UNIT 1 BASIC CONCEPTS OF EIA

Structure
1.0 Introduction
1.1 Objectives
1.2 Concept and Purpose of EIA
1.3 Rationale and Historic Development of EIA
1.3.1 Rationale of EIA
1.3.2 Historic Development of EIA
1.3.3 Evolution of EIA in India

1.4 EnvironmentalImpact Statement

1.5 Principles and Practices
1.5.1 Basic Principles
1.5.2 Operating Principles

1.6 Strategic EnvironmentalAssessment (SEA)

1.6.1 Rationale and Scope
1.6.2 SEA Process

1.7 Let Us Sum Up

1.8 Key Words

1.9 References and Suggested Further Readings

1.10 Answers to CheckYour Progress

1.0 INTRODUCTION
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an instrument of environmental
management that willbe taking on for the newly proposed activities which have
notable adverse effects on the naturalenvironment andare basedon the approval of
concern national authority. It is supposed to furnish decision-makers about the
predictable environmental ramification of a proposed project. It will result in
environmentally robust decisions. The main potential of the environmental impact
assessment is its flexibility.
EnvironmentalImpact Assessment procedure makes sure aboutthe environmental
implication before makinga finaldecision of assessing certain characteristic feature
of that environment. The EIA process of assessment examines the adverse
consequences on environment. EIA is a mandatory in all the processes of project
planning that provides solutions to the environmental impacts of projects without
disturbing the ethicaland sensitive issues of the public. This information provides a
chance to the project managers torecover from the drawbacksin theproject planning
process. The new project proposer is liable to initiate the process of preparation of
the EIA statement either with the help of concern institution or external consultant.
The MoEFCC is the nodalagency for environmental clearance. Most of the major
projects haveeither rejectedor facingdifficulties becauseof theinadequate information 5
Introduction to of their projects with the associated environment. Some of them are not sustained
EnvironmentalImpact
Assessment because of resource depletion nature.

1.1 OBJECTIVES
After completing this unit, you should be able to:
 discuss various concepts of EIA;
 identify the evolutionof EIA;
 describe environmental impact assessment (EIA) as an environmental
management tool;
 explain strategic environmentalassessment (SEA); and
 carryout an environmental impact assessment study.

1.2 CONCEPT AND PURPOSE OF EIA

According to the UN convention (1991), Environmental ImpactAssessment (EIA)
is defined as “a procedure for evaluating the likely impact of proposed activity on
theenvironment”. ForconductingEIA,environment isconsidered asthe combination
of subsystems of physical environment (geology, topology, climate, water, air),
biologicalenvironment (terrestrialand aquatic communities, rare and endangered
species, sensitive habitats, significant naturalsites) and socio-cultural environment
(population, land use, development activities, goods and services, public health,
recreation, culturalproperties, customs, aspirations). Impact may be described as
the result of changesin theenvironment. Forexample, increasein airpollution because
of the initiation of a new project activity is an effect, while the consequence of air
pollution on human health, flora, fauna, etc. is the impact. Assessmentis a procedure
in whichassembling, summarizing,organizingandinterpretingtheexistingknowledge,
andcommunicating to policymakers formeaningfuldeliberations.
According to the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA),
Environmental Impact Assessment is “the procedure of recognizing, anticipating,
assessing andmitigatingthe biophysical, socialand other relevant effects of project
proposals before major decisions beingtaken and commitments made”. The main
concept ofEIA isto promotesocially desirable,economically feasibleand ecologically
viable solutions to achieve environmental sustainability. EIA’s are unique in nature
sincethey donot decidecompliance to the pre-decided outcome onthe environment.
Rather, they fix upthe responsibilityon decision makers to provide environmentally
friendly decisions and to justify them in connection with detailed study of the
environment andpublic commentsreceived onthe probable environmental adverse
impacts of the proposal. It is mandatory for any regulatory system to understand
the linkagebetween environment and developmentalactivity, in order tomake choice
of the development that will be economically efficient, socially equitable and
responsible,and ecologicallysound bypreventing or minimizing theadverse effects
onenvironmentalhealth.An effectiveEIAprocess should involve public participation
in decision making. This will ensure public security, process independency and
impartiality inequilibrating the demands of environmentaldevelopment.
Bruntland Commission described the EIA as a centralmanagement toolto achieve
environmentalsustainability. Onthe basisof environmentalsustainability the aim is
6 “to inform the process of decision-making by identifying the potentially significant
environmental effects and risks of development proposals” and the broader aim is Basic Conceptsof EIA
“to promote sustainable developmentby ensuringthat developmentproposals should
not sabotage critical resource and ecological functions or the well being, lifestyle
and livelihood of the communities and peoples who depend on them”.
The commission derived the EIA objectives are to
i. Design the project proposal with greener approach.
ii. Assure that resources are used appropriately and efficiently.
iii. Recognize suitable measures for alleviate the likely impacts of the proposal.
iv. Enable informeddecision makingfor implementingthe proposal.
v. Safeguard human healthand safety.
vi. Reduce irreparable changes and serious damages to the environment.
vii. Protect assessed resources, naturalenvironment and ecosystem components.
viii. Augment the socialaspects of the proposal.
Impacts of environment have been classified in to primary and secondary impacts.
They are as follows.
Primary Impacts: Primary impacts are those impacts which can be associated
directly to the proposed action. For example, the proposed activity is construction
of an amenity like wastewatertreatment plantor constructionof a residential society,
the primary impacts on the action would be waste removaland disposal, land use
changes at the facility site and localenvironment damage.
Secondary Impacts: Secondary impacts are those impacts which are indirect or
induced changes like investments and deviation in normal social and economic
activities. In the above example, the secondary impacts would include the
environmentalimpacts related to indirect changes in the pattern of land use, density
of population, and related effectson air, water and other naturaleco systems will be
affected.
Environmental Impact Assessment is a procedure which has three important
purposes. They are
i. To facilitate decision making: EIA provides a coherent evaluation of the
environmentalconsequences of a proposed activity and occasionally provide
options; before a decision is taken up by the decision-maker may be the local
authority. The decision-maker compile all relevant documents of the planned
proposed activity can consider the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
ii. To assist in the formation of development: Most of the project proposers
feel that EIA as another barrier to cross. The process has varioussteps involved
in obtaining the approvals from different competent authorities, which is
expensive andtime consumingexercise. But in fact, EIA can be of huge benefit
to them, sinceit willprovide a meaningful frameworkto overcome the location
and design in addition to the environmentalissues. It assists in formulation of
project activities, specified areas where the project can be reviewed to reduce
or eliminate completely the adverse impacts on the environment. This helps in
earlyidentificationofenvironmentalimpactsin theplanningstageofdevelopment,
which leads to effective project development, healthy relations between the 7
Introduction to developer, the planning authority and the local communities for successful
EnvironmentalImpact
Assessment completion of the project and financial return on the incurred expenditure.
iii. To become a management tool for sustainable development: The concept
of sustainable developmentincludes meet the needsof the present, continuous
improvement of quality of life by economic growth without compromising the
ability offuture generations to meettheir ownneeds and without environmental
damage. Institutional responses to sustainable development are, therefore,
required at several levels.
Accordingto the UNEP principles the procedure for EIA should be conducted as
per the legislation as ‘initial’or ‘comprehensive’. TheEIA conversationprovides an
opportunity to the likely to be affected state with a right to participate in a national
EIA for representation and also tomonitor the multi lateralor joint assessment. The
joint or multilateralassessment willbe possibleonly when incompatible of the data
or situation exists.
Rio declaration (1972) recognizes “the concept of viable environment, as a decent,
healthy one and advocated the promotion of environment quality by active control
on wrong practices in every member state”. Whereas 1992 Rio declaration
recognized and promote the “concept of collective , solidarity rights and proclaims
that, “all persons have the right to a secure ,healthy ,and ecologically sound
environment, adequate to meet equitably the needsof presentgenerations, so as not
to impair the rights of future generations and their needs,’’which is the fundamental
right of sustainable development. The specific objective of EIA is to anticipate and
point out potentialenvironmentalproblems at an early stage of project planning and
design.EIA meticulouslyexamines beneficialand adverseconsequences ofthe project
and ensures that these effects are taken into account during project design. EIA
helpsthe government in anticipatingenvironmental effects of theactivity proposed,
mitigating measures for predicted adverse effects and foresee the effects after
implementingthemitigation measures.
The purpose of the EIA process is to “protect the environment through proactive
early considerations of environmentally friendly designs, options and alternatives;
avoidance and prevention of adverseenvironmentalconsequencein orderto influence
key decision makings throughout the entire life cycle of the designated project”.

