Planning & Management of Impact Studies

• Conceptual approach for planning and conducting impact studies

• Proposal development
• Interdisciplinary team formation
• Team leader selection
• General study management
• Fiscal control

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PDN: Project Description and Need
PII: Pertinent Institutional Information
IPI: Identification of Potential Impacts
DAE: Description of Affected Environment
First activity
The first activity in the 10-step approach would be to determine the features of
the proposed project, the need for the project, and the alternatives which either
have been or could be considered for the subject project. This step is called
PDN, for project description and need. Key information which would be
needed relative to the proposed project includes such item as
1.A description of the type of project and how it functions or operates in a
technical context.
2.The proposed location for the project and why it was chosen.
3.The time period required for project construction.
4.The potential environmental requirements or environmental stress from the
project during its operational phase, including land requirements, air pollution
emissions, water usage and water pollutant emissions, and waste generation and
disposable needs.
5.The identified current need for the proposed project in the particular,
proposed location. This need could be related to housing, flood control,
industrial development and many other requirements.(it is important to begin to
consider project need because it must later be addressed as part of the
environmental documentation).
6.Any generic alternative which have been considered; these ought to include
information such as site location, project size, project design feature and
pollution-control measures, and project timing relative to construction and
operational issues; project need in relation to the proposed project size should
be clearly delineated. It should be noted that the range of alternatives
considered may be limited because of the individual preferences of project
sponsors, primary focus on traditional engineering solutions, and time pressures
for decision making (Bacow, 1980).

Second Activity
The second activity should focus on pertinent institutional information (PII)
related to the construction and operation of the proposed project. “Institutional
information” refers to a multitude of environmental laws, regulations and /or
policies or executive orders related to the physical chemical, biological, cultural
and socioeconomic environments.

Third Activity
The third step or activity is the identification of potential impacts (IPI) of the
subject project. This early qualitative identification of anticipated impacts can
help in focusing subsequent steps; for example, it can aid in describing the
affected environment and subsequent impact calculations. IPI can be an
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outcome of the scoping process. It should include consideration of the generic
impacts related to the project type being analysed.
An appropriate task during the third activity is the conduction of computer-
aided literature reviews to identify generic impacts related to the project type
being analysed. Development of the matrix involves the systematic
consideration of interactionpoints between various project actions and
environmental factors. Matrices, networks and sample and descriptive
checklists for identifying impacts.

Fourth Activity
The fourth activity is focused on the preparation of a description of the affected
environment (DAE). This activity is placed fourth so as to enable the selective
identification of pertinent baseline factors for the study in subsequent activities
in the model. A selective approach is valuable in that key environmental factors
anticipated to be changed by the proposed project are identified and appropriate
extensive descriptions of existing conditions relative to only these factors are
prepared.

Fifth Activity
The fifth and technically most difficult and challenging activity is called
“impact prediction” (IP). Impact prediction basically refers to the
quantification, where possible (or at least the qualitative description) of the
anticipated impacts of the proposed project on various environmental factors.
Depending upon the particular impact, technically demanding mathematical
models might be required for impact prediction. Other approaches include the
conduction of laboratory testing, such as leachate testing for dredged material
and solid or hazardous waste material or sludges. Still other laboratory studies
might be appropriate; examples include the construction of scale models to
accompany the collection of experimental data to identify anticipated impacts.
Impact prediction can also be accomplished by the use of look-alike
information on actual impacts from similar types of projects in diverse or
similar geographical locations. Finally the use of environmental indexing
methods or other systematic techniques for relatively addressing anticipated
impacts can also be considered.

Sixth Activity
The next activity in the conceptual study model is entitled “impact assessment”
(IA). Of necessity, impact studies represent a blend of technical information and
analysis along with value judgement (Bacow, 1980). In the terminology used
herein, “assessment” refers to the interpretation of the significance of

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 anticipated changes related to the proposed project. Impact interpretation can be
based upon the application of the definitions of “significant”.

Seventh Activity
The next activity is associated with identifying and evaluating potential impact
mitigation measures. Mitigation measures include (1) avoiding the impact
altogether by not taking a certain action or parts of an action; (2) minimizing
impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation;
(3) rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabilitation, or restoring the affected
environment; (4) reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation and
maintenance operations during the life of the action;
(5) compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute resources or
environments.

Eighth Activity
The next activity in the study model is associated with selecting the proposed
action (SPA) from alternatives, which may also have been evaluated earlier. Even
so, there are still potential alternative measures which could be evaluated,
including those relating to project size and design features, even if location
alternatives are not available.

Ninth Activity
The ninth activity is associated with preparing the written documentation (PWD)
relating to the proposed project. Written documentation could involve the
preparation of a preliminary report, or EA, or it could encompass the actual
preparation of a complete EIS. The most important point to note about PWD is that
sound principles of technical writing should be utilized. These include the
development of outlines, careful documentation of data and information, the
liberal usage of visual display materials so as to ensure effective communication to
both technical and nontechnical audiences.

Tenth Activity
The final activity suggested in the framework is the planning and implementation
of appropriate environmental monitoring (EM) programs; this activity is
particularly important for larger projects with potentially significant environmental
consequences. Environmental monitoring may be necessary establishment baseline
conditions in the area of the project ; however, of more relevance is longer-term
monitoring in the environs of the project to carefully document impacts which are
actually experienced, and the use of this information in project management.

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