CHAPTER 1
AP DR MOHD ZAHIT ALI
Januari 2017
COURSE ASSESSMENT METHOD
(3 CREDITS)
1. TEST 1 & QUIZ 1 : 10%
2. TEST 2 & QUIZ 2 : 10%
3. WRITTEN TEST A & B : 10%
4. INDIVIDUAL ASSIGNMENT : 10%
5. GP PROJECT & PRESENTATION : 20%
6. FINAL EXAM : 40%
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100%
1. Name of Course Environmental Impact Assessment
2. Course Code: CEB 30202
3. Name of Academic Staff: Dr Mohd Zahit Bin Ali
4. Rationale for inclusion of the course in the program:
Introduces the fundamentals and principles of environmental impact assessment, its
procedure, methodology, guidelines, report preparation, monitoring and post auditing.
5. Semester and Semester 7
Year Offered Year 4
6. Total Student Face to face (F2F): Total guided and
Learning Time: 80 31 hours independent
hours learning (non F2F):
49 hours
L= Lecture L T P O
T=Tutorial
P=Practical 49h
O=Others 9 18 - 4
7. Credit Value: 2 Credit
8. Prerequisite: CEB 20002 - Introduction to Environmental Engineering
Technology
9. Learning Outcomes:
Upon completion of this course students should be able to:
1. Analyze the concept, application and legislation of environmental impact assessment. (C4)
2. Perform an environmental impact assessment report in accordance to the standard
requirement. (A2)
3. Measure the environmental impacts due to differing types of development projects. (P4)
4. Ability to analyze and make decision with problem regarding on environmental impact. (EM1)
10. Transferable skills
Skills Development of the skills Skills
assessments
1. Written communication skills via written reports and case study Examination,
Participation tutorials and
and assignment report.
Communicati
on skills
2. Teamwork Students are required to work in team during debate, case study, Project report, oral
tutorial session and project. presentation and
peer evaluation.
12. Synopsis
This course examines principles, procedures, methods, and applications of
environmental impact assessment. Students learn to prepare an environmental
impact assessment, review and critically analyze an environmental impact
statement, use mathematical models for environmental impact prediction, and
apply environmental impact assessment as a tool in management decision-
making. Case studies of environmental impact assessment for several types of
engineering projects are employed.
13. Mode of Delivery
Lecture, tutorial, debate, role play and discussion.
14 Assessment Methods and Types
Types 2
Written : 10%
Test
Assignme : 40%
nts &
Presentati
on
Quizzes : 10%
Final : 40%
Main references:
1. Canter LW. (1996). Environmental Impact Assessment. McGraw Hill Inc.
2. Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines. (1995). Department of Environment,
Malaysia.
Additional references:
Any EIA books.
1.1 Environmental Issues
1.2 Why We Concern
1.3 What Is Our Obligation & Contribution
1.4 Definition Of EIA
1.5 Importance of EIA
1.6 EIA Activities
1.7 The EIA Procedure In Malaysia
WHAT WE HAVE DONE
???
WHERE IS OUR
OBLIGATION &
CONTRIBUTION
PROPHET MUHAMMAD:
We are the caliph (Khalifah).
So we are responsible for the
well-being of our Earth.
MALAYSIA
MEGA PROJECTS ENV IMPACTS
NEW
POLLUTIONS
TOWNSHIP (AIR, WATER, LAND)
ENV QUALITY ACT
AIRPORT HABITAT LOSS
1974
(SEA, RIVER, LAND)
DAM
EARTHQUAKE, 30 REGULATIONS
LANDSLIDES
LARGE AGRIC
SCHEME
GLOBAL WARMING
(OZONE, GHG) ENV. IMPACT
PORT ASSESSMENT
(EIA)
DISEASES OUTBREAK
OTHERS
1.1 Definitions of EIA
No general or universal accepted definition of EIA
However, Munn (1979) quoted that EIA is:
“ a process for identifying the likely consequences for
the biogeophysical environment and for human health and
welfare of implementing particular activities, and for
conveying this information at a stage when it can materially
affect their decision, to those responsible for sanctioning
the proposal”
UK Department of Environment describes EIA as:
“a technique and a process by which information about
the environmental effects of a project collected, both by
the developer and from other sources, and taken into
account by the planning authority in forming their
judgments on whether the development should go
ahead”
DOE, Malaysia (1987) described EIA in a simple definition as
“a process designed to identify and predict the
impact man’s health and well-being of development
projects, and to interpret and communicate
information about the impacts”.
