3110007-ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES

Environmental Impact Assessment

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EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) What is EIA??

Environmental Impact: Any change to the environment whether An environmental impact assessment
adverse or beneficial, wholly or partially resulting from an (EIA) is an assessment of the possible
(developmental) activity. positive or negative impact that a
proposed project may have on the
environment, considering Natural,
Impact Assessment: Social and Economic aspects.
The assessment or measurement of environmental impacts arising OR
out of a developmental project (modification, extension or new Environmental Impact Assessment
project), with a view to achieve sustainable development is known (EIA) is defined as ‘a tool used to
as impact assessment. identify the environmental, social and
economic impacts of a project prior to
decision-making.
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 What is EIA?? Significance of EIA

It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in EIA studies the impact of proposed project on the surrounding
project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce environment, which includes:
adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment ▪ Inhabitation
and present the predictions and options to decision-makers’. ▪ Flora & Fauna
▪ Natural Resources/ Reservoirs
In India it has become mandatory for all the chemical industries
▪ Overall safety of the project and public properties.
and other infrastructure projects to seek environmental
clearance from the state authority (GPCB) or central government
(CPCB) before putting up any project.

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EIA as a Project Management Tool (Objectives) Content of an EIA Report

1. Identify, anticipate and prevent environmental impacts (problems)
2. Examine the significance of environmental implications
3. Assess whether impacts can be mitigated and identify ways to
increase environmental benefits
4. Recommend preventive and corrective mitigating measures
5. Inform decision makers and concerned parties about the
environmental implications
6. Advise whether development should go ahead
7. Integrate environmental considerations into the planning, design and
construction of projects at all scales.
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1. Project Setting: a description of project proposed, comprising
information about the site and the design, size and scale of the
project
2. Description of the proposed project: Brief idea of the process
sequence
3. Description of existing environment
4. Detailed analysis and evaluation of each impact
5. Reasonable alternatives
6. Suggestions for monitoring and control
7. Summary

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 The Process of EIA The Process of EIA

Essentially EIA is a systematic process that examines the environmental

consequences of development actions, in advance. The EIA consists of 1. Screening: First stage of EIA, which determines whether the
eight steps with each step equally important in determining the overall proposed project requires an EIA or not and if it does, then the
performance of the project. level of assessment required.
1. Screening
2. Scoping: It is the process of determining which are the most
2. Scoping
critical issues to study and will involve community participation to
3. Impact analysis some degree. It is at this early stage that EIA can most strongly
4. Mitigation influence the outline proposal. This stage also defines the
5. Reporting boundary and time limit of the study.
6. Review of EIA
7. Decision Making
8. Monitoring, compliance, enforcement & environmental auditing
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The Process of EIA The Process of EIA

3. Impact analysis: It is the stage of EIA which identifies and
predicts the likely environmental and social impact of the
proposed project and evaluates the significance.
4. Mitigation: This step in EIA recommends the actions to
reduce and avoid the potential adverse environmental
consequences of development activities.
5. Reporting: This stage presents the result of EIA in a form of
a report to the decision-making body and other interested
parties.
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6. Review of EIA: It examines the adequacy and effectiveness of the
EIA report and provides the information necessary for decision-
making.
7. Decision-making: It decides whether the project is rejected,
approved or needs further change.
8. Monitoring, compliance, enforcement and environmental
auditing: This stage comes into p l a y o n c e t h e p r o j e c t i s
commissioned. It checks to ensure that the impacts of the project
do not exceed the legal standards and implementation of the
mitigation measures are in compliance with those described in the
EIA report.
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 Generalized
Process
Flowsheet of EIA

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Surveys and Analysis in EIA Benefits of EIA

• Meteorology and air quality

• Environmental benefits
• Hydrology and water quality
• Economic Benefits
• Site and its surroundings
• Reduced cost and time of project implementation and design
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Avoided treatment
• Details of the treatment and disposal of effluents and the
• Clean-up costs
methods of alternative uses
• Impacts of law and regulations
• Transportation of raw material and details of material
handling
• Control equipment and measures proposed to be adopted

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 EIA Methods to Carry out EIA

▪ Environment Impact Assessment is a very beneficial step to check, 1. Adhoc approach

whether the project is environment friendly or not. 2. Impact checklist method
3. Matrix method
▪ Since economic development is result of interaction between 4. Network approach
natural resources and technology supported by designed for
5. Modelling approaches
people, so all human activity should be economic, social and
environment friendly. 6. Battlelle environmental evaluation system (BEES)
7. Computer aided EIA

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Thank You

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