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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Prof. Anil K. Mathur

RTU Kota2

ENVIRONMENT

It includes the conditions

under which any individuals or thing exists,

live or develop.

DOMAINS OF ENVIRONMENT

Physical

• Air

• Water

• Land

Ecological

• Flora

• Fauna

Socio-economic

• Social

• Economic

• Cultural3 4

The Environment of Human Being

� Abiotic Factors

Land, water, atmosphere, climate, sound,

odours and taste.

� Biotic Factors

Fauna (animal life of a region or geological

period), Flora (the plants of a particular

region or geological period), Ecology,

bacteria and viruses; and all those social

factors which make up the quality of life.

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How the Word Environment Emerged

� The word environment emerged in response to the public health:

1. In sanitary (dirty or germ carrying)

dwellings and streets.

2. Contaminated public water supplies.

3. Drain and sanitation.

4. Public nuisances.

5. Unhygienic food processing.

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How the Word Environment Emerged

6. Overcrowding.

7. Refuse dump.

8. Epidemics (wide spread of diseases)

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PHYSICO-CHEMICAL

ECOLOGY

HUMANINTEREST

Environmental Parameters

• components of

environment.

• can be grouped

into major

components.

Ecology

• Aquatic

– Fisheries

– Eutrophication

– Aquatic Weeds

– Species diversity

– Endangered species

� Terrestrial

�Forest

�Wildlife

�Species diversity

�Endangered

species

Physico-chemical

• Land– Erosion and Siltation

– Backwater Effect

– Bank stability

– Drainage

– Soil characteristics

• Surface water– Regional Hydrology

– Silt Load

– Water Pollution

� Groundwater� Regional Hydrology

� Recharge

� Water table

� Water Pollution

� Atmosphere� Air pollution

� Dust Pollution

� Noise Pollution

Human Interest

• Health

– Diseases

– Sanitation

– Nutrients

• Aesthetic

– Landscape

– Recreation

� Socio-Economic� Land Loss� Crop Production

� Aquaculture� Irrigation� Navigation

� Flood Control� Transport

� Re-settlement� Employment� Agro-industrial

Potential Impacts on Environment

• A change in system exerts certain influence on many different

environmental parameters resulting a net positive or negative impact on the

environment.

• Impact on major Infrastructure

development projects.

Ecological Impact

• (a) Fisheries:

– (-) Roads prevent longitudinal and lateral

migration of fishes in the flood plain

– (-) Obstruct movement of fishes onto natural

feeding and breeding grounds in the flood

plain.

• (b) Forest:

– (-) Roads running through forest area and

plantations may be the cause of destruction of

trees in the forest and alteration of ecology of

the forest.

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Ecological Impact

• (c) Plantation:

– (+) The roadsides may be used for plantation of trees

which is favorable impact of road construction.

• (d) Wetland and Wetland Habitant:

– (-) The road may encroach wetlands which may alter the ecology of wetlands and may cause destruction of

wetland habitat.

• (e) Nuisance Plant/Eutrophication:

– (-) The Roads running through forest area and plantations may be the cause of destruction of trees in the forest and alteration of ecology of the forest.

Physicochemical Impact

• (a) Erosion and Siltation

– (-) causes erosion during flood and siltation in

the downstream.

• (b) Drainage Congestion /Water logging

– (-) roads interfere with cross drainage and can

cause flooding or drainage congestion in

adjacent areas during periods of high

precipitation.

– (-) May cause crop damage, water pollution

and breeding of mosquitoes.

Physiochemical Impact

• (c) Regional Hydrology/Flooding

– (-) Roads constructed across flood plains

perpendicular to the direction of water flow cause back water effect and increase duration, frequency and extent of flooding in the up stream.

• (d) Obstruction to Waste water flow

– (-) Roads may obstruct the drainage of sewage and industrial waste water loading to serious pollution problem.

