LEARNING UNIT 2: ASSESS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

Learning Outcomes:
2.1 Determine the environmental impact
2.2 Conduct Environmental Impact Assessment
2.3 Develop an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report

Learning Outcome2.1. DETERMINE THE ENVIRONMENTAL

IMPACT
2.1.1. Environmental aspects
The Standard defines an environmental aspect as 'An element of an
organization’s activities or products or services that interacts or can
interact with the environment. These can include discharges to water,
emissions to air, waste, and the use of natural resources and materials.
For example, one of the environmental aspects of car washing may be a
cleaning agent that has the potential for water pollution (this pollution is
the environmental impact).
Environmental Impact
An environmental Impact (EI): is defined as any change to the
environment, whether adverse or beneficial, resulting from a facility's
activities, products, or services. In other words, it is the effect that
people's actions have on the environment. Humans impact the physical
environment in many ways: overpopulation, pollution, burning fossil
fuels, and deforestation. Changes like these have triggered climate
change, soil erosion, poor air quality, and undrinkable water. There are
three main impacts on the environment: global warming and climate
change; water pollution and ocean acidification; and loss of biodiversity.
2.1.2. Categories of environmental aspects

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  Unwanted Emissions to the air:
Emissions are a type of air pollution. They are any kind of substance
released into the air from natural or human sources, flows of gases,
liquid droplets or solid particles. Not all emissions become air
pollutants, but many do, causing significant health and environmental
problems. The criteria pollutants are carbon monoxide (CO), lead (Pb),
nitrogen dioxide (NO2), ozone (O3), particulate matter (PM), and sulfur
dioxide (SO2). There are also a large number of compounds that have
been determined to be hazardous which are called air toxics. These
unwanted emissions in the air results into global warming.
Global warming: is the long-term heating of Earth's surface observed
since the pre-industrial period (between 1850 and 1900) due to human
activities, primarily fossil fuel burning (the burning of oil, natural gas,
and coal to generate energy), deforestation, farming, and industrial
emissions, which increases heat-trapping greenhouse gas levels in
Earth's atmosphere.
 Pollution of land:
Land pollution refers to the destruction or a decline in the quality
of the earth's surface as a result of human actions. This could
include anything from mining to agriculture to building, and
consequences may be intentional or unintentional. Land pollution
includes legacy pollution, illegal dumping, and litter.
 Discharge and pollution of water:
The discharge is the volume of water that is transported each
second, and the volumes are expressed in liters (l) or in cubic
meters (m3) [1 m3 = 1000 l], and the letter Q is commonly used as
the symbol for the discharge.
 Depletion of materials/natural resources:
We eat edible plants in the form of leaves, fruit, and vegetables,
some of these resources are extinct by humans. We use glass for
windows, television screens, drinking glasses, eyeglasses, and car

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 windshields. We use metals for car bodies, tin cans, appliances,
utensils, faucets, piping, and in electrical wires.
 Solid waste management:
The term solid waste management mainly refers to the complete
process of collecting, treating and disposing of solid wastes. In the
waste management process, the wastes are collected from different
sources and disposed of. This process includes collection,
transportation, treatment, analysis and disposal of waste.
 Hazardous waste:
Hazardous waste is waste with properties that make it dangerous or
capable of having a harmful effect on human health or the
environment.” Hazardous waste also includes different physical
forms, including solids, liquids, and gases. In order to keep as
much material out of the landfill as possible, it's important for each
of us to do our part. One of the ways to put that plan into action is
through the 3 Rs of waste management: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.

