Steps in EIA
Proposal
identificati on
EIA
required
Screening
No
EIA
Initial
Scoping
environmental
examination
Impact
analysis
Mitigation
and
impact
management
*Public
involvement
Resubmit
EIA
report
*Public
involvement
typically
occurs
at
these
points.
It
may
also
o ccur
at
any
Redesign
Review
other
s tage
of
t he
EIA
Process
Not
approved
Decision-‐making
Approved
Information
from
this
p rocess
contributes
to
effective
EIA
in
the
future
Implementation
and
p ost-‐EIA
monitoring
Step 1: Screening
§ This step determines:
• whether or not EIA is required for a particular
project
• what level of EIA is required
§ Screening Outcomes:
§ Full or comprehensive EIA required
§ Limited EIA required
§ No EIA required
Tools for Screening
§ Project lists:
• Inclusive — listed projects must undergo EIA
• Exclusive — listed projects exempted from EIA
§ Case-by-case examinations:
• determine whether projects may have significant
environmental effects
• if so, project should undergo EIA
§ Combination of above
Screening Process
Mandatory
EIA
Inclusive
threshold
Case-‐by-‐case
consideration
of
requirement
Indicative
t hreshold
for
EIA
Exclusive
t hreshold
EIA
ruled
out
Step 2: Scoping
§ begins once screening is completed
§ the most important step in EIA
§ establishes the content and scope of an EIA report
Outcome:
§ identifies key issues and impacts to be considered
§ lays the foundation of an effective process, saves time
and money, and reduces conflict
Types of Scoping
Closed scoping:
wherein the content and scope of an EIA Report is
pre-determined by law and modified through closed
consultations between a developer and the competent
authority
Open or Public scoping:
a transparent process based on public consultations
Actors
proponent, EIA consultant, supervisory authority
for EIA, other responsible agencies, affected public
and interested public
The scoping process
§ prepare a scope outline
§ organise key issues into
§ develop the outline impact categories (study
through informal list)
consultation with
environmental and § amend the outline
health authorities accordingly
§ make the outline § develop ‘Terms of
available reference’ (ToR) for
§ compile an extensive list impact analysis
of concerns
§ monitor progress
§ evaluate relevant against the ToR, revising
concerns to establish key as necessary
issues
SCOPING
EXAMPLE : SCOPING
IMPACT OF A PROPOSED PAPER INDUSTRY
A PAPER INDUSTRY IS PROPOSED TO BE ESTABLISHED IN A
LOCALITY AND THE EFFLUENT IS PROPOPED TO DISCHARGE
IN ADJACENT RIVER
q ETP WILL BE INSTALLED TO BRIING THE DISCHARGE
DOWN TO PERMISSIBLE LIMIT
q THERE ARE FEW OTHER INDUSTRIES ALREADY ESTABLISHED
DISCHARGING EFFLUENT TO THE RIVER AT ALLOWABLE LIMIT
q PEOPLE BATH IN RIVER WATER AND DRINK AFTER
TREATMENT
q SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF PEOPLE DEPEND ON FISHING FOR
OCCUPATION
MAJOR ISSUES
(SCOPING)
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL
ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT
q THE LEVEL OF INCREASE q EUTROPHICATION (EFFLUENT
GASEOUS AIR POLLUTANTS CONTAINING N ,P)
q POSSIBLE CHANGE IN NOISE q PUBLIC HEALTH IMPACT
LEVEL
q FISH KILLS
q CHANGE IN DOWNSTREAM DO
DUE TO DISCHARGE OF
AQUEOUS EFFLUENT (ORGANIC
MATTER)
MAJOR ISSUES
(SCOPING)
THE HUMAN (SOCIAL) THE HUMAN (ECONOMIC)
ENVIRONMENT ENVIRONMENT
q AFFECT ON FISHERIES AND q POSSIBILTY OF INCREASING
AQUACULTURE AS A LIVLIHOOD DRINKING WATER TREATMENT
FOR THE COMMUNITY COST
q URBANIZATION TREND AND q PRODUCTIVE HOUR LOSS DUE TO
RELATED PROBLEM ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION
q SCOPE OF JOB CREATION q HEATH TREATMENT COST
Step 3: Impact Analysis
→ Type biophysical, social, health or economic
→ Nature direct or indirect, cumulative, etc.
→ Magnitude or high, moderate, low
severity
→ Extent local, regional, trans-boundary or global
→ Timing immediate/long term
→ Duration temporary/permanent
→ Uncertainty low likelihood/high probability
→ Reversibility reversible/irreversible
→ Significance* unimportant/important
Tools for Impact Analysis
§ checklists
§ matrices
§ networks
§ overlays and geographical information systems
(GIS)
§ expert systems
§ professional judgement
Step 4: Impact Mitigation
§ to avoid, minimise or remedy adverse
impacts
§ to ensure that residual impacts are within
acceptable levels
§ to enhance environmental and social
benefits
Framework for Impact Mitigation
Common
( desirable)
Alternative
sites
or
Avoidance
technology
t o
eliminate
habitat
l oss
Actions
during
design,
construction
a nd
Mitigation
operation
to
minimise
or
eliminate
habitat
loss
Used
a s
a
l ast
resort
Compensation
to
offset
habitat
loss
Rare
( undesirable)
Step 5: Reporting
Different name of EIA reports
§ Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA
Report)
§ Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
§ Environmental Statement (ES)
§ Environmental Assessment Report (EA Report)
§ Environmental Effects Statement (EES)
Contents of the Report
§ a description of the project;
• an outline of the main alternatives studied by the developer,
and an indication of the main reasons for this choice,
• a description of the aspects of the environment likely to be
significantly affected by the proposed project;
• a description of the likely significant environmental effects
of the proposed project;
• measures to prevent, reduce and possibly offset adverse
environmental effects;
• a non-technical summary;
• an indication of any difficulties (technical deficiencies or
lack of know-how) encountered while compiling the
required information.
Step 6: Review
§ Review the quality of the EIA report.
§ Take public comments into account.
§ Determine if the information is sufficient.
§ Identify any deficiencies to be corrected.
Who Perform the review?
§ environmental agency — Canada (comprehensive
studies), standing commission — Netherlands, inter-
agency committee — USA, planning authority — UK
§ independent panel — Canada (public inquiries)
§ Public comment and input
Step 7: Decision Making
§ To provide key input to help determine if a proposal is
acceptable
§ To help establish environmental terms and conditions
for project implementation
Step 8: Monitoring
§ Ensure the implementation of conditions attached to a
decision.
§ Verify that impacts are as predicted or permitted.
§ Confirm that mitigation measures are working as
expected.
§ Take action to manage any unforeseen changes.
Key components of Monitoring
§ Establish baseline conditions.
§ Measure impacts of a project as constructed.
§ Verify conformity with established with conditions
and acceptable limits.
§ Establish links to environmental management plans.
§ Carry out periodic checks and third-party audits.
Public Involvement in the EIA Steps
Screening
To consult people likely to be affected by proposal.
Scoping
To ensure that significant issues are identified; project
related information is gathered, alternatives are considered.
Impact
analysis
To avoid biases/inaccuracies in analysis; identify local values/
preferences; assist in consideration of mitigation measures;
select best alternative.
Mitigati on
and
impact
manage ment
EIA
report
Review
To consider and comment on EIA Report
Decision
making
Implementation
To monitor the implementation of EIA Report’s
and
m onitoring
recommendations and decision’s conditions.
