Environment Assessment:

Part II: Principles and

Processes

2.1 Guiding principles, types and differences

between EAs, including Cumulative and Social
Impact Assessment
2.2 EIA Process: generic and Nepal specific
2.3 Environmental screening and scoping
 Batu Uprety
4-5 October 2021, Monday and Tuesday

2.1 Guiding/Basic Principles, types

and differences between EAs,
including Cumulative and Social
Impact Assessments
Basic Principles: EA should be ...
● Purposive – the process should inform decision-making and result
 in appropriate levels of environmental protection and community
well-being.
● Rigorous – the process should apply 'best practicable' science,
employ methodologies and techniques appropriate to address the
problems being investigated.
● Practical – the process should result in information and outputs
which assist with problem solving and are acceptable to and able
to be implemented by proponents.
● Cost-effective – the process should achieve the objectives of EIA
within the limits of available information, time, resources and
methodology.
● Efficient – the process should impose the minimum cost burdens
in terms of time and finance on proponents and participants
consistent with meeting accepted requirements and objectives of
EIA.
 Basic Principles: EIA should be ..
● Focused – the process should concentrate on significant
environmental impacts/effects and key issues; i.e., the matters
that need to be taken into account in making decisions.
● Adaptive – the process should be adjusted to the realities, issues
and circumstances of the proposals under review without
compromising the integrity of the process, and be iterative,
incorporating lessons learned throughout the proposal’s life
cycle.
● Participative – the process should provide appropriate
opportunities to inform and involve the interested and affected
publics, and their inputs and concerns should be addressed
explicitly in the documentation and decision-making.
● Interdisciplinary – the process should ensure that the
appropriate techniques and experts in the relevant bio-physical
and socio-economic disciplines are employed, including use of
traditional knowledge as relevant.
Basic Principles: EIA should be ..
● Credible – the process should be carried out with
professionalism, rigor, fairness, objectivity, impartiality and
balance, and be subject to independent checks and
verification.
● Integrated – the process should address the interrelationships
of social, economic and bio-physical aspects.
● Transparent – the process should have clear, easily understood
EIA content; ensure public access to information; identify the
 factors that are to be taken into account in decision making;
and acknowledge limitations and difficulties.
● Systematic – the process should result in full consideration of
all relevant information on the affected environment, of
proposed alternatives and their impacts, and of the measures
necessary to monitor and investigate residual effects.
The UN Environment-Governing Council’s
Decisions on 13 Principles (1987)
● Don’t undertake or authorise activities without EIA; ● Define
criteria and procedures for EIA through laws or other means to
expedite EIA of the planned activity
● Identify and study significant environmental issues at an early
stage
● Describe potentially affected environment; practical alternative;
 assess likely environmental impacts including direct, indirect,
cumulative, short-term and long-term effects; identify and
describe mitigation measures; and a brief, non-technical
summary
● Assess environmental effects in detail with their likely
environmental significance
● Examine information impartially prior to the decision ●
Allow stakeholders and interested groups appropriate
opportunity to comment on EIA report
UNEP-GC’s Decisions on 13 Principles …
● Make decision after receiving comments
● Include written provisions for preventing, reducing and
mitigating the damages to the environment
● Decision on the activity should be subject to appropriate
supervision
● Notify, exchange information, and agreed-upon
consultation on the environmental effects beyond national
jurisdiction
● Notify and transmit the potentially affected State any
relevant information, and enter into timely consultation ●
Establish appropriate measures to ensure implementation of
EIA procedures
Guiding Principles of the International Association
for Impact Assessment (IAIA's) 1999
● Participative: The process should provide appropriate
 opportunities to inform and involve the interested and
affected publics and incorporate their input in
decision-making.
● Transparency: Assessment process, outcomes & decisions
should be open and accessible.
● Certainty: The process and timing of the assessment should be
agreed in advanced and followed by all participants. ●
Accountability: The decision-makers and project proponents are
responsible to all parties for their action and decisions under the
assessment process.
● Credibility: Assessment is undertaken with professionalism and
objectivity.
● Cost-effectiveness: The assessment process and its outcomes
will ensure environmental protection at the least cost to the
society.
 IAIA's 1999 Guiding Principles …
● Practical - the process should result practical outputs, which can
be implemented by proponent.
● Relevant - the process should focus information that is relevant
for development planning and decision-making. ● Focused - the
process should concentrate on significant environmental effects
and key issues that need to be taken into account in making
decisions.
● Interdisciplinary - the process should ensure that the
appropriate techniques and experts in the relevant disciplines
are employed, including use of traditional knowledge as
relevant.
● Integrated - the process should address interrelationships of
social, economic and biophysical aspects.
 Types and differences between EAs,
including Cumulative and Social IAs
Types of EAs
▪ Project level – Environmental Study (ES), IEE (Initial Environmental
Examination)/Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) or EIA or
Supplementary EIA - Projects may road, hydropower generation,
transmission lines, mining or industry etc. – high level of details
▪ Policy, Plan and Programme level – Strategic Env. Assessment – forest
policy, biodiversity programme etc – low level of details
▪ Policy, Programme or Project – SE Analysis (Nepal's EPA, 2019) ▪
Regional level – REA, e.g. industrial district or mining area ▪ Sector
level – SeEA – Valley or hill road, reservoir or run-of-the river
HEP, community vs commercial forest etc – low level of details ▪ Basin
or past, present and foreseeable future projects – CIA (Cumulative
Impact Assessment) – river basin HEPs, Trishuli River Basin Domain level –
fragmentation and/or specific
▪ Social Impact Assessment (SIA) – focuses on social issues/aspects ▪
Biodiversity Impact Assessment (BIA) – focuses on biodiversity ▪ Health
EIA – focuses on health impacts or could be covered under SIA Hence,
basically Impact Assessment and preferred to use the term EA
Strategic Environmental
Assessment (SEA - Policy, Plan
and Programme) Strategic
Environmental Analysis
Types of EAs
Cumulative Impact
(SEAn - Policy, Programme or
Project, Nepal's EPA, 2019) Assessment
(Past, present & foreseeable
future projects)
 (Industrial district) EIA & SuEIA
Sectoral EA (Project Level)
(Valley or hill road) Social IA,
Brief Environmental Biodiversity IA &
Study (BES), Initial Health IA or
Environmental Conflict IA
Regional EA Examination (IEE); and (Domain level)