• (e) Dust /Noise Pollution

– (-) Dust raised from unpaved rural roads and blown by

the vehicles can pose a health hazard and damage vegetation along the sides of the road.

Impact on Human Interest

• (a) Loss of Agricultural Lands

– (-) Construction of any road is associated with the

loss of agricultural lands.

• (b) Generation of Employment Opportunities

– (+) Construction of road generates temporary employment during project implementation and

permanent employment during maintenance phase.

• (c) Navigation and Boat Communication

– (-) Roads interference with navigation and boat communication at least for certain period of the year.

Impact on Human Interest

• (d) Commercial and Service Facilities

– (+) The roads provide benefit of fast communication,

transport facilities etc.

• (e) Industrial Activities

– (+) Road communication promotes industrial activities.

• (f) Irrigation Facilities

– (+) Borrow-pits by the side of the roads provide facility for small scale irrigation.

• (g) Landscape

– (-) Scattered borrow pits, unauthorized growth around

road, erosion result in marred landscape.

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NEED FOR EIA

• Industries create large amounts of pollution and

deplete natural resources like ground water etc.

• In the past, polluting industries were set up without

any environmental clearance by the government.

• Therefore they caused huge environmental

damages, affecting ecology and health.

• To avoid this, it is now necessary for every new

factory/project to get environmental clearance

before starting production.

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Need for EIA• Those which can significantly alter the land

use pattern, landscape and local

habitation;

• Those which need upstream development

activity like assured mineral and forest

products supply or downstream industrial

processing

• Those involving manufacture, handling anduse of hazardous chemicals

Need for EIA• Those which are sited near ecologically

sensitive areas, urban centers, hill resorts,

places of scientific, historic and religious

importance.

• Industrial Estates with constituent units of

various types which could cumulatively cause

significant environmental damage.

• Those involving developmental activities

which can bring significant changes in coastal

ecosystem.

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Purpose of the Assessment� To identify and assess any potentially

adverse environmental effects of a new

development.

� The adverse impacts could be avoided or

reduce.

� To ensure that environmental

consequences were taken into account during planning, designing & decision

making process.

� To influence how it is subsequently

managed during its implementation.

Environmental Impact Assessment

EIA

An important procedure

for ensuring that the likely

effects of new

development on the

environment are fully

understood and taken into

account before the

development is allowed

to go ahead

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Definition

• Environmental Impact Assessment or

EIA, refers to the evaluation of the effects

likely to arise from a major project or

action, significantly affecting the natural

and man-made environment.

– It is the process of predicting and evaluating

an action’s or project’s impact on the

environment, so as to assist decision

making.

Environmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact Assessment

• A decision making tool

–EIA compares various alternatives for a project and

seeks to identify the one which represents the best combination of economic and

environmental costs and benefits.

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Environmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact Assessment

is is intended as an instrument of intended as an instrument of preventivepreventive environmental environmental management. It provides a management. It provides a framework and an information framework and an information basis for basis for decision makingdecision making on on activities affecting the activities affecting the environment.environment.

is is intended as an instrument of intended as an instrument of preventivepreventive environmental environmental management. It provides a management. It provides a framework and an information framework and an information basis for basis for decision makingdecision making on on activities affecting the activities affecting the environment.environment.

EIA – Three core valuesEIA – Three core values1. Integrity: The EIA process should be

fair, objective, unbiased and balanced

2. Utility: The EIA process should

provide balanced, credible information

for decision making

3. Sustainability: The EIA process

should result in environmental safeguards

EIAEIAEIAEIA

applies applies to the assessment of the to the assessment of the environmental effects of those environmental effects of those

public and private public and private projectsprojects which which are likely to have significant effects are likely to have significant effects on the environment.on the environment.

applies applies to the assessment of the to the assessment of the environmental effects of those environmental effects of those

public and private public and private projectsprojects which which are likely to have significant effects are likely to have significant effects on the environment.on the environment.

