EIA Procedures forSmall-Scale Activities

Overview

Purpose: see how the principles of the EIA process are applied in practice

Focus: simplified EIA process for small-scale activities

Our example: USAID procedures for small-scale “umbrella” or subgrant projects

Procedures of other organizations are very similar

What are “umbrella” projects?

PVOs or NGOs receive money from USAID and give sub-grants to other organizations Subgrant activities often not defined when the PVO

proposes the project

USAID grants conditional approval

Condition is that each subgrant is subject to simplified environmental review and documentation

Where do EIA processes start?

Screening: the first step

Screening

Based on the nature of the activity/ project, what level of environmental scrutiny is indicated?

Preliminary Assessment

A rapid, simplified EIA study using simple tools

Scoping

Determines issues and impacts addressed by the full EIA study

Decision:Conduct full EIA?

May or may not require a full EIA, but further scrutinyIs indicated

YES(significant

adverse impacts are

possible)

NO(project is very unlikely to have any significant

adverse impacts)

By its nature, project is very unlikely to have any significant adverse impacts

Activity demands a full EIA automotically

EIA Process ends

Phase IIPhase I

Understand the proposed

activity

Screening under USAID subgrantprocedures

Activity

Activity is very high risk

Activity is very low-risk

Activity is of unknown or moderate risk

Do Environmental Review Report

BUT NOTE: If design is not changed,Activity may be unfundable& will likely require full EA

No further review is necessary

Do EnvironmentalReview Report*

Screening result Implication

*Environmental Review Report = a “preliminary assessment”

How do we do screening?

The ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW FORM guides the process

The form asks you to: LIST each activity being proposed CHECK EACH activity against a list of “very low risk”

activities CHECK EACH activity against a list of “very high risk”

activities RECORD the screening result for each activity

3 possible results: very low risk, very high risk, moderate or unknown risk

Some examples of “very low risk” activities

Education, technical assistance, or training. (except for activities directly affecting the environment).

Community awareness initiatives.

Technical studies not involving intrusive sampling of endangered species or critical habitats.

Some examples of “very high risk” activities

River basin or new lands development Planned resettlement of human populations Penetration road building Major bore hole or water point construction Large-scale irrigation Water management structures such as dams and

impoundments Drainage of wetlands or other permanently

flooded areas

Some examples of “moderate risk” activities

Small-scale infrastructure with the known potential to cause environmental harm (e.g., roads, bore holes).

Quantity imports of commodities such as fertilizers.

Field agricultural experimentation exclusively for research and evaluation of MORE than 4 ha.

BREAK!!!!!!

Workgroup exercise:

practice with screening

After screening, what next?

Screening

Based on the nature of the activity/ project, what level of environmental scrutiny is indicated?

Preliminary Assessment

A rapid, simplified EIA study using simple tools

Scoping

Determines issues and impacts addressed by the full EIA study

Decision:Conduct full EIA?

May or may not require a full EIA, but further scrutinyIs indicated

YES(significant

adverse impacts are

possible)

NO(project is very unlikely to have any significant

adverse impacts)

By its nature, project is very unlikely to have any significant adverse impacts

Activity demands a full EIA automotically

EIA Process ends

Phase IIPhase I

Understand the proposed

activity

After screening, what next?

If ALL activities are “very low risk,” environmental review process ends. Sign certification and submit documentation!

If ANY activities are: “moderate or unknown risk” OR “very high risk”

an Environmental Review Report (ERR) must be completed. = a “preliminary assessment”

What does an Environmental Review Report (ERR) look like?

1. Background, Rationale and Outputs/Results Expected

2. Activity Description

3. Environmental Situation

4. Evaluation of Activities with Respect to Environmental Impact Potential

5. Environmental Mitigation Actions (including environmental monitoring and evaluation)

6. Other information (photos, references, individuals consulted)3 to 5 pages!

After the ERR, what next?

Screening

Based on the nature of the activity/ project, what level of environmental scrutiny is indicated?

Preliminary Assessment

A rapid, simplified EIA study using simple tools

Scoping

Determines issues and impacts addressed by the full EIA study

Decision:Conduct full EIA?

May or may not require a full EIA, but further scrutinyIs indicated

YES(significant

adverse impacts are

possible)

NO(project is very unlikely to have any significant

adverse impacts)

By its nature, project is very unlikely to have any significant adverse impacts

Activity demands a full EIA automotically

EIA Process ends

Phase IIPhase I

Understand the proposed

activity

After the ERR, what next?

The purpose of the ERR is to:

Allow you to make a recommendation regarding the likely environmental impacts of low-risk and high-risk activities

Allow a reviewer to evaluate this recommendation

After the ERR, what next?

Therefore, for EACH: Moderate/unknown risk activity Very high risk activity

you must make one of 3 recommended determinations: No significant adverse impacts With specified mitigation and monitoring, no significant

adverse impacts Significant adverse impacts

Meaning of the recommendations

Final steps

Record the recommendations in the activity list

Sign the certification

SUBMIT the Environmental Review Form

WAIT for Response from Reviewing Authority

Overview of the process

Proposedactivity

applySCREENING

criteria

• Very low risk

• High risk• Moderate/unknown risk

Do ENVIRONMENTALREVIEW REPORT

Obtain screening results:

Reach RECOMMENDED DETERMINATION

• No significant adverse impact• With adequate mitigation and

monitoring, no significant adverseimpact

• Significant adverse impact Will require a full EA ifallowed to proceed at all

No further review needed; Sign and submit.

Sign and submit.

Responses of the reviewing authority

Reviewing authority may: Accept Reject Require more analysis

If a recommendation of “significant adverse impacts” is accepted, The reviewing authority may cancel the activity The reviewing authority may insist on a full EA. The proposer

would then enter into detailed discussions with the reviewing authority.

the screening results and recommended determinations