bkp eia workshop2013

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA):

ByB. K. PURANDARA

SCIENTISTRCNIH, BELGAUM

What is the purpose of EIA ?To “…encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation....”

(National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, (NEPA) Section 2, as enacted by the Congress of the United States of America

What is the purpose of EIA ? “To implement a strategy of sustainable

development, prevent adverse impact on the environment after the implementation of plans and construction projects, and promote coordinated development of the economy, society, and environment.”

(Environmental Impact Assessment Law, 1600/20002.10.28, adopted at the 30th Meeting of the Standing Committee of the 9th National Peoples Congress, Peoples Republic of China)

What is the purpose of EIA ?

To allow government officials, business leaders, and all concerned citizens to understand the likely environmental consequences of proposed actions, and to cooperate in making wise decisions that restore and maintain the quality of our shared environment for future generations.

R. B. Smythe

What is the purpose of EIA ?

“To LOOK before you LEAP!”

• EIA is now a required process in more than 100 nations.

• The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) is a global network with 2,700 members from more than 80 countries.

WHAT CHANGES CAN EIA BRING?

Before introduction of EIA:

•Government planning and decision-making:

“D-A-D” ---- “Decide, Announce, Defend”

•Role of NGOs, citizens:

“Critics” “Objectors” “Protestors”

•Environmental conditions:

Steadily deteriorating

WHAT CHANGES CAN EIA BRING?After Implementing EIA:

•Government planning and decision-making:

“D-D-D” ---- “Discuss, Decide, Deliver”

•Role of NGOs, citizens:

“Stakeholders” “Contributors” “Participants”

•Environmental conditions:

Deterioration slows; some areas improving

Source: Hui, Y.M. (Simon), Environmental Protection Dept., HKSAR

KEY ELEMENTS OF EIA

1. EIA must be undertaken EARLY in the development of proposed projects, plans, and programs, and must be completed BEFORE a decision to proceed is made.

2. EIA must be an OBJECTIVE, IMPARTIAL analytical process, not a way of promoting or “selling” a proposal to decision-makers—it must use accepted scientific principles and methods.

KEY ELEMENTS OF EIA

3. EIA must analyze all REASONABLY FORESEEABLE environmental impacts or effects of a proposed action— effects may be short-term, long-term, direct, or indirect.

4. The process of EIA must be OPEN – to government officials at all levels, to potential stakeholders (those with direct interests in the proposed action), and to the PUBLIC.

KEY ELEMENTS OF EIA

5. There must be an early, public SCOPING stage in EIA to consider ALTERNATIVES and to help focus subsequent analysis on the MORE SIGNIFICANT potential impacts – rather than studying all possible environmental effects—the GOAL is to reach a decision.

6. Government officials responsible for implementing EIA must ENCOURAGE (not just tolerate) PUBLIC PARTICIPATION in the process from the scoping stage forward.

KEY ELEMENTS OF EIA

7. In all EIA processes, effective MITIGATION MEASURES must be identified and included—to avoid, minimize, or reduce the adverse effects of all potentially significant impacts.

8. EIA reports must include an ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM (EMS) or Action Plan to MONITOR the implementation phase of the project, plan, or program and provide for CORRECTIVE actions—such action plans must have assured FUNDING and be legally enforceable.

HOW CAN NGOs PARTICIPATE EFFECTIVELY IN EIA?

1. Start with a COOPERATIVE attitude: your goal is to HELP the persons responsible to use the EIA process to benefit BOTH environment and development.

2. LEARN as much as possible about the proposal before forming your opinions; IDENTIFY the responsible persons and agencies; ASK them for all available information so that you are well-informed.


3. IDENTIFY yourself and your organization; tell officials that you want to participate in the EIA process as soon as it begins—also tell them WHY you want to participate and HOW you can contribute to making the process USEFUL for them.

4. Be polite, but also be persistent—the new EIA law gives you both the RIGHT and the RESPONSIBILITY to be a participant.


5. Do not claim to be an expert on complex issues if you are not—try to CONSULT OTHERS who have special knowledge and skills.

6. Whenever you raise an environmental PROBLEM, offer a possible SOLUTION —an alternative strategy, or location, or design, etc.


7. Provide officials with specific COMMENTS and RECOMMENDATIONS from your NGO in writing, as EARLY in the decision process as possible.

8. STAY INVOLVED in the process, even if your position and your recommendations are not initially accepted. Continue to make your concerns known to all in a RESPECTFUL but PERSUASIVE manner.

Basic Concepts forAssessing Environmental Impacts

In EIA, the term “impacts” is used instead of “effects of activities.”

What is an impact?

Review: Definition of EIAEnvironmental Impact Assessment is

A formal process for identifying:• likely effects of activities or projects on the ENVIRONMENT, and on human health and welfare.