Difference between IEE and EIA

impacts
● If further study is proposed, it
IEE/Preliminary Env Assessment ● should provide issues and areas
Carried out for small-scale project ● that should be considered in
Addresses mostly known impacts ● additional study
May propose further study, if IEE ● Normally carried our in short
is inadequate to identify or predict period
 EIA further study, in some cases may
● Carried out for large-sized propose for residual
project impact study
● Also addresses unknown ● Ensures high level of
impacts but does not longer stakeholders' consultation
period for research
● Generally does not recommend

Note: Small, medium or large projects vary from country to country

Differences between BES, IEE, EIA and
SEAn (Based on Nepal's EPA, 2019 and EPR, 2020)
SN Particulars BES IEE EIA SEAn
Proposal – plan, programme contains adverse with mitigation
1 Definition A brief study that
project or environmental impacts measures
An assessment of small measures significant adverse environmental project with
project to know An assessment of big orimpacts with impacts of a policy, mitigation measures
significant adverse env. sensitive project to mitigation measures programme or
impacts with mitigation know An analysis of
2 Requirements Schedule 1 Schedule 2 Schedule 3 List of 3Ps after Cabinet approval
3 Scoping x x Required in format Required (no format) 4 ToR in format Required Required Required x
5 SD/ToR/Report approval agency Ministry of Forests & Cabinet (nor format for report)
Concerned agency (CA) Concerned Environment
6 Public hearing Required Required Required x
7 In Report (as per format) x
EMP Framework EMP Framework EMP after annex
reference &
Monitoring x x Required X
Auditing x x Required x
8 Approval of report Within 15 days Within 15 days Within 35 days May approve by Cabinet
9 Additional study CA may for EIA Supplementary EIA
instruct for IEE CA may instruct CA may permit for X

10 Auditing x x Within 6 months after

X
2 years of service
11 Punishment (up to) NRs. 5,00,000/ NRs. 10,00,000/ NRs. 50,00,000/ x
 Level of
Most high
Least detailed, widest
level/strategic Details Policy SEA range of options

Plan SEA

Programme SEA
Most detailed,
narrowest range of
Most site-specific, options
least strategic Project EIA
Strategic Environmental Assessment is a simple and flexible process.
2.2 EA process: Generic and
Nepal Specific
Generalised EIA
Process Flow
Chart
After Achieng Ogola, 2007
1