1.3 Rationale of EIA

Dear Learners, let us now read about Rationale of EIA in the following sentences:

1.3.1 The Rationale of EIA

The effective EIAshould possessthree fundamentalvalues. Thefirst valueis integrity;
it states that the EIA procedure should be equitable, objective, impartial and well
balanced. The second would be utility; itprovide stableand reliableinformation for
decision making. The third value is sustainability; where it should result in
environmental stewards to diminish significant unfavorable effects and escape
irreparable loss of natural resource and functions of ecosystem.
The EIAreport was formulated tofulfill itsobjectives asdefined inthe Environmental
Protection Act (EPA) 2002. Relevant mitigating measures will be deduced, aimed
at preventing, minimizing and balance the adverse effects that are most likely to
occur because of proposed project. The following core components that may be
8 affected by the project were properly considered in this report.
i. Disruption due to construction Basic Conceptsof EIA

ii. Oil spills on land and sea

iii. Waste water disposal
iv. Solid waste disposal
v. Air emissions
vi. Storm Run-off
vii. Noise Pollution
viii. Traffic
ix. Socio-economic impact
The sensitivity of thesecomponents tothe effects caused bythe projectwas evaluated
and eventually, mitigating measureshad been defined to avoid, minimizeand reduce
the environmental consequences. Best Professional Judgment (BPJ), previous
occurrence from similar projects served as a fundamental basis for predicting
environmentalimpact of the project.
The adverse effects of the proposed project were assessed at the following two
stages
i. Throughout the construction phase which are short term or temporary nature
ii. Throughout the operationalphase when the effects are permanent and lasting.

