EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment) refers to the activities
aimed at identifying the impact of legislative proposals, projects, policies, operational
processes, interpretation, and communication of information on bio geophysical
environments, on man and welfare. Environmental impact assessment is a project.
EIA is a systematic process to identify the future implications of the actions
currently or proposed.
EIA Objectives:
(i) Identifying
, predicting, and assessing economic, environmental, and social impacts of
development activities.
(ii)
Providing
information on the environmental impacts of decision-making.
(iii) Promoting
environmentally sound and sustainable development by identifying adequate
alternative and mitigate actions.
EIA is widely recognized as an instrument to ensure sustained and
minimal environmental degradation development.
Importance of EIA:
1. EIA could be an important element for good management of the
environment.
2. Government policy is that before approval by the planning
commission, any industrial project must obtain the Ministry of the
Environment’s clearance for an EIA.
EIA Methodology:
- The first step in EIA methodology is to determine whether the project under consideration follows the jurisdiction of the relevant legislation and rules, and, if so, whether it is likely to cause a significant environmental disruption.
- An EIA and an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) are prepared, where appropriate.
- The EIS is publicly examined and reviewed in several countries at public hearings.
- Political decision is finally made
- Accepted
- Accepted by amendments
- Accepted an alternative proposal
- Refused
EIA Process:
A logical sequence of work in a project is called EIA process in
the EIA system.
Principles of guidance:
Eight guiding principles govern the whole process of EIA.
1.Participation:
All stakeholders should have appropriate and timely access to the
process.
2.Openness:
All evaluation decisions and their foundation should be open.
3.Concern:
All participants should agree on the process and timing of the
evaluation in advance.
4.Respondence:
All parties’ decision makers are accountable for their actions and
decisions during the evaluation process.
5.Faithfulness:
Professionalism and objectivity are used for the evaluation.
6.Cost efficiency:
The evaluation process and its results will ensure protection of
the environment to society at the lowest cost.
7. Flexible:
Any proposal and decision-making situation should be addressed
effectively through the evaluation process.
8. Convenience:
In decision making & planning, the information and outputs
provided by the assessment process are easy to use.
EIA Process participants:
·
Agencies:
The project initiators are government or private agencies.
·
Decision
makers:
Single or group designated.
·
Evaluator:
EIS preparation agency.
Sequence of the EIA process:
1.Participation of Stakeholder:
To ensure quality, efficiency and effectiveness, stakeholders’
participation takes place in different stages of EIA.
2.Screened and Scoped Projects:
(i) Determine the need for EIA.
(ii) Describe different criteria for screening.
(iii) Scoping shall specify EIA coverage or scope.
3.Design and building of projects:
(i)Project type being considered.
(ii) the considered physical dimensions of the area.
(iii) Is it optically to use the resources?
(iv) Whether the commitment of land is irretrievable?
(v) Whether a major phase of a greater development is the project?
(vi) Whether serious disruptions to the environment will occur
during building?
(vii) What is the proponent’s long-term plans?
4.Operation of the project:
(i) How was the safety equipment monitored regularly?
(ii) How are the products handled with hazardous waste?
(iii) What contingency plans have been developed to address
possible accidents?
(iv) What are the measures taken to train environmental protection
employees?
(v) Which environmental monitoring plans have been drawn up?
5. Site features:
(i) Is the site susceptible to floods, earthquakes and other
natural hazards?
(ii) Is the terrain difficult to predict ground water features and
air pollution etc?
(iii) Is the local environment conducive to project success?
(iv) How many are susceptible to the project for being displaced?
(v ) What are the principal characteristic of local fauna and
flora (e.g. protein, calorie content, weed and/or plague status,
carnivorousness, species rarity etc.)
(vi) Will the project interfere with fish population movements and
major migratory animals?
(vii) Is the project likely to jeopardize historic sites?
6.Measures to mitigate:
(i) Design system for the prevention, reduction and minimization
of adverse effects.
(ii) Improve positive outcomes.
7.Measures for monitoring and auditing:
Identify the monitoring and auditing impacts required.
8.Socio-economic elements:
(i) Where are the trade-offs expected?
(ii) Are the existing job, ethnic and age group inequalities
interfering with (mixing, increasing or reducing) the project?
9.Information and resources availability:
(i) whether the project’s specific impacts are being consulted by
the local and external experts?
(ii) Is it available to identify potential impacts of similar
projects with the relevant guidelines, technical information and other
publications?
(iii) Is there consideration of relevant environmental standards,
regulations etc.?
(iv) Is the source identified and is accessible to relevant
environmental data?
(v) Is there consideration of the views of the expert groups and
public on the project?
(vi) If the technical staff responsible for carrying out the
project is available?
10.Report and Examination of the EIA:
Including a non-technical summary, methodologies used, results,
interpretations and conclusions, the full report information. The review
evaluates the adequacy of problems and facilitates decision-making.
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