•means and measures to mitigate & monitor these impacts

Environment is broadly interpreted: physical, biological, and social.

What is an impact?

The impact of an activity is a deviation (a change) from the baseline situation that is caused by the activity.

To measure an impact, you must know what the baseline situation is.

!

The baseline situation is the existing environmental situation or condition in the absence of the activity.

The baseline situation is a key concept in EIA. More…

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The baseline situationIn characterizing the

baseline situation, many environmental components MAY be

of interest

Water Quantity, quality, reliability, accessibility

Soils Erosion, crop productivity, fallow periods, salinity, nutrient concentrations

Flora Composition and density of natural vegetation, productivity, key species

Fauna Populations, habitat

Special Key species ecosystems

Env Health Disease vectors, pathogensThe components of interest are those that are likely to be affected by your activity—or upon which your activity depends for its success

The baseline situationThe baseline situation is not simply a “snapshot.”

Describing the baseline situation requires describing both the normal variability in environmental components & current trends in these components.

time

Wat

er ta

ble

This chart of groundwater levels shows both variability and a trend over time.

Both are part of the groundwater baseline situation.

Types of impacts & their attributes

Direct & indirect impacts

Short-term & long-term impacts

Adverse & beneficial impacts

Cumulative impacts

The EIA process is concerned with

all types of impacts and may describe them in a

number of ways

Intensity Direction Spatial extent Duration Frequency Reversibility Probability

But all impacts are NOT treated equally.

!It is ESSENTIAL in EIA to focus on the most significant impacts.

Don’t waste effort & time analyzing and discussing impacts that are less important.

Specifically,

What is an activity?

ACTIVITY:market access road rehabilitation

ACTIONS:Survey, grading, culvert construction, compaction, etc. . .

a desired accomplishment or output

E.g.: a road, seedling production, or river diversion to irrigate land

An activity is:

Accomplishing an activity requires a set of actions

We are discussing the impacts of activities.What are activities?

A project or program may consist of many activities

The EIA process

• Scope• Evaluate baseline situation• Identify & choose alternatives• Identify and characterize potential

impacts of proposed activity and each alternative

• Develop mitigation and monitoring • Communicate and document

Phase I:Initial inquiries

Phase II:Full EIA study (if needed)

Our focus!

•Understand proposed activities

•Screen

•Conduct preliminary assessment (if needed)

ENCAP EA-ESD Course: Basic Concepts for EIA. Visit www.encapafrica.org

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Phase 1 of the EIA process:

Understand the proposed activityUnderstand the proposed activities

Why is the activity being proposed?

What is being proposed?

ALL EIA processes begin with understanding WHAT is being proposed, and WHY.The question “WHY IS THE ACTIVITY BEING PROPOSED?Is answered with the development objective (D.O.).

“If we don’t understand it, we can’t assess it!”

“building a road”

“increasing access to markets”

We must understand the Development Objective to identifyenvironmentally sound alternatives

Not a D.O.!

Is a D.O.


Screen the activity

Screen each activity

Based on the nature of the activity, what level of environmental analysis is indicated?

SCREENING is the process of asking a very basic set of questions about the nature of activity. These questions:• do NOT require analysis.• do NOT require detailed knowledge about the proposed sites, techniques or methods

Example screening questions: Does the activity involve:• Penetration road building?• Large-scale irrigation?• Introduction of non-native crop or agroforestry species?


Screen the activity

Screen each activity

Based on the nature of the activity, what level of environmental analysis is indicated?

screening classifies the activity into a RISK CATEGORY:

VERY LOW RISK

VERY HIGH RISK

MODERATE OR UNKNOWN RISK

EIA process ends

Do full EIA study

Do preliminary assessment

The outcome of the screening process

determines the next step in the EIA process

ENCAP EA-ESD Course: Basic Concepts for EIA. Visit www.encapafrica.org


Screen the activity

Each donor agency and national EIA law has its own set of screening questions.

!

Screening is the topic of an upcoming module


The Preliminary AssessmentConduct a Preliminary Assessment

A rapid, simplified EIA study using simple tools(e.g. the USAID IEE)

The purpose of a preliminary assessment is to provide documentation and analysis that:

Screening determines whether the preliminary assessment is necessary

!

• Allows the preparer to determine whether or not significant adverse impacts are likely

• Allows the reviewer to agree or disagree with the preparer’s determinations

• Sets out mitigation and monitoring for adverse impacts


The Preliminary Assessment

Typical Preliminary Assessment outline

1. Background (Development objective, list of activities)

2. Description of the baseline situation

3. Evaluation of potential environmental impacts

4. Mitigation & monitoring

5. Recommended Findings

For each activity it covers, a preliminary assessment has 3 possible findings:• The project is very unlikely to have significant adverse impacts. (EIA process ends)

• With specified mitigation and monitoring, the project is unlikely to have significant adverse impacts

• The project is likely to have significant adverse impacts (full EIA study is required)

What is mitigation?

