EIA as an Environmental Management Tool

Mrs. Amrutha S
A.P, CED
 EIA:
• An assessment of the impact of a planned
activity on the environment

• EIA is a planning tool used to predict and

evaluate the potentially significant impacts of
proposed action and provide a mitigation plan
for minimizing adverse impacts for making
decision on the proposed project/
program/policy
• Ministry of Environment & Forests
(MoEF), Government of India defined
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) as
a process of identifying, predicting,
evaluating, and mitigating the biophysical,
social, and other relevant effects of
proposed projects and physical activities
prior to major decisions and commitments
being made.
Salient features of EIA

 It identifies the possible positive and negative impacts which may be short
term and long term.

 It provides a plan which will reduce the negative impacts of a project. This
plan may be a project alternative or project modification or environmental
protection measures which reduces negative impacts.

 It measures the level of plan implementation and the degree of effectiveness of

environmental protection measures.
Purpose/Need of EIA

 When a new project starts in an area, it will disturb the environmental

equilibrium, so that EIA is necessary to know whether the project should be
started or not.

 To maintain quality of environment it is essential to study impacts of project

on environment.

 EIA also suggests remedial measures for the pollution caused by the project,
thereby we can implement pollution control methods (e.g. Treatment units)
along with the project.

 The opinion of public is considered for conducting EIA, so the decision taken
about the commencement of new project will be more environment friendly.
Goals of EIA

 Resources conservation

 Waste minimization

 Recovery of by-products

 Efficient use of equipment

 Sustainable development
EVOLUTION OF EIA
In Global Scenario (Evolution of EIA worldwide)
 First introduced in United States of America through its National Environmental
Protection Act (NEPA) of 1969.(legislative basis for EIA)

 Canada, Australia, the Netherlands and Japan adopted EIA legislation in 1973, 1974, 1981
and 1984, respectively.

 In July 1985, the European Community issued a directive, making environmental

assessments mandatory for certain categories of projects.

 In Asia and the Pacific region, Thailand and the Philippines have long established
procedures for EIA.

 EIA was made mandatory in Sri Lanka in 1984.

 The EIA process in Africa is sketchy, although a number of nations including Rwanda,
Botswana and Sudan have some experience of EIA.
 The Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) issued
recommendations on EIA to its constituent States in 1974 and 1979, and for
development aid projects in 1986. OECD issued guidelines for good practices
in EIA in 1992
 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) in 1980 provided guidance
on EIA of the development proposals and supported research on EIA in
developing countries. UNEP, in 1987, set out goals and principles of EIA for the
member countries and provided guidance on basic procedures for EIA in 1988.
 The World Conservation Strategy pinpointed the need to integrate
environmental considerations with development in 1980.
 EIA became an integral part of World Bank policy in 1987.
 Asian Development Bank in 1990 published guidelines for EIA Importance.
In Indian Scenario
 Concept of EIA-Environmental Impacts associated with river valley project

 Environmental (Protection) Act 1986, empowered Central Government to

introduce requirement of formal EIA procedure prior to clearance for the
projects likely to have significant environmental impacts.

 Restricting location of industries, mining operations and regulating other

activities in Doon Valley (1st February 1989).

 Regulating activities in the coastal stretches of the country by classifying them

as coastal regulation zone and prohibiting certain activities (19th February
1991).
 Restricting location of industries and regulating other activities in Dahanu
Taluka (forest land, mangroves) in Maharashtra (6th June 91).

 Restricting certain activities in specified areas of Aravalli Range in the

Gurgaon district of Haryana and Alwar district of Rajasthan (7th May 1992).

 Restricting industrial and other activities, which could lead to pollution and
congestion in the north west of Numaligarh in Assam (July 1996).

 EIA notification1994 making environmental clearance mandatory for projects

listed in schedule I & revised the EIA notification in September 2006.
 EIA notification 1994

Schedule I: List of projects requiring environmental clearance

from the central government- Nuclear Power Projects,
River Valley Projects, Harbours, Ports, Petroleum Refineries
etc.

Schedule II: Application form for Environmental clearance to the

MoEF along with necessary documents.

Schedule III: Composition of Expert committee for giving

Environmental clearance-consisting of 15 members from various
disciplines-reconstituted after every three years

Schedule IV: Procedure for public hearing-SPCB or concerned

District Collector will conduct public hearing
2006 EIA Government of India notification
 List of developmental projects and activities which require
prior environmental clearance (given in Schedule I) was
expanded.
 A State level Environmental Impact Assessment Authority
(SEIAA) consisting of three members to be constituted by
the Govt. of India
 All developmental projects requiring prior environmental
clearance (given in Schedule I) categorized under two
heads-based on potential impact
 Expert committee (EC) as per 1994 EIA Notification was
re-designed as Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) as per
2006 EIA Notification.
 All Projects and activities given in
Schedule Il

CATEGORY A CATEGORY B
(comes under (comes under the
MoEF) SEIAA)

CATEGORY B1 CATEGORY B2
(Projectsrequiring (Projects
which do
EIA clearance) not require EIA clearance)
The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1981 and
amendment,1987

 To implement the decisions taken at the United Nations Conference on the

Human Environment held at Stockholm in June 1972, Parliament enacted the
nationwide Air Act

 The main objectives of this Act are to improve the quality of air and to prevent,
control and abate air pollution in the country

 To enable an integrated approach to environmental problems, the Air Act

expanded the authority of the central and state boards established under the
Water Act, to include air pollution control.

