basicconcepts for assessing environmental impacts
DESCRIPTION
EIA by Dr. LabercheTRANSCRIPT
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Basic Concepts for Assessing
Environmental Impacts
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What is Environment ?
Set of physical, chemical and biological
systems and its relationships, and of
economic, social and cultural factors with
direct and indirect, immediate or mediate
effects on living systems and humans
quality of life.
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IMPACT ASSESSMENT- Large Family of tools
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Range of interests Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries.
Biodiversity and Ecology
Disasters and Conflict.
Corporate Stewardship and Risk
Management
Health Impact Assessment
Impact Assessment Law, Policies
and Practice
Integrated Assessment of Trade-Related
Policies
Public Participation
Social Impact Assessment
Strategic Environmental Assessment
EIA - Environmental Impact Assessment SEA - Strategic Environmental Assessment HIA - Health impact assessment, SIA - Social impact assessment, Cumulative effects assessment, Risk assessment, Technological Impact Assessment
.....
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WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ?
Principles of good practice in impact assessment
The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating
the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects
of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and
commitments made.
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Why doing EIA?
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To reduce environmental risks. To apply preventive policies. To reduce corrective actions and repairness. To improve project design. To avoid unnecessary costs. To ensure better social and environmental equity. For ethical reasons.
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Benefits of EIA
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Preventively avoid proposals that do not have environmental quality Identify and optimize favourable environmental issues Identify and implement cost-effective environmental alternatives Identify and engage affected and interested stakeholders Identify more efficient and equitative decisions Adequately integrate economic, environmental and social issues
Greatest benefit: a successful decision
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EIA Evolution
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Currently: EIA in the sustainability context 1995 Integrated assessment 1990 Sustainability paradigm 1985 Process and procedural reconception 1980 Social dimension incorporated 1975 Methodological development 1970 Pre-EIA
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EIA in the International Conventions
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 toa decision of a competent national authority.
Rio Earth Summit, 1992
Rio Declaration (1992) Principle 17 and 19
(Transboundary impacts)
Biodiversity Convention (CBD) (1992) Art. 14
Espoo Convention (Transboundary impacts) (1997)
Aarhus Convention (1991) Access to information, participation and
environmental justice
EIA is now a formal process in over 100 countries around the
world.
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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 toa decision of a competent national authority. Rio Earth Summit, 1992
Rio Declaration (1992) Principle 17 and 19 (Transboundary impacts) Biodiversity Convention (CBD) (1992) Art. 14 Espoo Convention (Transboundary impacts) (1997) Aarhus Convention (1991) Access to information, participation and environmental justice EIA is now a formal process in over 100 countries around the world.
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Project and Action
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Project: technical document of architecture and engineering, that contains the written reports and drawings that enable the physical design of an initiative. Project preparation and approval is usually a phased process (ex: previous study, ante-project, execution or licensing project). Action: activity, inserted or not in a project.
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Project cycle
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Screening Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not Required
EIA Required
Monitoring EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE Review
Scoping/ Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale EIA
Evaluate Options
EIA Not Approved
EIA Review
Decision Making
EIA Approved
You are here
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Environmental Impact Assessment is:
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In EIA, the term
impacts is used instead of effects of activities.
What is an
impact?
A formal process for identifying:
likely effects of activities or projects on the
ENVIRONMENT, and on
human health and welfare.
means and measures to mitigate & monitor these
impacts
Environment is
broadly interpreted:
physical, biological,
and social.
a system. it is the form of organizing and managing a process
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Components, scale and time dimensions
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Influence of impact
The impact of an activity is a deviation (a change) from the baseline situation that is caused by the activity.
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To measure an impact, you
must know what the
baseline situation is.
!
The baseline
situation is the
existing
environmental
situation or
condition in the
absence of the
activity.
The baseline
situation is a key
concept in EIA. More
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The baseline situation
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In characterizing the
baseline situation,
many environmental
components MAY be
of interest
Water Quantity, quality, reliability,
accessibility
Soils Erosion, crop productivity,
fallow periods, salinity,
nutrient concentrations
Flora Composition and density of
natural vegetation,
productivity, key species
Fauna Populations, habitat
Special Key species
ecosystems
Env. Health Disease vectors, pathogens The components of
interest are those that
are likely to be affected
by your activityor upon which your
activity depends for its
success
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The baseline situation
The baseline situation is not simply a snapshot.
Describing the baseline situation requires
describing both the normal variability in
environmental components & current
trends in these components.
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time
Wate
r ta
ble
This chart of
groundwater levels
shows both variability
and a trend over time.
Both are part of the
groundwater baseline
situation.