Mitigation is. . .The implementation of measures designed to reduce the undesirable effects of a proposed action on the environment

Mitigation is the topic of an upcoming module!

To arrive at findings:Identify, Predict and Judge

Identify potential impacts

Judge the significance of potential impacts

Predict potential impacts

Arriving at the FINDINGS in a preliminary assessment requires 3 steps:

Many resources describe the potential impacts of typical small-scale activities.

Determine which potential impacts are likely to become actual, and quantify these impacts to the extent possible.

1

2

3 Determine whether the predicted impacts are indeed significant!

THIS WILL OFTEN DEPEND ON HOW MEASURES THE PROPOSED MITIGATION EFFECTIVE ARE!

Present tools to assist in identifying & predicting impacts

Discuss the factors involved in judging significance

Subsequent modules. . .

We only proceed to Phase II of the EIA process

if Phase I indicates that a FULL EIA STUDY is required

!

Most small-scale activities do not require a full EIA study!


The Full EIA study

The full EIA study has very similar objectives and structure to a preliminary assessment.

However, the full EIA study differs in

important ways:

A formal scoping process precedes the study to ID issues to be addressed

Analysis of environmental impacts is much more detailed

Alternatives* must be formally defined. The impacts of each alternative must be identified & evaluated, and the results compared.

Public participation is usually required.

A professional EIA team is usually required.

!!!

*includes the project as proposed, the no-action alternativeat least one other real alternative

!


The Full EIA studyWith a few additions, the basic outline of the preliminary assessment is the template for the steps involved in a full EIA study:

Scope

Evaluate baseline situation

Identify & choose alternatives

Identify and characterize potential impacts of proposed activity and each alternative

Compare alternatives

Develop mitigation and monitoring

1. Background (Development objective, list of activities)

2. Description of the baseline situation

3. Evaluation of potential environmental impacts

4. Mitigation & monitoring

5. Recommended Findings

Basic steps of the full EIA study

Com

municate &

Docum

ent throughout

In summary, The full EIA study is a far more significant effort than the preliminary assessment.

It is reserved for activities for which screening or the preliminary assessment shows that significant impacts are likely.

Phase 2 of the EIA process:The Full EIA study

Who is involved in EIA?

Sponsor of the activity(usually commissions/conducts the EIA)

Regulatory agencies/Review authoritiesBroad-based public

Public consultation is usually only REQUIRED for full EIA studies.

However, it is good practice for preliminary assessments because:

• Predicting impacts is FACILITATED by broad-based public consultation; Judging significance is very difficult without it.

• Transparency and accessibility require disclosure to stakeholders

Communities (men & women)Civil societyPrivate Sector

EIA is undertaken early enough to affect project design

Mitigation and monitoring developed in the EIA process is implemented.

Making EIA effectiveTo be an effective tool for ESD, EIA must be:an integral part of the project

development cycle.

Honest

Transparent & accessible

The full EIA study must consider real alternatives

Impacts must be assessed honestly.

The EIA products must be clear and accessible to key actors.

Screening

Initial EnvironmentalExamination (IEE)

EIA NotRequired

EIARequired

Monitoring EIA Audit andEvaluation

IEEReview

Scoping/Terms of

Reference

Full-ScaleEIA

EvaluateOptions

EIA NotApproved

EIAReview

DecisionMaking

EIAApproved

You are here

Screening It would be time consuming and a waste of

resources for all proposed projects and activities to undergo EIA

Not all development projects require an EIA, as some projects may not pose an environmental threat

Screening is the process used to determine whether a proposed project or activity requires an EIA and, if so, what level of environmental review is necessary

Purpose Identify those projects or activities that may

cause potential significant impacts Identify special conditions/analyses that

may be required by international funding bodies

Categorize the project as one where: Full-Scale EIA required Some further environmental analysis

required No further environmental analysis required

Typical ProposalsRequiring Full-Scale EIA

Infrastructure projects Large-scale industrial activities Resource extractive industries and activities Waste management and disposal Substantial changes in farming or fishing

practices

Screening Techniques

Assessor or decision-maker discretion Project lists with thresholds and triggers Exclusion project lists Preliminary or initial EIAs Combination of these techniques

Screening Criteria

Screening criteria typically consider: Project type, location, size (e.g.,

capital investment, number of people affected, project capacity, areal extent)

Receiving environment characteristics Strength of community opinion Confidence in prediction of impacts

Project LocationRequirements for screening: The screening checklist should include a

section on site location characteristics, including, at a minimum, the four categories of environmentally critical areas: National Parks Indigenous people’s area Tourist area Ecologically sensitive area

Project Location (Cont’d) Site selection defines the location of the

study area and the specific environmental resource base to be examined

Often the single most important factor contributing to a project’s potential negative impacts

Regional development plans should be used as guides to select project locations where environmental conditions will be minimally impacted

Type of Project

1. Infrastructure • Commercial

Airport• Mass Transit

system• Hotel or Resort

Threshold Scale

AllAll

> 80 Rooms

Location

--

4 Critical Areas2. Agriculture

and Natural Resources

• Dam or Reservoir

• Irrigation

>100 million cu. m.> 15 sq. km.