3
2

7 5
5a 10

4
6 5b

9
8
2010
18
ADB-AECEN Technical Workshop 18

ADB-AECEN-U.S. EPA EIA Technical Workshop June 10,

Project Initiator

No Evaluation Subject to Other Legal

Prescribed * Activity
Requirements
Yes
 Preliminary
Assessment
Detailed**
Assessment

Yes
Under the Environmental
Quality Act, 1974
Report Review (DOE)
More Information Report Review (Review Panel)
Required From
Project Initiator More Information Required
From Project Initiator
Yes

No No No
Report STOP Accepted? Yes
Accepted?
Approving
Detailed Assessment Required?

Yes
Authority Detailed Assessment
Report
No

Review Document Project Approved?

Yes
Project
Implementation
Environmental
Environmental Project
Monitoring Continues Monitoring
No
Environmental Audit Environmental
No Amend
Abandonment Plan Abandonment Plan
Yes
Amend
Yes
Conditions
Audit
STOP
* Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities) (Environmental Impact Assessment)
Order 1987
 ** Consultation with Department of Environment on Term of Reference
Figure : Outline of Environmental Impact Assessment Procedure in Malaysia (Source:Department of Environment,
Malaysia.1994. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Procedure and Requirements in Malaysia.
Revised)

EIA Process in South Africa

Proposal Identification P
v
ir
o
r
o
Decision on level of Section 3 & Rule 3 c
E
study/assessment n
n
(Environmental screening) as Environmental m

e
e
per Schedules (1, 2 & 3) Brief s
s
i
n

No EIA required N
t
a

IEE EIA e
l
S
p
Study n
l t
Scoping TOR involvement 4: 7 days public a
d
u
s

Section 5 & Rule notice p y

Public a
/

e s
s
Detail BES/IEE/EIA Use of scientific r
E
Study methods A

e
P
s

Section 4 : Analyse
R
s
m

alternatives Rule 6: > 1

 ,
2
0
2

Feedback for Submission of BES, Rule 7: ESR 0

e

Public Hearing preparation as per tn

IEE/EIA Report Expert Review formats & in Nepali
approval with Approval; BES & IEE –
similar project Resubmit recommendation letter within 15 days; and EIA
within 2 years of within 35 days
Review Decision
SD/ToR approval, &
review Section 11 & Rule 11:
EIA Report open for Provision
Redesign
Public Review for 7 (Rule 9.2) Section 7 and Rule 9:
days Rule 8: Submission for
for supplementary EIA
Monitoring and Project
Environmental Auditing Implementation Supervision People's Participation Rule 12: BES/IEE revision
Approved Not Approved

SEA/SEAn Process
Proposal Identification
(draft Plan or Programme)
Screening – Proposal
S range of environmental I
requiring SEA issues to be covered
E R
A E
Scoping – determine the Preparation of
L Per
EPR
Environmental report 2020
A Policy, programme or project (Section
S 9 & Rule 10)

E Prepare List of policy, programme or

An project requiring SEAn & submit to
Cabinet (Rule 10.1)
N
Before submitting List to Cabinet, (Rule 10.3) - Screening
E Thematic/Subject Ministry to take
P concurrence from National Planning If List approved, Thematic Ministry to
A Commission (Rule 10.2) prepare Scoping Report (SR) & send to
MoFE for
L Cabinet may approve the List for SEAn concurrence (Rule 10.4) & provide
As concurrence within 30 days (Rule 10.5)
Pubic Participation & The public Also transboundary 10.6)
L Consultations
Thematic Ministry to finalise
Scoping and submit to If SR approved, Thematic
D Environmental & health Cabinet for approval (Rule Ministry to prepare report
authorities, affected parties and
& make public for 30 days (Rule 10.7) & anybody can
Integration of environmental considerations send suggestion (Rule 10.8)
into Plan or Programme or strategy
Prepare report & send MoFE for concurrence (Rule 10.9) &
MoFE to provide concurrence within 30 days (Rule 10.10)
Information on Decision
 If concurrence received, submit to (Rule 10.12)
(SEA Statement) Cabinet for approval (Rule 10.11) &
Monitoring Cabinet may approve SEAn Report

