Environmental &

safety Management

Environmental Impact Assessment (E.I.A)

 Origin of E.I.A
 Before the First World War, rapid industrialization and
urbanization in western countries was causing rapid loss of
natural resources.
 This continued to the period after the Second World War giving
rise to concerns for pollution, quality of life and environmental
stress.
 In early 60s, investors and people realized that the projects
they were undertaking were affecting the environment,
resources, raw materials and people. As a result of this,
pressure groups formed with the aim of getting a tool that can
be used to safeguard the environment in any development.
 The USA decided to respond to these issues and established a
National Environmental Policy Act in 1970 to consider its goal in
terms of environmental protection. The USA became the first
country to enact legislation on EIA.
 Origin of E.I.A
 The United Nations Conference on the Environment in
Stockholm in 1972 and subsequent conventions formalized EIA.
 At present, all developed countries have environmental laws
whereas most of the developing countries are still adopting it.
EIA in developing countries:
 Until recently, EIA as a new concept was not readily understood
and accepted as a tool in developing countries. Developers
resisted and argued that it was anti-development because laws
and policies supporting it dictated that lands developments
causing negative impacts should be discontinued.
 In a nutshell, EIA was considered just another bureaucratic
stumbling block in the path of development.
 Secondly, it was conceived as a sinister means by which
industrialized nations intend to keep developing countries from
breaking the vicious cycle of poverty.
 Thirdly, the experts in the developing countries were foreigners
who were viewed as agents of colonization.
 The need for EIAs has become increasingly important and is
now a legal requirement in many developing countries.
EIA in developing countries:
 Historically, the choice of new projects was primarily based on
one criterion: economic viability. Today, a second and a third-
choice criteria, environmental and social impact, have become
a strong yardstick, hence the triple bottom-line approach
(economic, environmental and social) to project viability.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
 The first phase of an environmental assessment is called an
Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and the second is
Environmental Impact Studies (EIS) or simply detailed EIA.
a) Initial Environmental Examination (lEE):
 IEE is carried out to determine whether potentially adverse

environmental effects are significant or whether mitigation

measures can be adopted to reduce or eliminate these adverse
effects.
 The IEE contains a brief statement of key environmental issues,

based on readily available information, and is used in the early

(pre-feasibility) phase of project planning. The IEE also suggests
whether in-depth studies are needed.
 When an IEE can provide a definite solution to environmental

problems, an EIA is not necessary.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
b) Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA):
 EIA is a procedure used to examine the environmental

consequences or impacts, both beneficial and adverse, of a

proposed development project and to ensure that these effects
are taken into account in project design.
 These impacts can include all relevant aspects of the natural,

social, economic and human environment. The study therefore

requires a multidisciplinary approach and should be done very
early at the feasibility stage of a project.
 EIA should therefore be viewed as an integral part of the project

planning process.
 The EIA is applied to new projects and the expansion aspects of

existing projects.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Screening:
 EIA process kicks off with project screening. Screening is done

to determine whether or not a proposal should be subject to EIA

and, if so, at what level of detail.
 Guidelines for whether or not an EIA is required are country

specific depending on the laws or norms in operation.

Legislation often specifies the criteria for screening and full EIA.
 Development banks also screen projects presented for

financing to decide whether EIA is required or not.

 The conclusion of the screening report will determine whether

an EIA is needed and if so, to what detail.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Scoping:
 The aim of EIA is not to carry out exhaustive studies on all

environmental impacts for all projects. Scoping is used to

identify the key issues of concern at an early stage in the
planning process.
 Scoping is done to:

1. Identify concerns and issues for consideration in an EIA.

2. Enable those responsible for an EIA study to properly brief the
study team on the alternatives and on impacts to be
considered at different levels of analysis.
3. Determine the assessment methods to be used.
4. Identify all affected interests.
5. Provide an opportunity for public involvement in determining
the factors to be assessed, and facilitate early agreement on
contentious issues.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Baseline data collection:
 The term "baseline" refers to the collection of background

information on the biophysical, social and economic settings

proposed project area.
 Normally, information is obtained from secondary sources, or

the acquisition of new information through field samplings,

interviews, surveys and consultations with the public.
 Baseline data is collected for two main purposes;

1. To provide a description of the current status and trends of

environmental factors of the host area against which
predicted changes can be compared and evaluated in terms
of significance.
2. To provide a means of detecting actual change by monitoring
once a project has been initiated.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Impact analysis and prediction:
 Predicting the magnitude of a development likely impacts and

evaluating their significance is core of environmental

assessment process. Prediction should be based on the
available environmental baseline of the project area. Such
predictions are described in quantitative or qualitative terms.
 Considerations in impact prediction;

1. Magnitude of Impact:
This is defined by the severity of each potential impact and
indicates whether the impact is irreversible or, reversible and
estimated potential rate of recovery. The magnitude of an impact
cannot be considered high if a major adverse impact can be
mitigated.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
2. Extent of Impact:
The spatial extent or the zone of influence of the impact should
always be determined. An impact can be site-specific or limited to
the project area; a locally occurring impact within the locality of
the proposed project; a regional impact that may extend beyond
the local area and a national impact affecting resources on a
national scale and sometimes trans-boundary impacts, which
might be international.
3. Duration of Impact:
Environmental impacts have a temporal dimension and needs to
be considered in an EIA. An impact that generally lasts for only
three to nine years after project completion may be classified as
short-term. An impact, which continues for 10 to 20 years, may
be defined as medium-term, and impacts that last beyond 20
years are considered as long-term.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
4. Significance of the Impact:
This refers to the value or amount of the impact. Once an impact has
been predicted, its significance must be evaluated using an appropriate
choice of criteria. The most important forms of criterion are:
 Specific legal requirements e.g. national laws, standards, international

agreements and conventions, relevant policies etc.