1.3.2 Historic Development of EIA

EnvironmentalImpact Assessment is animportant environmentalmanagement tool
for proposed activity. Dear learner let us know how EIA has emerged over the
years.
The potential of human beings by anthropogenic activities for destruction of the
environment unintentionally isepitomized and evident through
i. The deterioration of the ozone layer,
ii. through the extinction of endangered species, and
iii. through mass deforestation and desertification,
The degradation of natural resources like air, water and soil has been reached to the
point where the natural environment imposing it on our quality life in extremely
undesirable way. The inadequate environmental planning, human activities have
resulted in the disruptionofsocialand communalharmony, theloss ofhumanlivelihood
and life, the introduction ofnew diseases, and thedestruction ofrenewable resources.
This was realized by the people of United States (US), when those problems had
first started affecting the quality of their life.
Environmentalmovements in US in 1960’s havestrengthened bythe environmental
concerns of the present day that leads to the enactment of environmentallaws. In
order to protect enormous green lands from human activities in the name of
development, this movement had change the direction to controllingthe chemical
hazardous by-products released by the industries. At this point, the “Silent Spring”
book was published by Rachel Carson – a marine biologist, generated social
awareness regardingenvironmental issues. 9
Introduction to Among all the developed nations, United States of America (USA), realized the
EnvironmentalImpact
Assessment need of EIA in 1969 and made it mandatory through its National Environmental
Protection Act (NEPA), and followed by most of industrialized countries for
implementingEIAprocedures. The countries likeCanada,Australia, the Netherlands
and Japan endorsed legislation on EIA in 1973, 1974, 1981 and 1984, respectively.
In1985, European Community (EC) circulated a notice making environmental
assessments compulsory for certain categories of projects. In Latin American
countries, Columbia was the first nation to establish a system of EIA in 1974. In
Asia and the Pacific region, Thailand and the Philippines have established the
procedures for EIA. In Sri Lanka, EIA was made mandatory in 1984.
Bilateralandmultilateralagencieshave identifiedthe importanceand gavea recognition
status tothe EIAas an environmentalmanagementinstrument. TheOrganization for
Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), recommended the EIA to its
constituent States in 1974 and 1979, and for development assist projects in 1986.
OECD framed guidelines and issued for good practices in EIA in 1992. In 1980,
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), supported research on
developmentalproposals ofEIA by providing guidelines. In 1987, UNEP established
a set of goalsand principles of EIA for thefellow countriesby providingguidance on
basic procedures for EIA to conduct in 1988.
In 1987, the World Bankincorporated the EIA as an integral part of policy, which
states that allenvironmental issues should be discussed as part of overall economic
policy. The World Bank issued the Operational Directive on Environmental
Assessment (O.D. 4.00) in 1989 that was revised and updated in October 1991
(O.D. 4.01).Asian Development Bank in 1990 published guidelines for EIA (ADB,
1990).Brundtland Reportpresented atUnited NationsEarth Summiton environment
and development held at Rio de Janeiro in 1992proclaimed about the importance
of EIA. Accordingto Garner and O’Riodan (1982), the EIA, is a toolfor decision-
making world-over has evolved through thefollowing steps:
i. EIA that do not possess formal accounting, group lobbyingand engineering
feasibility are the criteria for decision making and economic development is
also of significant concern.
ii. Conventionalanalysis oncost effectiveness; emphasis on productivity criterion
and engineeringpracticability and great concernstill oneconomic development.
iii. Innovative cost-benefit analysis, use of multiple objectives and discount rates,
imaginative proxy pricing mechanisms; economic development as one of the
objectives. Major concern of EIA is by describing the consequences of the
proposals on bio-physical processes, socio-cultural keeping economic
development stillas a primary objective.

1.3.3 Evolution of EIA in India

After the roleof EIAssessment was officially recognized at theEarth Summit in Rio
Conference in 1992,where the Rio declaration proclaimed that EIA should be taken
as nationalinstrumentfor proposed activities thatmay likelyto haveadverse impacts
on the environment. Until 1980s, most of the project activities were executed with
minimum or withoutenvironmental considerationin India. In 1980, the Department
of Environment came into existence. In 1976-77, EnvironmentalImpact Analysis
was started in India, when the Department of Science and Technology was asked
byPlanningCommissionto examinethe river-valleyprojects from the environmental
10
angle. This was subsequently extended to cover those projects, which required
approvalof the Public Investment Board. These were administrative decisions, and Basic Conceptsof EIA
lacked the legislative support. The Government of India enacted the Environment
(Protection)Act on 23rd May 1986. To achieve the objectives of the Act, one of
the decisions taken was to make EIAstatutory.After completion of legal procedure,
a notification was released on 27th January 1994 and eventually amended on 4th
May 1994, 10th April 1997and 27th January 2000, executing environmentalimpact
assessment statutory for thirty activities. In 1985, the Department of Environment
and Forest was upgraded to the status of a Ministry. Since then, steadily the
environmentclearance to large projects became mandatoryadministrative necessity.
In the early 1990s, initiallythe MoEF notifiedEIAguidelinesfor River Valley Projects
to study the impacts of submergence zones of such projects on forest, wildlife,
water logging potential, impacts on upstream and downstream aquatic ecosystems,
water related pathogens and diseases, climate changes and seismicity etc. In 1994,
the Ministry of Environment and Forests notified official“Environment Impact
Assessment process with a yardstick, decided to take environmental clearance for
projects from centre or state level. In the first instance, projects like Nuclear Power
plantsand related activities, RiverValley Projects,Ports, Harbors,Airports, Petroleum
refineries, Chemicalfertilizers, Pesticides, Bulk drugs and Pharma, Oil Exploration,
Synthetic rubber, Asbestos were submitted under Central Government for
environment Clarence. In EIA 1994, the Project proponent was required to consult
the State Pollution ControlBoard (SPCB) for approvalof the identified site. If the
sitecame under any specialnotification suchas forest land, coastalzone, ecologically
sensitive area, etc., then clearance for the site was to be obtained from Ministry of
Environment, Forests and Climate Change(MoEFCC), which functions under the
controlof the CentralGovernment.