Supplementary EIA Process in

Nepal
addition of forest area or increase in project
capacity (Section 11.1)
Proposal requiring SuEIA of approved EIA Apply to concerned agency (CA) & submit a
report comparative table of environmental indicators
along with necessary reasons and clarifications; or
CA may instruct for SuEIA (Section 11.2)
Apply to CA for SuEIA study
CA may give consent to carry out Supplementary
Examine request & CA may permit for SuEIA EIA as prescribed after the examination of the
request (Section 11.3) and other arrangements as
study
prescribed (Section 11.4).
If necessary to change physical infrastructure,
design or shape, transfer of or change in structure,
CA may permit/issue to conduct SuEIA study (Rule 11.1)
Proponent to comply with all
process except approval of Scoping & ToR (Rule 11.2)

CA to make public SuEIA for 7 days (Rule
11.3)
CA to approve SuEIA report, if completed all
process (Rule 11.5)
CA may approve revised EMP not SuEIA (Rule
11.6)
Recommendation (letter) of other agency not
necessary except additional local level to be
impacted (Rule 11.2)
Making the initiative/project sustainable
CA shall make submitted SuEIA report public for 7 days by
publishing a notice in any one of the national newspaper
to collect suggestions and upload report in proponent's
website in download form (Rule 11.3) and anybody mat
send suggestion (Rule 11.4)
CA should approve SuEIA that completes above processes
including suggestions received and if found appropriate
(Rule 11.5)
Notwithstanding anything mentioned under Sub-Rule (1),
CA may approve for revision/refinement of EMP as
contained in the EIA report if no need for SuEIA study
(Rule 11.6)
 Economic
development
development
Environmental
protection
Social

Sustainable Development (SD): Development that meets the needs of the

present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to
meet their own needs – Our Common Future, 1987
SD – concept of needs and idea of limitations
 Guidance for Conservation
● There is only one landmass, one atmosphere and a finite supply of
water for us to share. To survive, let alone maintained dignified life,
requires that we make the best-and-least use of these resources. If
we do not sustain them, they will not sustain us.
● The Earth does not belong to man; man belongs to the earth. This
we know. All things are connected like the blood which unites one
family. All things are connected. Whatever befalls on the earth
befalls the sons of the earth. Man did not weave the web of life: he
is merely strand on it. Whatever he does to the web, he does to
himself. Chief Seattle, 1855
● Mahatma Gandhi: Earth provides enough to satisfy every man's
needs, but not every man's greed.
● American President Roosevelt A nation that destroys its soils,
 destroys itself. Forests are the lungs of our land, purifying the air
and giving fresh strength to our people.
We scientists don't know how to do that

● 'I used to think the top environmental problems

were biodiversity loss, ecosystem collapse and
climate change.
● I thought that with 30 years of good science we
could address those problems.
● But I was wrong. The top environmental
problems are selfishness, greed and apathy … ●
… and to deal with those we need a spiritual and
cultural transformation – and we scientists don't
know how to do that'. Kerry Dixon (British)
ENVIRONMENTA
L
IMPACT
S
Project/Proposal
Initiated

Environmental TIME
Impacts
 Existing condition
Same project, not the same
location
Future condition
Hypothetical Case
 Proposed Road
Protected forest

Schematic of the EIA Process

(IPE)
4. Impacts identification, 5. Mitigation/enhancement measures
prediction & evaluation
6. Environment Management Plan – EPMs/ monitoring/auditing requirements
3. Alternative
analysis
EA Study Conclusion/recommenda
7. tions
2. Environmental baseline
Review of policies, laws or
other instruments Report
1. Project features/components, & Draft Report ready for
methodologies (data collection and impacts
IPE)
Public
hearing – collect inputs
 letter(s) submission, review & decision

Report finalization, recommendation

prioritization Measures implementation,
Terms of Monitoring and Auditing
Identification &
Reference
of Key Issues Instruction or commitment spirit

Public consultations Scoping

Public notice Project

features Environmental baseline (preliminary)
Environmental Screening
EA Process as per EPR, 2020
Step 1
● Environmental Screening – as per national system
(Schedules 1, 2 & 3 for BES, IEE and EIA respectively) + Supplementary
EIA (concerned agency can permit) + Strategic Environmental Analysis
(list as approved by the Cabinet)
Step 2
● Environmental Scoping and ToR – as per national system (Schedule 4
for public notice format for Scoping for EIA study, and Schedule 5 for
Scoping report format), Schedules 6, 7 & 8 for ToR formats for BES, IEE
and EIA and their approval of ToR [no need for ToR for Supplementary
EIA or SEAn study]
Step 3
● Report Preparation (draft) – as per format for BES report (Schedule 10),
IEE report (Schedule 11), EIA report (Schedule 12) to be prepared by
experts (Schedule 13) & SuEIA (project level) and SEAn (strategic level)
report preparation (no format) - data collection and analysis,
 description of environmental baseline, alternative analysis,
identification, prediction and evaluation of impacts, selection of
environment protection measures (EPMs), provisions for environmental
monitoring, and auditing, including environment management plan