DOE Malaysia, (1992) further refined administratively as
“a study to identify, predict, evaluate and
communicate information about the impacts on
the environment of a proposed project and to
detail out the mitigating measures prior to project
approval and implementation”
The United Nations Economic Commission for Europe
(UNECE)(1991) define EIA simply as
“an assessment of the impact of a planned activity on the
environment”.
The diversity of definitions illustrated:
-inherent problems of concept
-generate number of questions
In essence, EIA is a process, a systematic
process that examines the environmental
consequences.
1.2 Importance of EIA
1.To obtain authorization
2. As a design tool
3. To reduce costs and time
4. To Involve third parties
5. To inform and Assist Management
1.2 Importance of EIA
1.To obtain authorization
- authority
- power
1.2 Importance of EIA
2. As a design tool
- what sort of design, so that less
effects & impacts.
1.2 Importance of EIA
3. To reduce costs and time
- if disaster happen later, cost to
repair later will be very high / escalate
1.2 Importance of EIA
4. To Involve third parties
- opinion from the public
- public involvement
1.2 Importance of EIA
5. To inform and Assist Management
- inform, what will happen
-help management in prediction /
forecasting
Purpose of EIA
1. An aid to decision-making
2. An aid to the Formulation of Development
Actions
3. An Aid to Marketing Strategy
4. An Instrument for Sustainable
Development
Possible Disadvantages of EIA
1. The case for a proposal arising from a general
need such as provision of employment, where it
may be inappropriate to use an EIA as the means
of justifying that case.
2. EIA is only undertaken when a dispute arises. Its
effectiveness and impartiality may be impaired, as
a developer may already be fully committed to the
specific project.
3. If inadequately time is provided for the
assessment then the ability to make modification
to the proposals will be impaired and objective
discussion may be impossible because of public
controversy. Such an EIA would tend to lose its
objectivity and bring the entire concept into
disrepute.
4. A danger that an EIA may be biased in favor
of the project initiator. It may take the form of
comprehensive public relations document
rather than an important aid to decision-
making. Developers may attempt to produce a n
encyclopedic type of EIA in order to persuade
the authorizing agency that the development
should proceed.
5. EIAs may be superficial in that they fail to
adequately describe the important key issues,
which relate to the development. They may fail to
provide information on the specify of impacts
(i.e. the identification of the important parameters
of an impact) and/or fail to determine the timing
of the impacts (construction or operational) and
their duration.
1.3 EIA Activities
Involves a number of steps.
The order of the steps in the EIA process may vary from
once country to another country.
• Project Screening
• Scoping
• Consideration of alternatives
• Description of the project
• Description of the existing environment (environmental
baseline)
• Identification of the main impacts
• Prediction of impacts
• Evaluation and assessment of significance
•Proposal of mitigation
• Public consultation and participation
• EIA report presentation
• Report review
• Decision making of the project
• Monitoring
• Auditing
1.4 The EIA procedure
There are two EIA procedures adopted in
Malaysia, namely the Preliminary EIA and the
Detailed EIA, that can be described as follows:
1. Preliminary EIA /Initial Inquiries
Preliminary EIA is assessment of impacts due to
those activities that are prescribed.
The Preliminary EIA report that is prepared is
reviewed by a technical committee consisting of
the Department of Environment States and other
relevant government agencies.
Objectives: For prescribed activities
•To examine and select from the project options
available
• To identify and incorporate into the project plan
appropriate abatement and mitigating measures
• To identify the significant residual environmental
impacts
Description:
• Standard guidelines prescribed in the EIA Handbook
• Is initiated at an early stage of project planning
• Some form of public participations is required
• The matrix may be used as an assessment tool
• Environmental data collection may be necessary
• A report is required
2. Detailed EIA
Detailed EIA is a procedure undertaken for those
projects with major/significant impacts to the
environment.
The detailed assessment involve EIA report
display for the public and affected community to
comment.
Detailed Assessment
Detailed assessment is carried out based on
specific terms of reference issued by an ad hoc
Review Panel appointed by the Director General.
The EIA Report is reviewed by the ad hoc Review
Panel chaired by the Director General.
The Department of Environment maintains a list of
experts who may be called upon to sit as members
of any Review. The selection of the experts
depends on the areas of environmental impacts to
be reviewed.
Objectives : For those prescribed activities with
potentially significant residual environmental
impact
• To describe the significant residual environmental
impacts predicted from the final project plan.
