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Screening and Scoping in EIA

Screening is the initial step in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, determining whether an EIA is necessary based on potential environmental impacts. It involves methodologies such as checklists and sensitive area criteria to assess project characteristics and public concerns. Scoping follows screening, focusing on key issues and impacts to be addressed in the EIA, ensuring stakeholder involvement and efficient data collection.

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Gorata Rebecca Mangogola
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5 views

Screening and Scoping in EIA

Screening is the initial step in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, determining whether an EIA is necessary based on potential environmental impacts. It involves methodologies such as checklists and sensitive area criteria to assess project characteristics and public concerns. Scoping follows screening, focusing on key issues and impacts to be addressed in the EIA, ensuring stakeholder involvement and efficient data collection.

Uploaded by

Gorata Rebecca Mangogola
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Screening and Scoping in EIA

Introduction

Screening is the first main step in the EIA process, where


upon receipt of registration forms for the development
proposal, the environmental regulatory authority
determines whether an EIA is required or not.
Screening
Is an EIA needed?
Scoping Are there important environmental concerns
that require environmental impact
Focusing assessment ?
Are there important biodiversity issues
that are required to be considered in
Assessment EIA ?

Evaluation Many projects may have no


significant environmental effects
Mitigation
A screening mechanism seeks to
identify those projects with
Documentation potentially significant adverse
environmental effects
Review and Monitoring
Screening is the first stage of the EIA process which results in
a key EIA decision, namely to either conduct the assessment
(based on the likely significant impacts) or not conduct it (in
the anticipated absence of such impacts).

Screening needs to follow specific procedures often


described in the legislation, so all the projects follow the
same process.
Key contributions of screening to a good EIA:

Facilitates informed decision making by providing


clear, well-structured, factual analysis of the effects
and consequences of proposed actions.

Influences both project selection and policy design by


screening out environmentally and/or socially
unsound proposals, as well as modifying feasible
action.
Checklists

Sensitive area criteria

Environmental and social characteristics


Assignment:
Main project characteristics

SCREENING
METHODOLOGIES Characteristics of the site and surrounding areas

Significance of impacts

Public concerns, views and issues


Screening Methodologies

Checklists: A list of projects requiring different levels of EIA.

Sensitive Area Criteria: Identifies projects in environmentally fragile areas (e.g., wetlands, reserves) that
may require full EIA.
Environmental & Social Characteristics: Considers impact resilience, public interest, sustainability, and
policy frameworks.
Project Characteristics: Assesses type, size, location, resource use, waste management, and infrastructure
needs.
Site & Surrounding Areas: Evaluates ecological significance, land use, terrain, hydrology, and social
factors.
Significance of Impacts: Determines influence area, duration, emissions, legal infringements, and
reversibility.
Public Concerns: Reviews potential controversies, land use conflicts, and social sensitivities requiring
detailed assessment.
Outcomes of screening
No EIA Required: The project has no potential impacts; the screening
report is submitted for an environmental permit.
Preliminary Impact Assessment (PIA) Required: Insufficient
information to decide; a low-cost assessment using existing data
provides more details for decision-making, which may lead to a permit
or require a full EIA.
Full EIA Required: The project has potential adverse environmental or
social impacts, requiring detailed studies following approved
guidelines.
Project Rejected: If the project contradicts laws or international
agreements, or if impacts cannot be managed.
Differences between Preliminary Impact
Assessment and Full EIA
Preliminary Impact Assessment Full Impact Assessment

Applied to projects with impacts that have low and Applied to project with impacts that have high
medium significance levels significance levels

A rapid, simplified EIA study that use simple May take a relatively longer time and use both
analysis tools simple and complex impact analysis tools

Less comprehensive study with few details A comprehensive study that may involve
research
Low-cost exercise Relatively expensive exercise

Assists decision making for issuance of Assists decision making for issuance of
environmental permit or requirement of full EIA environment permit
Screening Report

After screening authority will prepare a brief screening


report and submit to the proponent, the contents should
include:
• Project background
• Description of the screening process that was undertaken
• Screening decision made with reasons
• Recommendations on further actions.
An early stage of the EIA process

begins once screening is completed

identifies key issues and impacts to be considered

What is scoping?
establishes the content and scope of an EIA report

the most important step in EIA

lays the foundation of an effective process, saves time and


money, and reduces conflict
Scoping

Is a process that ensures relevant and focused EIA by defining the main
concerns, alternatives, and likely impacts and data requirements.

Scoping determines important issues and concerns to be addressed in the


EIA study. If the screening results show that the proposed project will
result in significant environmental impacts, the proponent will be required
to undertake scoping exercise and submit a Terms of Reference
Objectives of Scoping

01 02 03 04

The overall To provide an early Scoping also enables the To establish


objective of opportunity to identify identification of project draft Terms of
and involve all
scoping is to alternatives, EIA study
ascertain key issues
stakeholders in the EIA
boundaries, identification of Reference for
process by expressing
that are likely to be their views and concerns information requirements, Impact
important during in relation to the development of effective Assessment
proposal before the EIA methods of approaching the
the EIA. study is undertaken. EIA.
Relevance of Scoping

Proper scoping is critical for the EIA process because it can help avoid the
collection of unnecessary data, incur unnecessary costs and produce
unhelpful reports. Experiences show that in the absence of appropriate
scoping:

 EIA report become too bulky, with unnecessary detailed data.

 Most crucial stakeholders and their concerns are not identified during the
EIA. Too often, project alternatives are not considered.

 Appropriate scoping helps to avoid these shortcomings and contribute to


making EIA effective in decision-making and reduce costs for the project.
Who should be involved in scoping?

proponent

EIA consultant

supervisory authority for EIA

other responsible agencies

affected public

interested public
Results of Scoping

• Outline of how scoping exercise was undertaken


• Stakeholder analysis
• Identification and description of key issues and problems
The • A summary of potential positive and negative impacts
content of • Identification of project alternatives considered and those
the report earmarked for further examination during impact
include: assessment
• Recommended experts to form the particular EIA study
team (by discipline)
• Draft Terms of Reference (ToR) for the EIA study

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