Do you Know
The following are some of the notifications issued by the Government of India
under Environment (Protection)Act 1986, related to environmental impact
assessment that are with restricted to distinct geographical areas. They are
i. Prohibiting location of industries except those related to Tourism in a belt
of 1 km from high tide mark from the Revdanda Creek up to Devgarh
Point (near Shrivardhan) as wellas in 1 km belt alongthe banks of Rajpuri
Creek in Murud Janjira area in the Raigarh district of Maharashtra (6th
January 1989).
ii. Restricting location of industries, miningoperations and regulating other
activities in Doon Valley (1st February 1989).
iii. Regulating activities in the coastalstretches of the country by classifying
them as coastal regulation zone and prohibiting certain activities (19th
February 1991).
iv. Restricting location of industries and regulatingother activities in Dahanu
Taluka in Maharashtra (6th June 91).
v. Restricting certain activities in specified areas of Aravalli Range in the
Gurgaon district of Haryana and Alwar district of Rajasthan (7th May
1992).
vi. Restricting industrial and other activities,which could lead topollution and
congestion in the north west of Numaligarh in Assam (July 1996). 11
Introduction to The existingEnvironmental Clearance (EC) process follows two-tier system that
EnvironmentalImpact
Assessment involving both Central andState government.At the Centralgovernment level, there
are three divisions are assigned, they are Impact Assessment division (IA) under
MoEFCC, regional offices of MoEFCC and Central Pollution Control Board
(CPCB), whereas at state levelSPCBs and Departments of Environment (DoE)
are working.Till date,the EIAprocess isa wellestablished andEC has been provided
hugenumber ofdevelopment projects.Realizing thisshifting paradigm,the MoEFCC
notified new EIA legislation in September 2006. Unlike the EIA Notification of
1994, the new legislation has set a responsibility of clearing projects on the state
government based on the size or capacity of the project. Besides this, any State
Government regardless of the project category can obtain environmental clearance
directly from the CentralGovernment any proposed project which is situated in
extremely polluted area, within a radius of 15kilometers of the boundary of reserved
forests, ecologically sensitive areas, which include national parks, sanctuaries, and
biosphere reserves.

1.4 ENVIRONMENTALIMPACTSTATEMENT(EIS)
The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is a statement that provides a record of
the statistics, data and approximate calculation obtained from the various steps
involved in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure. The regulatory
authorities or decision makers will follow the actualinformation provided by EIS
and take decision whether to approve or disapprove or suggest for considerable
modification of a project proposal. The EIS consists of the followingthree parts.
Part one dealwith the declaration of criteria and methodology used in particular
project and provide a summary and crucial issues in the form of a statement.
Part two deal with concept and rationale to the proposed activity. It also includes
the exploratory studies like need, planning, alternatives,site selection,site description
conditions, description of proposed development and construction activities and
programmes.
Part three dealwith EnvironmentalImpact Assessments proposed areas. It survey
the proposedactivity areas,basically landuse, landscapeand visualquality, geology,
topography and soils, hydrology and water quality, air quality and climate, terrestrial
and aquatic ecology,noise, transport, socio-economic andinterrelationships between
effects.
Check Your Progress 1
Note: a) Write your answer in about 50 words.
b) Checkyour progress with possible answers given at the end of the unit.
1. Where EIA isrequired, whatinformation hasto beincluded inthe Environmental
Statement?

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 Basic Conceptsof EIA
1.5 PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICES
Dear Learners, let us now read about principles and practices in the following
sentences:

1.5.1 Basic Principles

Principle One: Proactive Planning and Decision Tool- the EIA process is a
proactive environmentalplanning toolto avoid and predict adverse environmental
impacts that are likely to be caused by the proposed development. An EIA should
provide genuine information to the decision making process.
Principle Two: Avoidance, Prediction and Prevention of Adverse
Environmental Consequences- the target of the EIA process is to avoid and stop
adverseenvironmental consequencesof theproposed project;In case of unavoidable
adverse environmental impacts it provides reduction measures and controlling
measures.
Principle Three: Making effective Impact on Decision making as soon as
Possible Opportunity and Thinking Proactively about Options and
Alternatives- It is important to facilitate any effort to enhance the environmental
performance of the proposed development at the beginningof the project planning
stage rather than at the later stage of the project development. Anticipating adverse
environmental impacts at the early stage of the project implementation saves the
time and is beneficial. Possible alternatives should be considered when adverse
environmental impacts are anticipated, and in considering alternatives, the primary
consideration is whether applying the precautionary principle, the project is shown
to be environmentally acceptable.
Principle Four: Living Process Throughout the Project Cycle- the EIA process
should involve a course of dynamic actions throughout the project cycleto identify
and predict the possible adverse environmental impacts from the proposed
development, to develop measures to avoid, pre-empt, prevent and reduce
environmentalproblems, andto manageand controlenvironmentalimpactsto within
established limits or criteria.
Principle Five: Making EIA Recommendations Enforceable - the EIA
recommendations should be sensible, practicalandeffective, withinformation about
the 5 Ws (ie. what mitigation measures would be implemented, by whom, when,
where and to what requirements) and with comprehensible definition of the
responsibility for implementing the recommended mitigation measures. The
recommended measures should be easy to enforce and can prevent environmental
problems from occurring, rather than relying on remedial measures after problems
occur.
Principle Six: FlexibilityAmidst Robustness and Transparency, with Public
Participation and with the AbilitytoAdapt to Changes- the EIAprocess should
be transparent and take into account public participation, but should be flexible to
adapt to changing circumstances without compromising the environmental
requirements.
Principle Seven: Seeking Practical Environmental Outcomes for the
Environment and Community- one of the objectives of the EIA process is to
deliver and communicate practicalenvironmental outcomes for theenvironment and
13
thecommunity.
Introduction to Principle Eight: Avoidance of any Late Focus- early focus on major adverse
EnvironmentalImpact
Assessment environmentalconsequences could save a large amount of efforts or costs that may
otherwise arise from expensive or time-consumingremedial works at a later stage.
Principle Nine: Efficiency Amidst Effectiveness- an effective and efficient
approach in carryingout EIA studiesstep by step would enhance the productivity of
the EIA process.
Principle Ten: Transparent Agreement among Relevant Parties, Clear
Expectations of what need to be done and what the Performance will be, and
Explicit Resolution of any Conflicts- agreements, expectations, performance
requirements and any conflict resolutions etc. should be fullycommunicated among
relevant parties in an open and frank manner to avoid misunderstanding and to
enhance better management of EIA follow up works.

