CHAPTER 7 –

ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT
AND ENVIRONMENTAL
IMPACT ASSESMENT (EIA)
Content
LEARNING OBJECTIVES….
Student should able to:
Explain environmental audit
Discuss Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Differentiate environmental audit and Environmental
Impact Assessment (EIA)
 ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT

What is Environmental
Audit??
 a general term that can
reflect various types of
evaluations intended to
identify environmental
compliance &
management system
implementation gaps,
along with related
corrective actions.
Objectives of Environmental Auditing

To determine how well the environmental

management systems and equipment are performing.

To verify compliance with the relevant national, local

or other laws and regulations.

To minimize human exposure to risks from

environmental, health and safety problems.
3 Main types of Environmental Audit

Environmental
Compliance
Audit

ENVIRONMENTAL Environmental
Risk Audit AUDIT Management
Audit
Methodology of Environmental Audit

Post-Audit
On-Site Audit

Pre-Audit
 Benefits of Environmental Audit

Safeguard the environment

Verify
Assess training programmes compliance
with local and
national laws
Identify Indicate
potential current or
cost future
savings problems
Environmental Auditor
Must follow ISO 19011:2012 Guideline for
auditing management systems

Should have personal attributes: ethics,

open-mindedness, perceptiveness and
tact.

Should be able to plan and resource

effectively, have good communication and
leadership skills.

Must have adequate skills and experience.

 SCOPE OF ENVIRONMENTAL AUDIT

Environment Safety Occupational

health

Product safety
‘’ process for identifying the likely consequences
for the biophysical environment and for man’s
health and welfare of implementing particular
activities and for conveying information at a
stage where it can materially affect the decision,
to those for sectioning the proposals ’’.
(Wathern,1992),;
 EIA in Malaysia
• A study to identify, predict, evaluate and communicate
information about the impacts on the environment of a
proposed project and to detail out the mitigating measures
prior to project approval and implementation.

EIA is essentially a planning

Why do we mechanism in avoiding a potential of
need EIA? environment damage at an early
stage of project implementation. This
will avoid costly mistakes in project
implementation & environmental
damages that are likely to arise during
project implementation.
 Purpose of EIA
Helps the decision making process
by providing information about the
consequences of development

Promotes sustainable development by

identifying environmentally sound
practice and mitigation measures for
developments
 What are EIA’s used for

Often part of a National

planning process for large scale
developments

Developments that need an EIA

differ from country to country
Which developments ?

Building
Airport Large
Major Building dams
and port Quarryin scale
new road power and
develop g housing
networks stations reservoir
ments projects
s
 The EIA needs to be structured with a set of clear
aims.

It has to occur during the planning, design and

authorization stage of any development.

It needs to be comprehensive, addressing all

potential impacts.

There needs to focus on the potentially significant

throughout the EIA process.
How
does an There needs to be consultation and public
EIA participation throughout the EIA process.
work ? The findings of the EIA should be part of the
final decision process.
How does an EIA work ?

• While it is often mainly concerned with the natural

environment the effect on man should also be
considered.
Benefits of EIA
environmental
sound and
sustainable designs.
compliance with
standards

savings in capital
and operating costs.

project acceptance
by the community
protection of the
environment and
human health and
safety
EIA is required under section 34A, Environmental Quality Act,
1974:

• It empowers the Minister of Natural Resources and

Environment after due consultation, to prescribe any activity
that has significance impact as “prescribe activity”.

• The section further requires the Project Proponent of a

Prescribed Activity to submit a report (the EIA) to the Director
General of Environmental Quality before approval for the
proposed activity is granted by the relevant approving
authority.

Legal Requirement
 EIA Report
Must….
be in accordance with the guidelines issued by
the DOE

contain an assessment of the impact of the

Prescribed Activity on the environment

detail the proposed measures that shall be

instituted to prevent, reduce or control adverse
impacts on the environment
EIA Details
An EIA study must be
conducted by a competent
individuals who has
registered with the
Department of
Environment under the
EIA Consultant
Registration Scheme.
EIA study?
Activities subject to EIA are
prescribed under
Environmental Quality
(Prescribed Activities)
(Environmental Impact
Assessment) Order 1987.
Who can
conduct

How to
conduct EIA?

In the preparation of the EIA reports, project proponents and EIA consultants may
refer to “A handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment Guidelines” (Fourth
Edition) 2007 and EIA Guidelines for specific activities published by the
Department of Environment & other guidelines published by other agencies.
Project Approving Authority

o The National Development Planning Committee for the

Federal Government sponsored projects.
o The respective State Planning Authorities for State
Government sponsored projects.
o The Regional Development Authorities for the State
Executive Committee (EXCO).
o Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) (with
due reference to the Malaysia Industrial Development
Authority (MIDA)) – for industrial projects.
 Procedures in Malaysia

Preliminary EIA
Detailed EIA
 Environmental Audit vs EIA
Environmental Audit
To evaluate on environment
performance by the industry
along with corrective action.
Consist of 3 steps:
environmental compliance
audit, environmental
management audit & risk audit.
EA takes place in operating sites EIA takes place at an early
Environmental Impacts
Assessment
To predict the consequences of
the current or proposed project
on environment.
Consist of 2 procedures
:Preliminary EIA & Detailed EIA
stages of projects development