Environmental impact assessment (eia)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
&
Management plan
SANDEEP PATRE

Definition of EIA
“The process of identifying, predicting,
evaluating and mitigating the biophysical,
social, and other relevant effects of
development proposals prior to major
decisions being taken and commitments
made“.

Objectives of EIA
Consider environmental factors in the decision- making
process of any project.
Identify potential environmental, social and economic impacts
of proposed activities.
Take steps at initial stages to minimize adverse environmental
impacts.
Promote sustainable development through environmental
management plan by either alternatives or mitigation measures.
Public participation in the decision making of the establishment
of proposed activity.

Methods to carry out EIA
(A) Industrial products - To identify and measure
the impact of industrial products on the environment, the
method used is Product environmental life cycle analysis
(LCA). The method assesses the environmental impacts
associated with all the stages of a product's life from raw
material extraction to its final disposal or recycling.
Types of LCA
Cradle to Gate: considers raw materials to finished goods
but does not consider its use or end life.
Cradle to Grave: Considers from harvesting of materials to
final disposal of finished goods.

(B) Genetically modified plants - The
development of genetically modified plants
(GMP) require strict assessment of safety and
potential impact on the crops on the
environment, human or animal health, in
comparison to its parental or reference crop.
 GMP-RAM and
 INOVA are some specific methods for EIA
of genetically modified organisms.

(C) Fuzzy logic :
There are many environmental impacts which
cannot be quantified and in order to measure
data to estimate values of such impact
indicators information from similar EIAs,
community sentiment and expert judgment
are used. The approximate reasoning
methods used are called fuzzy logic. For
example landscape quality, lifestyle quality,
social acceptance etc.

Types of EIA
Strategic environmental assessment (SEA)
Strategic Environmental Assessment is the analysis of
environmental effects of developmental policies, plans and
programmes. The purpose of SEA is to assist in sound
environmental decision making by improvement over the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Regional EIA
EIA in this context is focused on regional planning. It
integrates the environmental and economic concerns of
particular region due to its development planning. This
approach is also referred as economic-cum-
environmental (EcE) development planning. This
approach allows economic management of renewable
natural resources without compromising the
environment.

Sectoral EIA:
It refers to EIA in specific sectors like mining, airports,
townships, nuclear power plants, thermal power etc. It
helps in addressing specific environmental problems
encountered in planning and implementing sectoral
development projects. The benefit of sectoral EIA is that
all the environmental, social and economic impacts of
same type of sector are nearly similar and hence can
play important role in better planning and decision
making.

Project Level EIA
It refers to the environmental impacts of developmental
activity in isolation. It specifically targets only one
developmental activity and does not effectively integrate
the cumulative effects of development in the region.

Steps in EIA:
Screening
Scoping
Alternative Considerations
Project development Plan
Environmental baseline data collection
Identification & prediction of key impacts
Mitigation & Management of Environmental impacts
Public hearing/consultation
EIA presentation & Decision-making
Post-decision monitoring
Auditing

STEPS OF EIA
Screening: The projects are 1st screened to
know whether the project requires EIA. If yes,
then under what category it falls as per norms of
the respective regulatory agencies.
Scoping: Identification of the key issues to be
addressed in an EIA. This step involves the
identification of major and significant
environmental issues among the possible
impacts of the project and available alternatives
to minimize the environmental impacts.

Alternative Considerations: The purpose is to
ensure that the project proponent has explored other
feasibilities and alternatives. These may be location
of project, layouts, operating condition, techniques
etc.
Project development Plan: This step involves
the description of project like its rationale, stages of
development, location, processes, techniques to be
used, project cost, development timeline etc.
Environmental baseline data collection: This
involves the present state of the environment (air,
water, soil, biodiversity, energy etc.) before
implementation of the project.

Identification & prediction of key impacts:
Based on the baseline data and scoping, the potentially
significant impacts (adverse and beneficial) on environment
of the area are identified for project during the development
phase and after completion. The magnitude of the identified
impacts is predicted by comparing the environmental
conditions of base line data with the expected conditions
after project implementation.
Mitigation & Management of EI:
This involves the proposal of different measures to be
taken to reduce, manage, remediate or compensate for
adverse impacts.