 Project Screening-EIA required?

 Scoping-Impacts & issues to be considered
 Explanation of proposed project
 Explanation of the environmental baseline

 Anticipation of Impacts
Public
 Evaluation and Assessment of
Consultation
importance of Impacts
 Identification of mitigating measures

 Presentation of findings in an EIS

 Review of the EIS

 Decision Making

 Post-decision monitoring
 Auditing and prediction of mitigation
measures

Fig. 1 : Steps in EIA Process

1.5.2 Operating Principles

The EIA operatingprinciples should be applied to the proposed activities-
 Before decision making phase and entire life cycle of the proposed activity;
 To all projects which are likely to have potentially adverse effects;
 o consider progressive effects compatible with the sustainable development
conceptlike bio-physicalimpacts andrelevant socio-economicfactors, including
14 health, culture, gender, life style and age.
 To facilitate the involvement of communities and associated public by the Basic Conceptsof EIA
proposed activities of industries.
 In accordance with internationally agreed measures and activities.
Operating Principles:
Screening - This is the first step to determine whether a proposal should be subject
to EIA or not and if it requires then the level of EIA required. If not, it provides an
opportunity to explore and establish the possible alternatives for achievingproposal
objectives
Scoping – The scoping stage identify thecore issueswhich arelikely to have adverse
effects and scrutinize further. It also defines the terms of reference like scope and
timelimit.
Impact analysis – The analysis stage recognizes and foresees the possible
environmental and socio-economic impact of the proposed project and evaluates
the significance.
Mitigation and impact management – This stage advocates the activities to reduce
and avoid the unfavorable environmentalconsequences of proposed development
activities and establish the measures to incorporate in the environmental impact
management plan.
Evaluation of significance – This stage of EIA determines the relative significance
and eligibility of impactswhich cannotbe mitigated.
Environmental impact Statement (EIS) or report - This is the crucial step of
EIA where after evaluation, the unbiased facts on proposal impacts, established
mitigation measures, inputs from the communities and the associated public will be
documented in the form of reportand presentto thedecision makingauthorities and
display to the concerned public.
Review of the EIA – The review stage determine the sufficiency and efficacy of the
report in order to meet the terms of reference which are necessary for decision
making.
Decision Making – On the basis of above steps of EIA, it finalizes whether to
approve the proposalor reject or needs further changes and also to enact the terms
and conditions forits implementation.
Follow up – After the proposed project is commissioned, this step ensure whether
the project is working with in the legal standards and implementingthe mitigation
measures which are described in theEIA report. It also monitors the optimization of
theproject proposalby conductingenvironmental audit and evaluates the procedure
ofenvironmentalmanagement.
These principles are depicted as steps in fig 1.
Limitations: The limitations of EIA in the Indian systems are identified as
i. Lack of expertise in the team conductingEIA studies in the concerned fields
for developing EIA,
ii. Improper scoping for the EIA,
iii. No checks on the competence and liability of EIA consultancies, 15
Introduction to iv. Lack of exhaustive ecologicaland socio-economic indicators, lackof reliable
EnvironmentalImpact
Assessment data sources, and no credibility of the primary data collected by the data
collectors is doubtful. At the same time there is a need among community-
based organizations, non-governmental organizations, academicians and
environmental managers to review and interpret EIA reports, as they are
technicalin nature, for generalunderstanding and for informed decision making
on issues and projects that willlargely decide the fate of an area in particular or
the country at large.
Check Your Progress 2
Note: a) Write your answer in about 50 words.
b) Checkyour progress with possible answers given at the end of the unit.
1. What action does the planning authority have to take?
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2. Explain Screening step in detail.
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3. Write a brief noteon evaluation of the Environmental Statement.
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1.6 STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTALASSESSMENT

(SEA)
The developingcountries witha trend of industrialization and urbanization results in
expansion ofcities and construction of new projects,depleting naturalresources put
a heavy load on ecological foot print due to which sources of pollution increases.
The increasein the pollution levels and thelack ofenough strategies in environmental
planningand management keep environmentalsustainability is an unachievable
target. The existing EIA guidelines, has not been effective due to many reasons like
legislation,organizationalcapacity, training, environmentalinformation, participation,
and policy. In a perception, EIA is more focused on project development proposals
rather than predict the effects proactively. It does not appraise the type of project
activity suitablefor socioeconomic development. It also lacks the strategic vision for
consideringcumulative impacts of multiple project proposals. In this situation the
need for developing another environmental management tool, the SEA has come to
16 existence.
SEA – Definition: SEA is defined as a formal, systematic and comprehensive Basic Conceptsof EIA
procedureto analyze, address and evaluate and address the environmentalpolicies,
plans and programmes (PPP) that have physical and spatial reference and other
strategic initiatives on alternatives to the adverse environmental effects.

