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Whatisanimpact?Theimpactofanactivityisadeviation(achange)fromthebaselinesituationthatiscausedbytheactivity.

To measure an impact, you

must know what the

baseline situation is.

The baselinesituation is the

existing

environmental

situation or

condition in the

absence of the

activity.

The baselinesituation is a key

concept in EIA.

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ThebaselinesituationDescribingthebaselinesituation

requiresdescribingboththenormalvariabilityinenvironmental

components&currenttrendsinthesecomponents.

time

Watertable

This chart of

groundwater levels

shows both variability

and a trend over t ime.

Both are part of the

groundwater baseline

situation.

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Review:DefinitionofEIAEnvironmentalImpact

Assessment

isA formal process for identifying:

Likely effects of activities or

projects on the

ENVIRONMENT, and on

human health and welfare.

Means and measures to

mit igate & monitor theseimpacts

Environment is

broadly interpreted:

physical, biological,and social.

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It is ESSENTIAL in EIA

to focus on the most

significant impacts.

Dont waste effort & time

analyzing and discussingimpacts that are less

important.

Specifically,

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Typesofimpacts&theirattributesDirect & indirect

impacts

Short-term & long-term impacts

Adverse & beneficial

impacts

Cumulative impacts

The EIA process is

concerned with

all types of impacts andmay describe them in a

number of ways

Intensity

DirectionSpatial extent DurationFrequency

Probability

But all impacts are

NOT treated

equally.

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TheEIAprocessPhase I:

Initial inquiries

Phase II:

Full EIA study(if needed)

Understand proposed

activities

Screen

Conduct preliminary

assessment (if needed)

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Phase 1 of the EIA Process

Screen the

activity

Based on the

nature of theactivity what

level of

environmental

review is

indicated?

Conduct a

Preliminary

Assessment

A rapid,simplified EIA

study using

simple tools

(e.g. IEE)

ACTIVITY IS

OF MODERATEOR UNKNOWN

RISK

SIGNIFICANT

ADVERSEIMPACTS

POSSIBLE

SIGNIFICANT

ADVERSE

IMPACTS

VERY UNLIKELY

ACTIVITY IS LOW

RISK (Of its nature,very unlikely to have

significant adverseimpacts)

ACTIVITY IS

HIGH RISK (Of itsnature, likely to have

significant adverse

impacts)

Phase IIPhase IUnderstand

proposed

activity

Why is theactivity being

proposed?

What is being

proposed?

BEGIN

FULLEIA

STUDY

STOP

the EIA

process

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Phase1oftheEIAprocess:Understand

the

proposed

activity

Understand

the proposedactivities

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 cantassess it!

building a road

increasing accessto markets

We must understand the

Development Objective to identify

environmentally sound alternatives

Not a D.O.!

Is a D.O.

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Phase1oftheEIAprocess:

Understandthe

proposed

activity

Understand

the proposedactivities

Why is the

activity being

proposed?

What is being

proposed?

Once we understand the development

objective, we must fully understand

WHAT is being proposed.

This includes associated actions!

PRIMARY ACTIVITY:

construct ion of dam & irrigation

canal

ASSOCIATED ACTIONS:

Survey

negotiate land tenure

establish construction camp

construct temporary

diversion structure dispose of soil, debris

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Phase1oftheEIAprocess:

ScreentheactivityScreen eachactivity

Based on thenature of the

activity, what

level of

environmental

analysis isindicated?

SCREENING is the process of asking

a very basic set of questions aboutthe nature of activity.

These questions:

do NOT require analysis.

do NOT require detailed knowledge

about the proposed sites, techniques or

methodsExample screening questions:

Does the activity involve:

Villages relocation?

Large-scale irrigation?

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Phase1oftheEIAprocess:Screentheactivity

Screen each

activity

Based on thenature of the

activity, what

level of

environmental

analysis isindicated?

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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Phase1oftheEIAprocess:ThePreliminaryAssessment

Conduct a

Preliminary

Assessment

A rapid,

simplified EIA

study using

simple tools

(e.g. the IEE)

The purpose of a preliminary

assessment is to providedocumentation and analysis that:

Screeningdetermines whether

the preliminary

assessment is

necessary

!

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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Phase1oftheEIAprocess:ThePreliminaryAssessment

Typical Preliminary

Assessment outline

1. Background (Developmentobjective, 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(ful l EIA study is required)

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Whatismitigation?The implementation of

measures designed to

reduce the undesirableeffects of a proposed

action on the

environment

Mitigation is the upcoming topic !

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Toarriveatfindings:Identify,PredictandJudge

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 HOWEFFECTIVE THE PROPOSED MITIGATION

MEASURES ARE!

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We only proceed to

Phase II of the EIA process

ifPhase I indicates that

a FULL EIA STUDY

is required

!

Most small-scale activities do

not require a full EIA study!

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Phase2oftheEIAprocess:TheFullEIAstudy

ThefullEIAstudyhasverysimilarobjectivesandstructuretoapreliminaryassessment.

However,thefullEIAstudydiffersin

importantways:

A formal scoping process

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 isusually required.

A professional EIA team

is usually required.

!

!

!

!

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Phase2oftheEIAprocess:TheFullEIAstudy

Withafewadditions,thebasicoutlineofthepreliminaryassessmentisthetemplateforthestepsinvolvedinafullEIAstudy:

Scope

Evaluate baseline

situation

Identify & choose

alternativesIdentify and characterize

potential impacts of

proposed activity and

each alternativeCompare alternatives

Develop mitigation and

monitoring

1. Background (Development

objective, list of activities)

2. Description of the baseline

situation

3. Evaluation of potentialenvironmental impacts

4. Mitigation & monitoring

5. Recommended Findings

Basic steps of the full

EIA studyCommunicate&

Documentthrough

out

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Insummary,The full EIA study is a farmore significant effort than

the preliminary assessment.

Phase 2 of the EIA process:

The Full EIA study

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EIA is undertaken early enough

to affect project designMitigation and monitoring

developed in the EIA process is

implemented.

MakingEIAeffectiveTobeaneffectivetoolEIAmustbe:aintegralpartoftheprojectdevelopmentcycle.

Honest

Transparent&accessible

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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Defining the Scope of EIA :

Define the proposed action

Enlist the cooperation of agencies

Indentify whats important & whats not

Set time limits on studies

Determine requirements of the study team

Collect background information

Identify required permits

Identify other regulatory requirements

Determine the range of alternatives.