Categories of environmental impacts

 Global warming:
Global warming is an aspect of climate change, referring to the
long-term rise of the planet's temperatures. It is caused by
increased concentrations of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere,
mainly from human activities such as burning fossil fuels, and
farming. Therefore, six effects of global warming: More frequent
and intense drought, storms, heat waves, rising sea levels, melting
glaciers, and warming oceans can directly harm animals, destroy
the places they live, and wreak havoc on people's livelihoods and
communities.
 Ozone depletion:
When chlorine and bromine atoms come into contact with ozone in
the stratosphere, they destroy ozone molecules. One chlorine atom
can destroy over 100,000 ozone molecules before it is removed

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 from the stratosphere. Ozone can be destroyed more quickly than it
is naturally created. Ozone depletion can cause increased amounts
of UV radiation to reach the Earth which can lead to more cases of
skin cancer, cataracts, and impaired immune systems. Too much
exposure to UV is believed to be contributing to the increase in
melanoma, the most fatal of all skin cancers. Climate change is
concerned with how carbon dioxide, methane, and other
greenhouse gases are altering the global climate system. Ozone
depletion, on the other hand, involves how certain industrially
produced chemicals containing chlorine or bromine are damaging
the earth's protective stratospheric ozone layer.
 Acidification of soil and water:
Soil acidification is a process where the soil pH decreases over
time. This process is accelerated by agricultural production and can
affect both the surface soil and subsoil. Queensland has more than
500,000 hectares of agricultural and pastoral land that is acidified
or is at risk of acidification. There are four major reasons for soils
to become acidic: rainfall and leaching, acidic parent material,
organic matter decay, and harvest of high-yielding crops. Wet
climates have a greater potential for acidic soils.
 Eutrophication:
Eutrophication is a natural process that results from the
accumulation of nutrients in lakes or other bodies of water. Algae
that feed on nutrients grow into unsightly scum on the water
surface, decreasing recreational value and clogging water-intake
pipes. eutrophication, the gradual increase in the concentration of
phosphorus, nitrogen, and other plant nutrients in an aging aquatic
ecosystem such as a lake. The productivity or fertility of such an
ecosystem naturally increases as the amount of organic material
that can be broken down into nutrients increases.
 Photochemical smog:

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 Photochemical smog is a mixture of pollutants that are formed
when nitrogen oxides and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
react to sunlight, creating a brown haze above cities. It tends to
occur more often in summer because that is when we have the
most sunlight. Primary pollutants. Photochemical smog is
produced when sunlight reacts with nitrogen oxides and at least
one volatile organic compound (VOC) in the atmosphere.
Nitrogen oxides come from car exhaust, coal power plants, and
factory emissions. VOCs are released from gasoline, paints, and
many cleaning solvents.
 Depletion of abiotic resources-elements:
Abiotic depletion refers to the depletion of nonliving (abiotic)
resources such as fossil fuels, minerals, clay, and peat. Abiotic
depletion is measured in kilograms of Antimony (Sb)
equivalents. Resources of abiotic factors are usually obtained
from the atmosphere, lithosphere, and hydrosphere. Examples
of abiotic resources are air, water, sunlight, soil, and minerals.
 Depletion of abiotic resources-fossil fuels:
Abiotic depletion refers to the depletion of nonliving (abiotic)
resources such as fossil fuels, minerals, clay, and peat. Abiotic
depletion is measured in kilograms of Antimony (Sb)
equivalents. Global warming potential is an appraisal of
greenhouse gas (for example, CO2, methane, nitrous oxide…)
Fossil fuel depletion is the reduction in future availability of
fossil fuels caused by the primary extraction of fossil fuels
linked to fuel use, energy use and to produce other inputs, such
as mineral fertilizer. Fossil fuels are a special case in this
regard. For while they are derived from biomass that was
produced millions of years ago, by virtue of their having
attained their current state through extremely gradual
geological processes, they qualify as abiotic resources.