1.6.1 Rationale and Scope

The rationale of SEA falls in to the following three classes.
 To strengthening the EIA process by ensuringthe policies and planswhere the
environmental issues are addressed in a pro-active manner.
 To improve the cumulative environmental impact assessment of large scale
projects.
 To focus on sustainable development
The EIA procedures and practices have certain limitations. They contain structural
deficiency on the relatively finalphase at which EIA is applied in decision-making
with or without proper environmental analysis. For project proposals, SEA can be
used as a complement toproject-level EIA to integrateenvironmental considerations
and alternatives to the activities directly into policy, plan and programme design.
According to Brundtland Commission of WCED, 1987 andAgenda 21of UNCED,
1992, ‘SEA can be a vector for a sustainability approach to planningand decision-
making when applied systematicallyin theupstream part of the decision cycle and to
theeconomic, fiscaland tradepolicies that guide the overallcourseof development’.
This approach of upstream helps in constructing EIA projects more significant and
reducing the time and effort involved in their preparation.
The scope of SEA is decision assistance instead of decision-making process. In
several stages of policy making cycle, it acts as a tool for application of planning
process in more flexible way. With this extensive frame of reference, SEA includes
both wide policy initiatives and more specific programmes and plans that have
physical and spatial references like cities, regional plans and development
programmes.
The policies, plans and programmes of EIA and the evaluation process of
environmental impacts at a strategic level are need not be the same as that at a
project level.In this process, the three tiredPPPs are – apolicy provides a framework
for the establishment of plans, plans provide frameworks for programmes and
programmes lead to projects shown in Figure 1.
Fig.1.2 : Tiers in SEA

Tier 1 Tier 2 Tier 3

POLICY PLAN PROGRAM PROJECT

SEA SEA SEA EIA

This framework hierarchyexists between policies, plans and programswith policies
are at the first levelof conceptualization followed by plans and programs. Program
activities make plans more certain by fix up a time schedule for specific activities.
Execution of a program includes carryingout certainprojects, which were subjected
to the EIA.
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Introduction to
EnvironmentalImpact
1.6.2 SEA Process
Assessment
The followingare the procedural steps of SEA.
Screening: Screening isthe stagewhere allliable agencyor companyor organization
under takes suitable assessment procedures for strategic decisions those has
environmentaladverse effects.
Timing: SEAsolutions are available wellin advance for formulation of thestrategic
decision.

Environmental scoping: This is one of the important step in SEA, where whole
pertinent information regardingto theproposed developmentalactivity tothe judging
authority for verification whether to allow the developmental activity, whether the
defined objectives would be completed in environmentally benign way or follow
other alternative approaches.

Otherfactors: Other aspectslike socio-economic conditions shouldbe influenced

the assessment.
Review: This stage of SEA procedure, the standard level of the quality and the
confidential data will be protected by an effective review operation

Participation: Therelevant information regardingthedevelopmental activity will be

obtained by public and all legitimate stakeholders andmake it available beforehand
and is to be used proficiently in the stage of strategic decision
Documentation: The whole information will be documented and the outcome is
recognizable, comprehensible and accessible to allstakeholders those who afflicted
by the decision.

Decision-making and accountability: In this step, the authorities will exhibit the
decision making procedure and how the results were taken into account, to all
stakeholders and all affected group about how theresults weretaken into account in
decision-making.

Post-decision: This step isto monitor,where theprovided informationis emulating

on the real impacts of implementing the decision is valid to judge or the decision
should be amended.
Difference between EIA and SEA methods

The measuringcriteria of SEA is broader than EIA where

 severalother activities are involved,

 substantialdegree of impacts to be assessed,

 Availability of significant range of welldefined options

 Longer time intervals between planning,approval, and implementation stages

Along with the above, the real advantage of SEA is as a creative and innovative
instrumentwith theflexibility in formulation, reformulation and amendment of PPPs
in response toachieve the objective of environmental sustainability.
18
Check your Progress 3 Basic Conceptsof EIA

Note: a) Write your answer in about 50 words.

b) Check your progress with possible answers given at the end of the unit.\
1. What is a Strategic EnvironmentalAssessment?
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
2. What is the need of SEA?
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................
The comparison between EIA and SEA are presented at table 2
Table – 2. EIA Vs SEA
S.NO EIA SEA

1 Reactive to a development proposal Pro-active to a development

proposal

2 Assesses the effects of project Assessesthe effectsof policy,

proposal on the environment plan and programme on the
environment
3 Addresses a specific project Addresses physical and
spatial reference of
development
4 Assess direct impacts and benefits Assess cumulative impacts
and recognizes implications
and issues for sustainable
development
5 Focuses onthe mitigationof impacts Focuses on maintain a set
criteria of environmental
quality
6 Limited approach with high level detail Wide perspective with less
details to provide avision and
overallframe work
7 Main focus is on project specific impacts Creates a structured frame
against which impacts and
benefits can be measured

1.7 LET US SUM UP

In developing countries, the development includes the quality perspective; provide
basic needsof the human community and alsoto secure the betterprospective. One 19
way to ensure the development is to carry out EIA of development activities and
Introduction to ensure that the measures are incorporated properly in the planningprocess. This
EnvironmentalImpact
Assessment unitdescribed theconcept ofenvironmentalimpactassessment (EIA).The overviews,
the purpose, the processes involved inEIA, havediscussed. Eventually,the evolution
of EIA both in India and in other countries, and how prediction or anticipation of
environmentalchange is significant for EIA have discussed in detail. Finally on the
basis of limitations of EIA process the strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
and described the similarities and differences between SEA and EIA.