EIAEIAEIAEIA

ProjectProject means:means:

•• the execution of construction the execution of construction works or of other installations or works or of other installations or

schemesschemes

•• other interventions in the natural other interventions in the natural

surroundings and landscape surroundings and landscape including those involving the including those involving the extraction of minerals.extraction of minerals.

ProjectProject means:means:

•• the execution of construction the execution of construction works or of other installations or works or of other installations or

schemesschemes

•• other interventions in the natural other interventions in the natural

surroundings and landscape surroundings and landscape including those involving the including those involving the extraction of minerals.extraction of minerals.

EIAEIAEIAEIA

Development consent Development consent means:means:

•• the the decisiondecision of the competent of the competent

authorities which entitles the authorities which entitles the

developer to proceed with the developer to proceed with the

project.project.

Development consent Development consent means:means:

•• the the decisiondecision of the competent of the competent

authorities which entitles the authorities which entitles the

developer to proceed with the developer to proceed with the

project.project.

EIAEIAEIAEIA

….. have significant effects on ….. have significant effects on the environment by virtue the environment by virtue inter inter

alia,alia,

of their:of their:

nature, size, nature, size, locationlocation..

….. have significant effects on ….. have significant effects on the environment by virtue the environment by virtue inter inter

alia,alia,

of their:of their:

nature, size, nature, size, locationlocation..

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EIAEIAEIAEIA

… direct and indirect effects of a … direct and indirect effects of a

project on the following factors:project on the following factors:

•• human beings, fauna and florahuman beings, fauna and flora

•• soil, water, air, climate and the landscapesoil, water, air, climate and the landscape

•• the interthe inter--action between the factors action between the factors mentioned in the first and second indentsmentioned in the first and second indents

•• material assets and the culturalmaterial assets and the cultural heritage.heritage.

… direct and indirect effects of a … direct and indirect effects of a

project on the following factors:project on the following factors:

•• human beings, fauna and florahuman beings, fauna and flora

•• soil, water, air, climate and the landscapesoil, water, air, climate and the landscape

•• the interthe inter--action between the factors action between the factors mentioned in the first and second indentsmentioned in the first and second indents

•• material assets and the culturalmaterial assets and the cultural heritage.heritage.

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In EIA, the term

“impacts” is used instead of “effects

of activities.”

What is an impact?

Review: Definition of EIA

Environmental

Impact Assessment is

A formal process for identifying:

• likely effects of activities or projects on the

ENVIRONMENT, and on

human health and welfare.

•means and measures to mitigate & monitor these

impacts

����

Environment is

broadly interpreted: physical, biological,

and social.

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What is an impact?

The impact of an activity is a deviation (a change) from the baseline situationthat is caused by the activity.

To measure an impact, you must know what the baseline situation is.

!

The baseline

situation is the existing

environmental

situation or

condition in the

absence of the activity.

The baseline

situation is a key

concept in EIA.More…

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The baseline situation

In characterizing the baseline situation,

many environmental components MAY be

of interest

Water Quantity, quality, reliability,

accessibility

Soils Erosion, crop productivity,

fallow periods, salinity,

nutrient concentrations

Flora Composition and density of

natural vegetation,

productivity, key species

Fauna Populations, habitat

Special Key species

ecosystems

Env Health Disease vectors, pathogensThe components of

interest are those that

are likely to be affected

by your activity—or upon which your

activity depends for its

success

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The baseline situation

The baseline situation is not simply a “snapshot.”

Describing the baseline

situation requires describing both the normal variability in

environmental components &

current trends in these components.

time

Wate

r ta

ble

This chart of

groundwater levels shows both variability

and a trend over time.

Both are part of the

groundwater baseline situation.

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Types of impacts & their attributes

Direct & indirect impacts

Short-term & long-

term impacts

Adverse & beneficial

impacts

Cumulative impacts

The EIA process is concerned with

all types of impacts and may describe them in a

number of ways

� Intensity

���� Direction

���� Spatial extent

���� Duration ���� Frequency

���� Reversibility

���� Probability

But all impacts are NOT treated

equally.

