ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT PROCESSES
STEPS IN EIA

1. Screening
2. Scoping
3. Compiling Terms of Reference
4. Undertaking the EIA study
5. Reviewing the EIA Report
6. Environmental management and monitoring
7. Environmental auditing

(IISD, 2016) 2
STEPS IN EIA - 1. SCREENING

Screening is a process to determine what level of environmental assessment (i.e. no

assessment, a preliminary assessment, or a full EIA study) is necessary or appropriate for a
specific project or proposal.

The threshold requirements for conducting or not conducting an EIA vary from country to
country. In some countries regulations and laws provide a list of the types of activities.
নি screening হচ্ছে এমন একটি প্রক্রিয়া যার মাধ্যমে নির্ধারণ করা হয় যে কোনো নির্দি ষ্ট প্রকল্প বা প্রস্তাবনার জন্য কোন স্তরের পরিবেশগত
মূল্যায়ন (অর্থা কোন মূল্যায়ন, একটি প্রাথমিক মূল্যায়ন, বা একটি পূর্ণ EIA অধ্যয়ন) প্রয়োজনীয় বা উপযুক্ত।

পরিবেশগত মূল্যায়ন পরিচালনা বা না করার ক্ষেত্রে দেশ থেকে দেশে সীমা অপেক্ষা পরিবর্তি ত হয়। কিছু দেশে বিধিবিধান ও আইনে
কার্যকলাপের ধরণের একটি তালিকা সরবরাহ করা হয়।

(IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 3

STEPS IN EIA - 1. SCREENING
We can identify three types of projects:

1. For high-impact projects:

Projects that are likely to have significant serious adverse environmental impacts (i.e.,
irreversible, affect vulnerable ethnic minorities, involve involuntary resettlement, or affect
cultural heritage sites) and thus likely a full EIA is required:
• Dams and reservoirs forestry and production projects.
Red category listed industries
• Industrial plants (large-scale). as described in ECR 2023.
• Mining and mineral development (including oil and gas).
• Port and harbor development.
• Thermal and hydropower development. (IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 4
STEPS IN EIA - 1. SCREENING
2. For projects likely to have adverse environmental impacts that are less significant than
those of in the previous category:
These projects likely won’t have irreversible impacts, and mitigation measures can be
designed more readily than for high-impact projects.
Normally, a limited EIA will be undertaken to identify suitable mitigation and management
measures, and incorporate them into the project. Such projects could be:
• Medical waste/Hazardous waste treatment and disposal facility
• Jute mill Orange category listed industries based
on the suggestion of the Environmental
• Mine exploration Clearance Committee of DoE as
• Water supply and sanitation transmission line described in ECR 2023.
• Lead-acid battery assembly factory (ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 5
STEPS IN EIA - 1. SCREENING
3. For projects that are likely to have minimal or no adverse environmental impacts:
No EIA is required. Such projects could be:
• Toy making factory
• Cold storage
• Compost plant
• Solar power plant
• Poultry
Green and Yellow category listed
industries as described in ECR 2023.

(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 6

STEPS IN EIA - 1. SCREENING
How is screening conducted?

The screening is usually done by a self-assessment by the project/development proponents

using guidance and question forms provided by the designated authorities.

For Bangladesh, the guideline is provided in the ECR 2023.

(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 7

STEPS IN EIA - 2. SCOPING
Scoping identifies the issues that are likely to be of most importance during the EIA and
eliminates those that are of little concern.

Scoping is used to identify information needs, determine study boundaries, and to review
alternative options to the project.

It also offers a crucial, and often first, opportunity for involving stakeholders in the project,
identifying issues that are of concern to them, and tapping their knowledge of the environment.

(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 8

STEPS IN EIA - 2. SCOPING
The objectives of scoping can be summarized as follows:
• to define the main problems and issues surrounding the project;
• to define the likely positive and negative impacts of the project;
• to define the spatial, temporal and institutional boundaries of the project and its
impacts, and;
• to define the data requirements for undertaking a full EIA.

(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 9

STEPS IN EIA - 2. SCOPING
Why do we need conduct a scoping process?
Scoping is critical as it sets up the boundaries of the EIA, including the project area, what to
include in the EIA, and how to put the EIA together guided by the terms of reference (ToR).

Scoping helps to select what is needed and what is not relevant, and thus it serves as a work
plan for the entire EIA process.

