MODULE III

EIA methodologies
• There are about six methodologies followed in literature for determining the
impacts and to adhere to the stipulations of regulating agencies, which in
our case is Ministry of Environment and Forest.
• Choice of methodology will depend on the specific user and project being
undertaken. The key considerations are:
i) Use: Whether the document is for information or a decision document. The
decision document requires more details and greater emphasis is on key
issues, quantification and comparison of alternatives.
ii) Alternatives: Much would depend on what alternatives to the project are
available since these would require a more thorough quantification and
comparison.
iii) Public involvement: The role of stake holders and their participation may
also require issues which are relevant and need discussion and thus details.
iv) Resources: What resources are available for the document preparation
in terms of experts available, data, time and money.
v) Familiarity: Familiarity with ground conditions will also be a keen
element. Greater familiarity will improve the validity of subjective
significance.
vi) Issue significance: If the issues involved are larger than more details
are needed, quantification is important and hence the choice
vii) Administrative: Are the documents being prepared are dictated by
procedure of implementing agency
 EIA Methodologies

• Ad-HOC method
• Check list method
• Over lays method
• Matrix method
• Fault Tree Analysis (FTA)
• Event Tree Analysis (ETA)
 Ad-HOC method
• Ad hoc methods indicate broad areas of possible impacts by listing composite
environmental parameters (Ex: flora and fauna) likely to be affected by the proposed
activity.
• These methods involve assembling a team of specialists who identify impacts in their
area of expertise.
• Here, each parameter is considered separately and the natures of impacts (long term
or short term, reversible or irreversible) are considered.
• These methods give a rough assessment of total impact while giving the broad areas
and the general nature of possible impacts.
• In this method, the assessor relies on an intuitive approach and makes a broad-based
qualitative assessment
• Ad hoc method is useful when time constraints and lack of information require that
the EIA must rely exclusively on expert opinion.
• When more scientific methods are available, it is not recommended.
This method serves as a preliminary assessment and helps in
identification of important areas like:

 Wildlife  Groundwater
 Endangered species  Noise
 Natural vegetation  Air quality
 Exotic vegetation  Visual description and services
 Grazing  Open space
 Social characteristics  Recreation
 Natural drainage  Health and safety

• Types of Ad hoc method
 Opinion polls.
 Experts opinion.
Delphi methods (The Delphi method is a forecasting process
framework based on the results of several rounds of questionnaires
sent to a panel of experts. Several rounds of questionnaires are sent
out, and the anonymous responses are aggregated and shared with
the group after each round. The experts are allowed to adjust their
answers in subsequent rounds. Since multiple rounds of questions
are asked and the panel is told what the group thinks as a whole, the
Delphi method seeks to reach the correct response through
consensus)
Advantages
• Specialists on a particular area will provide guidance.
Disadvantage
• It require expert.
• Short/long term impact are merely examined on guess basis.
• Identification, prediction and interpretation of impacts are quite poor
• It gives no assurance that a comprehensive set of all relevant impacts
have been studied.
Example: EIA Study for High way Construction Project