Public hearing/consultation:
Public hearing is also part of EIA in some type of projects. The
purpose of public participation is to inform the public about the
proposed project and its impacts on the local area. The public views
or objections are integral part of the decision making process.
EIA presentation and Decision-making:
The report submitted by the Environment consultant on behalf of the
project proponent is scrutinized for various documents as per EIA
manuals/ laws. Any document deficiency is completed before
submitting the report to regulatory/designated authorities for the
purpose. The facts of the project starting from the screening to
public hearing are presented before the experts. The experts may
suggest additional measures to minimize the impacts. At this stage
decisions are made by the relevant authority to whether to accept,
defer or reject the project.

Post-decision monitoring: This comes into picture
after completion of the project. The outcomes of projects
after completion are recorded. These represent the
actual impacts of the project.
Auditing: This involves comparing actual outcomes
with predicted outcomes. This can be used to assess the
quality of predictions and the effectiveness of mitigation.

Advantages of EIA
The main advantages and benefits of EIA are:
Improved project design.
Reduced cost and time of project implementation.
More informed decision-making.
Increased project acceptance.
More environmentally sensitive decisions.
Improved project performance and reduction in treatment/clean up costs.
Increased accountability and transparency during the development process.
Improved integration of projects into their environmental and social setting
Healthier local environment (forests, water sources, agricultural potential,
recreational potential, aesthetic values, and clean living in urban areas).
Reduced environmental damage.
More effective projects in terms of meeting their financial and/or socio-
economic
objectives.

Criteria for selection of EIA
Methodology
Simplicity: The methodology should be simple and
based on available manpower & background knowledge.
It can be adapted without much difficulty.
Budget and Time: The methodology should be
applied by small group with under approve budget and
limited time span.
Flexibility: The method should be flexible and allow
the modifications and changes during course of study.

Major Methodologies for EIA
Following are the 5 major methodologies of EIA.
a) Ad Hoc
b) Checklists
c) Matrices
d) Networks
e) Overlays

Ad Hoc Method: This is a simple method and based upon broad
environmental impacts aspects. This method is very useful whenever
time period is limited with lack of require scientific information. In such
situation, EIA depends exclusively on background, expertise and
experience of experts. This method is not recommended, when more
scientific methods are available.
Types of Ad Hoc Method
Opinion polls
Expert opinion
Delphi methods etc.

Advantage:
Simple and easily understandable.
The experts of a respective areas guide EIA.
Overall environmental components are enlisted.
Disadvantage:
It required expert person.
The identification and prediction of short & long term
impacts are poor because it examined on guess basis.
It provides minimal guidance for impact analysis, while
suggesting subjective area of impacts.
Not good for organizing, reviewing and interpreting data.

Checklists:
Checklists are standard lists of the types of
environmental potential impacts, which may be
associated with respective project. The lists are
prepared with highly structure approaches and involve
importance with weighing of factors and ensure that no
potential impact is overlooked. Checklists are very
effective in impact identification and capable to
spread awareness & attention for respective people.

Checklists should enable identification of impacts on Soil,
Water, Atmosphere, Flora, Fauna, Resources, Recreation
and Cultural etc. status.
Types of Checklists
(i) Simple Checklist
(ii) Descriptive Checklists
(iii)Scaling Checklist
(iv) Scaling Weighting Checklist
(v) Questionnaire Checklist

Environmental impact assessment (eia)

Advantages
Simple to understand and use.
Good for site selection and priority setting.
Impacts can see on past, present & future.
Disadvantages
Do not distinguish between direct and
indirect impacts.
Do not link action and impact.
Sometime it is a cumbersome task.

Matrix
Matrix method provides a framework for interaction between project
activities and their environmental impacts. It can evaluate degree of
impacts of project activities on environmental resources. It is a grid like
table that one axis displayed project activities and other axis displayed
environmental characteristics. It can also evaluate the cumulative and
indirect impacts as well as interaction with resources.
Observed as two-dimensional checklist:
Axis of actions.
Axis of environmental components.
The intersections are the impacts
Functions:
Preliminary identification of impacts (scoping)
Comparative analysis of alternatives.
Impact assessment.
Presentation of evaluation results.