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 Human toxicity: The human toxicity potential (HTP), a
calculated index that reflects the potential harm of a unit of
chemical released into the environment, is based on both the
inherent toxicity of a compound and its potential dose. The
toxicity of a substance depends on three factors: its chemical
structure, the extent to which the substance is absorbed by the
body, and the body's ability to detoxify the substance (change it
into a less toxic substance) and eliminate it from the body.
 Freshwater aquatic ecotoxicity: The Freshwater Aquatic
Ecotoxicity Potential (FAETP) is the toxic effects of chemicals
on an ecosystem, in this case in the freshwater, causing
biodiversity loss and/or species extinction. The characterization
factors are expressed like ETP in kg1
 Marine aquatic ecotoxicity: Ecotoxicology is the study of
toxic effects caused by natural or man-made substances on
biota. Through ecotoxicology, we are able to determine the
levels and types of contaminants that cause harm to animals
and plants. Marine ecotoxicity, as per definition, is about the
toxic substances’ impact on the marine ecosystem, and it
originates from air emission of electric supply and non-ferrous
metal.
 Terrestrial ecotoxicity: Terrestrial ecotoxicity refers to the
environmental pollutants that affect land-dependent organisms
and their environment. It requires three elements:
i. a source,
ii. a receptor, and
iii. an exposure pathway.
This article reviews the basic principles of each element as
they occur in terrestrial systems. Pollutants enter the terrestrial
environment through direct application, diffuse sources, or
long-range transport. Terrestrial receptors include soil
microbes, invertebrates, plants, amphibians, Rediff sources

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 tiles, birds, and mammals. Terrestrial organisms can be exposed
to pollutants through dermal, oral, inhalation, and food-chain
exposures. Two important processes govern the movement of a
pollutant into and through a terrestrial food web:
bioaccumulation and biomagnification.
 Water pollution: Water pollution is the contamination of water
sources by substances that make the water unusable for drinking,
cooking, cleaning, swimming, and other activities. Pollutants
include chemicals, trash, bacteria, and parasites. All forms of
pollution eventually make their way to the water. Water pollutants
may cause disease or act as poisons. Bacteria and parasites in
poorly treated sewage may enter drinking water supplies and cause
digestive problems such as cholera and diarrhea. Hazardous
chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides from industries, farms,
homes, and golf courses can cause acute toxicity and immediate
death, or chronic toxicity that can lead to neurological problems or
cancers.
 Air pollution: Air pollution is the contamination of the indoor or
outdoor environment by any chemical, physical or biological agent
that modifies the natural characteristics of the atmosphere.
Household combustion devices, motor vehicles, industrial facilities
and forest fires are common sources of air pollution. Pollutants of
major public health concern include particulate matter, carbon
monoxide, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. Outdoor
and indoor air pollution cause respiratory and other diseases and
are important sources of morbidity and mortality.
2.1.3. Procedures for determining environmental aspects and
impacts
 Identify the process associated with the activities of the
workplace: Once you understand compliance obligations, you
should assess how your organization interacts with the

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 environment. Identify all of your environmental aspects and
impacts, and determine which are significant. Some
environmental aspects may be regulated, while others may not
be. For example, if you identify the generation of a particular air
emission as a significant environmental aspect, it would help to
know which operation(s) generate such air emissions. It might
also help to know whether these air emissions are monitored or
otherwise measured in some manner.
 Consider the potential and actual impacts on the
environment from each process and subprocesses: Humans
impact the physical environment in many ways: overpopulation,
pollution, burning fossil fuels, and deforestation. Changes like
these have triggered climate change, soil erosion, poor air
quality, and undrinkable water. These negative impacts can
affect human behavior and can prompt mass migrations or
battles over clean water.
 Identify the environmental aspects as the source of each
impact to the environment
 Identify legal requirements
 Identify the potential for emergency situations
 Consider the environmental aspects associated with legal
requirement
 Consider the ease of changing the environmental impacts
Learning outcome2.2: CONDUCT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), defines
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a tool used to identify the
environmental, social, and economic impacts of a project prior to
decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early
stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce

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adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment, and
present the predictions and options to decision-makers.
According to the Rwanda Environmental law N°48/2018 of 13/08/2018
determines modalities for protecting, conserving and promoting the
environment, in article two. As Rwanda a country which considers the
lives of the population as the primarily resources and according to the
Article 30 of Rwanda Environmental Law No. 48/2018, the Ministerial
Order No 001/ 2019 of 15/04/2019 and the World Bank Environmental
and Social Standards on Assessment and Management of Environmental
and Social Risks (ESS 1). In different projects, especially some
supported by World Bank, they make Environmental and Social Impact
Assessment (ESIA).
Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA) is defined as
predicts of the environmental and social consequences that a future
development project/intervention might entail. It is carried out before
project implementation and proposes measures to mitigate potential
negative impacts. Environmental impact assessment: a systematic
process of identifying environmental, social and economic impacts of a
project before a decision of its acceptance is made. According to this law
also, in its article number 30, they list all development projects that must
undergo an environmental impact assessment and its procedure.
The list of projects that must undergo an environmental impact
assessment before they obtain authorization for their implementation is
established by an Order of the Minister. An Order of the Minister also
issues instructions and procedures for conducting environmental impact
assessment. The ministerial order No 001/ 2019 of 15/04/2019
determines establishing the list of projects that must undergo
environmental impact assessment, instructions, requirements and
procedures to conduct environmental impact assessment.

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2.2.2. LIST OF WORKS, ACTIVITIES AND PROJECTS THAT
MUST UNDERGO A FULL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
The projects are the following:
1° all buildings classified as residential, commercial, administrative or
institutional sports facilities, social, cultural, and assembly and religious
buildings, hotels, health facilities, educational buildings, or other
publicly accessible facilities fulfilling at least two of the following
conditions:
a. having capacity to host more than five hundred (500) people;
b. having a total floor area exceeding one thousand and five hundred
square meters (1500 sqm);
c. built in plot size exceeding one thousand square meters (1000 sqm).
2° industries;
3° buildings with activities which can cause hazards;
4° warehouses for storage of hazardous materials and perishables;
5° warehouses and storage facilities of perishable agricultural
commodities occupying an area of a half a hectare (1/2 ha) and above;
6° places where people are detained for punitive or corrective reasons or
because of their mental condition;
7° places of non-industrial commercial activities, where such activities
or commercial products may cause fire, cause combustion with extreme
rapidity, give rise to poisonous fumes or cause explosions; 8°garages for
vehicle repair and maintenance
9° warehouse with total floor area exceeding one thousand and five
hundred square meters (1500 sqm) and plot size exceeding one thousand
square meters (1000 sqm);

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10° hotels;
11° construction and repair of international, national, District roads and
repair of large bridges;
12° construction of hydro-dams, hydropower plants and electrical lines
of high and medium voltage;
13° construction of petroleum products and gas pipelines and their
storage tanks;
14° construction of terminal ports, airports and railways;
15° agricultural and breeding activities which use chemical fertilizers
and pesticides in wetlands;
16° large scale investment projects in agricultural and breeding activities
which use chemical fertilizers and pesticides on hill sides;
17° works and activities that involve genetic modification of seeds and
animals
18° works in areas designated as national parks and in their buffer zones;
19° all works related to mining;
20° commercial small- and large-scale quarrying;
21° construction of artificial lakes;
22° construction of water storage dams;
23° works or activities for marshlands reclamation;
24° construction of slaughter houses

Purpose for making EIA

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An impact assessment is a planning and decision-making tool used to
assess the potential positive and negative effects of proposed projects.
Impact assessments consider a wide range of factors and propose
measures to mitigate projects' adverse effects.
Importance:
EIAs make sure that project decision-makers think about the likely
effects on the environment at the earliest possible time and aim to avoid,
reduce or offset those effects. This ensures that proposals are understood
properly before decisions are made.
The major environmental issues surrounding our environment:
1. Climate Change and global warming:
 Pollution of air,
 Deforestation,
 Industrialization
 Overfilling landfills
 Greenhouse gases
2. Water pollution:
 Improper sewage
 Disposal
 Oil spills
 Disposal of chemical
 Radioactive waste
 Plastic pollution
3. Loss of biodiversity and Land Use
4. Biological resources: Biodiversity is all the different kinds of life
you'll find in one area—the variety of animals, plants, fungi, and
even microorganisms like bacteria that make up our natural world.
Each of these species and organisms works together in ecosystems,
like an intricate web, to maintain balance and support life.
Types of EIA Principles

