1

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Irfan-ul-Haq Imran-ul-Haq

Module-1 Introduction

Short Course Outline Brief about EIA Origin and History Benefits of EIA Stages in EIA

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)

Irfan-ul-Haq Imran-ul-Haq

2

Full name

Academic background

Position and role in the organization (if working)

Career background

Experience related to EIA (if any)

LETS GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER!!

Courtesy-Mobile phone off

House information

Timings

Silence

SESSION NORMS

3

Introduction Objectives & Overview

Review EIA process and application oriented introduction of advanced methods in EIA

Study inter-relationships of project cycle and EIA Explain application and compliance with National and International

Legislation during EIA process.

Elaborate delineation of Area of Influence (AOI) using examples from Case Studies

Establishing the baseline environmental conditions Understanding qualitative and quantitative analysis of alternatives Elaborate application of advanced Approached in Impact

Assessment

Review preparation of project specific EMP Explain reporting and documentation for EIA report

OBJECTIVES

4

ENVIRONMENT

In Simplest Words, Environment is Everything that Surrounds us

The sum of all external conditions affecting the life, development, and survival of an organism.

The World Bank

Physical

Air Water Land

Ecological Flora Fauna

Socio-economic Social Economic Cultural

DOMAINS OF ENVIRONMENT

5

PAFL Study Area (Physical, Ecological and Socioeconomic Domains)

POLLUTION

Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or

discomfort to the system.

6

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Sustainable development is to meet the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet

their own needs.

Brundtland Commission

WHAT IS EIA?

An important procedure for ensuring that the likely effects of new

development on the environment are fully understood and taken into

account before the development is allowed to go ahead

(DETR and National Assembly for Wales, 1999)

7

A systematic identification and evaluation of potential impacts

(effects) of proposed projects, plans, programs, or legislative actions related

to physical-chemical, biological, cultural and socio-economic components of

the Environment

(Canter, L.W.)

EIA is a framework of sustainable development.

ANOTHER DEFINITION OF EIA

WHAT IS IT REALLY?

Environmental Impact Assessment is a process, set down as a

repeatable series of steps to be taken, to allow the

environmental consequences of a proposed development to be

assessed.

8

WHAT EIA CAN DO:

Modify and improve design

Ensure efficient resource use

Enhance social aspects

Identify measures for monitoring and managing impacts

Inform decision-making

Provide justification for a proposal

BENEFITS OF EIA:

More environmentally sustainable design

Better compliance with standards

Saving in capital and operating costs

Reduced time and costs for approvals

Avoids later plant adaptations

Reduced health costs

Increased project acceptance

9

Type and nature

Magnitude

Extent

Timing

Duration

Uncertainty

Reversibility

Significance

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS VARY IN:

THREE CORE VAULES OF EIA

Sustainability - the EIA process will result in environmental

safeguards

Integrity - the EIA process will conform to agreed standards

Utility - the EIA process will provide balanced, credible information

for decision-making

10

ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF EIA

1960s witnessed the emergence of environmentalism (e.g.

publication of Silent Spring by Rachel Carson in 1962)

First formal system of EIA established in the US following the

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969

ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF EIA

NEPA sought to ensure that environmental concerns were

considered in the decision-making of Federal Government agencies.

Section 102(2)(c) required agencies to prepare a detailed statement on

the environmental impact of proposals for legislation and other major

Federal actions significantly affecting the quality of the human

environment

11

ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF EIA

The statement referred to as an Environmental Impact Statement

(EIS) - should include details on

any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should

the proposal be implemented

alternatives to the proposed action

ORIGINS AND HISTORY OF EIA

Since 1969 a host of other countries have adopted EIA legislation

In 1977 the European Commission began drafting a directive on

EIA and finally published a proposal in 1980

Directive 85/337/EEC on the assessment of the effects of certain

public and private projects on the environment the EIA Directive

was adopted in July 1985 and Member States had until 3 July 1988

to implement its requirements

12

EIA EMERGENCE (SUMMARY)

Pre-1970 : Initial Development

1970 : Origin of EIA

1970-1980 : Trend to Integration

Mid to late 1980s : Process Redirection

From mid 1990s : Towards Sustainability

How does EIA actually

contribute to Sustainable

Development?