Example Project Screening Criteria

Example Project Screening Criteria (Cont’d)

Type of Project Threshold Scale Location3. Industrial and

Power• Petrochemical Industry• Oil Refinery• Chlor-Alkaline Industry• Natural Gas separation• Iron/Steel• Cement Industry• Smelting• Pulp Industry• Industrial Estates•Thermal Power Plants• Mining

> 100 tons/day (raw material)

AllAll

100 tons/day (output)100 tons/day, batch

All> 50 tons/day> 50 tons/day

All> 10 megawatts

All

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Screening Categories

All Projects

Category A

Projects that typically require

an EIA study

Category C

Projects that typically do

not require an IEE

Category B

Projects that typically

require only an IEE

Examples:•Forestry Research & Extension

•Rural Health Services

•Marine Sciences Education

Examples:•Forest Industries•Water Impoundment

•Industries

Examples:•Renewable Energy

•Aquaculture•Tourism Development

•Infrastructure Rehabilitation

World Bank Screening Categories

Category A: An EIA is typically required

Category B: An IEE is usually sufficient

Category C: Typically no environmental review is required

Category D: Environmental Projects Environmental review

required, but may be incorporated in feasibility study

ALL PROJECTS

Prepare the work plan for the initial environmental examination

(IEE)

Project type on project screening checklist?

Get specific IAA requirements

Project scale above the screening threshold?

Project located in a critical area?

IAA funding, or any other special circumstances?

NO

NO

NO

NO

NO

YES

YES

No initial environmentalexamination

required (IEE)

YES

Project Screening Flow Chart

Will the project be funded by an IAA?

YES

YES

NO

Initial environmental examination(IEE) is intended as a low-cost environmental evaluation that makes use of information already available

Initial Environmental Examination

Purpose of IEE

Describes the proposed project or activity and examines alternatives

Identifies and addresses community concerns to extent possible

Identifies and assesses potential environmental effects

Directs future action

Objectives of IEE Identify all potential environmental

concerns relating to a proposed project or activity

Identify all significant environmental issues (SEIs)

Resolve simple SEIs Develop the focus for follow-up studies

based on unresolved SEIs

Possible IEE Outcomes

1. No requirement for further environmental study; proposal not anticipated to have significant impact

2. Limited environmental study needed; environmental impacts are known and can be easily mitigated

3. Full-scale EIA required; impacts unknown or likely to be significant

IEE in the Overall EIA ProcessProject

ScreeningIdentifies

projects that typically contain

potential significant

issues

Initial Environmental Examination

1. Identifies potential significant environmental issues

associated with a project2. Grades effects and identifies actual Significant Environmental Issues (SEIs) 3. Resolves simple SEIs4. Recommends further action for

resolving outstanding SEIsFull-Scale EIA or Other

Additional StudyResolves any remaining

significant environmental issues

IEE Flow Chart1. Identify Potential

Significant Environmental Issues

2. Obtain Information ``

3. Effects Classification/ Identification of

Significant Environmental Issues (SEIs)

4. Resolve SEIs Where Possible (Review

Alternatives/Develop Environmental Management

Plans and Protection Measures)

The IEE makes recommendation

s for further study:

Full-Scale EIA

IEE is the final EIA Report, including:

1. SEIs2. EPM3. EMP

5. Are all SEIsresolved?

YES NO

Identification of Potential Significant Issues

1. Identify valued environmental/ecosystem components (VECs)

Professional judgement/past experience Legislative requirements Stakeholder and community values

2. Identify the potential for impacts to each VEC 3. Identify potential for cumulative impacts

(i.e.,to the site as a whole and to the region)

Natural physical resources (e.g., surface and groundwater, air, climate, soil) Natural biological resources (e.g., forests, wetlands, river and lake ecology) Economic development resources (e.g., agriculture, industry, infrastructure, tourism) Quality of life (e.g., public health, socio-economic, cultural, aesthetics) National commitments (e.g., endangered species protection)

Commonly Considered VECs

Methods for Identifying Potential Impacts to VECs Matrices

» Sectoral» Project type

Checklists Professional expertise and experience with

similar project types Combination of techniques

Sectoral Matrix Example

Ports and HarboursAirports

Rapid TransitHighways

Oil/Gas Pipelines

DevelopmentProjects

Valued Env.Component

(VEC)