EA Process in Nepal …
Step 4
● Consultations on draft report - Stakeholder involvement, public
notice, public hearing (Schedule 9 for EIA study), and sending of
draft report for comments and suggestions
● EA Report finalisation and submission – consider stakeholders
inputs and finalisation, submission of EIA report to the competent
authority by complying with legal requirements, including
recommendation (letter) of the concerned municipality and subject
related office
● EA Report Review and decision (approval) – make report public,
review by stakeholders and Committee, if formed, official review
 and process for decision
Step 5
● Change in design to off-set significant adverse impacts ● Inclusion
of EPMs into detail design ('in-built' approach) ● Implementation of
EPMs along with project construction & implementation ● Carrying out of
environmental monitoring
● Conduction of Environmental auditing
● Environmental acceptance after project completion

2.4 Environmental Screening

Introduction
Necessary to know the level of EA required or exemption from
EA process
Screening Criteria
● Size and nature of project e.g., big or medium or small,
infrastructure or service sector project or highly visible project
construction or chemical industry discharging hazardous
chemicals or cutting of no. of trees in critical wildlife habitat
etc.
● Location of the project and land area requirement
● Project planned for operation in sensitive areas
● Thresholds, investments (capital cost) or sensitive area criteria
● Regulatory provisions etc.
Benefits of Screening
● Saves time and money
● Provides generic information on potential impacts ●
Establishes need for level of environmental assessment

Screening of the
 Proposal Proposal
Level of EA not Clearly
clear requiring EIA
Project not
requiring EA
Initial/Preliminary

Environmental
 Examination Project

Implementation

Category of Projects
Category
● Project category
● A: Not requiring EA
● B: Requiring BES
● C: Requiring IEE level of study
● D: Cleary requiring EIA
● E: BES or IEE or EIA not clear
● Other categories: SEA, Cumulative IA, Biodiversity IA, Social IA or Conflict
IA etc.
Screening Procedure
● Prescriptive or Standard Approach – defined by laws or policies
or administrative decisions
● Discretionary or Customised Approach – Case-by-case basis
using indicative guidelines
● Inclusion or exclusion list
Screening of Bank-funded Projects (RECALL)
World Bank’s Category - requiring EA
● Category A and B projects such as dams and reservoirs,
forestry production projects, industrial plants, land clearance,
mineral extraction, mining development, resettlement, river
basin development, thermal power, hazardous waste disposal
 etc.
Asian Development Bank's Category
● A: EIA required as likely to have significant impacts ● B: IEE
required to determine EIA or IEE as final assessment report as
less adverse environmental impacts than category A projects
● C: No EIA or IEE required, environmental implications
reviewed
● Category FI: EIA may require for this lending project through a
financial intermediary. EMS is a must
Screening Criteria in Nepal
Nepal's Environmental Protection Rules (2020) -
follows a. Threshold criteria
b. Investment criteria in few cases
c. Generic (non-specific) criteria such as inter-basin transfer project
 d. Schedules 1, 2 & 3 for BES, IEE and EIA level of study respectively
e. No schedule for SEAn level of study (Thematic Ministry to make
list and get approval from the Cabinet)
Nepal's EPR, 1997 followed (should not be used now)
⮚ Threshold
⮚ Investment criteria
⮚ Sensitive area criteria: (i) historical, cultural and archaeological
sites; (ii) national parks, wildlife reserves, wetlands and
conservation areas; and (iii) major sources of public drinking
water
⮚ Generic criteria, e.g. collection of plants (medicinal purpose of any
quantity)
● Screening criteria – prescriptive, easy & no discretionary power
● Screening responsibility lies with the proponent
Schedules 1, 2 & 3: Projects requiring
 ESR (Pursuant to Rule 3)
BES IEE EIA
Plantation of a single Plantation of a single
Plantation of a single
Nepali species in one Nepali species in one block
Nepali species in one
block of 50 to 500 ha >500 ha area in Terai and
block of 10 to 50 ha
area in Terai and 50 to >250 ha in Hills
area
250 ha in Hills Use of > 5 ha of forest area
Use of up to 1 ha forest
Use of forest area from 1 except TL construction
area for other purposes
to 5 ha for other purposes x
Construction of lift irrigation
project up to 100 ha Construction of a lift
irrigation in over 100 ha Extraction of >300 m3 sand,
Sand treatment up to 25
Extraction of sand, gravel, gravel, stone or soil from
MT daily
stone or soil from 100 to rivers/stream surface
300 m3 from rivers/stream
No threshold criteria surface

