ELECTIVE COURSE:

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT (EIA)

Course Tutor: Dr. Kishan D. Bhatta

Email: kishandatta@yahoo.com
Mobile: 9841341094
ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS AND IMPACT
AGGREGATION:
Method of Impact Identification
 Ad hoc Method
 Checklist Method
 The Matrix method
 The Network methodology
 Task Specific Computer Models:
The Overlay Method, Geographic Information System, Expert
System
 IMPACT IDENTIFICATION
Adhoc Method:
 Adhoc method is useful when time constraints and
lack of information require that the EIA must rely
exclusively on expert opinion

 It provides minimal guidance for total impact assessment

while suggesting the broad areas of possible impacts and
the general nature of these possible impacts.

 When more scientific methods are available, Adhoc

methods is not recommended.
 Checklist Method:
 Combines a list of potential impact areas that needs to
be considered in the EIA process with an assessment of
the individual impacts

 Adopted by number of public agencies since it ensures

that a prescribed list of areas is considered in the
assessment process.

 However, this method does not provide the

establishment of direct cause-effect links to the various
project activities, and is weak to give an overall
interpretation of the collective environmental impacts.
Generally, there are four types of checklists:

Simple Checklist:
 A list of environmental parameters is included in the
checklist, it does not provide guidance on how they are
to be measured and interpreted. However, it may
present the magnitude, extent, and duration of
potential impacts.

An Example of Simple Checklist

Source: Rau and Wooten (1980) (See Next page)
 Potential Impact area Construction Phase Operation Phase

A) Land Adverse No effect Beneficial Adverse No effect Beneficial

effect effect effect effect
Transformation & Construction
a) Compaction and setting

b) Erosion

c) Ground Cover

d) Deposition (sedimentation , precipitation)

e) Stability (Landslides)

f) Stress-Strain ( Earthquakes)

g) Floods

h) Waste Control

B) Land Use
a) Open Space

b) Recreational

c) Agricultural

d) Commercial

e) Residential

f) Industry
 Potential Impact area Construction Phase Operation Phase

C) Water Resources Adverse No effect Beneficial Adverse No effect Beneficial

effect effect effect effect
a) Oxides (Supher, Carbon, Nitrogen)

b) Particulate matter

c) Chemicals

d) Odors

e) Gases

D) Public Service Systems

a) Schools

b) Police

c) Fire Protection

d) Water and power

e) Sewerage

f) Solid waste disposal

E) Biological Conditions
a) Wildlife

b) Trees and shrubs

c) Grasses
 Potential Impact area Construction Phase Operation Phase

F) Transportation Adverse No effect Beneficial Adverse No effect Beneficial

effect effect effect effect
a) Automobile

b) Trucking

c) Safety

d) Movement

G) Noise and Vibration

a) Onsite
a) Off-site

H) Aesthetics
a) Scenery

b) Structures

I) Community Structure
a) Relocation

b) Mobility

c) Services

d) Recreation

e) Employment
DESCRIPTIVE CHECKLIST
 Includes an identification of environmental parameters
and guidelines on how to measure data on particular
parameters
Data Required Source of Information, predictive
techniques
Nuisance: Expected industrial processes and
Change in occurrence of odor, smoke, traffic volumes, citizen surveys
etc, and number of people affected

Water Quality: Current water quality, current and

Change in water uses and number of expected effluents/waste
people affected

Noise: Current noise levels, change in traffic

Change in noise levels, frequency of or other noise sources, changes in
occurrence and number of people noise mitigation measures, noise
bothered/affected propagation models, citizen surveys
SCALING CHECKLIST
 Similar to a descriptive checklist, but with additional
information on subjective scaling of the parameters

Impacts
Factors Beneficial Impact Adverse Impact
1 2 3 1 2 3
Habitat Quality

Species

Size/abundance

Duration

Magnitude

1 = Low; 2 = Medium; and 3 = High

QUESTIONNAIRE CHECKLIST
 A set of questions are prepared and asked to the people
affected by project. The questions should be linked to
each other to the extent possible
1. Might the project affect any protected area?