Surfa

ce W

ater

Qual

ityAi

r Qua

lity

Seism

olog

y/Ge

olog

yEr

osio

nLa

nd Q

ualit

yFi

sher

ies

Fore

sts

Terre

stria

l Wild

life

Noise

Land

Use

Aest

hetic

sIn

dust

ries

Rese

ttlem

ent

Arch

aeol

ogica

l/Hi

stor

ical

Publ

ic He

alth

Socio

econ

omic

Insignificant ImpactSignificant Impact Moderate - Significant Impact

Project Checklist Example

Potential Damages:Actions AffectingResources and Values:

1. Disruption of Hydrology2. Resettlement3. Encroachment on Precious

Ecology4. Encroachment on Historic/

Cultural Values5. Cooling Tower Obstruction6. Regional Flooding Hazard7. Waste Emissions Related to Siting

1. Impairment of Other Beneficial Water Uses2. Social Inequities3. Loss of these Values4. Loss of these Values5. Conflicts with Other Beneficial Water Uses6. Hazard to Plant Operations7. Intensification of Problems of Pollution Control

Considerations in Determining Potential Effects

Impacts to: individual VECs entire site (i.e., impacts to all VECs

combined) cumulative impacts to the area (i.e.,

considering other existing and planned projects)

Impacts from all phases of the project (i.e., construction, operation, decommissioning)

Impacts on different time-scales Impacts from different orders of impact

Orders of Impact Example

Loss of Fisheries Income

Social Tension and Poverty Intensified

Loss of Plain Fisheries

Dry Flood Plains

River EmbankmentFirst Order

Second Order

Third Order

Fourth Order

Data Requirements Project

» Type» Size» Location

Area of potential impact» Physical resources» Biological resources» Economic development resources» Quality of life» Other existing and planned projects

Sources of Information Existing reports on environmental resources

in the area Previous assessment reports

» IEE and EIA reports on similar project types» Reports on other projects in the region that may cause similar disturbances

Regional planning, policy and other reports Field studies Local citizens and traditional knowledge

Effects ClassificationEffects vary in significance, depending on

their: Nature: positive, negative, direct, indirect,

cumulative, synergistic Magnitude Extent/location: area/volume covered,

distribution Timing: during construction, operation,

decommissioning, immediate, delayed, rate of change

Effects Classification (Cont’d)

Duration: short-term, long-term, intermittent, continuous

Reversibility/irreversibility

Likelihood: risk, uncertainty or confidence in the prediction

Criteria for Evaluating Potential Effects

Importance of affected resource Magnitude and extent of disturbance Duration and frequency Risk/likelihood of occurrence Reversibility Contribution to cumulative impacts

EIA Procedures and Decision Making

71

Options for Addressing SEIs1.Resolve SEIs within IEE

Number of different strategies for addressing SEIs

Strategies chosen will depend on the number, type, and significance of identified SEIs

2. Identify need for future studies to address SEIs (e.g., full-scale EIA or other detailed studies)

Possible Strategies forResolving SEIs Within the IEE

Re-evaluate regional plans (e.g., to address cumulative impacts with other planned projects)

Review project options (i.e., alternatives and modifications)

Evaluate site mitigation strategies; including compensation strategies

Likely will use a combination of strategies

Examples of Project Alternatives

No-build alternative Demand alternatives (e.g., using

existing energy capacity more efficiencyrather than building more capacity)

Activity alternatives (e.g., providing public transport rather than increasing road capacity)

Location alternatives

More Examples of Project Alternatives

Process alternatives (e.g., re-use of process water, reducing waste, differentlogging methods)

Scheduling alternatives (e.g., timing of project construction)

Input alternatives (e.g., use of different raw materials or sources of energy)

Effects Significance Grading

No effectInsignificant effectUnknown significant effectSignificant effect, resolution is within the scope of the IEESignificant effect, resolution is outside the scope of the IEE

Increasing

Severity

Issues with: No EffectIssues with: Insignificant EffectIssues with: Unknown Significant Effect Issues with: Significant Effects within the Scope of the IEE

Where To from Here?