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! It is ESSENTIAL in EIA to focus on the most significant impacts.

Don’t waste effort & time analyzing and discussing impacts that are less important.

Specifically,

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What is an activity?

ACTIVITY:market access

road

rehabilitation

ACTIONS:

Survey, grading, culvert

construction, compaction,

etc. . .

a desired accomplishment or

output

E.g.: a road, seedling

production, or river diversion to irrigate

land

An activity is:����

Accomplishing an activity requires a set of actions

We are discussing the impacts of activities.What are activities?

A project or program may consist of many activities

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� It aims to prevent environmental

degradation by giving decision

makers better information about the

consequences that industrial

projects could have on the environment.

� All new development projects have

to submit their EIA reports to the

Environmental Ministry, to get

environmental or green clearance to commence production.

EIA� EIA helps to identify possible

environmental effects of the proposed

project,

� It proposes measures to mitigate adverse

effects and

� Predicts whether there will be significant

adverse environmental effects, even after

the mitigation is implemented.

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EIA

• Since the environmental effects of the project and their mitigation are

considered early in the project planning cycle, protection of the

environment can be a part of the

project plan.

• Also it predicts ways to use natural

resources (like water), in an optimal way. 41

ADVANTAGES OF EIA • Thus leading to saving of time and cost of the

project

• It also lessens conflicts between the industry/project

and the local community, by sharing information

about environmental impacts, and involving the

latter in decision making.

• EIA also aims at informing decision makers, and

helps to lay the base for environmentally sound

projects.

• These are the benefits of integrating EIA in all

stages of a project, from exploration and planning,

through construction, operations, decommissioning,

and beyond site closure. 42

ADVANTAGES OF EIA

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Though EIA is considered as a mandatory procedure formeeting the statutory requirements, it has many inbuilt

advantages to the project proponent and to the society.Few of the advantages are:

• More environmental sustainable design.

• Better compliance with statutory standards.

• Savings in capital and operating costs.

• Reduced time and costs for obtaining clearances.

• Avoid later plant adaptations.

• Reduced health cost.

• Increased project acceptance.

ADVANTAGES OF EIA

• Specifies the type of pollutants, quantity and quality ofpollutants.

• Enables to select appropriate technologies to combatpollution and to meet the statutory standards.

• Enables to understand the viability of resource recovery interms of salvaging from waste, recovery and recycle etc.,

• Provides scope for cleaner production practices oralternate manufacturing methods.

• A better Environmental Management Plan can bedesigned by understanding the impacts of project specific

pollutants on the environment.

Benefits to the Industry

• Can understand the details of the project and itspossible impacts on their environment.

• It enables public to visualize possible accidents, also to

overcome the same with effective remediationmeasures.

• Can understand the economic development as against

the natural resources depletion, and decide on project acceptance in their area well before project execution.

Benefits to the Industry• EIA study is a valuable tool for identifying the

potential impacts on Environment and to source

appropriate technologies for mitigating the

impacts to tolerable levels.

• The effort put in by professionals in collecting as

much technical details as possible about the

project, the Baseline Data, Meteorological

Data etc., will be of great use in defining a

problem with better clarity for a realistic solution.

• EIA is a legal document and any attempt to

provide wrong facts or down playing of relevant

information is an offence.

Summary

• Many project proponents consider

investment for an EIA study as a

burden and settle for economical rates

and ultimately end up with inordinate

delays for want of factual data by theauthorities.

• EIA Study is a protective weapon against

vested interest groups and will defend

scientifically and legally the right for

existence of an Environment friendly

project.

Summary

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• Thus the EIA is

– Anticipatory,

– Participatory, and

– the project can be abandoned if environmental impact

is high.

• In all the stages, it is necessary to have public

participation, as the local people are greatly

affected by the environmental damages caused

by a project/ factory.

