EIA METHODS

Methods are structured mechanisms for the identification, collection

and organization of environmental impact data.

They are means whereby information is presented in a variety of visual
formats for interpretation by decision-makers and members of the
public.



CHECKLISTS

Consists of a list of environmental features which may be affected
by a project.
Sometimes a list of project actions which may cause an impact is also
included. Types of checklist vary in complexity.

Examples of the types of checklists are simple lists, descriptive checklists,
scaling checklists and questionnaires checklist.


Simple Checklists

Contain a list of environmental factors e.g. land uses, endangered
species, erosion and focus the attention of the proponent on these
factors.
They serve as an aide mmoire and ensure that a particular factor is
not omitted from the analysis.
However such lists do not give guidance on how these factors should be
assessed.


Descriptive Checklists

These lists give guidance on assessment. For each factor information
is provided on appropriate measurement and predictive techniques.
It also suggests that impacts should be considered in terms of their
differential distribution between social groups.


Scaling Checklists

This technique offer guidance on how impact importance can be
determined (offered by non of the techniques above).

The checklist consists of a list of environmental elements or
resources such as water quality, wildlife habitat and air quality,
accompanied by the criteria which express values of these resources
which are desirable. If one looks at water quality: the criteria are the
state water quality standards.

Any impact which exceeds the point / threshold of concern of that
particular environmental element, is considered to be significant to
decision-makers.

Each impact is considered in terms of its duration and is assigned the a
letter taken from the following scale.

A- 1 year or less C- 10 to 50 years
B- 1 to 10 years D- irreversible



Questionnaires Checklists

Contains questions on potential impacts listed under generic
categories.

Example :
Terrestrial ecosystem Ans

a) Will the project require clearing / alteration of:
Small areas of land in the forest ecosystem ? Yes__ No__ Unk.__
Moderate areas of land.? Yes__ No__ Unk.__
Large areas of land.? Yes__ No__ Unk.__

The degree of impact ( whether high adverse or medium benefit ) is also
seeked for.

Eventually, the indirect impacts ( such as the possibility of the project
causing a population growth and in turn affecting the ecosystem) are also
studied and the consequences of possible mitigation measures are
considered in the questionnaire format.


Advantages and Disadvantages

All useful in structuring the initial stages of the assessment by acting as
initial guide and helping to ensure that no vital factor is omitted form the
analysis.

However, the simpler checklist tends to be to rigid and tends to tunnel
vision on items considered only on the checklist.

This study requires a certain degree of flexibility when assessing individual
projects and may have peculiarities not listed under the items in the
checklist.

Complex checklists requires much skill and hence a cost factor needs to be
associated in the processing/ drafting. On the other hand, non-experts may
find it difficult to understand and question the end result from using them.

Checklists focus on only one development activity at a time and does not
link the project actions to the environmental components.


Leopold Matrix

This matrix consists of a horizontal list of development activities ranged
against a vertical list of environmental factors. This matrix is used to
identify impacts by systematically checking each development activity
against each environmental parameter to ascertain whether an impact is
likely or not.

OVERLAY METHODS

This method was first used manually. A transparent overlay sheet is
prepared as the base map showing the location of the project and the
boundaries of the area to be considered in the impact assessment.

A transparency for each environmental feature that will be affected by the
project is also prepared ( usually done by experts). The degree of impact
will be shown by the intensity of shading taken from a black/white
colour code.

This is a simple method of visually representing individual impacts and
combination of impacts. It is an excellent method to show the spatial
distribution of impacts.

With this information it is easy to relate individual/ total aggregate
impacts on the human population who inhabit the localities.



Advantages and Disadvantages

Overlays are useful in assessing alternative routes for linear
developments such as pipelines, highways and transmission lines.
Disadvantage with manual overlays: interpretation of more than 12
overlays is sometimes difficult . This problem has been overcomed
by use of computers and computerized overlays ( GIS ).
Because of its ability to handle large data sets, computers can produce
composite factor maps indicating the whole range of impacts



NETWORKS

Developed explicitly for considering the secondary, tertiary and
higher order impacts that can arise from the initial impact.

For instance, land uses such as residential development and crop
farms will involve drainage improvements which constitute the
causal factor resulting in an increased freshwater flow into an
estuary.


SIMULATION MODELLING

These are usually expensive, time consuming and used only when
budgets and manpower are not constraints.

This involves the construction of a simulation model of the system(s)
likely to be affected by a development.

The models are operated under different assumptions and the broad
outcomes observed.

Construction of a model shows areas where data is deficient and
allows appropriate research work to be carried out to provide data.

This method also allows evaluating the impacts of several alternatives and
easily makes the comparison , thus very beneficial for project planning.

The limiting factor is that the models will be only as accurate and
comprehensive as the data available.



COST OF EIA STUDIES

Vary with scope, quality and levels of expertise used in their
preparation.

EIA budgets for industrial developments range from 0.014 % to 0.48
% of the total cost, with expenditure from $ 26,100 to $ 87,000.

Expenditure on EIA for water resources projects range from 0.01 %
to 0.16% of the total project cost.