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Basic concepts of impact
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Types of impacts & their attributes
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Direct & indirect impacts
Short-term & long-term impacts
Adverse & beneficial impacts
Cumulative impacts
The EIA process is concerned with
all types of impacts and may describe them in a number of
ways
Intensity Direction Spatial extent Duration Frequency Reversibility Probability
But all impacts are NOT treated equally.
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Classification of impacts
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! It is ESSENTIAL in EIA to focus on the most significant impacts.
Dont waste effort & time analyzing and discussing impacts that are less important.
Specifically,
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What is an activity?
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ACTIVITY: market access road rehabilitation
ACTIONS:
Survey, grading, culvert construction, compaction, etc. . .
a desired accomplishment or output
E.g.: a road, seedling production, or river diversion to irrigate land
An activity is:
Accomplishing an activity requires a set of actions
We are discussing the impacts of activities.
What are activities?
A project or program may consist of many activities
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Screening Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not Required
EIA Required
Monitoring EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE Review
Scoping/ Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale EIA
Evaluate Options
EIA Not Approved
EIA Review
Decision Making
EIA Approved
You are here
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The EIA process
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Scope Evaluate baseline situation Identify & choose alternatives Identify and characterize potential
impacts of proposed activity and each alternative
Develop mitigation and monitoring Communicate and document
Phase I:
Initial inquiries
IEE
Phase II:
Full EIA study
(if needed)
Our focus!
Understand proposed activities
Screen
Conduct preliminary assessment (if needed)
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Phase 1 of the EIA Process : 3 steps
Screen the activity
Based on the nature of the activity what
level of environmental
review is indicated?
Conduct a Preliminary Assessment
A rapid,
simplified EIA study using simple tools
IEE
ACTIVITY IS OF MODERATE OR UNKNOWN RISK
SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS
POSSIBLE
SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS
VERY UNLIKELY
ACTIVITY IS LOW RISK (Of its nature, very unlikely to have significant adverse impacts)
ACTIVITY IS HIGH RISK (Of its nature, likely to have significant adverse impacts)
Phase II Phase I Understand
proposed activity
Why is the
activity being proposed?
What is being
proposed?
BEGIN FULL EIA STUDY
STOP the EIA
process
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Phase 1 of the EIA Process: Understand proposed activity
Screen the activity
Based on the nature of the activity what
level of environmental
review is indicated?
Conduct a Preliminary Assessment
A rapid,
simplified EIA study using simple tools
(e.g. the USAID IEE)
ACTIVITY IS OF MODERATE OR UNKNOWN RISK
SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS
POSSIBLE
SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS
VERY UNLIKELY
ACTIVITY IS LOW RISK (Of its nature, very unlikely to have significant adverse impacts)
ACTIVITY IS HIGH RISK (Of its nature, likely to have significant adverse impacts)
Phase II Phase I Understand
proposed activity
Why is the
activity being proposed?
What is being
proposed?
BEGIN FULL EIA STUDY
STOP the EIA
process
-
Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Understand the proposed activity
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Understand the proposed activities
Why is the activity being
proposed?
What is being proposed?
ALL EIA processes begin with
understanding WHAT is being proposed,
and WHY.
The question
WHY IS THE ACTIVITY BEING PROPOSED? Is answered with the development objective (D.O.).
If we dont understand it,
we cant assess it!
building a road
increasing access to markets
We must understand the Development Objective to identify environmentally sound alternatives
Not a D.O.! Is a D.O.
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Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Understand the proposed activity
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Understand the proposed activities
Why is the activity being
proposed?
What is being proposed?
Once we understand the development objective, we must fully understand WHAT is being proposed.
Oops. I forgot about the borrow
pit.
This includes associated actions! PRIMARY ACTIVITY: construction of
diversion dam & irrigation canal
ASSOCIATED ACTIONS: Survey negotiate land tenure construct borrow pit establish construction camp construct temporary diversion
structure dispose of soil, debris
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Phase 1 of the EIA Process: Screen the activity
Screen the activity
Based on the nature of the activity what
level of environmental
review is indicated?
Conduct a Preliminary Assessment
A rapid,
simplified EIA study using simple tools
(e.g. the USAID IEE)
ACTIVITY IS OF MODERATE OR UNKNOWN RISK
SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS
POSSIBLE
SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS
VERY UNLIKELY
ACTIVITY IS LOW RISK (Of its nature, very unlikely to have significant adverse impacts)
ACTIVITY IS HIGH RISK (Of its nature, likely to have significant adverse impacts)
Phase II Phase I Understand
proposed activity
Why is the
activity being proposed?
What is being
proposed?
BEGIN FULL EIA STUDY
STOP the EIA
process
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Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Screen the activity
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Screen each activity
Based on the nature of the
activity, what level of environmental
analysis is indicated?
