UNIT – 1 INTRODUCTION

Impacts of Development on Environment – Rio Principles of Sustainable

Development Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) – Objectives –
Historical development – EIA Types – EIA in project cycle –EIA
Notification and Legal Framework–Stakeholders and their Role in EIA–
Selection & Registration Criteria for EIA Consultants

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 Types of EIA - Purpose and Theme
EIA can be classified based on the purpose and the theme of development. EIA
can be climate impact assessment, demographic impact assessment,
development impact assessment, ecological impact assessment, economic and
fiscal impact assessment, health impact assessment, risk impact assessment,
social impact assessment, strategic impact assessment, technology assessment.

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 Categorization of EIA
EIA is also categorized based on systematic analysis of environmental
parameters, geographical region, carrying capacity limitations, sectoral
planning and line of activity.

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 Types of EIA
The following are the types of EIA. They are as follows:

1. Baseline EIA
2. Strategic EIA
3. Comprehensive EIA
4. Rapid EIA
5. Cumulative Impact Assessment
6. Social Impact Assessment
7. Regional EIA
8. Sectoral EIA
9. Project level EIA
10. Life Cycle Assessment

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 1. Baseline EIA

Definition: Baseline EIA is conducted before project implementation

to assess existing environmental conditions. It provides a reference
point for measuring future environmental changes.
Key Features:
• Establishes pre-project environmental conditions.
• Collects data on air, water, soil, biodiversity, and socio-economic
factors.
• Helps in impact prediction and mitigation planning.
Examples:
1. Assessing air and water quality before setting up a power plant.
2. Studying wildlife populations before constructing highways.
Benefits:
Provides a scientific basis for decision-making.
Helps in identifying sensitive areas that need protection.
Aids in monitoring post-project environmental changes.
 2. Strategic EIA

Definition:
SEA is applied to policies, plans, and programs to
integrate environmental considerations into high-
level decision-making.
Key Features:
• Evaluates long-term environmental impacts of policies.
• Helps in sustainable development planning.
Examples:
1. SEA for national energy policy (renewable vs. non-
renewable.
2. SEA for transportation master plans.
 2. Strategic EIA

Benefits:
Reduces environmental risks at an early stage.
Encourages eco-friendly policies and sustainable
development.
Improves decision-making for large-scale projects.
 4. Rapid EIA

Definition:
A shorter and less detailed EIA conducted for projects with moderate
environmental impacts.
Key Features:
• Uses existing environmental data and simplified assessment methods.
• Takes less time compared to a comprehensive EIA.
• Focuses on major environmental issues.
Examples:
1. EIA for small-scale road projects.
2. EIA for medium-sized industrial units.
Benefits:
Saves time and resources.
Facilitates faster project approvals.
Helps in reducing environmental risks for small projects.
 3. Comprehensive EIA

Definition:
A detailed EIA conducted for large-scale projects with significant
environmental impacts.
Key Features:
• Includes detailed environmental studies.
• Requires public participation and stakeholder consultation.
• Analyzes all phases of the project (construction, operation, decommissioning).
Examples:
1. EIA for hydroelectric dams and nuclear power plants.
2. EIA for major mining and oil exploration projects.
Benefits:
Helps in mitigating long-term environmental damage.
Ensures regulatory compliance and safeguards biodiversity.
Encourages sustainable industrial growth.
 5. Cumulative Impact
Definition:
Assessment
CIA evaluates the combined environmental impacts of multiple projects in
a region over time.
Key Features:
• Assesses long-term and indirect environmental effects.
• Studies interactions between multiple developments.
• Helps in regional environmental planning.
Examples:
1. Impact of multiple factories in an industrial zone.
2. Impact of several hydropower projects on a river ecosystem.
Benefits:
Prevents overexploitation of natural resources.
Helps in coordinated decision-making for multiple projects.
Supports sustainable regional development.
 7. Regional EIA

Definition:
Regional EIA evaluates environmental impacts within a specific
geographic area, rather than a single project.
Key Features:
• Covers multiple projects within a region.
• Considers cumulative and indirect impacts.
• Supports regional planning and environmental conservation.
Examples:
1. EIA for industrial corridors or urban expansion projects.
2. EIA for watershed and river basin management.
Benefits:
Helps in land-use planning and resource management.
Prevents overloading of regional ecosystems.
Reduces conflicts between different projects.
 6. Social Impact Assessment

Definition:
SIA focuses on the socio-economic effects of a project on local
communities and stakeholders.
Key Features:
• Evaluates impacts on livelihood, health, culture, and resettlement.
• Includes stakeholder consultation.
• Identifies mitigation measures for affected communities.
Examples:
1. Impact of a mining project on indigenous communities.
2. Social effects of displacement due to dam construction.
Benefits:
Reduces social conflicts and improves public acceptance.
Ensures fair compensation and resettlement plans.
Helps in developing community support programs.
 8. Sectoral EIA
Definition:
Sectoral EIA assesses environmental impacts within a specific
industrial or economic sector.
Key Features:
• Focuses on a single sector (e.g., energy, transport, agriculture).
• Helps in sector-specific policy development.
• Identifies sustainable practices for industries.
Examples:
1. EIA for coal mining and petroleum extraction.
2. EIA for transportation infrastructure (highways, railways, ports).
Benefits:
Helps in reducing pollution and environmental damage in
industries.
Supports better environmental regulations for specific sectors.
Improves sustainability of industrial growth.
 Sectoral EIA
Sectoral EIA helps in addressing specific environmental problems that may be
encountered in planning and implementing sectoral development projects. All
most all the projects are categorized into eight sectors as follows:

List of Projects or Activities requiring prior EC

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 9.Project Level EIA
Definition:

• Project level EIA refers to the developmental activity in isolation and

the impacts that it exerts on the receiving environment. Thus, it may not
effectively integrate the cumulative effects of the development in a
region.
Key Features:
1. Site-Specific: Focuses on the environmental impacts of an individual
project.
2. Legally Required: Mandatory for projects with potential
environmental risks.
3. Detailed Impact Analysis: Covers air, water, soil, biodiversity, and
socio-economic factors.
4. Mitigation Planning: Proposes measures to reduce negative
impacts.
5. Public Participation: Includes stakeholder consultations and public
hearings.
 9.Project Level EIA
Examples:
1. Infrastructure Projects: Roads, highways, bridges, airports, railways.
2. Industrial Projects: Cement plants, chemical factories, oil refineries.
3. Energy Projects: Power plants (thermal, nuclear, hydro), wind farms.
4. Mining & Quarrying: Coal mining, iron ore extraction.
5. Water Resource Projects: Dams, irrigation projects, desalination
plants.
Benefits:
Prevents environmental degradation by early impact
identification.
Ensures legal and regulatory compliance.
Protects public health and promotes sustainable
development.
Enhances stakeholder participation and reduces conflicts.
 Strategic EIA
 Strategic EIA refers to systematic analysis of the environmental effects of
development policies, plans, programs and other proposed strategic actions.

 This process extends the aims and principles of EIA upstream in the
decision-making process, beyond the project level and when major
alternatives are still open.

 Strategic EIA represents a proactive approach to integrate environmental

considerations into the higher level of decision-making.

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 Life Cycle Assessment
 Life cycle assessment is a cradle-to-grave or cradle-to-cradle analysis
technique to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a
product's life. This includes the product design, development,
manufacturing, packaging, distribution, usage and disposal.

 LCA is concerned with reducing environmental impacts at all these stages

and looking at the total picture rather than just one stage of production
process.

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 Life Cycle Assessment

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 Life Cycle of Steel

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