• For example:

– Hydro electric, thermal, and nuclear projects,

– Pharmaceuticals, chemicals, fertilisers, pesticide

factories.

EIA

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The Origin of EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment

emerged in the United States as a

response to the rise of environmental

movements of the 1960s that raised

awareness of the serious environmental

effects of human activities which were

inadequately controlled by existing

planning regulation and pollution control

measures.50

Spread of EIA to other countries

The spread of EIA to other countries gainedmomentum due to four fundamental factors:

� First, an increasing awareness among thegeneral public of the danger and impacts ofmajor development and new technologiesdue to a better scientific knowledge andpublicity.

� Secondly, the increasing activities ofenvironmental pressure groups, the politicaleffectiveness of these groups was intensifiedby scientific evidence and media coverage.

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Spread of EIA to other countries (contd)

� The third, was the widespread concern

about the sheer scale of resource

developments and their associated

environmental effects.

� Fourth, all of the above reasons made the

western developed nations more cautious

and responsive to environmental

concerns.

• EIA as a mandatory regulatory procedure originated in USA, in the

early 1970s.

• Other countries, like Canada,

Australia, and New Zealand (1973-

74), followed.

• Some developing countries such as

Columbia (1974), Philippines (1978),

also introduced EIA in the 70’s. 52

Origins of EIA

Evolution & History of EIA

Development of EIA

Pre-1970 • Limited consideration given to environmental consequences

Early/ Mid 1970’s • EIA introduced by NEPA in 1970 in US

• Standard methodologies for impact analysis developed

• During 1973-1974 Canada, Australia and New Zealand too adopted

EIA

• Australia legislated whereas Canada and New Zealand followed

administrative procedures

Late 1970 & Early 1980’s • Other Industrial and Developing countries introduced formal EIA

requirements

• France in 1976, Philippines in 1977, Netherlands in 1978 introduced

EIA

• Use of EA by developing countries( Brazil, China & Indonesia)

• Coordination of EA with land use planning process

Mid 1980’s to end of

decade

• European council directive on EIA establishes procedural requirements

must for all its member states

• Spread of EIA in Asia

• World Bank and other leading aid agencies establishes EIA

requirements

1990’s • Increase use of GIS and other information technologies

• India adopted EIA formally

• Formulation EA legislation by many developing countries

• The Government of India introduced EIA in

1994, under the Environmental

(Protection) Act.

• Environmental Clearance (EC) was made

mandatory for expansion or modernisation

of any activity or for setting up new

projects listed in Schedule 1 of the

notification.

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Origins of EIA in India

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� New EIA legislation was introduced in September 2006.

� Mandatory for various projects such as mining, thermal power plants, river valley, infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbours and airports) and industries including very small electroplating or

foundry units.

� Project clearance to be given by State governments,

depending on the size/capacity of the project.

� Donor agencies operating in India like the World Bank and the ADB, also insist on environmental

clearance to projects funded by them.55

Origins of EIA in India

EIA is of comparatively recent origin inIndia and has become an integral part of

Environmental Management by EIAnotification of 1994 and its subsequent

amendments by Ministry of Environment

& Forests (MoEF), Govt. of India.

The notification specifies 30 categories

of projects with potential risks todegrade the Environment.

EIA Notification in India

In exercise of powers conferred by Environment

Protection Act, 1986 and sub rule of the

Environment Protection Rules 1986, the Central

Government directs that on and from the date of

publication of this notification in the Official

Gazette, expansion or modernization of any

activity (if pollution load is to exceed the existing

one) or a new project as listed in Schedule 1 to

this notification shall not be undertaken in any

part of India unless it has been accorded

environmental clearance by the Ministry of

Environment and Forests in accordance with the

procedure specified in the notification.

EIA Notification in India• On 27th January, 1994 a notification was issued

dealing with mandatory EIA. The notification

requires project proponent to submit an EIA

report, and environment management plan, details

of the public hearing and a project report to the

impact assessment agency for clearance, further

review by a committee of experts in certain cases.

