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ENVS402 – Environmental Impact Assessment

Chapter 3: Steps involved in Chapter 3: Steps involved in undertaking EIA

9/16/2011ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma

1

IntroductionIntroductionThere are two aspects of project management:

1. First how EIA is linked to the main stages of the 1. First how EIA is linked to the main stages of the

project cycle.

2. Secondly, there are some important issues in the

f dmanagement of EIA studies.

9/16/2011ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma2

Project CycleProject Cycle

1. Project Concept/Identification Stage2 Prefeasibility Stage2. Prefeasibility Stage3. Feasibility Stage4 Design and Engineering Stage/Project 4. Design and Engineering Stage/Project

Appraisal and Decision Phase5 Implementation Stage5. Implementation Stage6. Monitoring Stage


Project Cycle

http://www.unescap.org/drpad/vc/images/M8_fig_2.jpg

Project Cycle


A. Project Concept/Identification)

1. Screening and initial Environmental Examination (IEE) can be applied at this stage

2. Alternatives can be proposed and analyzed

Major benefits:

identification of "viable" alternatives (from an environmental i i ) d viewpoint), and

provision of an early indication of likely significant impacts for further EIA work for further EIA work.


B. Pre-feasibility Stage

The main EIA activities, at this stage, are:

identification of issues/impacts for investigation and,

formulation of the Terms of Reference (TOR) for the EIA. Th t d f thi ti it i " i "The term used for this activity is "scoping"


C. Feasibility Stage

EIA study should be carried out:during feasibility stage in conjunction with economic, technical and design work,

li i EIA k h i d ti preliminary EIA works such as scoping and preparation of TOR should be carried out during project pre-feasibility stage, y gif EIA is carried out late in project cycle as an "add on", the process of EIA becomes cumbersome, time

i d i i h EIA consuming and expensive to incorporate the EIA recommendations in the project construction.


D. Project Appraisal and Decision

During the project appraisal, a decision is made by the proponent b h d i b h l di i or by the government, and in some case by the lending agencies, as

to whether the project is viable.

At this stage, EIA results will be put into consideration with g , pfeasibility study.

An application for authorization(s) has to be made by the project l l lproponent to a local/central government agency.

This decision is the final and determines whether a project is to be implemented. implemented.

The EIA report also plays an important role in this decision making process.


E. Implementation of the Project

At this stage, in the project cycle, the EIA report will act as a "reference" guide to the implementation and use of mitigation reference guide to the implementation and use of mitigation strategies and monitoring schemes.

Thus, the usefulness of an EIA report does not end with the "official" authorization to proceed. It may form a basis for management plan to assist project implementation and management practice. For example, EIA report recommendations g p p , pcan form a part of contract tender documents.

Lastly, after the project is completed, an "audit" can be made to d i h l h EIA' di i h l determine how close the EIA's predictions were to the actual impacts of the project. This forms a valuable records for others conducting EIAs on similar projects in the future.


F. Management of EIA StudyEIA is multi-disciplinary and intersectoral: EIA differs from

other types of project related studies in the scope and breadth of the work and usually include a diversity of topics ranging from y y p g garchaeological investigations to noise/vibration assessments.

EIA reports should be accessible to all interested parties: h d d b h f lSuch reports are read/used by the project proponents, financial

backers, experts, authorising agencies and other organisations who deserve a rights to comment on an EIA report and submit their views g pon the desirability of a project and, of course, the members of the public.

Th th i h ll f f ilit ti i ti d Thus, there is a challenge of facilitating open communications and understanding of the main issues.

Example Nepal: EIA of East Rapti Irrigation Project (ERIP) An example of how delayed consideration EIA


p p p g j ( ) p f y

in the project cycle, has cancelled the project.

I t t i i t f EIAImportant issues in management of EIA

1 F th i i1. Focus on the main issue2. Involve the appropriate personspp p p3. Link information to decisions

l f 4. Present clear options for mitigation5. Provide information in a form useful to 5. Provide information in a form useful to

decision makers


P i i l 1 F th i iPrinciple 1. Focus on the main issue

I i i h EIA d It is important that EIA does not try to cover too many topics in too much detaily p

Do not waste time and effort on irrelevantDo not waste time and effort on irrelevant issues


Principle 2. Involve the appropriate persons

It is important to be selective when involving people in p g p pthe EIA process

Generally, three categories of people are required in carrying out EIA:y, g p p q y g

• Those appointed to manage and undertake the EIA process (usually a co-ordinator and a staff of experts)

• Those who can contribute facts, ideas or concerns to the study, including scientists, economists, engineers, policy makers, and representatives of interested or affected groups

• Those who have direct authority to permit, control or alter the project –that is, the decision makers – including for example the developer, aid agency or investors, competent authorities, regulators and politicians.


