environmental impact assessment · environmental impact assessment jmpcoc/evs/unit ii/sem ii/14-15...

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT

jmpcoc/EVS/Unit II/Sem II/14-15


EIA is one of the sound environment management practices for minimising the impacts from development activities. First introduced in the USA in 1969 and in

1994 it was made mandatory in India. A detail study from the view point of economy, society and environment due to any development project.

WHAT IS EIA?


EIA aims at sustainable development and optimal use of natural resources, and environmental considerations are required to be integrated in planning, design and implementation of the development process.

CONTD…..


Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is an important management tool for ensuring optimal use of natural resources for sustainable development. A beginning in this direction was made in our country with the impact assessment of river valley projects in 1978‐79 and the scope has subsequently been enhanced to cover other developmental sectors such as industries, thermal power projects, mining schemes etc. To facilitate collection of environmental data and preparation of management plans, guidelines have been evolved and circulated to the concerned Central and State Government Departments. EIA has now been made mandatory under the Environmental (Protection Act, 1986 for 29 categories of developmental activities involving investments of Rs. 50 crores and above.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Process Major steps in the EIA process are: Screening Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Scoping Full-Scale Assessment EIA Review and Decision Making Monitoring and Follow-Up


E I A R E Q U I R E D

E I A N O T R E Q U I R E D

E I A A P P R O V E D

E I A N O T A P P R O V E D

EIA STEPS

SCREENING INITIAL

ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION

EIA REVIEW

Eia audit and EVALUATION

Evaluate OPTIONS

FULL-SCALE EIA

Decision MAKING MONITORING

SCOPING


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


SCREENING

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


Infrastructure projects Large-scale industrial activities Resource extractive industries and

activities Waste management and disposal Substantial changes in farming or fishing

practices


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


INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL

EXAMINATION

EIA DESIGN i) Envtal. Impact ii)Socio‐Eco Impact Project Accepted Project Rejected i)Technical Aspect ii) Economic viability iii) Environmental Compatibility

Public Review

( A ) Project Details/Feasibility Report

( B ) Project

Operation

( C ) Base Line Survey

( D ) Public

Consultation

( E ) Final decision

jmpcoc/EVS/Unit II/Sem II/14‐15

EIGHT GUIDING PRINCIPLES

There are eight guiding principles that govern the entire process of EIA and they are as follows:

Participation: An appropriate and timely access to the process for all interested parties.

Transparency: All assessment decisions and their basis should be open and accessible.

Certainty: The process and timing of the assessment should be agreed in advanced and followed by all participants.

Accountability: The decision-makers are responsible to all parties for their action and decisions under the assessment process.


. . .

Credibility: Assessment is undertaken with professionalism

and objectivity. Cost-effectiveness: The assessment process and its

outcomes will ensure environmental protection at the least cost to the society.

Flexibility: The assessment process should be able to adapt to deal efficiently with any proposal and decision making situation.

Practicality: The information and outputs provided by the assessment process are readily usable in decision making and planning.


EIA BENEFITS AND FLAWS

Benefits Flaws Provides systematic methods of impact assessment Time-consuming

Estimates the cost/benefit trade-off of alternative actions

Costly

Facilitates the public participation Little public participation in actual implementation

•Provides an effective mechanism forcoordination •environmental integration •negotiations •feed back

Unavailability for reliable data (mostly in developing countries)

Top-level decision making Too focused on scientific analysis(sometimes)

Triggers an institutional building Poor presentation of EIA report(bulky volumes, scientific explanation, difficult to understand)

Achieve a balance between the impact of developmental and environmental concern

Compliance monitoring after EIA is seldom carried out

jmpcoc/EVS/Unit II/Sem II/14‐15

environmental impact assessment · environmental impact assessment jmpcoc/evs/unit ii/sem ii/14-15...

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