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Polluter Pays Principle (PPP): ensuring absolute liability for any
damage and harm caused by the industry and firms. It makes the process
and procedure for compensation easy in an event where their victims are
affected. Another important aspect of this among principles of
environmental management is that the cost gets shared and it’s easy to
repair or reduce damages.
The Precautionary Principle (PP): The Precautionary Principle. The
precautionary principle states that if a product, an action, or a policy has
a suspected risk of causing harm to the public or to the environment,
protective action should be supported before there is complete scientific
proof of a risk.
2.2.3. SOME USED TERMS IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT (EIA)
Authority: Is a national body responsible for commissioning,
supervising and approving the EIA report and issuing the EIA Certificate
to the Developer, here, the authority is Rwanda Development Board
(RDB) in partnership with Rwanda Environmental Management
Authority (REMA).
Environmental impact study: Is an evaluation report of the impact of a
planned activity on the environment;
Developer: Is a person, group of persons or agency developing a new
development project which is subject to an Environmental Impact
Assessment process.
Expert: A person with special knowledge or ability who performs
skillfully. For EIA in Rwanda, experts are published by REMA.
Lead Agency: It is any public office or organization including every
Ministry or government department which has functions or
responsibilities for the protection of any segment of the environment,
conservation and sustainable use of natural resources.

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 License: It is a permit that is given to the developer for performing
different development activities in different sectors.
Project Brief: It is a summary statement of the likely environmental
effects of a proposed development and it includes description of the site
and proposed development in sufficient detail to enable the Authority to
determine whether an EIA is required or not.
2.2.4. STEPS OF THE EIA PROCESS
 Project proposal: The proposed project consists of a written
document outlining everything stakeholders should know about a
project, including the timeline, budget, objectives, and goals. Your
project proposal should summarize your project details and sell
your idea so stakeholders buy in to the initiative.
 Screening: Screening is the first stage of the EIA process which
results in a key EIA decision, namely to either conduct the
assessment (based on the likely significant impacts) or not conduct
it (in the anticipated absence of such impacts). Screening is also
defined as a process by which a decision is taken on whether or not
EIA is required for a particular Project.
The EIA Procedure Guidelines categorizes projects into three
categories or sometimes referred to as levels of impact:
 Category 1 (Impact level 1): Full EIA not required. IL-1
projects are not subjected to Environmental Impact Study,
instead they go directly to the Decision-making and
Authorization stage. IL-1 projects are however subjected to a
period of public review during which stakeholders may submit
written views to the Authority.
 Category 2 (Impact level 2): Mitigation measures for IL-2
projects will be based on nature of the project, its components
and input of the review committees

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  Category level 3 (Impact Level 3): projects need to pass
through the full Environmental Impact Study process.
Screening needs to follow specific procedures often described in the
legislation so all the projects follow the same process. Key contributions
of screening to a good EIA:
 Facilitates informed decision-making by providing clear, well-
structured, factual analysis of the effects and consequences of proposed
actions.
 Influences both project selection and policy design by screening out
environmentally and/or socially unsound proposals, as well as modifying
feasible action.
 Scoping: Scoping is a critical step in the preparation of an EIA, as
it identifies the issues that are likely to be of most importance
during the EIA and eliminates those that are of little concern.
Scoping is a systematic exercise that establishes the boundaries of
your EIA and sets the basis of the analyses you will conduct at
each stage. A quality scoping study reduces the risk of including
inappropriate components or excluding components that should be
addressed. It involves:
 Identifying all relevant issues and factors, including cumulative
effects, social impacts, and health risks.
 Facilitating meaningful public engagement and review.
 Determining the appropriate time and space boundaries of the
EIA.
 Identifying the important issues to be considered in the EIA, such
as setting the baseline and identifying alternatives.
EIA process involves the following four stages which are:
1. The Environmental Impact Initiation phase, which involves: screening
and scoping;

