Grated
familiarity will improve the quality of E.I.A.

iv. How big are the issues being dealt with? All other things being equal, the
bigger the issue, the grated the need to be explicit, to quantify and to identify
key issues. Arbitrary comparison of on type of impact, says for example on
environment, with another type of impact, say like economic, and become less
appropriate.

DIFFERENT METHODOLOGIES OF E.I.A

Any Environmental impact Analysis methodology should effectively deal with

a. impact identification, impact measurement, impact interpretation

b. impact communication to information users

E.I.A, methodologies have not yet been standardized and are not yet well documented.
From the available literature, it can be understood that six methods are referred
frequently. Based upon the way impacts are identified, the six methods are named as

i. Ad Hoc method

ii. Overlays methods

iii. Checklist method

iv. Network method

v. Method of Matrix

vi. Combination –computer aided method

The names of the methods are self explanatory and description of each one of the six
methods is made below.

i. Ad Hoc Method: Broad areas of possible impacts like impacts upon flora and fauna,
impacts on lakes and forests etc.; are identified in this method. This method does not
define specific parameters to be investigated, and so may not provided sufficient
guidance for impact assessment. A team of specialists will identify the nature of the
impacts such as no effect, short or long term, reversible or irreversible etc. Ad hoc
methods are for rough assessment of total impact giving the board areas of possible
impacts and general nature of these possible impacts.

This method was use initially in 1971 as a planning tool for sating power
generation and power transmission facilities. the approach consider a range of
pollution , and ecological, economic and
ii. Overlays Method :

A set of transparent maps giving physical, social, ecological, aesthetic characteristics

of the project area are overlaid to produce a composite characterization of the regional
environment. By overlaying maps, area of preferred variable and are of adverse
impacts and their geographical locations are identified. Overlays method has been
used popularly in highway route selection and selection of transmission line corridors.
This method is useful as a first-out method of identifying and shifting out alternative
projects sites prior to preparing a detailed impact analysis. However, this method is
unable to quantify and identify possible impacts. High degree of skill and training are
required to prepare the map overlays. The best utility of the overlays method is to
perform an initial screening process to identify feasible alternatives which would then
be subjected to a more detailed analysis available through other means.

iii. Checklist Method:

A comprehensive listing of environmental parameters which are related to a particular
type of action, is done in checklist method. This is a very popular method in EIA.
Studies. Check list method helps order thought, aids in data gathering and
presentation and acts against the omission of possible impacts. Four broad categories
of check lists are in vogue, viz.
i.. Simple check lists ii. Descriptive checklists
Scaling checklists iv. Scaling weighting
iii. and checklists
Simple checklists are a simple list of environmental parameters without any
reference to as to how environmental parameter data are to be measured and
interpreted. Descriptive checklists if\identify environmental parameters and give
guidelines on how parameters data are to be measured. But no numerical ranking is
use in evaluating the level of impact. Adkins and Broke

(4) used scaling checklists, involving the scaling of impacts on a relative basis
from minus five to plus five. Scaling –weighting checklists represent scaling
checklists with information provides as to subjective evaluation of each parameter
with respect to every other parameter. Scaling weighting checklists employ both
magnitude and importance factor.

Magnitude is considered to be a measure of the degree or severity of an impact and

is assessed after the analysis of the impact . Importance is defined as the baseline
level significance of an impact and is used to weight the impact appropriately as
determined through the subjective judgment of a scientific team, determine prior to
impact analysis. Table given below gives an examples of scaling –weighting
checklists . the lists has to be very comprehensive to include all environmental
parameters which will be effected by a project.
TABLE
An example checklist for a proposed industry in a study area
Sl.No Environmental parameter in the Rating or weight Possible score on
Environmental
descending order of important impact
1 Air pollution High 10
Medium 5
Low 0
2 Water pollution High 10
Medium 5
Low 0
3 Rehabilitation High 10
Medium 5
Low 0
 The major feature of the checklist system is that environmental impact is expressed
in commensurate units. The steps involved in the development of commensurate units
include transformation of parameter estimates into an environmental quality scale,
assignment of importance weights to the individual parameter, and ht multiplication of
scales value any importance value to obtain environmental impact units. One of the
important environmental quality to assess the status of river is the concentration of
dissolved oxygen, which may vary from 0 to 9 mg/l. Environmental quality scale can be
identified for concentration of settable duct in ambient air, leaching of pollutants into
ground water etc. For any given project a panel of engineers can prepare a detailed list of
environmental parameters which may be allocated by the project in the project are m,
assign environmental quality indices and prepare values function graphs with
environmental parameters like dissolved oxygen In river water, ambient dust fall
concentration, concentration of dissolved solids in ground water, level of noise pollution,
quality of solids waters etc. on the abscissa and environmental quality scale on the
ordinate.
iv. Networks Method:
A project is related to its potential impact through a cause –condition-effect
network. Through this method is not necessarily a full methodology, it will useful in
identifying the impacts. Projects activities are related to first order condition charges,
which in turn cause second and third order condition charges, leading finally to effects. In
network diagrams , the impact of one environmental factor on other environmental or
socio-economic factors and other similar interactions are identified.
Subsequently, network diagrams will acts as a guide for impact identification and
presentation of results Odom (5) who wrote a book on Ecology used network diagram to
depict the concept of energy flow between different components of oceans, rivers,
forests, grasslands etc. Net work methodology was first used to identify potential
commercial, residential and transportation use of sea coasts.
V. Method of Matrices:
Matrix method aims at relating projects activities to their environmental impacts.
After the identification of project activities and their environmental impacts, their
interdisciplinary team of specialists should assess the magnitude an importance. The
matrix method is a convent method of visual display of both total project activities and
their impacts. The Matrix method comprising of a series of rows depicting project
activities and a series of columns depicting environmental impacts, has the ability for
factor expansion , depending upon the project analysis.
The methods of assigning weights to the interactions can take various forms
including the assignment of three levels of impact viz :major , minor, intermediate, or
assignment of negative as well as positive scores to indicate the adverse or beneficial
nature of the impact. Scales have also been used to describes the possibilities of impact
occurrence as well as the extent of potential impact reversibility.
The most effective way to use the matrix is to check each action which is likely to
be involved significantly in the proposed development project. Each of the action thus
checked is evaluated in terms of magnitude of effects on environmental characteristics on
the vertical axis, and a slash is placed diagonally from upped to lower left across each
block represents significant interaction. After all the boxes which represent possible
impact have been marked , the most important ones are evaluated individually. Within
each is representing a significant interaction place a number 1 to 10 on the upper , left-
hand cornet to indicate the relative magnitude of imp[act (1 is the least impact, 10 is the
greatest) in the lower right had corner of the box, place a number 1 to 10 to indicate the
relative importance of the impacts (again 1 is the least impact, 10 is the greatest).
Magnitude is defined as the degree or the extensiveness of scale of the impact, while
importance is a weighting of the degree of significance of the impact. The former can be
based on fact, while the later is based on judgment.

