Environmental Impact Assessement13164243.ppt
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About This Presentation
Environmental Impact Assessement13164243.ppt
Slide Content
Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA)
Assessment (EIA)
EIA: Introduction
Introduction
•Developmental activities like project implementation have economic, social and
natural environment impacts in areas they are being implemented.
•In order to predict environmental impacts of any development activity, to provide an
opportunity to mitigate against negative impacts and to enhance positive impacts, the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure was developed in the USA in the
early 1970s.
•The need to avoid adverse impacts and to ensure long term benefits led to the concept
of sustainability.
•EIA is one tool that can be used to ensure that developmental activities are in line with
this concept of sustainable development .
Definition
•An EIA is a formal process for predicting environmental consequences of human
development activities and for planning appropriate measures to eliminate or reduce
adverse effects and augment positive effects (FAO, 1995).
•An EIA is therefore a management tool for planners and decision-makers that
complement the other engineering and economic considerations.
•The purpose of an EIA is to present the consequences of different choices of actions
and to make recommendations to a decision maker.
Introduction
•Developmental activities like project implementation have economic, social and
natural environment impacts in areas they are being implemented.
•In order to predict environmental impacts of any development activity, to provide an
opportunity to mitigate against negative impacts and to enhance positive impacts, the
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure was developed in the USA in the
early 1970s.
•The need to avoid adverse impacts and to ensure long term benefits led to the concept
of sustainability.
•EIA is one tool that can be used to ensure that developmental activities are in line with
this concept of sustainable development .
Definition
•An EIA is a formal process for predicting environmental consequences of human
development activities and for planning appropriate measures to eliminate or reduce
adverse effects and augment positive effects (FAO, 1995).
•An EIA is therefore a management tool for planners and decision-makers that
complement the other engineering and economic considerations.
•The purpose of an EIA is to present the consequences of different choices of actions
and to make recommendations to a decision maker.
Aims
and Objectives of EIA
•There are different aims of EIA that will influence the choice of
method and the scope of the study. The aim is dependent on
who is the user as well as on the use of the result.
•The aim of EIA according to Morgan (1998) is to; Anticipate
important possible effects of proposed activities on the natural
system (water, soil, air, biological system, and human health),
anthropogenic systems (settlements and infrastructure), social
and economic systems (work, education, recreation, health
services) and cultural systems (beliefs, art, literature)
•The process is formally sanctioned by a legislative or
bureaucratic framework set within a national and local policy
context.
•These policies influence the character and direction of the EIA
process in a given country and a given setting.
and Objectives of EIA
•There are different aims of EIA that will influence the choice of
method and the scope of the study. The aim is dependent on
who is the user as well as on the use of the result.
•The aim of EIA according to Morgan (1998) is to; Anticipate
important possible effects of proposed activities on the natural
system (water, soil, air, biological system, and human health),
anthropogenic systems (settlements and infrastructure), social
and economic systems (work, education, recreation, health
services) and cultural systems (beliefs, art, literature)
•The process is formally sanctioned by a legislative or
bureaucratic framework set within a national and local policy
context.
•These policies influence the character and direction of the EIA
process in a given country and a given setting.
Roles
and Perspectives in EIA
•May vary since there are many persons of different
categories involved in an EIA in various ways.
•The following list is hypothetical, but may be used to
illustrate what an EIA may mean to different categories (after
Morgan 1998):
–
Environmental scientist - a process that predicts a likely change in
the environment (eg fish population, air quality etc)
–
Sociologist - a process of informing local communities about
changes in the environment allowing the population to participate
in the decision-making
–Member of the local community - a way for the council and
developers to justify a development project
–Consultant - a job
–Political scientist - a process that forces bureaucracies to recognise
and respond to concerns about environmental change
and Perspectives in EIA
•May vary since there are many persons of different
categories involved in an EIA in various ways.
•The following list is hypothetical, but may be used to
illustrate what an EIA may mean to different categories (after
Morgan 1998):
–
Environmental scientist - a process that predicts a likely change in
the environment (eg fish population, air quality etc)
–
Sociologist - a process of informing local communities about
changes in the environment allowing the population to participate
in the decision-making
–Member of the local community - a way for the council and
developers to justify a development project
–Consultant - a job
–Political scientist - a process that forces bureaucracies to recognise
and respond to concerns about environmental change
Roles
and Perspectives in EIA Cont.
