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GPY 405 ch3

The document outlines the methods of conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), focusing on key tasks such as desk top exercises, scoping, impact identification, prediction, and evaluation. It emphasizes the importance of gathering information and understanding potential environmental impacts across various project phases. Additionally, it highlights the need for accurate predictions and evaluations to inform decision-making regarding project approval and mitigation measures.

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11 views15 pages

GPY 405 ch3

The document outlines the methods of conducting Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA), focusing on key tasks such as desk top exercises, scoping, impact identification, prediction, and evaluation. It emphasizes the importance of gathering information and understanding potential environmental impacts across various project phases. Additionally, it highlights the need for accurate predictions and evaluations to inform decision-making regarding project approval and mitigation measures.

Uploaded by

jq82p8yvn4
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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TOPIC 3

METHODS OF EXECUTION OF ENVIRONMENTAL


IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Objectives of this topic are to expose


students to:
Major tasks/ activities in EIA
To equip students with capacity of
undertaken desk top and field exercise
required for EIA for any given project
Methods in EIA are mechanisms by which
information is collected, evaluated and displayed
for purposes of decision making.
In most EIA studies the following methods have
been used:
• (a)Desk top exercise-to gather basic requirements
• (b) Scoping
• (c) Impact Identification
• (d) Impact Prediction
• (e) Impact Evaluation
(a)Desk top exercise-to gather basic requirements
• Desk top exercise is required to gather all
necessary legal and other information to note
what exactly the team would be looking for
during the field exercise
• This is important to the extent that if ignored, it
may lead to carrying out the field work several
times.
• Desk top exercise will identify the type of
professionals that will be involved, assign
responsibilities and prepare the logistics for the
field exercise
Desk top exercise includes
• Identification of agencies and legal
requirement connected with a project.
• Literature about the project and potential
impacts
• Review of similar works by others.
• Generation of list of environmental items of
concern about the project
Scoping

This is an exercise to identify the attributes or


components of the environment for which
there is concern-(public or professional) and
upon which EIA should be focused.
It is the major activity which involved description
of the environmental setting
It is the first step field exercise in EIA
It provide the baseline information needed for
the other major tasks in EIA- Impact
identification, Impact prediction and impact
evaluation
• Size and nature of project determines extent
of scoping
• Some environment elements for which
scoping must carried out include:
Vegetation, soil, hydrological, aquatic and
hydrobiology
Air quality, climate and meteorology
 Environmental sensitivity- including
adjacent landuse
 Animal resources
Socio-economic elements of concern
Impact Identification
This concerns knowledge about the various
changes or impacts that could occur and the
use of such knowledge to identify potential
impacts for the project to be executed.
Impacts could be positive or negative
• Impact Identification should take into
consideration of the environmental setting at
various phases of the project i.e.:
Planning and Design phase
 Construction phase
 Operational phase
These phases should be critical about direct
and indirect impacts, immediate, short run
and long run impacts
Impact Prediction
This is highly technical and should be accurate.
Prediction can be based on the following:
 (i) A quantitative approach which relies on
general knowledge of the impacts of similar
projects 'or specific results of comprehensive
studies of similar projects;
 (ii) A quantitative approach based on mass
balance and environmental dilution calculations;
 (iii) A quantitative approach based on
mathematical or conceptual models for multiple
environmental factors.
In order to focus impact prediction
properly, the following questions need to
be answered:
(I) What variable is to be subject to
impact?
(II) What is the magnitude of the impact?
(III) What is the geographical extent of
the Impact?
(IV) What is the time scale of the impact?
Apart from these points raised,
information should also be provided on
the following issues:
(i) What is the probability of the impact?
(ii) What is the significance of the
impact?
(iii) How much confidence can be placed
on the prediction?
Impact Evaluation

This is the interpretation of the predicted


impacts. On which decisions be based as to:
 whether or not to approve the project,
 whether on not to prepare environmental
Impact Statement and
 the need to identify and include mitigation
measures.
• This will be discuss fully as a topic.
EXAMPLE 1- Potential Environmental Impact
of a Major Transport Facility
This is based on knowledge of anticipated impacts.
Planning and Design Phase
i. Impact on landuse through speculation in
anticipation of development
ii. Impact of uncertainty on economic and social
attributes of nearby areas
iii. Impact on planning and provision of other public
services
iv. Acquisition, demolition of properties for the
project with subsequent dislocation of families
and businesses
Construction Phase
i. Displacement of people
ii. Noise
iii. Soil erosion & disturbance of natural drainage
iv. Interference with water table
v. Water and air pollution
vi. Distruction of /or damage to wildlife habitat
vii. Destruction of recreation and historic sites
viii. Safety Hazards
ix. Commitment of resources to construction
x. Impact of ancillary activities eg. Acquisition of
laterite, gravel, disposal of sand etc.
Operation Phase
i. Noise,
ii. Air and water pollution
iii. Demand for energy
iv. Effect on socio- economic setting
v. Impact contiguous landuses – eg schools,
hospitals, etc
vi. Impact on life style of the area

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