 Under the Air Act, all industries operating within designated air pollution
control areas must obtain a “consent” (permit) from the State Boards.
 States not having water pollution boards were required to set up air
pollution boards

 The states are required to prescribe emission standards for industry and
automobiles after consulting the central board and noting its ambient
air quality standards.

 Act granted the power of entry for examination, testing of equipment

and other purposes and power to take the sample for the purpose of
analysis of air or emission from any chimney, fly ash or dust or any
other outlet in such a manner as may be prescribed

 Aboard may also apply to the court to restrain emissions that exceed
prescribed limits.Notably, the 1987 amendment introduced a citizen’s
suit provision into the Air Act and extended the Act to include noise
pollution.
The Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act of 1974 and
Amendment, 1988

 The main objective of this act is to provide prevention and control of water
pollution and maintaining or restoring of wholesomeness and purity of water
(in the streams or wells or on land)
 The Act vests regulatory authority in State Pollution Control Boards and
empowers these Boards to establish and enforce effluent standards for
factories discharging pollutants into water bodies.
 A Central Pollution Control Board performs the same functions for Union
Territories and formulate policies and coordinates activities of different State
Boards.
 The State Pollution Control Boards control sewage and industrial effluent
discharges by approving, rejecting or impose conditions while granting consent
to discharge.
 The Act grants power of entry for examination, testing of equipment and other
purposes and power to take the sample for the purpose of analysis of water
from any stream or well or sample of any sewage or trade effluents.
 The 1988 amendment strengthened the Act’s implementation the pollution
provisions. Board may close a defaulting industrial plant or withdraw its supply
of power or water by an administrative order; the penalties are more stringent,
and a citizen’s suit provision supports the enforcement machinery
The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986
 In the wake of the Bhopal tragedy, the government of India enacted the
Environment (Protection) Act of 1986
 The purpose of the Act is to implement the decisions of the United Nations
Conference on the Human Environment of 1972, relate to the protection and
improvement of the human environment and the prevention of hazards to
human beings, other living creatures, plants and property.
 The Act is an “umbrella” for legislations designed to provide a framework for
Central Government, coordination of the activities of various central and state
authorities established under previous Acts, such as the Water Act and the Air
Act.
 In this Act, main emphasis is given to “Environment”, defined to include water,
air and land and the inter-relationships which exist among water, air and land
and human beings and other living creatures, plants, micro-organisms and
property.
 “Environmental pollution” is the presence of pollutant, defined as any
solid, liquid or gaseous substance present in such a concentration as may be
or may tend to be injurious to the environment.
 “Hazardous substances” include any substance or preparation, which may
cause harm to human beings, other living creatures, plants,
microorganisms, property or the environment.
 Section 3 (1) of the Act empowers the Centre to “take all such measures as
it deems necessary or expedient for the purpose of protecting and
improving the quality of the environment and preventing, controlling and
abating environmental pollution”.
 The Central Govt. is authorized to set new national standards for the
quality of the environment (ambient standards) as well as standards for
controlling emissions and effluent discharges.
 Also, the act authorize the Central Govt. to regulate industrial locations, to
prescribe procedures for managing hazardous substances; to establish
safeguards preventing accidents, and to collect and dismantle information
regarding environmental pollution.
 By virtue of this Act, Central Government has armed itself with considerable
powers which include, coordination of action by state, planning and execution
of nation wide programs, laying down environmental quality standards,
specially those governing emission or discharge of environmental pollutants,
placing restriction on the location of industries and so on.
 The coverage of powers include handling of hazardous substances, prevention
of environmental accidents, inspection of polluting units, research,
establishment of laboratories, dissemination of information, etc.
 The Act provides provision for penalties. Any person who fails to comply with
any of the provisions of the Act, or the rules, orders, or directions issued under
the Act shall be punished.
 The Environment (Protection) Act contains significant innovations for its
enforcement,not contained in any other pollution control legislation at the time
of the Act’s adoption.
i. AIR QUALITY STANDARDS:
In case of residential or commercial or industrial place
falls within 500 m of any dust generating sources, the
National Ambient Air Quality Standards shall be made
applicable
NOISE LEVEL STANDARDS:
Standards Time duration: 6.00 A.M.- 10.00 P.M. 10.00
P.M. - 6.00A.M
Noise Level: Leq 75 dB(A) Leq 70 dB(A)
Note : decibel (dB)
INDIAN STANDARDS FOR DRINKING WATER -
SPECIFICATION ( BIS 10500 : 1991 )