• By the amendment in the year 1997, public hearing

was made compulsory before impact assessment

was finalized.

EIA EIA –– Statutory ModelStatutory ModelEIA EIA –– Statutory ModelStatutory Model

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION 1994

• Composition of expert committee

– Ecosystem management

– Air/water pollution control

– Water resource management

– Flora/fauna conservation and management

– Land use planning

– Social sciences / rehabilitation

– Project appraisal

– Ecology

– Environmental health

– NGO representatives

– Subject area specialist

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION 1994

• Application form contents

– Name, address, location of the project, alternate sites examined

– Objectives of the project

– Land use patterns

– Climate and air quality

– Water balance

– Solid wastes

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THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION 1994

• Application form contents

– Solid wastes

– Noise & vibrations

– Source & power req

– Peak labour demand

– Risk assessment report, disaster management plan

– EIA, EMP, Feasibility report

– Environment cell

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION 1994

• Information with application form

– EIA/EMP - 20 copies

– Risk analysis report – 20 copies

– NOC from SPCB

– Commitment for water / electricity availability

– Summary of project report

– Filled in questionnaire

– Comprehensive rehabilitation plan, if required

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT NOTIFICATION 1994

• No construction work prior to clearance

• Half yearly reports by project authorities to IAA

• Compliance reports publicly available

Environmental clearance from the Central Government is required for 32 categories of developmental projects broadly categorized under the

following industrial sectors

EIA Scenario in India

1. Mining

2. Thermal power plants

3. River valley

4. Infrastructure (road, highway, ports, harbours and airports)

5. Industries including very small electroplating or foundry units

Certain activities permissible under the Coastal Regulation Zone Act, 1991 also

require similar clearance.

Donor agencies operating in India like the World Bank and the ADB have a different

set of requirements for giving environmental clearance to projects that are funded by them.

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Objectives of EIA• Information: It has to disclose to decision makers

and the public the environmental impacts of the

proposed activity.

• Avoidance/Reduction: Identify ways of reducing

or avoiding environmental effects of the project.

• Participation: Public should be made aware of

the environmental impacts, and their

participation is necessary in decision making.

Because the locals are the first to feel the

environmental impacts.

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Elements of EIA

1. Alternatives: Most important part of EIA.

The project manager should give

alternatives regarding:

a) Locations for the project

b) Different and less polluting/ damaging

available technology

c) Different available product – less polluting/

damaging.

The choice of the alternative should be that

which has the least environmental impact.

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2. Designing: of the selected project – so as to have

least environmental impact.

3. Screening: to decide which of the project’s

processes and products requires EIA.

4. Scoping: To determine the scope of the EIA –

whether it will affect air, water, soil, or cause noise,

vibration, fumes, etc.

5. EIA Report: also called EIS or Environmental

Report Statement – to be prepared and submitted

to the government for its scrutiny. On the basis of

EIS the government will accept or reject the project

proposal.

Elements of EIA6) Reviewing: the EIA Report has to be

reviewed by both the Government and the

public.

7) Consultancy: and participation of the public

is required. If the people feel that they are

threatened by the project, they can reject it

setting up in their locality.

8) Monitoring: If the project is passed, then

government should keep monitoring it continuously to ensure that it is following all

the environmental laws and regulations.68

Elements of EIA

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Most definitions recognize the following four basic principles

1. Procedural principle; EIA establishes asystematic method for incorporatingenvironmental considerations intodecision-making;

2. Informational principle; EIA provides thenecessary elements to make aninformed decision;

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3. Preventive principle; EIA should be applied at

the earliest opportunity within the decision-

making process to allow the anticipation and

avoidance of environmental impacts wherever

possible; and

4. Iterative principle; the information generated by

EIA is made available to interested parties to

elicit a response which in turn should be fed

back into EIA process.

Most definitions recognize the following four basic principles