• Imported wild animal in forest area (BES required)

• Establishment or expansion of protected area ... or management action plan of
protected area/wetland or conserved watershed area (IEE required) • Construction and
operation of a landfill site for waste disposal in forest area or any proposal to be
implemented in National Park, WR and Hunting Reserve (EIA required)

2.5 Environmental Scoping

Introduction
● Scoping exercise is done for determining the scope of work
● Scoping is carried out to identify key issues of concerns ● In
principle, scoping should be done by competent authority ●
Nepal’s environmental laws trusts on proponent
Aims of Scoping
● Identify concerns and issues for consideration in the EA study
● Explore alternatives to the project
● Identify all affected interests
● Provide stakeholders an opportunity to raise their concerns and
issues, and promote for public involvement
● Identify stakeholders, and explore process for public participation
● Facilitate an early agreement on contentious issues ● Determine
assessment methods
● Save time and money
● Establish Terms of Reference (ToR) for EA study
Methods for Scoping
● Literature review – collect baseline information
● Map interpretation (use of topo map)
● Public notice to inform stakeholders to provide their issues
and concerns
● Planning for public involvement/participation ● Field
study and interaction meetings (at project site, and centre)
● Impact identification through checklist, matrix, network and
consultations
● Data collection and processing/analysis
● Issues identification and prioritisation
● Identification of a strategy for addressing priority issues ●
Preparation of the Scoping document and submission – (if
separate scoping document should be prepared)
Sample Format for Scoping Document
● Executive Summary
● Introduction: Background, proponent, project description
 (salient features), objective, project area delineation,
alternative analysis (alternative to the project, if any)
● Scoping Methodology: literature review, map
interpretation, public notice, data collection method, field
study, issues prioritisation methods, and report preparation
● Existing Environmental Conditions: Physical, chemical,
biological, socio-economic, and cultural aspects (use
information that helps to derive issues)
● Environmental Issues: Issues identified, issues raised and
issues discarded (if any)
● Priority Issues: Issues prioritised for EA study on physical,
chemical, biological, socio-economic, and cultural aspects
Summary of Issues
SN Key Activities Issues Identified Raised Irrelevant Prioritised

Construction Stage
Physical and chemical

Biological

Socio-economic and cultural

Operational Stage
Physical and chemical

Biological

Socio-economic and cultural

SD Report Format contd..
● Work schedule: to let know the decision-makers about EA
report preparation and project implementation
● Annexes: Relevant maps, copy of public notice (if necessary),
Record of meetings and stakeholders concerns, list of persons
and/or institutions contacted, study team etc. Scoping
document
● Should address project-related concerns of the ‘to be
affected’ people
● Issues should be site-specific, i.e., project area, and
immediate influence area as required
● Diffused issues and generic issues also diffuse EA report and
 its implementation
● Scoping report must include priority issues for EA study – the
heart for EA study
 generation from Mai Khola (River)
Key Methods to Establish Issues Topographic
Survey Hydrology and

Literature review domains/

Route alignment
selection walkover

Maps, and
Issues
Socio-economic and gathered
cultural Sedimentology Geological
indicators from public Mapping
domain
survey etc.
Public notice Field visit for study
of all environmental
 posting notice
in the area

Notification by
CFUGs’ profiles
Meetings
with various
Stakeholders

Source: Sanima HEP

Methods of Prioritising Issues

Collection of all
Issues
 Issues raised by
various
Issues identified by stakeholders
the proponent
Project Insignificant Significant
issues not issues
Insignificant for considered considered
Significant for Project