1.8 KEY WORDS

Compensation : Trade-offs between different parties affected
by proposals to the mutual satisfaction of all
concerned.
Cumulative effects assessment : The assessment of the impact on the
environment whichresults from the incremental
impact of an action when added to other past,
present or reasonably foreseeable actions
regardless of what agency or person
undertakes such actions. Cumulative impact
can result from individually minor but
collectively significant actions takingplace over
a period of time.
Decision-maker : The person(s)entrusted withthe responsibility
for allocatingresources or granting approval
to a proposal.
Development proposals : Consists of a wide range of human activities
which provide (a) favourable conditions for
an increasein thetransformation ofthe natural,
biophysical environmentto providethe goods
and services availableto society (eg. Structural
adjustment programs, ‘rolling’ development
plans) and (b) actions which directly produce
the goods and services.
Discretionary process/decision : A process or decision which the decision-
maker is able to base on personal preference.
Environmental audit : Process focusingon an existing installation,
facility, or activity which involvesa systematic,
periodic evaluation of environmen tal
management to objectively review the
performanceof an organization, management
and equipment with the aim of safeguarding
the environment.
Environmental impact :The systematic, reproducible and
assessment (EIA) interdisciplinary identification, prediction and
evaluation, mitigation and management of
impactsfrom aproposed developmentand its
reasonable alternatives. Sometimesknown as
environmental assessment. Environmental
20
 impact report/statement Document in which Basic Conceptsof EIA
theresults of an EIA are presentedto decision
makers and,usually, thepublic. Environmental
management managingthe productive use of
natural resources without reducing their
productivity and quality
Environmental management : A structured approach for determining,
system implementing and reviewing environmental
policy through the use of a system which
includes organizational structure,
responsibilities, practices, procedures,
processes and resources. Often formally
carried out to meet the requirements of the
ISO 14000 series.
Impact monitoring : Monitoring of environmental/social/health
variables, which are expected to change after
a project has been constructed and is
operational, to test whether any observed
changes are due to the project alone and not
to any other external influences.
Mitigation : The purposefulimplementation ofdecisions or
activities that are designed to reduce the
undesirable impacts of a proposed action on
theaffected environment.
Monitoring:Activity involvingrepeated observation,accordingtoa pre-determined
schedule, of one or more elements of the
environment to detect their characteristics
(status and trends).
Precautionary principle : A principle of sustainability that where there
are threats of serious or irreversible damage,
the lackof full scientific certainty should not
be used as a reason for postponing measures
to prevent environmental degradation.
Proponent : Organization (private or public sector) or
individual intending to im plem ent a
development proposal.
Proposal : Any project, policy, program, plan or other
activity.
Policy : ”A general course of action or proposed
overall direction that a government is, or will
be, pursuing and which guides ongoing
decision making.”
Plan : ”A purposeful, forward looking strategy or
design, often with coordinated priorities,
options and measures, that elaborates and
implements policy.” 21
Introduction to Program : “A coherent, organized agenda or schedule of
EnvironmentalImpact
Assessment commitments, proposals instruments and/or
activities that elaborates and implements
policy.”
Public involvement : A range of techniques that can be used to
inform, consult or interact with stakeholders
affected by a proposal.
Resource : Anything that is used directly by people. A
renewable resource can renew itself or be
renewed at a constant level.A non-renewable
resource isone whoseconsumption necessarily
involvesits depletion.
Risk analysis : Techniqueused to determine the likelihood or
chance of hazardous events occurring (such
as release of a certain quantity of a toxic gas)
and the likely consequences. Originally
developed for use in nuclear and chemical
industry where certain possible events,of low
probability, could have extremely serious
results. Attempts are being made to use
concepts from probabilistic risk analysis to
characterize environmentalimpacts, whose
occurrence and nature are not easy to predict
with any degree of accuracy.
Screening : Preliminary activity undertaken to classify
proposalsaccording to the levelof assessment
that should occur.
Stakeholders : Those who may be potentially affected by a
proposal eg: local people, the proponent,
government agencies, NGOs, donors and
others.
Strategic environmental : A formalprocess of systematic analysis of the
assessment environmentaleffects ofdevelopment policies,
plans, programmes and other proposed
strategicactions. Thisprocess extendsthe aims
and principlesof EIAbeyond the project level
and when major alternatives are still open.
Tiering : Addressing issues and impacts at the
appropriate levelof decision-making (eg from
the policy to project levels). Terms of
Reference (ToR), written requirements
governingEIAimplementation, consultations
to be held, data to be produced and form/
contents ofthe EIAreport andoften produced
as an output from scoping.

22
 Basic Conceptsof EIA
1.9 REFERENCES AND SUGGESTED FURTHER
READINGS
Ahmad, Y. J. and Swamy G. K., (1985), Guidelines to Environmental Impact
Assessment in Developing Countries, Hodder & Stoughton, London.
Canter, L.W.,(1977), EnvironmentalImpact Assessment,MCGraw Mill,New York.
Commission of European Communities, (1985), On the Assessment of Effects of
Certain Public and Private Projects on the Environment, Official Journal, L175,
28.5.85.
Kulkarni V. S., Kaul, S. N., Trivedi R. K., (2001) Handbook of EIA, Scientific
Publishers, India.
KulkarniV and Ramachandra TV, 2009. EnvironmentalManagement, TERI Press,
New Delhi
UNCED, (1992), Rio Declaration, United Nations Conference on Environment
and Development Rio de Janeiro.
https://www.historicenvironment.scot/media/2382/00432344.pdf