SCREENING is the process of asking a very basic set of questions about the nature of activity. These questions:
do NOT require analysis. do NOT require detailed knowledge about the
proposed sites, techniques or methods
Example screening questions: Does the activity involve:
Penetration road building?
Large-scale irrigation?
Introduction of non-native crop or agroforestry species?
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Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Screen the activity
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Screen each activity
Based on the nature of the
activity, what level of environmental
analysis is indicated?
screening classifies the activity into a RISK CATEGORY:
VERY LOW RISK
VERY HIGH RISK
MODERATE OR UNKNOWN RISK
EIA process ends
Do full EIA study
Do preliminary assessment
The outcome of the screening process determines the next
step in the EIA process
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Phase 1 of the EIA process:
Screen the activity
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Each donor agency and national EIA law has its own set of screening questions.
!
Screening is the topic of an upcoming module
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Phase 1 of the EIA Process:
IEE Screen the
activity
Based on the nature of the activity what
level of environmental
review is indicated?
Conduct a Preliminary Assessment
A rapid,
simplified EIA study using simple tools
IEE
ACTIVITY IS OF MODERATE OR UNKNOWN RISK
SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS
POSSIBLE
SIGNIFICANT ADVERSE IMPACTS
VERY UNLIKELY
ACTIVITY IS LOW RISK (Of its nature, very unlikely to have significant adverse impacts)
ACTIVITY IS HIGH RISK (Of its nature, likely to have significant adverse impacts)
Phase II Phase I Understand
proposed activity
Why is the
activity being proposed?
What is being
proposed?
BEGIN FULL EIA STUDY
STOP the EIA
process
-
Phase 1 of the EIA process:
The Preliminary Assessment
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Conduct a Preliminary Assessment
A rapid, simplified EIA
study using simple tools
The purpose of a preliminary assessment is to provide documentation and analysis that:
Screening determines whether the preliminary
assessment is necessary
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Allows the preparer to determine whether or not significant adverse impacts are likely
Allows the reviewer to agree or disagree with the preparers determinations
Sets out mitigation and monitoring for adverse impacts
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Phase 1 of the EIA process:
The Preliminary Assessment
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Typical Preliminary Assessment outline
1. Background (Development
objective, list of activities) 2. Description of the baseline
situation 3. Evaluation of potential
environmental impacts 4. Mitigation & monitoring 5. Recommended Findings
For each activity it covers, a preliminary assessment has 3 possible findings:
The project is very unlikely to have significant adverse impacts. (EIA process ends)
With specified mitigation and monitoring, the project is unlikely to have significant adverse impacts
The project is likely to have significant adverse impacts (full EIA study is required)
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What is mitigation?
Mitigation is. . .
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The implementation of measures designed to
reduce the undesirable effects of a proposed action
on the environment
Mitigation is the topic of an upcoming module!
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To arrive at findings: Identify, Predict and Judge
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Identify potential impacts
Judge the significance of
potential impacts
Predict potential impacts
Arriving at the FINDINGS in a preliminary assessment requires 3 steps:
Many resources describe the potential impacts of typical small-scale activities.
Determine which potential impacts are likely to become actual, and quantify these impacts to the extent possible.
1
2
3 Determine whether the predicted impacts are indeed significant! THIS WILL OFTEN DEPEND ON HOW EFFECTIVE THE PROPOSED MITIGATION MEASURES ARE!
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Subsequent modules. . .
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Present tools to assist in identifying & predicting impacts
Discuss the factors involved in judging significance
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IEE Flow Chart 1. Identify Potential Significant
Environmental Issues 2. Obtain Information
3. Effects Classification/ Identification of Significant Environmental Issues (SEIs)
4. Resolve SEIs Where Possible (Review Alternatives/Develop
Environmental Management Plans and Protection Measures)
The IEE makes recommendations for further study:
Full-Scale EIA
IEE is the final EIA Report, including:
1. SEIs 2. EPM 3. EMP
5. Are all SEIs resolved?
YES NO
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Identification of Potential Significant Issues
1. Identify valued environmental/ecosystem components (VECs)
Professional judgement/past experience Legislative requirements Stakeholder and community values
2.Identify the potential for impacts to each VEC
3.Identify potential for cumulative impacts (i.e.,to the site as a whole and to the region)
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Commonly Considered VECs
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Natural physical resources (e.g., surface and groundwater, air, climate, soil)
Natural biological resources (e.g., forests, wetlands, river and lake ecology)
Economic development resources (e.g., agriculture, industry, infrastructure, tourism)
Quality of life (e.g., public health, socio-economic, cultural, aesthetics)
National commitments (e.g., endangered species protection)
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Methods for Identifying Potential Impacts to VECs
Matrices Sectoral Project type
Checklists
Professional expertise and experience with similar project types
Combination of techniques
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Sectoral Matrix Example
Ports and Harbours
Airports
Rapid Transit
Highways
Oil/Gas Pipelines
Development Projects
Valued Env. Component
(VEC)
Insignificant Impact Significant Impact Moderate - Significant Impact
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Project Checklist Example
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Potential Damages: Actions Affecting
Resources and Values:
1. Disruption of Hydrology
2. Resettlement
3. Encroachment on Precious
Ecology
4. Encroachment on Historic/
Cultural Values
5. Cooling Tower Obstruction
6. Regional Flooding Hazard
7. Waste Emissions Related to
Siting
1. Impairment of Other Beneficial
Water Uses
2. Social Inequities
3. Loss of these Values
4. Loss of these Values
5. Conflicts with Other Beneficial
Water Uses
6. Hazard to Plant Operations
7. Intensification of Problems of
Pollution Control
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Considerations in Determining Potential Effects
Impacts to: individual VECs entire site (i.e., impacts to all VECs combined) cumulative impacts to the area (i.e., considering
other existing and planned projects)
Impacts from all phases of the project (i.e., construction, operation, decommissioning)
Impacts on different time-scales
Impacts from different orders of impact
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Screening Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
EIA Not Required
EIA Required
Monitoring EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE Review
Scoping/ Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale EIA
Evaluate Options
EIA Not Approved
EIA Review
Decision Making
EIA Approved
You are here
-
47
We only proceed to Phase II of the EIA
process if
Phase I indicates that a FULL EIA STUDY
is required
!
Most small-scale activities do not require a full EIA
study!
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Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study
The full EIA study has very similar objectives and structure to a preliminary assessment.
However, the full EIA study differs in important ways:
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A formal scoping process precedes the study to ID issues to be addressed
Analysis of environmental impacts is much more detailed
Alternatives* must be formally defined. The impacts of each alternative must be identified & evaluated, and the results compared.
Public participation is usually required.
A professional EIA team is usually required.
!
!
!
*includes the project as proposed, the no-action alternative at least one other real alternative
!
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Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study
With a few additions, the basic outline of the preliminary assessment is the template for the steps involved in a full EIA study:
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Scope
Evaluate baseline situation
Identify & choose alternatives
Identify and characterize potential impacts of proposed activity and each alternative
Compare alternatives
Develop mitigation and monitoring
1. Background (Development objective, list of activities)
2. Description of the baseline situation
3. Evaluation of potential environmental impacts
4. Mitigation & monitoring
5. Recommended Findings
Basic steps of the full EIA study
Co
mm
un
icate &
Do
cum
en
t thro
ugh
ou
t
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In summary,
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The full EIA study is a far more significant effort than the preliminary assessment.
It is reserved for activities for which screening or the preliminary assessment shows that significant impacts are likely.
Phase 2 of the EIA process:
The Full EIA study
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Who is involved in EIA?
Sponsor of the activity (usually commissions/conducts the EIA)
Regulatory agencies/ Review authorities
Broad-based public
51
Public consultation is usually only REQUIRED for full EIA studies.
However, it is good practice for preliminary assessments because:
Predicting impacts is FACILITATED by broad-based public consultation; Judging significance is very difficult without it.
Transparency and accessibility require disclosure to stakeholders
Communities (men & women) Civil society Private Sector
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Making EIA effective
To be an effective tool for ESD, EIA must be:
a integral part of the project
development cycle.
Honest
Transparent & accessible
52
EIA is undertaken early enough to affect project design
Mitigation and monitoring developed in the EIA process is implemented.
The full EIA study must consider real alternatives
Impacts must be assessed honestly.
The EIA products must be clear and accessible to key actors.
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EIA and Project cycle
53
Screening Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
EIA Not Required
EIA Required
Monitoring EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE Review
Scoping/ Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale EIA
Evaluate Options
EIA Not Approved
EIA Review
Decision Making
EIA Approved
You are here
-
54
WHAT IS ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT ?
Principles of good practice in impact assessment
The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating
the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects
of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and
commitments made.
-
Why doing EIA?
55
To reduce environmental risks. To apply preventive policies. To reduce corrective actions and repairness. To improve project design. To avoid unnecessary costs. To ensure better social and environmental equity. For ethical reasons.
-
56
Screening Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
EIA Not Required
EIA Required
Monitoring EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE Review
Scoping/ Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale EIA
Evaluate Options
EIA Not Approved
EIA Review
Decision Making
EIA Approved
You are here
-
57
Screening Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
EIA Not Required
EIA Required
Monitoring EIA Audit and
Evaluation
IEE Review
Scoping/ Terms of
Reference
Full-Scale EIA
Evaluate Options
EIA Not Approved
EIA Review
Decision Making
EIA Approved
You are here