Consideration of issues under some rationale using experts’

judgments Issues

Prioritised

Source: Sanima HEP

 Criteria for Issues Prioritisation
● Opinions, suggestions, concerns, demands and issues
raised by stakeholders
● Issues identified by study team which are analyzed and
prioritized by the team (in consultation with proponent)
Basis for prioritization
● Expert judgment and verification on objectivity,
relevance, significance, seriousness, truthfulness and
acceptability
● Additional criteria for public support activities - financial
limitation factor/options, ethical standards
 Issues Identified by proponent
Issues its significance for MHP Impacts
Environ mental identified for
Domain MHP / insignificance Potential
S. N. Rationale
Imp act Area behind
Physical 1 DIA, IIA, Change in hydrological DIA - Direct Impact Area
SA regime in the dewatered
IIA - Immediate Impact
Decrease in water stretch of Mai Khola (for
Area
discharge in dry months visualization, refer Annex SA - Surrounding Area
downstream of Mai Khola 1- MHP Area Map).
2 DIA Possibility of soil erosion 21.4 m³ / s discharge from tailrace
and change in to Lodhiya Khola may accelerate
river the process of soil erosion as well
as bring about morphological
morphology
change in river
of Lodhiya
khola
 Issues raised by various stakeholders
N stakeholders(C) by NC) by on or non Potential
Imp act Environ proponent’ proponent’ Consideratio Impacts
Name of Area mental or ‘Not Rationale n’ by
stakeho lder Issues raised domain Considered( behind proponent
S by ‘Considered ‘Considerati
Sarasw ati SA Socio econom ic others, the program,
and Cultural project may but compulsory is
Lower Second ary Compulsory
School, electricity supply NC In participate in rural unacceptable
to the area collaboration with electrification
1 DIA, IIA,
Danaba ri-6, river training supply or Only the work’ electricity is
2 DIA, IIA, work, bridge facility phrase ‘For ‘Considered’ the part of
SA on the road, Socio econom school Bridge work generally
free ic and Cultural protection construction, done by the
For school
protection electricity river training free supply of Government
Environ mental N Issues for EIA appropriate
Domain Geogra phical strategy to be
S Impact Area Prioritized Study employed for
Possible and addressing issue
 during EIA study
Construction Stage
change in tunnel
groundwater dynamics Water discharge
Physical Chemic al due to tunnel measurement, water
1 DIA, IIA Possibility of construction works quality analysis
degradation of springs -
currently being used for
drinking 2 DIA, IIA Possibility of
water purpose by local change in land use due to
villagers- by disposal of muck Landuse mapping
MHP workers as well as by excavated from
Enviro nmen tal Geogra phical strategy to be
Doma Impact Area
Prioritize Study employed for
Possible and
S. N
Issues d for EIA appropriate addressing issue
Operation Stage during EIA study
in
 downstream of Mai Khola,
especially from weir axis
Physic al
up to Mai Khola
1 DIA Possibility of change 2 DIA, IIA, confluence
in soil erosion and change SA Hydrological
in river morphology of Decrease in water modeling using computer
Lodhiya khola discharge in dry months softwares
Field visit, mapping
water purpose by local villagers due
to change in groundwater dynamics
3 DIA, IIA Possibility of degradation by tunnel construction
of springs being currently used for Water quantity and quality checking
drinking
Summary of total issues (Construction stage)
Physical – 2 (around 12%)
Biological – 7 (41%)
Socio-economic and cultural – 8 (47%)
Total Issues: 17
Summary of total issues (Operation stage)
Physical – 0 (0%)
Biological – 7 (around 37%)
Socio-economic and cultural – 12 (63%)
Total Issues: 19
No. of issues during construction < during operation
Legal Provisions on Environmental Scoping In
Nepal (As per EPA, 2019 and EPR, 2020)
EPA, 2019
Section 5. Scoping
● Section 5.1: Proponent should get approval of Scoping (Report)
from Ministry (MoFE) for conducting EIA.
● Section 5.2: Other arrangements for the preparation and approval
of Scoping shall be as prescribed.
EPR, 2020: Rule 4 – determining Scoping
Rule 4.1: Proponent to conduct Scoping for EIA level of , pursuant to
Section 5.1 (of EPA 2019).
Rule 4.2: Proponent to prepare 'deed of enquiry' of pasted notice, in
the format of Schedule 4, in a public place and local level office,
education & health organisations to seek written suggestions within
7 days from local level, concerned agency, individual or organisation
about the impacts of implementation of the proposal and publish
similar notice in a national daily and put the notice in its own
(proponent) website, if any (for the purpose of Rule 4.1)
Rule 4: Determining Scoping ...
Rule 4.3: Anybody may provide suggestions to the proponent within the