• To specify mitigating and abatement measures in
the final project plan.
• To identify the costs and benefits of the project to
the community.
Description:
• Standard guidelines and specific terms of
reference for each project are issued.
• Continues through the course of the detailed
study of the project.
• Some form of public participation may required.
• The assessment method is selected according
to the nature of the project.
• Environment data collection is required.
• A report is required
Review
Objectives : For projects subjected to Detailed
Assessment
• To critically review the Detailed Assessment
report
• To evaluate development and environmental
costs and benefits in the final project plan
• To formulate supported recommendations to the
project approving on the implementation of the
project .
Description:
•The review is conducted by an independent
Review Panel.
•Comment is invited from concerned
environment related agencies and from the
public.
•Recommendations are forwarded to the
approving authority except when the project
initiator elects to revise or abandon his project.
•A maximum period of two months is allowed for
review.
Figure 1 : The General
EIA procedure
Roles and Interest of Various Groups in the EIA Process
Group Roles and Responsibilities
The Project a) The individual or organization proposing and
Initiator / implementing the Prescribed activity.
Developer - May be from the public or the private sector and he
may be represented by a consultant.
b) Responsible for the planning of his project and bear
the cost.
c) Responsible for the environmental planning EIA of
his project and must bear the cost.
d) May delegate the task of impact assessment to his
project consultant or to another organization but
remains ultimately responsible for the content of any
environmental impact assessment report on his
project. The secretariat to the Review Panel maintains a
list of consultants available to conduct EIA.
The Assessor - Individual who conducts or coordinates the environmental
impact assessment.
- may be the leader of a team and is responsible to the
project initiator.
The - Environment-related agencies and environment-related
Environmental specialists have a role to play in obtaining environmental
-Related information and in assessing environmental effects and
Agencies and impacts.
Specialists - In addition specialists may be called upon to assist in the
review of impact assessments of individual projects.
The public To participate in the project construction to make sure that
there will be no negative effects and impacts to the public.
The interaction between people and their environment is
fundamental to the concept of impact. Some form of public
participation in environmental impact assessment is the
most reliable way of predicting the impact of a project on
people. A responsible, interested and participating public is
important in environmental management.
- An independent body appointed with the prime tasks to
review Detailed Assessment reports, and to evaluate
environmental and development costs and benefits to the
community as best as it can.
A Review Panel - Formulates recommendations on which approving
authorities make implementation decisions.
- The Secretariat to the Review Panel is responsible for
providing guidelines to conduct EIA.
The Approving - The Approving Authority is that Government Authority
Authority that has the task of deciding to approve or not to approve,
in view of the environmental and development costs and
benefits to the community, how (or whether) a project
should proceed.
- The project approving authorities include;
(1) The National Development Planning Committee, for
Federal Government sponsored projects.
(2) The State planning authorities for State Government
sponsored projects, and,
(3) The Ministry of Trade and Industry, for industrial
projects.
(4) Local Authorities.
Timing
To obtain maximum benefit from environmental
impact assessment the procedure should be
initiated early in project planning such as at the
commencement of the pre-feasibility or feasibility
study.
If environmental impact assessment commences
towards the end of project planning much of the
benefit of an EIA to the project initiator may be
lost and delays in the implementation of the
project.
Integrated Project Planning
Integrated project planning requires the project planner to
assess and evaluate his planning decisions taking into
account the technical, economic and environmental
factors.
The benefits of integrated project planning to the project
initiator include:
(1) Investment Security. The investor whose project has
been planned on sound environmental principles from the
start might reasonably expect to be safeguarded against
new and unexpected environmental controls or
regulations once the project has been implemented.
(2) Social Acceptability. The question of social
acceptability of project will become
increasingly important to project initiators in
Malaysia as the demand for a better “quality of
life” increases. The demand for a better quality
of life is manifested in a growing concern for
environmental quality. Official endorsement of
projects through environmental planning is a
worthwhile investment for project initiators.
3) Quantity Planning. An important and integral
part of Preliminary Assessment is the review of
project options including siting and technical
options. In addition, both Preliminary Assessment
and Detailed Assessment require the project
planner to look for measures which will mitigate
adverse environmental impacts and enhance
favorable impacts. The overall result is to
enhance the quality of project
planning.
(4) Positive Environmental Planning Finally
integrated project planning puts a positive
emphasis into environmental impact assessment.
