Environment Impact Assessment (EIA)

Introduction
Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) is a tool used for decision making
regarding developmental projects and programs as well setting up new or
expansion of industry
In 1994, EIA was made mandatory for certain types of projects
It may be defined as a formal process used to predict the environmental
consequences of any developmental project or industry. It ensures that the
potential environmental, social and economic problems are for seen and
addressed at an early stage in the project planning and design.
Through EIA, it possible to arrive at:
The most environmentally suitable options at an early stage
The best practicable environmental option
Alternative process
EIA is carried out by the developer often through consultants to produce an
environmental statement/ report covering following points:
a description of project location, design, scale, size etc
decision of significant effects
mitigating measures
a non technical summary

Benefits of EIA

Reduced cost and time of project implementation

Cost saving modifications in project design

Increased project acceptance

Avoiding impacts and violation of laws and regulations

Improved project performance

Avoiding waste treatment/clean up expenses

Benefit to local communities

A healthier local environment

Improved human health

Maintenance of biodiversity

Decreased resource use

Fewer conflicts over natural resource use

Increased community skill, knowledge and pride

The EIA Process
The two distinct stages of EIA are
1.
Preliminary Assessment: Carried out in the early stages of planning
2.
Detailed Assessment: Carried out during project planning until the project plan
is completed and is reported formally as an Environmental Impact Statement/
Report
Key elements of an EIA are:
Scoping: identify key issues and concerns of interested party
Screening: Decide whether an EIA is required based on information collected

Identifying and Evaluating alternatives: listing alternative sites and techniques and
impacts of each
Mitigating measures dealing with uncertainty: reviewing proposed action to prevent
or minimize the potential adverse effects of the project
Issuing environmental statements: reporting the findings of the EIA
Scoping
Carried out at early stage in order to aid site selection and identify any possible
alternative and should involve all interested parties such as proponent and
planning or environmental agencies and member of public.
The objectives of scoping are:
To identify the key issues and concerns of interested parties
To identify who is concerned
To identify what and why their concerns are
To identify what is the threshold of concern where change becomes
unacceptable
Ineffective scoping leads to delays caused by additional time required to assess
unidentified impacts
After site selection, scoping angle changes. There will be a decrease in number of
issues and an increase in attention to details but scoping should be an ongoing
exercise throughout the course of project
Screening
Used to decide whether an Environment Assessment is required
There are two lists, referred to as Schedule
Schedule-I EA,s are required in every case. This type of projects ranges from an
integrated works of initial melting of cast iron and steel to a thermal power station or
other combustion installation with heat output of 200MW and more

Schedule-II EA,s are required if the project is likely to give rise to significant
environmental effects by virtue factors of their nature, size or location. The list
of project in this schedule is bigger than the former and covers projects from a holiday
village to peat extraction and pig rearing to a shipyard
This is clear and comprehensive method of decision making
Alternatives
This includes both alternative sites and techniques
This search must be genuine, well documented and carried out before a choice has
been made
It is usually the case that alternative sites are available as well as practical although
this not always the case because some projects are site specific such as mining as
extraction can occur where minerals are sited.
In such cases, an EIA is meaningless although other measures like scale, mitigating
measures and traffic management are addressed
Mitigating Measures to Deal With Uncertainty
This reviews the action taken to prevent, avoid or minimize the actual or potential
adverse effects of project
The measures include the abonding or modifying of a proposal, substitution of
techniques using BATNEEC (Best Available Technology Not Entailing
Excessive Costs) including various pollution abatement techniques required to
reduce emission to the permitted limit

If the uncertainty are great, with the possibility of grave consequences and no
mitigating measures, then development plan is rejected whereas uncertainty might be
reduced by further studies then the applications deferred until further studies are
carried
Environment Statements/ Reports
Environment impact statement/report is a comprehensive document that reports the
finding of the EIA and is now often required by law before any new project can
proceed.
The contents of a typical EIA report are:
- Description of proposed activity , - analysis of site selection procedure and alternative
site, - Base line conditions/major concerns,
- Description of positive and negative environmental, social, economic and
cultural impacts including cumulative, regional, temporal and spatial consideration
- Significance of impact, - Mitigation plans,
- Identification of issues related to human health, - Consideration of alternatives
including option of not proceeding
- Monitoring plans (impacts and mitigation efforts)

- Contingency plans for unpredicted impacts

- Waste minimization and recycling plans
- Public consultation program
- Plan to minimize release of adverse substances
- Terms of reference

Environment Statements/ Reports

Environment impact statement/report is a comprehensive document that
reports the finding of the EIA and is now often required by law before any
new project can proceed.
The contents of a typical EIA report are:
- Description of proposed activity
- analysis of site selection procedure and alternative site
- Base line conditions/major concerns
- Description of positive and negative environmental, social, economic and
cultural impacts including cumulative, regional, temporal and spatial
consideration
- Significance of impact
- Mitigation plans
- Identification of issues related to human health
- Consideration of alternatives including option of not proceeding
- Monitoring plans (impacts and mitigation efforts)

process and
Rough Timelines
Submission of application (Form 1, prelim reports)

Stage 1: Screening; Decide project A, B1 or B2

60 days

Who does it?

Investor

Expert
Committee

Stage 2: Scoping; Come up with Terms of Reference (TOR)

Prepare preliminary EIA report

45 days

Stage 3: Public consultation (2 components)

Investor
State Pollution
Control Board

Update EIA report (Investor)

60 days

Stage 4: Appraisal

15 days
30 days

Final Decision

Expert
Committee
Regulatory
Authority