Leopard matrix
 Identify all actions located across the top of the matrix that are part
of the proposed projects.
 Under each of the action place a slash at the intersection with each
item on the side of the matrix if the an impact is possible.
 Having completed the matrix in the upper left hand corner of each
box with a slash place a number from 1 to 10 which indicate
magnitude of the possible impact 10 represent the greatest
magnitude of impact and 1 the least in zeros. Before number
place + if the impact would be beneficial.
 The lower right hand corner of the box places number from 1 to 10
which indicates the IMPOTANCE of the possible impact

Leopard matrix (Source: http://www.ilnaturalista.it/la)

Matrices advantages:
Visually describe relationship between two sets of
factors.
Expanded or contracted to meet needs of the proposal
being assessed.
Identify impacts of different phases of project,
construction, operation and so on.
Help separate site-specific impacts from impacts
affecting region.

Networks
Network method identifies the pathway of an impact using a
series of chains (networks) between a proposed action and
the receptor of an impact. It attempt to recognize a series of
impacts that may be triggered by a project action.
Advantages & Disadvantages of Networks Method
Advantages:
Integrated assessment, instead of discipline by discipline.
Inter-relations between causes and effects, including indirect impacts.
Cumulative impact assessment.
Communication (when simple).
Disadvantages:
Complexity (especially visually complex).
Difficult to distinguish and quantify magnitudes (andimportance) of
different impacts.

Cause and Effect Relationship Network Diagram
The Figure depicted the direct and indirect effect of fertilizer on
environment. The application of fertilizer first increases the nitrogen
and phosphorus in the soil. The some fraction of fertilizer reaches to
run-off and become available to plants, algae and other organisms.
Due to this, increase of growth and biomass in water body and
resultant reduces dissolve oxygen. Reduce dissolve oxygen
decrease fish populations, size and quality.

Overlay Method
It is based upon a set of transparent maps. Each represents the spatial
distribution of an environmental characteristic. The set of transparent
maps have information about physical social, ecological, aesthetic
characteristics of the project area and after overlapping to produce a
composite characterization of the regional environment
Overlay mapping is a simple technique to display of impact areas.
Intensity of impacts can be presented by color shading
Effective visual aid.
Useful for documentation of environmental conditions before and
after project implementation.
May describe both biophysical and social aspects of area under
study.
Highly communicative.
Easy to integrate multiple information (Including those of remote
sensing).

Introduction to
Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

The Role of EMPs
 An Action Plan that indicates which of the EA
report recommendations and alternatives will
actually be adopted and implemented.
 The most important link to incorporate
environmental factors into the overall project
design.
 Ensures environmental mitigation measures
and their practical monitoring become a legal
responsibility of the Borrower (LoA).

Who prepares the EMP?
 EMP is part of the EA prepared and financed
by the Client;
 The Client often places an existing PIU in
charge of tasks such as EMP, EA, EMFs;
 The Client may hire local/international
Consultants to assist the PIU in preparing
EMP

According to operational policies
4.01(world bank) a good EMP
include.
 Summary of predicted adverse environmental and
social impacts related to project.
 Description of mitigation measures and plan.
 Description of monitoring activities and plan.
 Institutional arrangements including training.
 Implementation schedule and reporting procedures.
 Estimated related costs and sources of funds.

The Content of EMPs should…
 address all relevant environmental (and social)
issues identified in the respective EIA report.
 be comprehensive, detailed but easily understood so
that:
 the Borrower knows exactly what is to be done
and who is responsible.
 World Bank team knows exactly what to look
for during supervision to determine whether
implementation is in compliance with the Legal
Agreement and Ops.

Mitigation Plan
Defines the key environmental (and social)
issues which should be managed.
Describes specific mitigating measures to
manage each possible impact, including
specific actions to be achieved.
Identifies the authorities responsible for
mitigation implementation.
Includes associated estimated costs.

Mitigation Plan cont.
 Identification of appropriate mitigation measures is critical.
 Based on the expertise and experience of the consultant
preparing the EMP, and on sources such as the Pollution
Prevention and Abatement Handbook.
 Mitigation measures should be feasible and practical.
 Mitigation measures should be easily observed and checked
 Bad example: “The construction contractor will assure
equipment does not produce excessive noise.
 Good example: “The construction contractor will assure all
equipment maintains noise levels at or below 75dB [A] at 1
meter from the source (in accordance with National
Regulation XYZ/123) by utilizing equipment which is
designed and maintained to meet this standard.