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2. The Impact Study Phase, which includes: impact identification and
analysis, development of mitigation measures and preparation of the
report;
3. The decision-making & authorization phase entails review of EIA
reports leading to decision-making;
Environmental management Plan and follow-up phase: deals with
monitoring and costing of activities of the project during its
implementation.
Impact Assessment and Mitigation: Impact assessment refers to the
detailed evaluation of the environmental and social impacts of the
planned project and identified alternatives, compared to the baseline
conditions. This includes qualitative descriptions such as measuring
high, medium, and low impacts, and quantitative descriptions, such as
indicating the cubic meters of water withdrawn, sewage produced, and
pollutants released. This is done for the planned project as well as the
identified alternatives, allowing for comparisons. Once the detailed
assessment is complete, mitigation measures to reduce or avoid impacts
are identified. Mitigation refers to minimizing or avoiding the described
impacts. Overall, mitigation measures are a response to the findings of
impact assessment; they need to cover all the areas identified. The key
focus of mitigation actions should be on:
 Preventive measures that avoid the occurrence of impacts and thus
avoid harm or even produce positive outcomes.
 Measures that focus on limiting the severity and the duration of the
impacts.
 Compensation mechanisms for those impacts that are unavoidable and
cannot be reduced further.
Key impacts and potential mitigation actions often relate to the land.
Almost all development proposals involve disturbance of the land

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surface. This is usually extensive for major linear projects (roads,
pipelines), dams and reservoirs, and large-scale mining, agriculture,
forestry, and housing schemes. Environmental impacts of particular
concern can include the drainage of wetlands, conversion of natural
areas, or expansion into areas that are vulnerable to natural hazards.
Impact management: Essentially, impact management is the creation of
a series of plans and protocols aiming to manage and monitor the
identified mitigation measures and risks that may occur over the project
lifetime, such as technical failures and natural disasters. Some of the
plans are compulsory, such as an environmental management plan
(EMP), which is required as part of an EIA report in most countries.
Other plans are context-specific and/or depend on guidance from
national legislation. For example, if the project takes place in close
proximity to a community, a resettlement plan may be needed; if there
are no communities close by, a resettlement plan would not be necessary.
Impact Management begins during the project’s planning phase and
continues on after project implementation.
Environmental impact statement (EIS): An Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS) is a document prepared to describe the effects of
proposed activities on the environment. "Environment," in this case, is
defined as the natural and physical environment and the relationship of
people with that environment. This means that the "environment"
considered in an EIS includes land, water, air, structures, living
organisms, environmental values at the site, and social, cultural, and
economic aspects. An "impact" is a change in consequence that results
from an activity. Impacts can be positive or negative or both. An EIS
describes impacts, as well as ways to "mitigate" impacts. To "mitigate"
means to lessen or remove negative impacts.
EIS Reporting: The EIA Report is a compilation of several important
project components, including the project description, the assessment of
its environmental and social impacts, mitigation measures, and related

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management and monitoring plans. During this step, all the information
gathered during the previous steps is compiled into a comprehensive
report that analyzes and synthesizes the data, structuring it as stipulated
in the terms of reference (TOR). A quality EIA Report has the following
characteristics:
 It is well-structured and uses non-technical language supported by data
and well-executed analyses.
 It provides information that is helpful and relevant to decision-making
 It results in the satisfactory prediction of the adverse effects of the
proposed actions and their mitigation using conventional and customized
techniques
EIS Review & Licensing: Review and Licensing is the final check on
the quality of the EIA report submitted to obtain a project license. Once
the EIA report is submitted, designated authorities will usually go
through it thoroughly, weighing the methods used, data, interpretations,
measures, and conclusions to assess the impacts of the planned
development. Their review will determine whether or not the project
adequately addresses major environmental and social impacts and other
risks, and whether or not to grant a license to the project proponents or
to request project changes. This means that a good quality EIA might
still lead to the planned development not being permitted to go ahead
based on the identified impacts. Often, the review process leads to a
requirement for additional information on potential impacts, mitigation
measures, or other aspects.
Monitoring: Monitoring provides data on the environmental and social
impacts of the project for the whole project lifecycle. As part of their
operations, most development projects involve regular monitoring of
indicators (including such things as the quantity of ores extracted,
materials processed, energy used, and sewage released, etc.). More
specifically, the information collected during monitoring activities helps