Issues with: Significant Effects outside the Scope of the IEE

No Further Action

Required:

Write upfindings in brief IEE

Write up findings and

recommendations in IEE report

Action Required:Develop the

Environmental Management

Plan & Protection

Measures to Resolve Issues

Action Required:

Identify Information Needs and

Tasks Required to Resolve

Outstanding Issues In

Additional Studies

Example IEE Report Contents1.Description of the Project2.Description of the Environment3. Screening of Potential Environmental Issues and

Rationale for their Significance Grading4. Environmental Protection Measures5. Environmental Monitoring and Institutional

Requirements6. Recommendations for Additional Studies7. Conclusions

Terms of Reference Context

IEE

Project Proceeds according to terms

of IEE

Terms of Reference1. Background2. Impact Issues

Significant IssuesRelevant ResourcesReport Formatting

3. Work PlanWhen/Who/How of Task Completion

Full-Scale EIA

Yes

No

IEE Review:All potential

SEIs resolved

Scoping A process of interaction between government

agencies and project proponents Identifies:

spatial and temporal boundaries for the EIA important issues and concern information necessary for decision making significant effects and factors to be considered

Establishes Terms of Reference for full-scale EIA

Importance of Scoping Serves to facilitate efficient EIA by identifying

appropriate areas for consideration (e.g, key issues, concerns, alternatives)

Reduces likelihood of deficiencies in EIA (e.g., ensures that important issues are notoverlooked)

Prevents unnecessary expenditures and time delays from oversights or unnecessary areasof study

Terms of Reference Content

Background information section should include: Project Description (i.e., type, magnitude,

location, alternatives and constraints) Environmental Setting (i.e., delineation of

study area, listing of environmental resources and sensitive or special value areas)

Background Reports (e.g., aspects of the environmental setting, previous projects with relevant impacts or resources)

Terms of Reference Content (Cont’d)

Specific EIA requirements typically include:

EIA objectives Institutional context (i.e., legal and policy

requirements) Significant issues of concern (SEIs) Required information and data,

methodologies for impact assessment Process for incorporating public input

Work Plan Example

Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5

Detailed Task Assignment1. Waterlogging and Soil Salinity2.Field Data: Collate, Fill Gaps, Organize3.Models: Review, Verify, Reconcile 4.4.Drainage: Develop Final Criteria, Perform Design5. Compile Report6. Land Acquisition and Resettlement7. Project Proponent Document: Review and Verify8. Environmental Impact9. Social Impact and Equity10. Public Participation11. Monitoring and Evaluation

Evaluate the IEE’s Treatment of Significant Issues

Identify Information Gaps Review Impact Pathways

Conduct Field ResearchConduct Public ParticipationPerform Impact PredictionPerform Risk Assessment

Evaluate Economic ImpactsReview Applicable Standards

Design Environmental Protection Measures

Prepare Environmental Management Plan

Design Monitoring Program

Full-Scale EIA Overview

Input = Outstanding SEIs from IEE Assessment phase:

Qualitative/quantitative analysis of SEI SEI impact significance

Mitigation development phase: Select appropriate mitigation measures Residual impact significance

EIA Impact Identification Methods

Che

cklis

ts

Mat

rices

N

etw

orks

O

verla

ys/G

IS

E

xper

t Sys

tem

s

R

isk

Ass

essm

ent

Qualitative Quantitative

Selection of Appropriate Methods

Type and size of proposal Type of alternatives being assessed Nature of likely impacts Experience using EIA methods Resources available Nature of public involvement Procedural/administrative requirements

Checklists

ADVANTAGES Simple to

understand and use

Good for site selection and priority setting

DISADVANTAGES Do not distinguish

between direct and indirect impacts

Do not link action and impact

Qualitative

Matrices

ADVANTAGES Link action to

impact Good method for

displaying EIA results

DISADVANTAGES Difficult to

distinguish direct and indirect impacts

Significant potential for double-counting of impacts

Qualitative

Networks ADVANTAGES

Link action to impact

Useful in simplified form in checking for second order impacts

Handles direct and indirect impacts

DISADVANTAGES Can become

overly complex if used beyond simplified version

Qualitative


91

Overlays

ADVANTAGES Easy to

understand and use

Good display method

Good for site selection setting

DISADVANTAGES Address only

direct impacts Do not address

impact duration or probability

Expert Systems

ADVANTAGES Excellent for

impact identification and analysis

Good for experimenting

Semi-quantitative to quantitative

DISADVANTAGES Heavy reliance on

knowledge and data

Often complex and expensive


93

Impact Significance Determination

ImpactCharacteristics

(e.g., spatial extent)

ImpactImportance

(e.g., value)x = Impact

Significance

Characteristics Affecting Impact Significance

Nature of impact (e.g., positive, negative, synergistic)

Extent and magnitude Timing (i.e., construction, operation, closure) Duration (i.e., short, chronic, intermittent) Reversibility/irreversibility Likelihood (i.e., probability, uncertainty)

Some Criteria for Significance

Importance: the value that is attached to the affected environmental component

Extent of disturbance: the area expected to be impacted

Duration and frequency of disturbance Reversibility Risk: probability of an unplanned incident

caused by the project

Assessing Significance Considerable expert judgement and technical

knowledge are often required to fully understand the nature and extent of environmental impacts