1.10 ANSWERS TO CHECK YOUR PROGRESS

Your answers should include the following points:
1. The ES has to address the direct and indirect effects of the development on a
number offactors includingthe population, fauna, flora,soil, air, water, climatic
factors, landscape and archaeology. Where alternatives have been considered
- e.g. alternative locations or different ways of executing the projects - these
should be reported in the ES. Details of any measures proposed by way of
mitigation shouldbe includedin the ES.Planningauthoritiesmay wishto ensure
that these are expressed so that it is clear what is to be done and by when, and
in a way thatfacilitates the drafting ofplanning conditions that willenforce the
mitigation measures.
The ES must also contain a non-technicalsummary so that lay persons can
understand what is being proposed and its likely effects.
1. The planning authority’sroles involve
 “screening” to determine whether a project requires EIA;
 “scoping” to advise the applicant of the likely, significant effects on the
environment that it wants to see addressed in the ES;
 consulting with statutory consultants, members of the public and others
who may have views to establish their view on the proposal and the ES; ,
 evaluating the environmental information presented in the ES and any
representations made before making a decision; and,
 publicizingthe decision.
2. Screening is the process of deciding which projects require EIA.

 An applicant for planningpermission may asktheplanning authority for a 23

Introduction to “screeningopinion” beforesubmitting the application. If it receivessuch a
EnvironmentalImpact
Assessment request, the authority has to issue an opinion within three weeks of the
date of receipt. The Regulations do allow extensions to the three week
periodprovided theyare agreed in writingwith theapplicant. If you believe
you willbe unable to issue a screeningopinion withinthe 3weektimescale
you shouldseekagreementwith the applicant toextend itso that you can
allow for necessary consultation and issue of a thorough, considered
opinion.

 If no extension is agreed, and a screening opinion has not been issued

with the 3 week period the applicant may ask the Scottish Ministers to
issue a screening direction.

 Where a planningapplication issubmitted withoutan ES, and a screening

opinion or screeningdirection has not previouslybeen issued,the planning
authority must determine whether the application falls within a class of
development listed in either Schedule 1 or 2 of the Regulations and, for
any that fallwithin Schedule 2, whether the project will have a significant
effect on the environment. Again a period of three weeks is allowed from
thedate the application is received unlessa longerperiod has been agreed.

 A copyofthescreeningopinion/screeningdirection hasto bemadeavailable

for public inspection at allreasonable hours at theplace where the planning
register is kept.A copy of the screening opinion should be retained for
two years.
3 The planningauthorityis responsible for evaluatingthe ES to ensureit addresses
all of the relevant environmental issues and that the information is presented
accurately, clearly and systematically. It should be prepared to challenge the
findings of the ES if it believes they are not adequately supported by scientific
evidence. If it believesthat key issues are not fully addressed, or not addressed
at all, it must request further information. The authority has to ensure that it has
inits possession all relevantenvironmentalinformationabout thelikely significant
environmentaleffects of the project before it makes its decision whether to
grantplanningpermission.
4. SEA is a means to judge the likely impact of a public plan on the environment
and to seek ways to minimise that effect, if it is likely to be significant. SEA
therefore aimsto offer greater protection to the environment by ensuring public
bodies and those organisations preparingplans1 of a ‘public character’consider
andaddress the likely significant environmentaleffects.
5. Fundamentally SEA is a statutory obligation for qualifyingplans. However,
notwithstanding this fact a SEA can provide a valuable opportunity to identify
and address the environmentalimplications of public plans. SEA processes
can help plan-makers to consider how to deliver a plan differently, in order to
achieve better environmentaloutcomes, while still deliveringimportant plan
objectives. Theenvironmentalassessment process can be challenging, but also
very worthwhile, and the benefits of SEA can significantly outweigh its costs.
When undertaken in a proportionate and effective way, SEAcan lead to: Better
environmentalprotection:SEA can identify environmentaleffects and help the
plan-maker to avoid potential problems by proposing alternative solutions.
Improved plans: SEA can help to make plan making more systematic, and
24 contribute to an evidence base by providing meaningful environmental
information. Providinginsights:SEA can offer a different perspective ona plan Basic Conceptsof EIA
by ensuring that the plan-maker looks at it from an environmentalview point.
Exploration of ‘reasonable alternatives’:SEA can be a source of creativity for
a plan-maker, through the consideration of reasonable alternatives. Some
alternativescan even secure wider benefits, beyondthe environment, that could
otherwise be overlooked. Enhanced communication and transparency: SEA
can help enhancethepublic’sunderstandingofaplan’seffect onthe environment,
so they are betterinformed. Reportingrequirements improve the transparency
of decision makingand potentially greater appreciationof thereasoningbehind
decisions.Reduced longterm costs:by helpingto avoidunforeseen environmental
effects, an effective SEAcan minimise the need for potentially remedial action.
Streamlined consenting:if significantadverse effectscan besuccessfully tackled
at the assessment stage, it may lead to a simpler approachto gainingconsent or
approvalfor a plan, or even for projects thatmay flowfrom it.Potentialsmoother
delivery: more knowledge of the environmental effects could result in some
interest groups and/or the public being less likely to oppose the final plan,
particularly whereadverse environmentaleffects havebeen resolved.The outputs
of an effective SEA can help to address environmental problems, or enhance
positive or beneficialeffects ofplans. It can provide opportunities for the public
to understand theenvironmentalissuesand engagepositively withtheassessment
process. It can be a practicaltool, settingout how environmental effects are to
be dealt with, when the plan is being implemented.

25