Environmental Mitigation Plan
Project
Activity
Potential
Environmental
Impacts
Proposed
Mitigation
Measures(s)
(including
legislation/
regulations)
Institutional
Responsibility
(including
enforcement/
coordination)
Cost
Estimates
Pre-
Construction
Phase
1)
2)
3)
Construction
Phase
1)
2)
3)
Operation and
Maintenance
Phase
1)
2)
3)

Example: Environmental Mitigation Plan
For a Power Plant Construction Project in X-land
Construction Phase
Project Activity Potential
Environmental
Impacts
Proposed Mitigation Measures Institutional
Responsibility
Costs
US$
Use of land within
power plant
construction area,
along gas pipeline
route, and along the
transmission line
route
Damage to
vegetation
Appropriate clearing techniques (hand
clearing, not mechanized clearing) will be
utilized. Any trees of protected species
will be relocated. In case relocation is not
possible, the project developer will agree
with the MoEnv on a practical
compensation to protect specific trees
Contractor/
Plant
Operating
Company
“5000
”
Use of land within
power plant
construction area,
along gas pipeline
route, and along the
transmission line
route
Loss of
fertile
topsoil and
soil erosion
Fertile topsoil will be removed, stored in
an isolated area away from construction
activities, and covered with plastic to
prevent runoff/erosion. Upon construction
completion, topsoil will be returned and
the area revegetated with plants similar to
the original vegetation/native to the area.
Contractor/
Plant
Operating
Company
“5000
”
Construction works Air pollution
by dust
When necessary, construction site will be
sprayed with water, particularly during
hot, dry, windy conditions.
Contractor/
Plant
Operating
Company
2000
Construction works Noise from
construction
works
Construction will be confined to normal
work-hours (8AM to 6PM). If construction
must be conducted before/after these
hours, local public will be notified at least
one week in advance.
Contractor/
Plant
Operating
Company
-

Example: Environmental Mitigation Plan
Operation Phase
Project
Activity
Potential
Environmental
Impacts
Proposed Mitigation Measures Institutional
Responsibility
Costs
US$
Liquid Fuel
Combustion
Air emissions of
NOx, SO2, CO,
particulate
matter, and
volatile organic
compounds
(VOCs)
Low-NOx burners and water
injection to control NOx;
Firing only low-sulfur (<0.1% by wt.)
distillate fuel oil to control SO2;
Good combustion control to control
CO, PM and VOCs;
Stack height at least 45 m to
facilitate dispersion.
Power plant
operator
Power plant
supply and
installation (S&I)
contractor
0.8
million
Equipment
Operation
Noise from
equipment
Acoustic enclosures for the
combustion turbines to ensure that
noise does not exceed 80 dB(A) at 1
m
Power plant
operator
S&I contractor
150,000

Monitoring Plan
 Defines selected indicators for ensuring that mitigation
measures are being implemented in an effective way (e.g., if
there is a mitigating measure to control noise during
construction, the monitoring plan should include noise
measurements during construction).
 Ensures the project is complying with National
environmental regulatory requirements and WB Safeguard
requirements.
 Addresses concerns which may rise during the public
consultation.
 Identifies authorities responsible for monitoring.
 Includes estimated related costs.

Environmental Monitoring Plan
Proposed
Mitigation
Measure
Parameters
to be
Monitored
Location Measurements
(incl. Methods
& equipment)
Frequency of
Measurement
Responsibilities
(incl. review and
reporting)
Cost
(equipment
& individuals)
Pre-
Construction
Phase
Construction
Phase
Operation
and
Maintenance
Phase
Total Cost for
all Phases

Example: Environmental Monitoring Plan
Construction Phase
What Where How When/By whom Costs
US$
Potential
Environmental
Impacts
parameter is to be
monitored?
is the parameter
to be
monitored?
is the parameter to
be monitored?
is the parameter to be
monitored?
Damage to
vegetation
Clearing
techniques and
relocation
procedures
utilized; record of
compensation
provided as agreed
with MoEnv
Power plant site,
pipeline and
transmission
line routes
Visual and by
comparison with
pre-construction
photo survey
Monthly throughout
construction period;
Contractor/ Supervisor
Engineer
-
Loss of fertile
topsoil and soil
erosion
Soil storage
procedures and
location
Soil storage
sites
Visual Weekly during site
preparation and
construction period
Contractor
-
Air pollution by
dust
Dust level All active
construction
sites
Visual During construction
Contractor/ Supervisor
Engineer
-
Noise from
construction
works
Noise level, dB[A] All active
construction
sites
Measurements by
a licensed
organization using
certified
measurement
devices
During construction,
Contractor
“Estimat
ed
standard
costs”

