EN-323

Environmental Impact Assessment

Introduction

Engr. Sadia Fida

 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

▪ The assessment of all potential environmental,

social and health effects that would result on
account of location, design, construction and
operation of the proposed development is
termed as EIA.
▪ The results of assessment are assembled in
a document which is called “Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS).
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Environmental Impact:

The change in environmental parameter, over a

specified period and within a defined area,
resulting from a particular activity compared
with the situation which would have occurred if
the activity not been initiated.
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
Environmental Impact:
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Most definitions recognize the following

four basic principles
1. Procedural principle; EIA establishes a systematic
method for incorporating environmental
considerations into decision-making;

2. Informational principle; EIA provides the necessary

elements to make an informed decision;
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3. Preventive principle; EIA should be applied

at the earliest opportunity within the
decision-making process to allow the
anticipation and avoidance of environmental
impacts wherever possible; and

4. Iterative principle; the information generated

by EIA is made available to interested
parties to elicit a response which in turn
should be fed back into EIA process.
 Assessments
Formal EIA
• Required by governments, or by organisations that provides funds
for projects (such as the Work Bank).
Informal EIA
• The cases where assessment is incorporated in internal processes of
corporations.
• The environment assessment associated with an Environmental
Management Systems, requires identification and documentation of
potential impacts, plus the reporting of how those impacts would be
managed.
 OBJECTIVES OF EIA
Immediate objectives of EIA are to:
• improve the environmental design of the proposal;

• ensure that resources are used appropriately and efficiently;

• identify appropriate measures for mitigating the potential impacts

of the proposal; and

• facilitate informed decision making, including setting the

environmental terms and conditions for implementing the
proposal.
 OBJECTIVES OF EIA
• Long term objectives of EIA are to:
• protect human health and safety;

• avoid irreversible changes and serious damage to the environment;

• safeguard valued resources, natural areas and ecosystem

components; and

• enhance the social aspects of the proposal

EIA and Project Cycle
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MAJOR COMPONENTS OF AN EIA STUDY

1. Screening:
▪ “Screening” is a process of determining whether an
EIA is required for a project.
2. Scoping:
▪ “Scoping” is a process for determining what
environmental issues to be covered, assessed and
addressed in an EIA Report.
▪ It includes consultation with relevant agencies,
stakeholders, local representatives and experts.
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STEPS FOR EIA STUDY (Cont…)

3. Baseline Data Collection:
▪ It includes the collection of information on the
characteristics of the existing environment (physical,
biological) and socio-economic conditions in the study
area.
▪ The baseline studies also, include the detailed
description of the proposed project activities and
assess various pollutants that would be resulting
from the activity.
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STEPS FOR EIA STUDY (Cont…)

4. Identification of Significant Environmental
Impacts:
Significant environmental impacts are identified on
the basis of their magnitude and significance.
This step includes;
▪ Impact prediction, and

▪ Impact evaluation.

5. Analysis of Alternatives:
Different alternatives of the project are analyzed on both
economic and environmental basis.
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STEPS FOR EIA STUDY (Cont…)

6. Mitigation Measures:
▪ Appropriate mitigation measures are proposed for the
identified significant environmental impacts.
7. Environmental Monitoring/Management Plan:
▪ EMP provides a framework for mitigating
environmental impacts for the life of the project.
▪ It also make provision for auditing the effectiveness
of proposed environmental protection measures and
procedures.
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STEPS FOR EIA STUDY (Cont…)

8. Public involvement
▪ keeping all stakeholders posted
▪ Knowing and including public views, concerns and
values in the project design
▪ maximizing project benefits

▪ enhancing public confidence

▪ adding transparency and accountability in decision-

making
▪ reducing conflict
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STEPS FOR EIA STUDY (Cont…)

9. Effective Reporting

▪ assists in environmentally friendly

project planning

▪ Facilitates decision making

▪ helps the public to understand

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STEPS FOR EIA STUDY (Cont…)

10.Reviewing
The step in the EIA process that determines whether
the EIA report is an adequate assessment of the
environmental effects and is of sufficient relevance and
quality for decision- Making.
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STEPS FOR EIA STUDY (Cont…)

11. Decisions
▪ Unconditional approval

▪ Conditional approval
▪ Approval subject to satisfactory results of ongoing
investigation
▪ Further investigation prior to re- consideration

▪ Request for a supplementary, a new, EIA report

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Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)

▪ Proposal description and identification of potential
environmental impacts

▪ Resolution of community concerns, if any.

▪ Defining mitigating measures against potential

adverse impacts and enhancing potential benefits

▪ Outlining environmental monitoring and management

plans