VI. Combination Computer –Aided:

 To identify activities associated with implementing major governmental
parameters to identify potential environmental impacts at different user levels, to provide
guidance for abatement and mitigation techniques, and to provide analytical models to
establish cause –effects relationships to quantitatively determine potential environmental
impacts, a combination of matrices, networks, analytical models and a computer aided
systematic approach if allowed. Given the appropriate input information for a particular
program, the computer-aided system developed will provide relevant environmental
information to allow the user to respond to the requirements of environmental quality
guidelines. Analytical models, like Economic impact Forecast System(EIFS), , are being
developed to quantitatively assess the environmental impacts. Three levels of attributes
viz; detailed level, review levels, and controversial attributes, are identified. Ramification
remarks regarding potential impacts are presented along with mitigation procedures for
minimizing adverse impacts. Instead of a numerical system, potential impacts are
identified on a need –to-consider scale, using A,B and C as indicators.

Criteria for choosing an EIA methodology:

A number of people like Adkins, Burke, Dee, Jain, Leopold, Moore, Smith,
Warner etc; have used one form or the other of EIA. Methodologies like adhoc, overlay,
checklist, matrix, network of combination computer-aided etc. Important criteria to be
considered. In choosing and evaluating an impact assessment methodologies are:
comprehensive nature, flexibility of detecting project-generated impacts, and objectivity.
the methodology chooses should ensure input expertise, utilize the state of the art ,
employ explicitly defined criteria , provided for assessment of impact magnitude, provide
for overall assessment of total impacts and detect environmentally sensitive areas.
In view of the large number of models and methodologies being practiced in EIA
.studies, one must choose between two extremes: complete uniformity or complete
uniqueness. So far as uniformity, reproducibility and comparability are concerned, it
would be profitable if one uniform method could be prescribed for any EIA. On the other
hand, each environment is so unique that a standard methodology would most probably
neglect the unique factors. This is why many specialists on EIA made their own
methodologies for watch one of the projects.
Finally, any EIA methodology is expected to de three main things, viz; i.
Identification , ii. Prediction and iii. Evaluation.
In the process of identification, the existing system has to be clearly described, the
components of the project have to be clearly identified, and modifications in the project
area as also in all the projects components have to be defined effectively. In the process
of prediction, Identification of environmental modifications that may be significant is
expected,. It is necessary to forecast the quantity and special dimensions of change in the
environment of the project area. I is along with some time frame. In the process of
evaluation , it become necessary to determine the incidence of costs and benefits to user
group and populations affected by the project. It become necessary to prepare
specifications and comparisons of the trade off (costs or effects being balanced) between
various alternatives
Follow up of E.I.A:

Environmental Impact Assessment should be followed by analytical studies of the

special impacts on the environment which appears most adverse. This is achieved by
techniques such as materials balance, dispersion modeling, market simulation, marginal
cost analysis and trade-off analysis.
The first and most basic analysis is to prepare a materials balance model of
projects operational showing all materials inputs and outputs. Inputs will depend on the
type of project and residuals released to the environment will be related to the processes
involved and the controls incorporated in the project.
It is them, necessary to study the dispersion of residuals released to the ecosystem.
In this way we arrive at concentration and movements of pollutants which will allow us
to assess potential damage and other damage costs associated with subsequent uses of the
environmental media.
The next step is to construct a market simulation of the ecosystem which involves
attaching shadow prices to unpriced values. Easily obtained market prices .will be for
project development coasts, materials, power, labour and other operating coasts and
product prices. Un priced components will be related to the ecosystem and are the values
attached to water quality , air quality, wilderness quality, scenic views, biological health,
species balance and hazards to species. Some of these unpriced components, can be
valued as the cost of rectification or avoidance; damage costs of poor air, air and water
quality can be determined by estimating the costs of removal of pollutants to a desirable
or safe level.
The optimum level of environmental quality may not immediately apparent
because the marginal cost for each degree of quality is not constant.