ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

ENVS 402, CREDIT: 3 (1.5Th.+1.5Pr.)

Course Director:
Subodh Sharma
Department of Environmental Science and Engineering
School of Science, Kathmandu University
August 2011

FOR INTERNAL USE ONLY

 ENVS 402 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 3 cr. 2+(1)

Course Director: Dr. Subodh Sharma, Prof. Office: Shed 1 Tel: 011-661399 Ext. 2238
Email: subodh.sharma@ku.edu.np
Lecture hours: Every Wednesday from 9.00-11.00 followed by interactions from 12.00 to 2.00pm
Office hours: Every Sundays from 11.00 to 12.00 noon. Other times by appointment

1. Course Objectives:
Purpose: The course is particularly relevant to those who will conduct IEE/EIA guided by the
Environmental Protection Act (EPA; 1996) and Environmental Protection Rules (1997: EPR)
published by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of Nepal. It
can be useful to students, faculty members, individuals involved in Environmental Assessment
(EA) and or those who are completely new to this area of EIA.

Format: The course is designed in modular format with practical examples cited and may be
used either in its entirety or in modules.

Module 1: Present Environmental Regulatory Frameworks and Screening

Module 2: Introduction to Environmental Assessment and Steps and Process for IEE, EIA and
Best Practices Analysis (BPA)
Module 3: Analysis of Environmental Effects, Mitigation Measures and Environmental
Management Plan
Module 4: Make Familiar with Monitoring and Reporting Mechanism and Orientation and
Awareness on Environmental Impacts and Management
Module 5: Course Evaluation

Student Learning Outcomes: By the end of this course, students should be able to:
1) Fully understand the IEE and EIA Regulatory Framework as specified in EPA and EPR, and the
steps and process involved in IEE and EIA.
2) Conduct IEE/EIA in a team and be familiar with the principles and procedures of EIA, tools
and techniques used in identification and analysis of impacts, suggest appropriate mitigation
measures and prepare environmental management plans.

2. Textbook/Reference:
Upreti, B. K. (2003): Environmental Impact Assessment: process and practice. Published by
Uttara Uprety, Koteshwor, Kathmandu.

Reference:

IUCN/Nepal (2003): EIA Training Manual For Professionals and Managers. Published by
IUCN/Nepal.
3. Lecture Outline:
Course Outline: ENVS 402 Tentative Dates
1. Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment 7 Sept.
a. Definition; b. History of development; c. Objectives
d. Types of EIA; and e. Difference between effect and impact
2. Regulatory mechanisms to EIA (in Nepal) 14 Sept.
a. Policies and legislations
b. Environmental standards (emission levels, species protection list)
c. Major environmental parameters
3. Steps involved in undertaking EIA (in Nepal) 14, 21 Sept.
a. EIA and the project cycle
b. EIA Report Format
4. Environmental Screening, Scoping and Terms of Reference 12 Oct.
5. Baseline information 19 Oct.
a. Data Sources
b. Methods of Data Collection and Processing
6. Executing the EIA process 2 Nov.
1. Alternative Analysis; 2. Types of Impacts
3. Methods of identifying impacts
4. Impact prediction techniques; and 5. Impact evaluation
7. Environmental Impact Mitigating measures 9 Nov.
a. Benefit enhancing measures (selection and implementation)
b. Adverse Impact mitigating measures (selection and
implementation)
8. Environmental Monitoring 16 Nov.
a. Types and methods
9. Environmental Auditing 23 Nov.
a. Types and methods
10. Environmental Management Plan
a. Contents and requirements
11. Environmental Assessment Report and Format 30 Nov.
a. Terms of Reference
b. Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
c. Environmental Impact Assessment
12. Report review and Decision-making 7 Dec.
a. Purposes and Practices
b. Public participation in Decision-making
i. Stakeholder Identification and consultation
ii. Legal approaches to Public participation
13. Summary and Conclusion 14 Dec.
Total teaching 24 hrs.
Exercises and field work 48 hrs.
4. Exercises:

Identify yourself to one of the following working groups;

ENVS 1. Transport Sector,
ENVS 2. Water Supply,
ENVS 3. Irrigation and River Training,
ENVS 4. Micro Hydro and Alternative Energy,
ENVS 5. Solid Wastes Management, and
ENVS 6. Community Building Urban Development

ENVE 1. Transport Sector projects,

ENVE 2. Water Supply,
ENVE 3. Irrigation and River Training,
ENVE 4. Micro Hydro and Alternative Energy,
ENVE 5. Solid Wastes Management, and
ENVE 6. Community Building Urban Development

Task 1: Find an English or Nepali national daily newspaper, compile IEE and EIA public
notifications published in past, at least from three different sectors and for three different
localities. Compile and submit to the course director. Deadline: 21st Sept. 2011, 3.45 pm

Task 2: Refer EPA and EPR, 1997; Schedule 1 and Schedule 2, give your opinion as to the
weightage (scale of 3, with 3 as highest) based on which each projects are screened, based on
a format and submit. Deadline 2 Nov. 2011, 3.45 pm

Project title Threshold Sample size Sensitive area Remarks

criteria criteria criteria
Eg;, A (1) 3 2 1

Task 3: Prepare a questionnaire for brief IEE report, select the site, fill the questionnaire and
submit, deadline 30 Nov. 2011, 3.45 pm.

Task 4: Prepare a full EIA report in group and submit, deadline Dec 14, 2011 not later than
3.45 pm.
Course Schedule:
Class begins: 7 Sept 2011; Class ends: 14 Dec. 2011
First Assignment or class test is on September 21, 2011 from 9.30-10.30 am in class S1
Second Assignment or class test is on November 30, 2011 from 9.30-10.30 in class S1
Short Field Trips (details will be provided later)
Third Assignment or class test is on Dec 14, 2011 from 9.30-10.30 in S1
Submission of EIA report is on Dec 14, 2010 by 3.45 pm
Evaluation of EIA Report on Dec 28, 2011 from 9.30- 3.30 pm
Final Exams will be as announced by Controller Examination anytime between Dec 18-
Jan. 6, 2012 (SUBJECTED TO CHANGE)
Evaluation:
Exams: In –semester exams 25% (average of three), end-semester 75% (50% subjective and 25%
objective)
In-semester (Internal Assessment): 1. written answers to questions 40%, report writing exercise 40%,
class discussions and tests 20%.

Grading:
Grade A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- D F
Grade Point 4 3.7 3.3 3.0 2.7 2.3 2 1.7 1 0

Attendance: The course will emphasize interactive work sessions, thus at least 75% attendance is
required and unexcused absences will detract from your grade. If emergencies or rescheduling
difficulties arise, you must contact the instructor as soon as possible to arrange to make up missed
work. Long term absence from course for travel abroad will not be tolerated.

Course materials and assigned readings: Available as hard copies at KU Photo copy Shop and later in
electronic format on www.ku.edu.np/aec

Academic Honesty: Any form of cheating, whether on exams or in the form of plagiarism on written
assignments will not be acceptable. Cheating and plagiarism are defined in http://www.plagiarism.org/
Burrowing text from other papers or reports without acknowledging the source is an extremely serious
form of plagiarism.

Classroom Behavior:
Use of cell phones will not be allowed in classroom. If a student legitimately need to carry cell phone
to class, prior approval from the instructor is required.
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