 Public views and complaints

 Threat to sensitive ecosystems and resources e.g. can lead to

extinction of species and depletion of resources, which can result, into

conflicts.
 Geographical extent of the impact e.g. has trans- boundary

implications.
 Cost of mitigation Duration (time period over which they will occur)

 Likelihood or probability of occurrence (very likely, unlikely, etc.)

 Reversibility of impact (natural recovery or aided by human

intervention)
 Number (and characteristics) of people likely to be affected and their

locations
 Cumulative impacts e.g. adding more impacts to existing ones.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Impact prediction methodologies:
 Several techniques can be used in predicting the impacts. The

choices should be appropriate to the circumstances. These can

be based on:
 Professional judgment with adequate reasoning and supporting

data. This technique requires high professional experience.

 Experiments or tests. These can be expensive.

 Past experience

 Numerical calculations & mathematical models. These can

require a lot of data and competency in mathematical modeling

without which hidden errors can arise
 Physical or visual analysis. Detailed description is needed to

present the impact.

 Geographical information system.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Analysis of alternatives:
 Analysis of alternative is done to establish the preferred or most

environmentally sound, financially feasible and better option for

achieving project objectives.
 The World Bank directives requires systematic comparison of

proposed investment design in terms of site, technology,

processes etc.
 For each alternative, the environmental cost should be

quantified.
 The analysis of alternative should include a NO PROJECT

alternative.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Mitigation and impact management
Mitigation is done to avoid, minimize or offset predicted adverse
impacts and, where appropriate, to incorporate these into an
environmental management plan or system. For each potential
adverse impact the plan for its mitigation at each stage of the
project should be documented and costed, as this is very
important in the selection of the preferred alternative. The
objectives of mitigation therefore are to:
 find better alternatives and ways of doing things;

 enhance the environmental and social benefits of a project

 avoid, minimize or remedy adverse impacts;

 and ensure that residual adverse impacts are kept within

acceptable levels.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
 Mitigation Approaches
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Environmental Monitoring:
Environmental monitoring is the systematic measurement of key
environmental indicators over time within a particular geographic
area. Monitoring should focus on the most significant impacts
identified in the EIA. . The main types are briefly described below:
1. Baseline Monitoring: A survey should be conducted on
basic environmental parameters in the area surrounding the
proposed project before construction begins. Subsequent
monitoring can assess the changes in those parameters over
time against the baseline.
2. Impact Monitoring: The biophysical and socio-economical
parameters within the project area, must be measured during
the project construction and operational phases in order to
detect environmental changes, which may have occurred as a
result of project implementation e.g. air emission, dust, noise,
water pollution etc.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Environmental Monitoring Cont’d:
3. Compliance Monitoring:
This form of monitoring employs a periodic sampling method, or
continuous recording of specific environmental quality indicators
or pollution levels to ensure project compliance with
recommended environmental protection standards.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS):
 The final EIA report is referred to as an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS). Most national environmental laws have specified
what the content of EIS should have. Ideally, the content of an EIS
should have the following:
1. Executive Summary Policy,
2. Legal and Administrative Framework
3. Description of the environment
4. Description of the Proposed Project in detail
5. Significant Environmental
6. Impacts Socio-economic analysis of Project Impacts
7. Identification and Analysis of Alternatives
8. Mitigation Action/Mitigation Management Plan
9. Environmental Management Plan
10. Monitoring Program
11. Knowledge gaps
12. Public Involvement
13. List of References
14. Reference documents, photographs, unpublished data.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Decision making:
 At each stage of EIA, interim decisions are made. These

decisions influence final decisions made about the EIA. The EIS
is submitted to designate authority for scrutiny before the final
decision. The authority, together with technical review panel
determines the quality of EIS and gives the public further
opportunity to comment.
 Based on the outcome of the review, the designated authority

or lending institution will accept, reject or make further

modifications to avoid future confrontation. If the EIS is
accepted, an EIA license is issued and if otherwise, additional
studies or recommendations are made before issuance of a
license.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Implementation and follow up:
Key objectives of EIA implementation and follow up are to:
 confirm that the conditions of project approval are implemented

satisfactorily;
 verify that impacts are within predicted or permitted limits;

 take action to manage unanticipated impacts or other

unforeseen changes;
 ensure that environmental benefits are maximized through

good practice; and

 Learn from experience in order to improve EIA process and

practice.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Public consultation:
 This term includes public consultation (or dialogue) and public

participation, which is a more interactive and intensive process

of stakeholder engagement.
 public involvement must provide an opportunity for those

directly affected by a proposal to express their views regarding

the proposal and its environmental and social impacts.
 The purpose of public involvement is to:

1. Inform the stakeholders about the proposal and its likely

effects;
2. Canvass their inputs, views and concerns; and
3. Take account of the information and views of the public in the
EIA and decision making.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
PROCESS:
Public consultation Cont’d:
 The key objectives of public involvement are to:

 Obtain local and traditional knowledge that may be useful for

decision-making;
 Facilitate consideration of alternatives and mitigation measures

 Ensure that important impacts are not overlooked and benefits

are maximized;
 Reduce conflict through the early identification of contentious

issues;
 Provide an opportunity for the public to influence project design

in a positive manner (thereby creating a sense of ownership of

the proposal).
 Improve transparency and accountability of decision-making;

and
 Increase public confidence in the EIA process.
Resources

Books:
Environmental Impact Assessment by Larry W
Internet Sources:
www.orkustofnun.is