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to ensure that the priorities listed in the Environmental Management
Plan (EMP), mitigation measures, and contingency plans are properly
implemented and that these plans and measures are effective in
addressing the project’s impacts.
2.2.5. KEY INSTITUTIONS IN THE EIA FOR DEVELOPMENT
PROJECTS

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Learning outcome 2.3: DEVELOP AN EIA REPORT
2.3.1. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY AND REPORTING
The EIS which is a research and investigation phase of the EIA process
is the main stage of intervention. For development projects, it involves a
three-step process:
1. Potential impacts of a project and their magnitude are
identified.
Also included in this step is the Analysis of Initial State. IL-3
projects start the EIS process at step 1 while IL2 projects start the
process at Step 2. IL-1 projects are not subjected to EIS, and
instead they go directly to the Decision-making and Authorization
stage. IL-1 projects are however subjected to a period of public
review during which stakeholders may submit written views to the
Authority.
2. An Environmental Impact Report including an Environment
Management Plan (EMP) :is drafted on completion of the

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 investigations. The main objective of an EMP is to streamline
environmental issues into the business and operational plans of the
project. An EMP is incorporated into the Environmental Impact
Report and submitted to the developer who may, if necessary,
append an addendum (Environmental Impact Report Addendum)
to the EIA report. The developer then submits the EIA report to the
Authority, which checks for completeness before passing them on
to Lead Agencies and stakeholders for review (Step 3).
3. The EIR is subjected to a formal public hearing and post-
hearing consultation: Output of the public hearing is a Public
Hearing Report, written by the presiding officer (RDB staff). The
public hearing report, EIR and the developer’s response, constitute
the basis for decision making regarding approval or disapproval of
the project.
3.2. SOME KEY TASKS THAT MUST BE PERFORMED BY
THE EIA EXPERTS DURING IMPACT STUDY ARE:
1. Analysis of the initial state: During environmental impact study,
EIA Experts should undertake an analysis of the initial state of the
environment performed to create a comparative basis of impacts
after project implementation commences. Analysis of Initial State
should include a record of baseline environmental conditions
considered to be threatened by the project.
2. Identification and Analysis of Impacts: This involves prediction
and analysis of potential socio-environmental impacts that would
result from developing, operation and decommissioning of the
project.
3. Mitigation Measures, Alternatives and Monitoring: This entails
identification and assigning responsibilities and duties related to
impact mitigation, alternative project options and requirements for
monitoring. After mitigation measures have been identified, viable
alternatives considered, details and schedule for monitoring during

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 project implementation identified, the EIA Experts shall include
this information in the Environmental Impact Report.
4. Mitigation Measures: Mitigation measures are intended to prevent
or minimize negative impacts of a project and enhance the positive
ones. EIA Experts shall develop mitigation measures for IL-3
projects, basing on findings of the environmental impact study.
Mitigation measures for IL-2 projects will be based on nature of
the project, its components and input of the review committees.
The EIA experts shall prioritize mitigation measures, organizing
them into a hierarchy of importance with highest priority given to
measures that prevent highly significant adverse environmental or
socioeconomic impacts.
5. Review of Alternatives: During EIA studies, the EIA experts shall
undertake an analysis of alternatives with the view of finding
feasible ways to prevent or minimize negative impacts while
maintaining project objectives.
6. Preparation of EIA Report: The EIA experts shall compile results
of an impact study into a report termed an Environmental Impact
Report (EIR). This document should provide the Authority with
sufficient information to objectively appraise and either approve or
disapprove of a proposed project. The EIR shall be forwarded to
the developer who shall sign it and submit it to the Authority.
EIA report meaning:
The EIA Report is a compilation of several important project
components, including the project description, the assessment of its
environmental and social impacts, mitigation measures, and related
management and monitoring plans. During this step, all the
information gathered during the previous steps is compiled into a
comprehensive report that analyzes and synthesizes the data,
structuring it as stipulated in the terms of reference (TOR).
Purpose of developing the EIA report:

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 informational document” intended to inform public agency decision-
makers and the public of the significant environmental effects of a
project, identify possible ways to minimize the significant effects and
describe reasonable alternatives to the project.
Advantages of developing an EIA report
Approach for developing an EIA report: The general approach to
preparing an EIA report is to structure the information and interpret
the material collected (such as research outcomes) in such a way that
it provides reasoning for the suggested mitigation measures and
changes in project implementation. The document structure and
interpretation are guided by the Terms of Reference that the project is
subjected to.
2.3.3. STRUCTURE OF INFORMATION IN EIA REPORT
Interpret the material collected
Structure of EIA report format:
The main aim of an EIA Report is to provide prudent information for
two types of audiences – decision-makers and people potentially
affected by a Project. The Report, therefore, must communicate
effectively with these audiences. The quality should reflect the
following:
• Table of contents
• Acronyms and abbreviations
• Executive summary
• General information
• Project and alternatives description
• Environmental setting
• Assessment of impacts

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 • Mitigation and monitoring measures
• Environmental management plan
• Commitment Statement
• Annexes
SUBMISSION OF EIA REPORT TO THE AUTHORITY

After a developer has reviewed the EIA report and, if necessary,

written an addendum, these documents, which should be signed by
the EIA experts, are submitted by the developer to REMA. The
developer shall submit at least five copies of the EIA report to the
Authority. When submitting EIA documents to the Authority,
developers shall indicate any information, which they wish to remain
confidential. All such confidential information shall only be privy to
the developer, EIA experts and the Authority. The Authority shall
ensure that for any project ready for review, three principal
documents are available, namely:
 Environmental Impact Report (EIR) including Environment
Management Plan (EMP),
 Developer’s Environmental Impact Report Addendum (where
applicable),
 Public Hearing Report.
2.3.4. EIA REPORT REVIEW AND DECISION-MAKING
Review of EIA documents submitted to the Authority enables
subsequent decision-making on either approval or disapproval of a
project.
Public Hearing:
RDB is responsible for conducting public hearings during the EIA
process. The purpose of a public hearing is to furnish interested

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 and affected parties and the public with an opportunity to comment
on, or raise issues relevant to an application for environmental
authorization.
Participants to the public hearing will include: Government
agencies with responsible for licensing (RDB, REMA, RNRA,
RBS, MINICOM, MINIRENA, MININFRA, MIFOTRA),
concerned Local Authorities; Private sector Federation; National
Police Fire Brigade; Professional Associations including Impact
Assessors and Engineers’ Body (if and when registered); Local
community representatives; non-governmental organizations and
the developer.
After verification of the EIA study report, the assigned focal
person may have comments or request for additional information.
In this case the applicant will be notified via email and SMS and
he / she will be requested to send any additional information
through the online application system.
For big projects, it might take more than 20 days after the
submission of the EIA report to obtain an EIA Certificate. In this
case, the client will be informed at the time of submission of the
EIA report. The assigned focal person will call the applicant to let
him/her know when the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Certificate is ready.

REVIEW QUESTIONS
1. Define clearly the following terms:

a) Eutrophication
b) Environmental impact assessment
2. Discuss clearly the different categories of environmental impact.

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3. Take a sample and develop an environmental report on your own
choice.

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