Example: Environmental Monitoring Plan
Operation Phase
What Where How/Costs When/by whom
Potential
Environmental
Impacts
parameter is to be monitored? is the parameter
to be monitored?
monitored?
monitored?
Air emissions of
NOx, SO2, CO, and
particulate matter
(PM)
Emissions of air pollutants: (1) NOx
calculated as NO2; (2) SO2; (3) CO;
(4) PM. The applicable standards
are: (1) NO2 ≤ 400 mg/m3; (2) SO2
≤ 850 mg/m3; (3) CO ≤ 150 mg/m3;
(4) PM ≤ 100 mg/m3
At the stack of the
power plant
By continuous monitoring
equipment supplied with the
power plant; costs are part of
the self-monitoring plan for the
plant – could be easily
estimated
Initial test at
commissioning and annual
subsequently. Continuous
for NOx and CO. Plant
management
Air emissions of
NOx, SO2, CO, and
particulate matter
(PM)
Ground level concentrations: (1)
NOx; (2) SO2; (3) PM. The
applicable environmental standards
are: (1) NOx: Annual average ≤ 40
μg/m3; Max 24-hour average ≤ 150
μg/m3; Max 30-min average ≤ 500
μg/m3 (2) SO2 Annual average ≤ 40
μg/m3 (3) PM Annual average ≤ 50
μg/m3
In adjacent
residential areas
and/or nearest air
quality monitoring
stations
By buying data from the local
air quality monitoring station;
national standard costs
Once before commissioning
of the plant and annually
when the plant is in
operation. Plant
management
Noise from
construction works
Noise level, dB[A]. Applicable limits
are 80 dB[A] on-site and 65 dB[A]
off-site.
At 1 meter from
operating turbines
and in nearest
residential areas
Measurements by a licensed
organization using certified
measurement devices; national
standard costs
Once before commissioning
of the plant and annually
when the plant is in
operation

Issues related to EMP Supervision
Implementation (enforcement) of EMPs has often been
problematic.
1. Unrealistic/inadequate monitoring indicators.
2. Infrequent site visits by team members.
3. Inadequate review and evaluation of monitoring aspects and
reports.
4. Failure to revise the EMP in response to project changes during
implementation.
5. Inadequate follow-up on Borrower implementation of agreed
actions (from previous mission).
6. Ineffectiveness of proposed institutional capacity measures.

Solutions to adequate EMP Supervision
 Assignment of a dedicated Environment Specialists
to PIU is good practice.
 Use of Environmental Specialists in Bank teams in
the project cycle as soon as possible.
 Monitoring and Reporting Program needs to cover
practical environmental indicators.
 Contracting Documents should include EMP
provisions on mitigation/monitoring.
 Active supervision is needed, including fresh
revision of mitigation measures, institutional
assignments, etc.

Base line information:
 Existing land use pattern.
 Water regime.
 Flora and fauna.
 Climatic conditions.
 Human settlements.
 Public buildings, places and monuments.
 Quality of air and water.
 Whether the area falls under notified area under
water Act ,1974.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
 Impact of mining and beneficiation on
environment.

Management plan
 Storage and preservation of top soil.
 Proposal for reclamation of land affected by
mining activites during and the end of mining.
 In case of forest programme of phased
compensatory afforestation.
 Measures for dust suppersion.
 Measures to minimise vibrations due to blasting
and check noise pollution.
 Stabilisation and vegetation of dumps

Management plan
 Treatment and disposal of water from mine
and beneficiation plant.
 Measures for minimizing adverse effects on
water regime.
 Afforestation of tailing ponds.
 Preparation of dumping ground for stacking
toxic mineral substance.

The Ministry of Environment, Forests and
Climate Change (MoEFCC) of India has been
in a great effort in Environmental Impact
Assessment in India. The main laws in action
are the Water Act(1974), the Indian Wildlife
(Protection) Act (1972), the Air (Prevention
and Control of Pollution) Act (1981) and the
Environment (Protection) Act (1986),
Biological Diversity Act(2002).The
responsible body for this is the Central
Pollution Control Board.

REFERENCES:
EIA Introduction and EIA Methodology
https://policies.worldbank.org/sites/ppf3/PPFDocuments/090224b0822f7384.pdf
Safeguard Training Workshop Dushanbe, TajikistanSeptember 28, 2009
Ruxandra Floroiu (Environmental Engineer) ppt

Environmental impact assessment (eia)

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