During the scoping phase the area of the focus of the EIA, baseline data and the type of
information needed, project alternative considered are determined and then used in the next
steps of the EIA.
(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 10
STEPS IN EIA - 2. SCOPING
What are the approaches to scoping?
The key approaches to scoping:
a. Determining the key aspects and criteria for evaluating the significance of environmental
and socioeconomic impacts:
This first approach includes creating a list of environmental, biological and socioeconomic
resources and issues that are important to consider, such as water, soil and land use,
biodiversity and people’s access to water, land and food and energy.
At this stage it is also important to identify the criteria based on which impacts will be
assessed, such as the amount of water extracted, waste produced, or agricultural land lost
and forest cover cut/replanted.
The selected environmental and social resources and issues and the set of criteria will then
be analyzed in detail in the next phases.
(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 11
STEPS IN EIA - 2. SCOPING

b. Public consultation:
This is a critical part of the EIA, and in many countries it is mandated by legislation.

The key groups involved in the consultations include project-affected people, host
communities and local NGOs, as appropriate.

It is critical to provide these stakeholder groups with opportunities to participate in

the planning, implementation, and monitoring of the planned project/investment.

(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 12

STEPS IN EIA - 2. SCOPING
c. Selecting appropriate baseline:
The description of the existing environment may include various biophysical, social and
economic parameters such as air, water, geology, soils, biodiversity, land use,
community conditions (socioeconomic, health & cultural) with the potential to be
affected by the project.
“Baseline data should provide a statistically valid measure of the parameter’s natural
variability during the pre-project period in order to be of value for impact prediction
and environmental monitoring” of the project’s impacts (Government of Saskatchewan,
2007).
Information should be presented in a simple and understandable form so the
connection of the project impacts (both positive and negative) can be identified.

(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 13

STEPS IN EIA - 2. SCOPING

d. Defining alternatives:
During the course of project planning, most possible alternative development
options will be rejected by a proponent on economic, technical and regulatory
grounds.

The role of EIA is to ensure that environmental and social criteria are also considered
at these early stages, and during scoping.

A comparison of alternatives will help determine the best method of achieving

project objectives while minimizing environmental impacts or proposing the least
harmful and the most environmentally and socially friendly solutions.
(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 14
STEPS IN EIA - 2. SCOPING
d. Defining alternatives:
The different categories of alternatives are given below:
 demand alternatives (e.g. using energy more efficiently rather than building more plants);
 activity alternatives (e.g. providing public transport rather than increasing road capacity);
 locational alternatives, either for the entire proposal or for components (e.g. the location
of a processing plant for a mine, or the location of tourist lodges within different zones of
a national park);
 process alternatives (e.g. the re-use of process water in an industrial plant, waste
minimizing or energy efficient technology, different mining methods);
 input alternatives (e.g. raw materials, energy sources–such as replacing diesel oil with low
sulfur fuel oil).

(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 15

STEPS IN EIA - 2. SCOPING
How is scoping conducted?
The main steps for carrying out a scoping activity are:
1. Set up the team of experts that will conduct the EIA.
2. Describe the project area and the area of the project influence.

(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 16

STEPS IN EIA - 2. SCOPING

3. Outline project alternatives for preparation and implementation.

4. Conduct public meetings and stakeholder consultations; integrate comments and
collected feedback into project planning and the alternatives.
5. Outline a set of environmental, biological and socioeconomic resources and issues
that will be addressed in the assessment.
6. Define a set of criteria to assess the planned project/development.
7. Identify a set of data for baseline descriptions and potential additional data collection
needs.
8. Identify the project impacts, during its all stages, list the significant and non-significant
impacts and explain why.
9. Start inserting this information in the appropriate section of the TOR.
(ECR, 2023; IISD, 2016; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 17
STEPS IN EIA – 3. COMPILING THE TERMS OF REFERENCE
(TOR)

• Terms of reference (TOR) provides guidance to the Project Proponent on

how the study should be conducted and managed.
• TOR should be a flexible document with provision for adjustment and
feedback when further information becomes available, and new issues
emerge or others are reduced in importance during the EIA process.
• As part of the environmental clearance submission procedure, the
Proponent is required to prepare and submit the TOR with the Initial
Environmental Examination (IEE) submission to the DOE for approval prior
to commencement of the EIA study. (IISD, 2016) 18
STEPS IN EIA – 3. COMPILING THE TERMS OF REFERENCE
(TOR)
Contents of TOR
The Terms of Reference for an EIA may comprise some or all of the following items:
i. purpose and application of the Terms of Reference;
ii. statement of need and objectives of the proposal;
iii. brief project background and description of activities to be undertaken;
iv. indication of extent of study area or impact zone(s) (e.g. the affected environment
and community);
v. applicable policy and institutional considerations;
vi. EIA requirements and decision-making particulars;
vii. provisions for public involvement;
(DoE, 2021) 19
STEPS IN EIA – 3. COMPILING THE TERMS OF REFERENCE
(TOR)
Contents of TOR
viii. alternatives and options to be examined;
ix. the impacts and issues to be studied;
x. the criteria and standards to be applied for the assessment;
xi. the studies to be carried out, including baseline studies for existing environmental
quality, socio-economic surveys, and others (indicating approach, time & space
boundaries);
xii. the requirements for mitigation and monitoring;
xiii. the format of the EIA report and the information and data to be included in the report;
xiv. the timeframe for completion of the EIA study and report;
xv. the means for making changes to the TOR if necessary; and (DoE, 2021) 20
STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY

Key Components of a full EIA Study

i. Impact identification
ii. Evaluation and assessment of impacts
iii. Examination of alternatives
iv. Development of mitigation options

(Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 21

STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY

i. Impact identification
Impact identification identifies those impacts that should be investigated in detail.
Impact identification aims –
• to ensure that all potential environmental impacts are identified and listed and
• to clearly understand the boundaries and characteristics of the listed impacts

Tools to identify the impacts

What should be the tools to identify the impacts?
Answer yourself

(Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 22

STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY

ii. Evaluation and assessment of impacts

Impact assessment for an EIA will involve the phases as follows:
• identifying more specifically and in detail the impacts under investigation associated with
each phase of the project and the activities undertaken;
• predicting the characteristics of the main impacts in terms its nature, magnitude, extent
and duration; and
• evaluating the significance of the impacts that cannot be mitigated.

(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 23

STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY
ii. Evaluation and assessment of impacts
For prediction various mathematical and statistical tools can be used –

(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 24

STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY

(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 25

STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY
ii. Evaluation and assessment of impacts
Impacts can be compared with various standards set by GoB and international organizations.

ECR 2023

(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 26

STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY

(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 27

 STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY
ii. Evaluation and assessment of impacts
Evaluating impacts
Characteristics of environmental impacts vary depending on the activities proposed. There are
six factors that must be taken into account when assessing the significance of environmental
impacts arising from a project activity (Table). The factors are interrelated and must not be
considered in isolation.

(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi

et al, 1999) 28
STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY
ii. Evaluation and assessment of impacts
Evaluating impacts

(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 29

STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY
ii. Evaluation and assessment of impacts
Describing Impacts
The possible assessment decisions using the above factors may fall into the following categories:
1. NO IMPACT
(a) It should be very obvious when a project activity is unlikely to have an impact on an
environmental component. For example, if a project site is in an area lacking surface water of
any description, environmental components such as those listed under surface water, aquatic life
and water quality will be identified as “no-impact”, unless the operation is expected to cause the
production of wastewater.
(b) Potential adverse environmental impacts are known but are not considered significant. It is
however incumbent on the assessor to seek an environmentally acceptable design solution. 30
(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999)
STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY
2. SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS AND RISKS
Activities and their environmental impacts are judged to be significant if they create, or have the
potential to create concern and controversy.
To determine whether a given impact is significant the following criteria may be used:
i. spatial scale of the impact (whether local, regional, or national/international);
ii. time horizon of the impact (short, medium, or long term);
iii. magnitude of the change in the environmental parameter brought about by the project activities
(small, moderate, large);
iv. importance to local human populations (for example, fish for consumption, drinking water,
income); or
v. national or international profile (for example, national treasure, and any rare or endangered
species). (DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999)
31
STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY
3. INSIGNIFICANT IMPACTS
If an impact occurs but does not meet the criteria for significance.

4. UNKNOWN IMPACTS
The potential impact of a project activity will be assessed as being unknown if:
i. the nature and location of the project activity is uncertain;
ii. the occurrence of the environmental parameter within the study area is uncertain;
iii. the time scale of the effect is unknown;
iv. the spatial scale over which the effect may occur is unknown; or
v. the magnitude of the effect cannot be predicted.

32
(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999)
STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY

5. MITIGATED IMPACTS
The potential impact of a project activity on an environmental parameter is said to be mitigated,
if there is potential for a significant impact and the proposed mitigation measure will prevent the
impact or reduce the impact to acceptable levels.

33
(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999)
STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY

iii. Examination of alternatives

This stage considers –
• alternative sites for the project, and where practicable,
• alternative designs and operating processes; and
• the environmental implications of all alternative.
A comparison of alternatives/options will help to determine the best method of achieving
project objectives while minimizing environmental impacts or, more creatively, indicate the
most environmentally friendly or best practicable environmental option.
All the alternatives that were considered and evaluated for the project must be described in the
EIA report. This demonstrates to the reader that the project has been planned adequately,
taking into consideration various options. (DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 34
STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY

iii. Examination of alternatives

Examples -
· demand alternatives (e.g. using energy more efficiently rather than building more generating
capacity);
· activity alternatives (e.g. providing public transport rather than increasing road capacity);
· locational alternatives, either for the entire proposal or for components (e.g. the location
of a processing plant for a mine, or the location of tourist lodges within different zones of a
national park);
· process alternatives (e.g. the re-use of process water in an industrial plant, waste minimizing
or energy efficient technology, different mining methods);
· scheduling alternatives (where a number of measures might play a part in an overall
program, but the order they are scheduled will contribute to the effectiveness of the end
result); and
· input alternatives (e.g. raw materials, energy sources–such as replacing conventional oil with
low sulfur fuel oil).
(Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 35
STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY

iv. Development of mitigation options

This involves identifying options and determining the costs of measures which can avoid,
mitigate or compensate for significant adverse impacts, or enhance the opportunities created
by positive impacts.
Mitigation measures are often presented to decision-makers in the form of matrices to indicate
impacts before and after different mitigation scenarios.
The EIA should also include a clear statement of the impacts that will remain after mitigation
(these are called residual impacts), and proposals for managing them. Where these residual
impacts are significant, or unacceptably high in the long term, it may be necessary to re-assess
the objectives and design of a project proposal.
(Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 36
STEPS IN EIA – 4. UNDERTAKING THE FULL EIA STUDY

Example of Impacts and

Mitigative Measures of a Gas
Development (MWEM, 1994) -

(DoE, 2021; Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 37

STEPS IN EIA – 5. PRODUCING EIA REPORT

The final report from an EIA is often termed as Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Contents of EIS:
i. Executive Summary
ii. Introduction
iii. Project Description
iv. Project stakeholders and public involvement
v. Description of Institutional, Policy and Legislative Environment
vi. Description of Existing Social and Biophysical Environment
vii. Environmental Planning and Design
viii. Assessment of Environmental Impacts
ix. Impact Planning and Management
x. Summary and Recommendations
xi. Appendices

(Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 38

STEPS IN EIA – 6. REVIEWING THE EIA REPORT

It provides an impartial mechanism for assessing the quality of the EIA and its adequacy for decision-
making.

Review agencies may establish special review panels or inquiry bodies drawing expertise from different
organizations and agencies, such as universities, research institutes, NGOs, consultancy organizations and
expertise within other government departments.
On completion of the review process, decisions can be made public on whether or not the EIS is
adequate for decision-making purposes. Once the EIS is reviewed, the decision-makers can use the EIS to
assist in deciding if the proposed activity should:
· proceed without modifications; · await further investigation and public enquiry;
· proceed with minor modifications; · be rejected.
· be re-designed;
(Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 39
STEPS IN EIA – 6. REVIEWING THE EIA REPORT

Key issues to be considered during EIA review:

· Sufficiency of information provided (e.g. compliance with ToR, standards, guidelines, and
legal provisions; comprehensiveness of information and data quality).
· Sufficient attention to EIA process (e.g. scoping intensity, quality of public participation
processes; adequacy of information dissemination systems; conflict avoidance
considerations; and close working relationships between the EIA team and the proponent or
project design team).
· Reliability of analysis or interpretation (e.g. consideration of cumulative effects;
assessment of residual impacts; consistency with state of scientific knowledge; and use of
accepted methodologies).
· Utility for decision-making (e.g. clear description of environmental consequences and
their significance; clear statement of monitoring and management options; and clear
presentation of issues and recommendations).
(Adapted from Sadler, 1996) 40
STEPS IN EIA – 7. ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND
MONITORING
Monitoring assesses the effect of the project on the natural and cultural environment.

Inclusion of a framework for monitoring can significantly improve the effectiveness of EIA since
it can provide a mechanism for ensuring that approval conditions and mitigation measures have
been carried-out and testing whether predictions were accurate.

Environmental management plans (EMPs) –

• help to ‘bring together’ mitigation and monitoring measures, and
• help to ensure that these measures are properly integrated into project designs and
implementation measures.
The overall purpose of the EMP is to strengthen the cost effectiveness of implementation of the
EIA process. (Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 41
STEPS IN EIA – 8. ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITING

Environmental auditing refers to the systematic, documented, periodic and objective review of
practices related to meeting environmental requirements.
In EIA, audit refers to the comparison of actual and predicted impacts for the purpose of
assessing the accuracy of predictions and the effectiveness of impact management practices and
procedures.
In most instances, the auditing process will depend heavily on the existence of relevant and
good quality monitoring data.
An audit can help EIA process managers to learn from experience, and further refine and
improve the EIA process as a whole.

(Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 42

STEPS IN EIA – 8. ENVIRONMENTAL AUDITING

In conducting an environmental audit the following questions have to be considered:

· What environmental impacts were predicted for the project concerned?
· When and where were the predictions stated?
· What actual impacts have been monitored?
· Where are the results recorded?
· How do actual impacts compare with predicted impacts?

(Mwalyosi et al, 1999) 43