Categories of significance include: no impact » unknown impact significant impact » mitigated impact insignificant impact

Guidelines for Assessing Significance

Use rational and objective methods Provide consistency for comparison of project

alternatives Document values and beliefs used in making

judgement decisions Apply impact significance criteria, e.g.,

Ecological importance/sustainability criteria Social importance Environmental standards

Ecological Importance

Effect on plant and animal habitat Rare and endangered species Ecosystem resilience, sensitivity, biodiversity

and carrying capacity Population viability Community viability

Social Importance Effects on human health and safety Potential loss of managed resources (e.g.,

fish, farmland, water) Recreation or aesthetic value Demands on public resources Demands on transportation or other

infrastructure Demographic effects

Environmental Standards

Permit-based limits on effluent discharge concentrations.

Clean air standards, water quality standards

Plans or policies that protect or limit use of natural resources

Impact Mitigation

Evaluate Environmental

Impacts

Design Environmental Protection Measures

Review Applicable Standards


102

Mitigation DevelopmentDevelop Alternative

Environmental Protection Measures

Evaluate Implementation

Costs

Assess EnvironmentalEffectiveness

Select Final Environmental

Protection Measures


103

Understand the Problem

What is the problem? When will the problem occur? When should the problem be addressed? Where should the problem be addressed? How should the problem be addressed? Who stands to lose or gain?

Good understanding of problems is critical to development of effective mitigation measures


104

Mitigation Options

Alternative ways of meeting society’s need for the project

Changes in project planning and design Improving monitoring and management Monetary compensation Replacing, relocating, rehabilitating


105

Environmental Management Plan Mitigation measures chosen are documented

as part of the EMP which specifies how they are to be carried out: State policy and standards Designate responsibility Provide schedule for tasks Allocate responsibility for tasks Include system for progress reporting Include system for monitoring/auditing Develop a contingency plan


106

EIA Reporting

Variations in titles but all the same content: Environmental Impact Assessment report

(EIA report) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Environmental Assessment report (EA report) Environmental Effects Statement (EES) Local usage; often shortened to just EIA


107

Effective Reporting

Assists the project proponent to plan (e.g., changes to the project design or scheduling recommended as mitigation measures)

Assists decision makers in deciding whether to approve or reject proposal, and if approved with what conditions

Helps the public to understand core issues of concern


108

EIA Report Contents

Executive summary Objectives of the proposal Description of proposal and alternatives Relationship to current land use policies Description of expected conditions Evaluation of impacts for each alternative Mitigation and monitoring plans Appendices

Executive Summary

Definition: A well written stand-alone document which contains the information necessary for the reader to understand the critical environmental issues and how the issues are to be addressed and resolved

Audience: targeted at decision makers and international funding bodies

Special Requirements: international funding bodies often require executive summaries to be submitted in English


110

Executive Summary (Cont’d)

What the executive summary MUST contain: a summary of impacts for each SEI background information including base maps offsetting, enhancement, and mitigation

measures for minimizing negative impacts recommendations and conclusions summary of the environmental management

plan


111

Project Information Status of project Planning, design and implementation

strategies Requirements for materials, water, energy,

equipment Planned processes and products Visual aids (e.g., maps) Options (e.g., siting, layout) Summary of technical, economic and

environmental features


112

Evaluating Impacts forEach Alternative

Assessment of impacts Data and predictive methods used Uncertainty and gaps in knowledge Compliance with standards Criteria used to assess significance Proposed impact avoidance or mitigation

measures


113

Environmental Managementand Monitoring Plans

Describe proposed mitigation measures Contain schedule for implementation Assign responsibility for implementation Detail a monitoring program Detail proposed reporting and review

procedures


114

Common Reporting Shortcomings

Object of activity described too narrowly Incomplete description of activity Alternatives do not account for the environment Key problems not described Sensitive environment aspects overlooked Standards and legislation are not described or

alternatives do not comply with them Some mitigating measures not considered


115

Common Reporting Shortcomings (Cont’d)

Best alternative not described or described insufficiently

Serious impacts are not mentioned or not correctly described

Outdated or ineffective prediction models used Impacts are not compared with standards or

targets Incorrect conclusions drawn


116

EIA Review

Determines whether the EIA report is an adequate assessment of

environmental concerns and is of sufficient relevance and quality for

decision making


117

EIA Review Objectives

Determine whether EIA report provides an adequate assessment

Collects range of stakeholder opinion regarding the acceptability of the EIA report and of the proposed project or activity based on the EIA findings

Ensures EIA compliance with established procedures (e.g., Terms of Reference, existing plans and policies)


