lecture no. 16 eia

8/6/2019 Lecture No. 16 EIA

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ENVIRONMENTALENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTIMPACTASSESSMENTASSESSMENT

Dr. Praveen MathurDr. Praveen Mathur

M.Sc.,M.Sc., Ph.DPh.D (Czech Republic), P.G.D.E.I.A, P.G.D.E.L (NLSIU, Bangalore)(Czech Republic), P.G.D.E.I.A, P.G.D.E.L (NLSIU, Bangalore)

Associate Professor & Head, Department of Environmental ScienceAssociate Professor & Head, Department of Environmental Science

[email protected]@gmail.com

MaharshiMaharshi DayanandDayanand SaraswatiSaraswatiUniversity,AjmerUniversity,Ajmer--305 009305 009


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This centurys one of the most relevant and newly

emerging concept is

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTASSESSMENTASSESSMENT

We will be talking about

Definition of EIA , Origin of EIA

Main activities and Participants of EIA process

and howyou can contribute towards EIA


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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Definition:

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a

procedure which entails formal and systematiccollection and analysis of information and data

relating to the possible environmental effects of

a new or significantly altered projects in

relation to the physical, social and economicenvironment surrounding that development.


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EIA Chronology

1969 USA

1980s UK

1985 European community directive on EIA

(directive 85/337/1985)

1988EIA was introduced to all EC Members

1994EIA notification issued by India

2006 (September) Amendment done in EIA notification

Gradually the rest of the world followed suit


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The rapid spread of the concept of EIA, and its central role in

many countries programmes of environmental protection,

attest to its universal validity as a proactive planning tool.

The United Nations Conference on Environment and

Development (THE EARTH SUMMIT) in Rio de Janeiro inJune 1992

Rio declaration and Agenda 21

This summit signaled a commitment of the worlds leaders

for sustainable economic growth in the 21st Century.


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Both , Rio declaration and Agenda 21 contain

substantial references to EIA and to theintegration of environmental factors and

considerations into the decision making process.

Principle 17 of the Rio declaration is devoted to

EIA. It states:

Environmental Impact Assessment, as a

National instrument, shall be undertaken for

proposed activities that are likely to have asignificant adverse impact on the

environment and are subject to a decision of

competent national authorities.


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And this is also there in Chapter 8th of Agenda 21 of Earth

Summit which is devoted to integrating environment and

development in decision-making.

EIAEIA ensures Environmental Protectionensures Environmental Protection

offers the potential to incorporate theoffers the potential to incorporate thefuture needs of the Environmentalfuture needs of the Environmentalmanagement Systems (EMS)management Systems (EMS)

helps in Integrating environment andhelps in Integrating environment anddevelopment at the policy, planning anddevelopment at the policy, planning andmanagement levelsmanagement levels

Provides an effective legal andProvides an effective legal andregulatory frameworkregulatory framework


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Objectives/Goals of EIAObjectives/Goals of EIA To alert the interested and affectedTo alert the interested and affected

parties (Government, industry,parties (Government, industry,

regulatory agencies, local selfregulatory agencies, local selfgovernment, general public, NGOs etc.)government, general public, NGOs etc.)to the possible environmentalto the possible environmental

consequences of a new action.consequences of a new action.

To ensure that the environmentalTo ensure that the environmentalconcerns are fully incorporated in theconcerns are fully incorporated in the

decision making process.decision making process.


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Main activities in EIA exercise are:

Description of the environmental setting

Where the proposed development project is going to be realised.

This should aim for gathering basic information for prediction

and assessment.

Identification of impacts

Which is often difficult as the nature and extent of impacts in

different environmental settings due to different developmentactivities are often not well known.


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Measurement and prediction of impacts which

involve a rough estimate of different impacts due to aparticular development project. Methods of

measurement and prediction may be different depending

on the type of environmental features, nature and extent

of impact, tools available and many other factors.

Interpretation and evaluation of impact relate to the

task of finding out how the ecosystem in the particular

environmental setting may be influenced by the impactsand whether all the impacts are relevant when compared

to each other or are relevant with reference to the

existing ecosystem.


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Identification of mitigating measures so that

precautionary measures may be taken to reduce th

epossible impacts on environmental features to reach the set

targets of environmental standards.

Planning of monitoring requirements so that regulatoryrequirements are complied with and the effectiveness of

mitigating measures can be evaluated.

Communication of quantitative and qualitative data on

impacts and comprehensible interpretation in the form of a

statement.


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Screening (does the projectrequire EIA?)

Scoping (what issues andimpacts should the EIA address?)

Baseline studies (establishthe environmental baseline)

Alternatives (consider thedifferent approaches)

Mitigation (what can be done toalleviate negative impacts?)

EIS preparation/review(document the EIA findings)

Public consultation(consult general public and NGOs)

Monitoring (monitor impactsof project)

Impact prediction (forecastthe environmental impacts)

Impact assessment(interpreting the impacts)


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Participants in the EIA Process

The Project Proponent: is the person or group ofpersons who wish to establish or carry out a proposed

development activity which is known to have adverse or

beneficial impacts on th

e environment.

The project proponent may be a private company or a

Government agency or a public sector company


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The Decision Maker (The Competent Authority)

Is the Department whose decision on the proposed activity

is requested by the project proponent

It can be the Central Government Agency (CPCB or MEF)

It can be a State Government Agency (SPCB)

Competent Authority is decided on the nature and basis ofthe proposed activity

Small scale Units SPCB - Decision maker

Mega projects Central Government

Water resources (MEF)- Decision maker

power plants

refineries, petrochemicals


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Review Committees

At State level, there are Technical committees set up at State

PCB to critically examine the EIA reports and accord

environmental clearance to projects

This is followed by Environmental Appraisal committees(EACs) set up at MEF to review the EIA reports from

scientific/technical point of view.

For setting up of these committees, independent experts fromvarious fields, both from government and non governmental

agencies are appointed to look into various aspects from

environmental angle.


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Legal Advisers

Drawn from other government agencies other than decisionmakers or local government.

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)

as representative of general public

Consultancy firms

Environmental management consultants have role in EIA,EIS

They are hired by the project proponent and sometimes by

the Government also.


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Thus, the purpose of EIA is:

To identify and evaluate the potential impacts

beneficial

adverse

of development projects on environmental components

including social, cultural and aesthetic concerns.

The exercise should be taken well in advance in planning

stage of projects for selection of environmentallycompatible sites, process technologies and other

environmental safeguards.

Initial evaluation Detailed EIA


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Procedure to follow in EIA

Rapid Assessment (REIA)

Detailed EIA


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Summing upSumming up

There is a role for everyoneThere is a role for everyone

By your knowledge and expertise you canBy your knowledge and expertise you canwork as a team member in EIA studieswork as a team member in EIA studies

can become an environmental impactcan become an environmental impact

assessment (EIA) consultant,assessment (EIA) consultant,

can be invited at State level, where there arecan be invited at State level, where there areTechnical committees, set up at State PCB toTechnical committees, set up at State PCB tocritically examine the EIA reports and accordcritically examine the EIA reports and accordenvironmental clearance to projectsenvironmental clearance to projects

can be invited for the Environmental Appraisalcan be invited for the Environmental Appraisalcommittees (EACs) set up at MEF to review thecommittees (EACs) set up at MEF to review theEIA reports from scientific/technical point ofEIA reports from scientific/technical point of

view.view.


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Youre all invited to play a larger role

in protecting the environment

Dr. Praveen MathurDepartment of Environmental Science

Maharshi Dayanand Saraswati UniversityAjmer 305009 Raj.

lecture no. 16 eia

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