time as in the notice (as published in Rule 4.2)
Rule 4.4: Proponent to prepare Scoping Document in the format of
Schedule 5 taking into consideration the received suggestions and by
mentioning the environmental impacts from proposal
implementation
Rule 4.5: Submit Scoping Document, prepared as per Rule 4.4, to: (ka)
project-related Ministry for national priority projects, investment
approved projects (by Investment Board), national pride projects, federal
projects, inter-province project or government prescribed projects
[Section 3.2 (ka) of EPA, 2019]; and
(kha) agency as prescribed by Provincial legislation for projects under
authority of Province government or under authority of local
level requiring EIA as per Provincial law [Section 3.2 (kha or ga) of
EPA, 2019]
Rule 4.6: Concerned Ministry (SD submitted to it) to examine the report
 and send its recommendation, within 15 days of receipt to the Ministry
of Forests and Environment (MoFE) for approval
Rule 4: Determining Scoping ...
Rule 4.7: MoFE to approve SD report, if found appropriate, as
submitted or in the revised form, within 15 days of receipt by
checking report and attached papers
Rule 4.8: Scoping report submitted under Rule 4.5 (kha) shall be
examined by agency designated by Provincial law and send with its
suggestions and recommendations within 15 days of receipt for
approval to the agency designated by the Provincial law for EIA
report approval.
Rule 4.9: The EIA report approving agency as designated by the
Provincial law will study the Scoping report received pursuant to
Rule 4.8 and shall approve within 15 days of receipt, as received (if
found appropriate) or in the revised form.
Rule 4.10: In order to count days for approval of scoping report
received pursuant to Rules 4.7 & 4.9, date of additional papers or
clarification received, if demanded (when all necessary papers and
clarifications are received), will be taken into account to count the
number of days.
Schedule 4: Format for Scoping Public Notice
(Pursuant to Rule 4.2) system and economic system
Public notice issued for 7 days of the area (project area) –
(in a national daily send suggestion(s) to
newspaper) to collect written proponent & consultant
suggestions from
municipality/village
municipality and school,
hospital, health post and
individual or organisation to
determine impact on natural,
physical system, biological
system, social system, cultural
 Issue or impact???
Schedule 5: Format of the Scoping Report of
EIA (Pursuant to Rule 4.4)
● Cover page – title of proposal, report preparer (individual or
organisation and address)
1. Introduction – background, proponent's introduction, proposal's
introduction, Scoping objective, proposal relevance & legal rationale 2.
Introduction to the Proposal – proposal's introduction, location &
access, nature/type, salient features and components (to be
consistent with field level map), proposal/project-related activities
(pre-construction, construction period, implementation and
maintenance period), construction plan, land area & land type 3.
Necessary for proposal/project – necessary manpower, construction
material (quantity & source), construction schedule, energy type to be
used (source, consumption quantity), technology to be used,
associated/ancillary facilities, proposal implementation schedule, and
others additional description
Schedule 5: SD Format ...
4. Policy, Act, Rules, Guidelines, Standard, Convention, agreement
(to be considered during report preparation)
Review Section/Rule/sub-rule (khanda) etc & related points
Points (provisions) Related Description
Policy
Act
Rules
Guidelines
Standard
Convention
Agreement

5. Methodology – literature review, public notice, field study,

discussion and consultation, identification and prioritisation of
issues and following tools may be used – checklist, interaction
 matrix, stepped matrix, and network
Schedule 5: SD Format ...
Preparation of Scoping Report
6. Existing environmental condition – baseline
information on physical, chemical, biological, social,
economic and cultural condition of the area to be
affected by the proposal (data needed in minimum
of checklist) – sample of checklist
7. Issues identified by experts involved in scoping
study and listing of issues separately raised by stakeholders on
physical, chemical, biological, social, economic and cultural aspects
and prioritisation of issues from the lists based on rationale and
relevance and preparation of final list. In case, if any issue raised by
stakeholder is not included in the final list, mention its reason
8. Identification of issues as follows: (a) issues raised by
 stakeholders; (b) issues raised by study team; (c)
prioritised issues; and (d) Mention the prioritised issues
as follows (Table in Nepali):
Note: no space for annexes, report structure complex ..