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Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer-305 009

This document discusses environmental impact assessments (EIAs). [1] It defines EIAs as a process to analyze potential environmental effects of projects. [2] It outlines the history and objectives of EIAs, including ensuring environmental factors are considered in decision making. [3] The main activities in an EIA process are described such as identifying and mitigating impacts. Key participants like project proponents, decision makers, and consultants are also identified.

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Richa Agrawal
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72 views20 pages

Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University, Ajmer-305 009

This document discusses environmental impact assessments (EIAs). [1] It defines EIAs as a process to analyze potential environmental effects of projects. [2] It outlines the history and objectives of EIAs, including ensuring environmental factors are considered in decision making. [3] The main activities in an EIA process are described such as identifying and mitigating impacts. Key participants like project proponents, decision makers, and consultants are also identified.

Uploaded by

Richa Agrawal
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT

Dr. Praveen Mathur


M.Sc., Ph.D (Czech Republic), P.G.D.E.I.A, P.G.D.E.L (NLSIU, Bangalore)
Associate Professor & Head, Department of Environmental Science
[email protected]

Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati


University,Ajmer-305 009
This century’s one of the most relevant and newly
emerging concept is

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
We will be talking about
Definition of EIA , Origin of EIA
Main activities and Participants of EIA process

and how you can contribute towards EIA


ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Definition:

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a


procedure which entails formal and systematic
collection and analysis of information and data
relating to the possible environmental effects of
a new or significantly altered projects in
relation to the physical, social and economic
environment surrounding that development.
EIA Chronology
1969 USA
1980s UK
1985 European community directive on EIA
(directive 85/337/1985)
1988EIA was introduced to all EC Members
1994EIA notification issued by India
2006 (September) Amendment done in EIA notification

Gradually the rest of the world followed suit


The rapid spread of the concept of EIA, and its central role in
many countries’ programmes of environmental protection,
attest to its universal validity as a proactive planning tool.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and


Development (THE EARTH SUMMIT) in Rio de Janeiro in
June 1992
Rio declaration and Agenda 21

This summit signaled a commitment of the world’s leaders


for sustainable economic growth in the 21st Century.
Both , Rio declaration and Agenda 21 contain
substantial references to EIA and to the
integration of environmental factors and
considerations into the decision making process.

Principle 17 of the Rio declaration is devoted to


EIA. It states:

“Environmental Impact Assessment, as a


National instrument, shall be undertaken for
proposed activities that are likely to have a
significant adverse impact on the
environment and are subject to a decision of
competent national authorities”.
EIA
• ensures Environmental Protection
• offers the potential to incorporate the future
needs of the Environmental management
Systems (EMS)
• helps in Integrating environment and
development at the policy, planning and
management levels
• Provides an effective legal and regulatory
framework

And this is also there in Chapter 8th of Agenda 21 of Earth


Summit which is devoted to integrating environment and
development in decision-making.
Objectives/Goals of EIA
• To alert the interested and affected parties
(Government, industry, regulatory agencies,
local self government, general public, NGOs
etc.) to the possible environmental
consequences of a new action.
• To ensure that the environmental concerns
are fully incorporated in the decision making
process.
Main activities in EIA exercise are:

Description of the environmental setting


Where the proposed development project is going to be realised.
This should aim for gathering basic information for prediction
and assessment.

Identification of impacts
Which is often difficult as the nature and extent of impacts in
different environmental settings due to different development
activities are often not well known.
Measurement and prediction of impacts which
involve a rough estimate of different impacts due to a
particular development project. Methods of
measurement and prediction may be different depending
on the type of environmental features, nature and extent
of impact, tools available and many other factors.

Interpretation and evaluation of impact relate to the


task of finding out how the ecosystem in the particular
environmental setting may be influenced by the impacts
and whether all the impacts are relevant when compared
to each other or are relevant with reference to the
existing ecosystem.
Identification of mitigating measures so that
precautionary measures may be taken to reduce the
possible impacts on environmental features to reach the set
targets of environmental standards.

Planning of monitoring requirements so that regulatory


requirements are complied with and the effectiveness of
mitigating measures can be evaluated.

Communication of quantitative and qualitative data on


impacts and comprehensible interpretation in the form of a
statement.
Screening (does
Screening (doesthe
theproject
project Impactassessment
Impact assessment
requireEIA?)
require EIA?) (interpretingthe
(interpreting theimpacts)
impacts)

Scoping (what
Scoping (whatissues
issuesand
and Mitigation (what
Mitigation (whatcan
canbe
bedone
done
impactsshould
impacts shouldthe
theEIA
EIAaddress?)
address?) totoalleviate
alleviatenegative
negativeimpacts?)
impacts?)

Baselinestudies
Baseline studies(establish
(establish EISpreparation/review
EIS preparation/review
theenvironmental
the environmentalbaseline)
baseline) (documentthe
theEIA
EIAfindings)
findings)
(document

Alternatives (consider
Alternatives (considerthe
the Publicconsultation
Public consultation
differentapproaches)
different approaches) (consultgeneral
(consult generalpublic
publicand
andNGOs)
NGOs)

Impactprediction
Impact prediction (forecast
(forecast Monitoring(monitor
Monitoring (monitorimpacts
impacts
theenvironmental
the environmentalimpacts)
impacts) ofofproject)
project)
Participants in the EIA Process

The Project Proponent: is the person or group of


persons who wish to establish or carry out a proposed
development activity which is known to have adverse or
beneficial impacts on the environment.

The project proponent may be a private company or a


Government agency or a public sector company
The Decision Maker (The Competent Authority)
Is the Department whose decision on the proposed activity
is requested by the project proponent
It can be the Central Government Agency (CPCB or MEF)
It can be a State Government Agency (SPCB)
Competent Authority is decided on the nature and basis of
the proposed activity
Small scale Units SPCB - Decision maker
Mega projects Central Government
Water resources (MEF)- Decision maker
power plants
refineries, petrochemicals
Review Committees

At State level, there are Technical committees set up at State


PCB to critically examine the EIA reports and accord
environmental clearance to projects

This is followed by Environmental Appraisal committees


(EACs) set up at MEF to review the EIA reports from
scientific/technical point of view.

For setting up of these committees, independent experts from


various fields, both from government and non governmental
agencies are appointed to look into various aspects from
environmental angle.
Legal Advisers
Drawn from other government agencies other than decision
makers or local government.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)


as representative of general public

Consultancy firms
Environmental management consultants have role in EIA,
EIS
They are hired by the project proponent and sometimes by
the Government also.
Thus, the purpose of EIA is:

To identify and evaluate the potential impacts


•beneficial
•adverse
of development projects on environmental components
including social, cultural and aesthetic concerns.

The exercise should be taken well in advance in planning


stage of projects for selection of environmentally
compatible sites, process technologies and other
environmental safeguards.

Initial evaluation Detailed EIA


Procedure to follow in EIA

Rapid Assessment (REIA)

Detailed EIA
Summing up
There is a role f or everyone
• By your knowledge and expertise you can work as a
team member in EIA studies
• can become an environmental impact assessment
(EIA) consultant,

• can be invited at State level, where there are


Technical committees, set up at State PCB to critically
examine the EIA reports and accord environmental
clearance to projects
• can be invited for the Environmental Appraisal
committees (EACs) set up at MEF to review the EIA
reports from scientific/technical point of view.
You’re all invited to play a larger role
in protecting the environment

Dr. Praveen Mathur


Department of Environmental Science
Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati University
Ajmer 305009 Raj.

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