118

Critical Areas of Review

Compliance with the Terms of Reference Examination of alternatives, environmental

setting, impact analysis, mitigation, and impact management and monitoring

Sufficiency and accuracy of information Use of scientifically-defensible analytical techniques Conduct of the EIA; completeness and

comprehensiveness of the assessment process Sufficiency of information provided for decision-

making purposes


119

Review Methods

General statistics Project specific checklists Ad hoc processes Expert opinion by accredited reviewers Public review Panels of inquiry, independent commissions Legal approaches


120

Review Step-by-Step

Set the intensity of the review (e.g., scale and depth)

Select review methods and identify review criteria; make sure to include public input

Select reviewers Conduct the review Determine remedial options Publish review report


121

Decision Making

EIA is an ongoing process of review, negotiation and incremental decision making

Ultimately, an administrative or political decision is made whether to proceed or not to proceed with a proposed project or activity

Function of the EIA report is to provide objective assessment of issues to inform and facilitate the decision-making process


122

Requirements for Decision Makers

Decision makers need an understanding of: Principles and practices of sustainable

development EIA aims, concepts and processes EIA guidelines, policy, law and conventions EIA implementation within the decision-

making agency or organization Public involvement processes


123

Decision-Making InputsTechnical Analysis

(e.g., physical,ecological,

socio-economic,other)

Decision Making

prioritizing problems and

actions, ensuring effective

implementation

EIA

Public Involvement

Other Input(e.g., benefit-cost

analysis,political priorities)

Facts/ Value

s


124

Possible Decision Outcomes

Approval Approval with conditions Approval subject to ongoing investigation Further investigation required Request for a supplementary, or new, EIA

report Rejection


125

Screening Initial EnvironmentalExamination (IEE)

EIA NotRequired

EIARequired

Monitoring EIA Audit andEvaluation

IEEReview

Scoping/Terms of

Reference

Full ScaleEIA

EvaluateOptions

EIA NotApproved

EIAReview

DecisionMaking

EIAApproved

You are here


126

Environmental Monitoring and Performance Assessment

Goal

Specific Objectives

MonitoringMonitoring Requirements Environmental Issues

Performance Assessment


127

Monitoring and Performance Assessment Goal

Demonstrate to governments and the public that the project or activity complies with the environmental quality objectives determined through the EIA process and

achieves good environmental performance


128

Specific Objectives Detect short- and long-term trends Recognize environmental changes and

analyze causes Measure impacts and compare with

predicted impacts Assess effectiveness of mitigation measures Improve the monitoring system Improve practices and procedures for

environmental assessment


129

Performance Assessment

From monitoring program: identify trends, causes and

impacts assess performance and

compliance

From the assessment: modify practices and procedures

for environmental protection modify monitoring program


130

Post-EIA Monitoring Report

PROJECT PHASE

FINAL DESIGN STAGE

CONSTRUCTION STAGE

PROJECT ACCEPTANCE

OPERATIONS STAGE

MONITORING ACTIVITY

A. INCORPORATION OF EPMs IN THE FINAL PROJECT DESIGNB. INCORPORATION OF EPMs INTO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTSC. COMPLETION OF OPERATIONS MANUAL

A. ENVIRONMENT CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISORB. SCHEDULED REPORTS FROM SUPERVISORC. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SPOT CHECKS ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERVISOR PERFORMANCE

THE THREE PARTIES : ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR, PROJECT PROPONENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY; SIGN A STATEMENT THAT THE PROJECT MEETS EIA REQUIREMENTS

A. PERFORMANCE MONITORINGB. PERFORMANCE REPORTINGC. FOLLOW-UP ACTION, IF REQUIRED


131

EIA AuditEIA audits are a management tool to: Determine impacts Check that conditions arising from EIA are

being met Test accuracy of EIA predictions Identify areas where EIA could have been

improved Compile lessons learned for future EIAs


132

Concluding ThoughtsImportant points to remember are: EIA is a process which should have

influence at many stages and over a considerable period of time; it is not an activity aimed at producing a single set of results for use at one specific decision-making stage

The EIA process should be iterative and adaptive; scoping and assessment should continually evolve throughout the entire process as more information becomes known (i.e., circular process)


133

Concluding Thoughts (Cont’d)Additional points to remember are: The EIA process needs to be inclusive and

transparent The process should not be seen as an

administrative task; EIA is a powerful management tool to be used to make informed and justifiable decisions

Follow-up to review development results is essential to continually improve and strengthen the EIA process

CONTENT OF EIA ANALYSIS

Physical components:

LandAirWaterEnergy

CONTENT OF EIA ANALYSIS

Bio-Cultural components:

NatureCulturePeopleAccess

EIA Impact Analysis Summary Table

PHASE: Construction Operation Termination __________________________________________________Physical:

Land Air Water Energy

__________________________________________________Bio-Cultural:

Nature Culture People Access

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