Department of Civil Engineering

17CEOE811
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Unit-6 REPORT REVIEW AND

DECISION MAKING
Review & Licensing
Designated authorities
review the EIA report to
determine if the
planned project will get
a license or if it requires
amendments.
The key objectives of EIA review are to:

•Assess the adequacy and quality of an EIA

report.
•Take into account public comments.
•Determine if the information is sufficient for
a final decision to be made.
•Identify any deficiencies that must be
addressed before the report can be submitted.
Approaches:
•Internal review
•External review
•Using input from public comment
•Determining remedial options
 Acceptable
Partially acceptable
Deficient.
How to Review EIA:
Identify the deficiencies in the EIA report, using
the Terms of Reference, relevant guidelines,
criteria and information on standards by national
agencies and comparable EIA reports.
Focus on any shortcomings in the EIA report and
identify gaps and areas that require further
information and improvements in the methods
based on suggested protocols;
Recommend how and when any serious
shortcomings are to be remedied, in order to
facilitate informed decision making and
appropriate measures for project implementation.
MAIN STEPS IN EIA REVIEW:

 set the scale/depth of the review;

 select reviewer(s);
 use input from public involvement; and
 identify review criteria and aspects to be
considered.
 carrying out the review;
 determine how to remedy any deficiencies; and
 report the findings.
MAIN STEPS IN EIA REVIEW:

 set the scale/depth of the review;

How much time is available to carry out the
review?
Are the necessary resources available for this
purpose?
MAIN STEPS IN EIA REVIEW:
 select reviewer(s);
 use input from public involvement; and
 identify review criteria and aspects to be
considered.
Are terms of reference or other guidelines
available for the review?
Are any reviews of EIA reports of comparable
proposals in similar settings available?
MAIN STEPS IN EIA REVIEW:
identify review criteria and aspects to be
considered.
Which generic review criteria may be useful?
When is a comprehensive review appropriate?
• performance of scoping;
•accuracy of impact prediction;
•criteria used to evaluate significance;
•comparison of alternatives;
•effectiveness of proposed mitigation measures;
•requirements for monitoring and impact
management; and
•modes of public and stakeholder involvement.
MAIN STEPS IN EIA REVIEW:
carrying out the review;
Step 1: identifies the deficiencies in the EIA report
Step 2: focuses on any shortcomings in the EIA report and
separate crucial deficiencies, which may directly impede
decision-making, from less important ones.
Step 3: recommends how, and when, any serious
shortcomings are to be remedied to facilitate informed
decision-making and appropriate measures for project
implementation.
MAIN STEPS IN EIA REVIEW:

determine how to remedy any deficiencies; and

 report the findings.
Step 4: Give either a green (go) or red (stop) or
yellow light (conditional acceptance) for the
environmental aspects.
DIFFERENT EIA REVIEW METHODS:

 General checklists
 Project specific checklists and guidelines
 EIA review frameworks and packages
 Expert and accredited reviewers
 Public hearings
 Comprehensive review of the EIA process
Role of the Decision-makers
importance in the EIA process
different roles and responsibilities of
decision maker
make decisions on the merits
of a proposal
Decision-making

identify the different types of interim decisions that are

made throughout the applicable EIA process
screening – to decide if and at what level EIA should be
applied;
scoping – to identify the important issues and prepare
terms of reference;
impact analysis – focusing attention on the consideration
and choice of alternatives;
mitigation – to identify measures to avoid, minimise or
compensate for impacts; and
review – to determine the quality and adequacy of the EIA
report as a basis for approval of the proposal.
 EIA as part of the Decision-making Process

Case study Ex: SARDAR SAROVAR SCHEME, INDIA

INFORMATION REQUIRED BY A DECISION-MAKER IN AN EIA REPORT
Responsibility of the Decision-Makers
PUBLIC INVOLVEMENT
obtain local and traditional knowledge that may be
useful for decision-making;
facilitate consideration of alternatives, mitigation
measures and tradeoffs;
ensure that important impacts are not overlooked and
benefits are maximised;
reduce conflict through the early identification of
contentious issues;
provide an opportunity for the public to influence
project design in a positive manner (thereby creating a
sense of ownership of the proposal);
improve transparency and accountability of decision-
making
Examples of the contribution of public involvement to
project design

Ghana Environmental Resource Management Project

Brasil Espirito Santo Water Project

DIFFERENT LEVELS AND FORMS OF PUBLIC

INVOLVEMENT
Information
Consultation
Participation
Negotiation
 STAKEHOLDERS IN EIA

The people – individuals, groups and communities –

who are affected by the proposal;
The proponent and other project beneficiaries;
Government agencies;
NGOs and interest groups; and
Others, such as donors, the private sector, academics
etc.
THE BENEFITS OF EFFECTIVE PARTICIPATION
FOR DIFFERENT GROUPS
-PROPONENTS,
-THE DECISION MAKER,
-AFFECTED COMMUNITIES

-How the people and groups who should be

involved in a particular EIA can be identified.
-provisions made for public involvement in
the EIA system
•inclusive – covers all stakeholders;
•open and transparent – steps and activities are
understood;
•relevant – focused on the issues that matter;
•fair – conducted impartially and without bias
toward any stakeholder;
•responsive – to stakeholder requirements and
inputs; and
•credible – builds confidence and trust.
Screening
Scoping
Impact analysis and mitigation
Review of EIA quality
Implementation and follow up
Public involvement in practice
Who should be involved?
What type and scope of public involvement is
appropriate?
How should the public be involved?
When and where should opportunities for public
involvement be provided
How will the results of public involvement be used in the
EIA and decision making processes?
What resources are necessary or available to implement
the public involvement programme?
Poverty
Remote and rural settings
Illiteracy
Local values/culture
Languages
Legal systems
Interest groups
Confidentiality
Public involvement techniques
It’s too early; we haven’t yet got a firm proposal
It will take too long and will cost too much
It will stir up opposition, and the process will be taken
over by activists
We will only hear from the articulate
We’ll raise expectations we can’t satisfy
The local community won’t understand the issues
involved.
JGI