THE EIA PROCESS

Generalised EIAProcess Flowchart

EIA PROCESSThe EIA process comprises: screening - to decide if and at what level EIA

should be applied scoping - to identify the important issues and

prepare terms of reference impact analysis - to predict the effects of a

proposal and evaluate their significance mitigation - to establish measures to prevent,

reduce or compensate for impacts

EIA PROCESS….cont reporting - to prepare the information

necessary for decision-making review - to check the quality of the EIA

report decision-making - to approve or reject)

the proposal and set conditions follow up - to monitor, manage and audit

impacts of project implementation public involvement - to inform and consult

with stakeholders

Steps in an EA Process

Screening

No EA require

d

EA required

ScopingDetermine scope of

EA

Environmental AssessmentAnalyse impacts

Determine mitigation measures

Decision making

Implementation

Appeal

Development not

approved

Development approved

Publ

ic

Part

icip

atio

n

Screening

The purpose of screening is to determine:

whether or not a proposal requires an EIA what level of EIA is required

Outcomes of screening

full or comprehensive EIA required

more limited EIA required

further study needed to determine EIA

requirement

no further requirement for EIA

Screening and scoping comparedScreening determines the requirement for EIA establishes the level of review necessary

Scoping identifies the key issues and impacts establishes the terms of reference

Mandatory EA

Case by caseconsideration ofrequirement for

EA

EA ruled out

‘Inclusive’ threshold:Full EA is always required; screen borderline proposals for significant environmental effects (usually called Category A projects)

‘Indicative’ threshold:EA less likely to be required but still screen for significance where the location is sensitive or if there is a potential for cumulative and/or transboundary effects. Mostly require a lower effort or ‘mini’ EA. (usually called Category B projects)

‘Exclusive’ threshold:Projects are small and/or are located in insensitive environments – will not have significant impacts (usually called Category C projects)

Incr

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pact

of t

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opm

ent

Screening methods

Extended screening methods

initial environmental evaluation or

examination (IEE)

environmental overview

class screening

Information required by decision makers

description of the proposal conditions and characteristics of the

environment applicable policy, planning and regulatory

objectives identification of potential impacts degree of public concern and interest

SCOPING

ScopingScoping is a critical, early step in the preparation

of an EIA. It identifies the issues that are likely to be of most

importance during the EIA and eliminates those that are of little concern.

It concludes with the establishment of Terms of Reference for the preparation of an EIA

In this way, EIA studies are focused on the significant effects and time and money are not wasted on unnecessary investigations.

Key objectives of scoping inform the public about the proposal; identify the main stakeholders and their concerns and

values; define the reasonable and practical alternatives to the

proposal; focus the important issues and significant impacts to be

addressed by an EIA; define the boundaries for an EIA in time, space and

subject matter; set requirements for the collection of baseline and other

information; and establish the Terms of Reference for an EIA study

Scoping: key elements Identifying the scope of work (geographic boundaries,

time horizons) Positive planning (opportunities and constraints) Relevant planning frameworks (protocols, laws, policies,

plans) Consideration of alternatives (site, route, process,

technology) Public consultation – inform the I&APs and obtain issues

and concerns Identification of the key issues to be studied in more

detail in the EIA Provide valuable input to the project pre-feasibility study

re alternatives, time frames, costs etc

Determining the scope Time frames (temporal) – project programme,

EIA studies, duration for significance ratings

Geographic scope (spatial) – site only, access

routes for infrastructure, regional eg a river

basin, State, national, international

Interested and affected parties – who? Where?

Budget – Client gets what he pays for!

Guiding principles for carrying out the scoping process recognise scoping is a process rather than

a discrete activity or event; design the scoping process for each

proposal, taking into account the environment and people affected;

start scoping as soon as you have sufficient information available;

prepare an information package or circular explaining the proposal and the process;

Guiding principles for carrying out the scoping process…cont specify the role and contribution of the

stakeholders and the public; take a systematic approach but implement

flexibly; document the results to guide preparation

of an EIA; and respond to new information and further

issues raised by stakeholders

Purpose and objectives of public involvement informing stakeholders

gaining their views, concerns and values

taking account of public inputs in decision

making

influencing project design

Purpose and objectives of public involvement obtaining local (indigenous) knowledge

increasing public confidence

improving transparency and accountability

in decision-making

reducing conflict