Principle 3. Link information to decisions about the project

An EIA should be organized to directly support many decisionsg y pp y

In a typical sequence:• When the developer and investors first broach the project concept, they consider

likely environmental issueslikely environmental issues• When the developer is looking for sites or routes, environmental considerations are

used to aid the selection process• When the developer and investors are assessing the project’s feasibility, an EIA is in

progress, helping them to anticipate problems• When Engineers are creating the project design, the EIA identifies certain standards

for the design to meet• When a permit is requested a completed EIA report is submitted and also published When a permit is requested, a completed EIA report is submitted, and also published

for general comment• When the developer implements the project, monitoring or other measures provided

for in the EIA are undertaken.


Principle 4. Present clear options for the mitigation of impacts and for sound environmental management

An EIA should be designed to present clear choices

For instance to mitigate adverse impacts, the EIA could propose:1. Pollution control technology or design features2. The reduction, treatment or disposal of wastes3. Compensation or concessions to affected groups

To enhance environmental compatibility, the EIA could suggest:1. Several alternative sites2 Changes to the project’s design and operation2. Changes to the project s design and operation3. Limitations to its initial size or growth4. Separate programs which contribute in a positive way to local resources or to the

quality of the environmentAnd to ensure that the implementation of an approved project is environmentally sound, the EIA may prescribe:

1. Monitoring programs or periodic impact reviews2. Contingency plans for regulatory actions


g y p g y3. The involvement of the local community in later decisions

Principle 5. Provide information in a form useful to the decision-makers

The objective of EIA is to ensure that environmental problems f d dd d b d i i kare foreseen and addressed by decision makers

1. Briefly present ‘hard facts’ and predictions about impacts, y p p p ,comment on the reliability of this information and summarize the consequences of each of the proposed options

2 Write in the terminology and vocabulary that is used by the 2. Write in the terminology and vocabulary that is used by the decision makers and the community affected by the project

3. Present the essential findings in a concise document, supported by separate background materials where necessary

4. Make the document easy to use, providing visuals whenever possible


p

Generalised EIAProcess Flowchart

ProposalIdentification

Screening

No EIAEIA Required

*Public involvement Scoping

Initialenvironmental examination

Th

Mitigation and impact

Impact analysis

*Public involvement typicallyoccurs at these points. It mayalso occur at any other stageof the EIA Process

The Environmental Impact p

management

EIA Report

Review*Public involvement

of the EIA Process.

Assessment Process

Decision-making

ApprovedNot approved

Information from this processcontributes to effective future EIA

Redesign

Resubmit


pppp

Implementation andfollow up

The EIA process comprisesThe EIA process comprises

F screening - to decide if and at what level EIA should be applied

F scoping - to identify the important issues and prepare terms of reference

F impact analysis to predict the effects of a F impact analysis - to predict the effects of a proposal and evaluate their significance

F mitigation - to establish measures to prevent F mitigation to establish measures to prevent, reduce or compensate for impacts


The EIA process(continued)

ti t th i f ti � reporting - to prepare the information necessary for decision-making

� review - to check the quality of the EIA � review to check the quality of the EIA report.

� decision-making - to approve (or reject) the proposal and set conditionsproposal and set conditions

� follow up – to monitor, manage and audit the impacts of project implementationp p j p

� public involvement - to inform and consult with stakeholders


Benefits of EIA include:Benefits of EIA include:

� environmentally sound and sustainable � environmentally sound and sustainable design

� better compliance with standards� better compliance with standards� savings in capital and operating costs� reduced time and costs for approvals� reduced time and costs for approvals� increased project acceptance� better protection of the environment and p

human health


Delays are caused during EIA when:when:

th i d t l t i th j t F the EIA is commenced too late in the project cycle

F the terms of reference are poorly draftedF the terms of reference are poorly draftedF the EIA is not managed to a scheduleF the EIA report is inadequate and needs to be F the EIA report is inadequate and needs to be

upgradedF there is a lack of technical data


Ensuring fairness in the EIA processEnsuring fairness in the EIA process

i t lt t ’ d t f F register consultants’ names and terms of reference

F name consultants and their expertise in the F name consultants and their expertise in the EIA report

F publish the terms of reference in the EIA F publish the terms of reference in the EIA report

F make EIA reports available to the publicF publish lists of screening and final decisions

along with conditions for approval


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