No

Yes

If YES, specify which area, in what ways (direct, indirect), nature

of the impact (short or long term, reversible or irreversible,
cumulative, synergistic), and Severity
…………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………………
QUESTIONNAIRE CHECKLIST

2. Will the project site locate near the valuable forests?

No

Yes

If YES, identify the forests, their value, and describe possible direct and
indirect consequences of project.
…………………………………………………………………………………………
…………………………………………………………………………
QUESTIONNAIRE CHECKLIST
1. Will the project locate in the existing landslides or landsides and erosion
prone areas, and hence increase the slope instability, landslides and
erosion?

No

Yes

If YES, specify the sites, and explain how? …………………………………..

2. Might the project disrupt natural drainage pattern?

No

Yes

If YES, specify the location and potential consequences

……………………………………………………………………………………………
………………………………………………………………………………………….
THE MATRIX METHOD
 Identifies interactions between various project action
and environmental parameters/components

 Considers impact of a each aspect of a proposal for a

range of environmental concerns (considers
magnitude and importance of impacts)

 Combining the list (project activities and

environmental components) as horizontal and
vertical axes for a matrix allows the identification of
cause-effect relationships between specific activities
and impacts

 The entries in the cell of the matrix can be either

qualitative estimates or quantitative estimates of
these cause-effect relationship
 LEOPOLD METHOD: Leopold et. al. (1971)
developed one of the earliest matrix methods (it is used in both
developed and developing countries. It was developed to identify
and know the magnitude and importance of environmental impacts.
Leopold used 100 specified actions and 88 environmental items- an
impact is identified between action and environmental item)

 The matrix was designed for the assessment of impacts

associated with almost any type of construction project. Its
main strength is as a checklist that incorporates qualitative
information on cause-and-effect relationships but it is also
useful for communicating the results.

 The Leopold system is an open-cell matrix containing

100 project actions along the horizontal axis and 88
environmental 'characteristics' and 'conditions' along
the vertical axis
THE NETWORK METHODOLOGY
A network of possible impacts that may be
triggered by project activities and that require
the analyst to trace out project actions and
direct and indirect consequences.

 Network displays direct, secondary, tertiary and

other higher order impacts of action.

 Identification of site –specific factors and

conditions necessary for the establishment of a
proposed cause-effect relationship
Use of Network Method in Road Sector
Rural Road Project

Land and soil Forests Air and Water

Conversion of
Loss of forest Emission of air
arable land due
area/species pollutants/
to road
habitat Discharge
construction

Soil erosion and

Decline in crop Flooding, change
downstream
production in river hydrology
sedimentation

Loss of endangered Change in microclimate,

Migration decline in aquatic or
or protected species
terrestrial productivity

Change in Change in
productivity of employment
terrestrial , aquatic opportunities and
and manmade system quality of life
The Overlaying Method:
 Overlaying of different maps regarding social and physical attributes
of the project area.
 Spatial Method, GIS is the ultimate tool for overlaying of maps.

Geographic Information System

(GIS):
 Map-based database/Computerized maps,
 GIS provides information how local resource will be affected by the
project activities.
 It is considered a powerful management tool for resource managers
and planners
(GIS application is limited on the coverage of data that are fed into
system)
Advantages and Disadvantages of EIA Methods
Methods Advantages Disadvantages

Checklists  Simple to understand Do not distinguish between direct

& use & indirect impacts
Do not link action and impact

Interaction Links action to impact Distinguishing direct and indirect

matrices and a good method of impacts is difficult
displaying EIA results Potential for double counting of
impacts
Overlays Easy to understand & a Address only direct impact;
good display method Do not address the duration or
probability of impacts

Impact Link action to impact Can be too complex

networks Handle direct and
indirect impacts
Task specific Predict impacts Heavy reliance on data;
computer Generally complex and expensive
models