•Politician - a process that demonstrates that decision-making recognises
environmental issues
•Developer - a process which allows the local authorities to employ more people
•"Deep" ecologist - a process that allows the government and developers to
maintain long term policy of resource development and growth without concern
for the environment
•Planner - a practical process for balancing the needs of development with the
need to maintain important environmental and social characteristics of a locality
•Economist
- a process for identifying externalities associated with a proposal and
assign them monetary values
•The information generated by the EIA process is used by the various groups and
individuals, for formal and informal purposes and while formal purposes may
dominate in terms of legal requirements, the informal purposes may well have
important societal roles.
•There may be many more perspectives than the mentioned, but they illustrate
one problem that easily arises in the process of an EIA - the different perspectives
can make it difficult to find a solution that all parties agree upon.
and Perspectives in EIA Cont.
•Politician - a process that demonstrates that decision-making recognises
environmental issues
•Developer - a process which allows the local authorities to employ more people
•"Deep" ecologist - a process that allows the government and developers to
maintain long term policy of resource development and growth without concern
for the environment
•Planner - a practical process for balancing the needs of development with the
need to maintain important environmental and social characteristics of a locality
•Economist
- a process for identifying externalities associated with a proposal and
assign them monetary values
•The information generated by the EIA process is used by the various groups and
individuals, for formal and informal purposes and while formal purposes may
dominate in terms of legal requirements, the informal purposes may well have
important societal roles.
•There may be many more perspectives than the mentioned, but they illustrate
one problem that easily arises in the process of an EIA - the different perspectives
can make it difficult to find a solution that all parties agree upon.
The
composition of an EIA Team
•This depends on the type of project to be implemented.
•An EIA team for an irrigation and drainage project is likely to be composed of
some or all of the following: a team leader; a hydrologist; an irrigation /
drainage engineer; a fisheries biologist/ecologist; an agronomist/pesticide
expert; a soil conservation expert; a biological/environmental scientist; an
economist, a social scientist and a health scientist (preferably a
epidemiologist).
•The final structure of the team will vary depending on the project. Specialists
may also be required for fieldwork, laboratory testing, library research, data
processing, surveys and modelling.
•The team leader will require significant management skill to coordinate the
work of a team with diverse skills and knowledge.
•There will be a large number of people involved in EIA apart from the full-time
team members.
•These people will be based in a wide range of organizations, such as the
project proposing and authorizing bodies, regulatory authorities and various
interest groups.
•Such personnel would be located in various agencies and also in the private
sector; a considerable number will need specific EIA training.
composition of an EIA Team
•This depends on the type of project to be implemented.
•An EIA team for an irrigation and drainage project is likely to be composed of
some or all of the following: a team leader; a hydrologist; an irrigation /
drainage engineer; a fisheries biologist/ecologist; an agronomist/pesticide
expert; a soil conservation expert; a biological/environmental scientist; an
economist, a social scientist and a health scientist (preferably a
epidemiologist).
•The final structure of the team will vary depending on the project. Specialists
may also be required for fieldwork, laboratory testing, library research, data
processing, surveys and modelling.
•The team leader will require significant management skill to coordinate the
work of a team with diverse skills and knowledge.
•There will be a large number of people involved in EIA apart from the full-time
team members.
•These people will be based in a wide range of organizations, such as the
project proposing and authorizing bodies, regulatory authorities and various
interest groups.
•Such personnel would be located in various agencies and also in the private
sector; a considerable number will need specific EIA training.
Advantages
and benefits of EIA.
• Lower project costs in the long-term (fewer costly changes or
add-ons at advanced stages of the project; lower probability of
environmental disasters, court cases and/or costly clean-ups);
• Increased project acceptance by the public and key stakeholders;
• Improved project design/siting;
• More informed decision-making;
• More environmentally sensitive decisions;
• Increased accountability and transparency during the
development process;
• Improved integration of projects into their environmental and
social setting;
• Reduced environmental damage (mitigation measures planned
and implemented in time to minimize adverse impacts on the
environment).
and benefits of EIA.
• Lower project costs in the long-term (fewer costly changes or
add-ons at advanced stages of the project; lower probability of
environmental disasters, court cases and/or costly clean-ups);
• Increased project acceptance by the public and key stakeholders;
• Improved project design/siting;
• More informed decision-making;
• More environmentally sensitive decisions;
• Increased accountability and transparency during the
development process;
• Improved integration of projects into their environmental and
social setting;
• Reduced environmental damage (mitigation measures planned
and implemented in time to minimize adverse impacts on the
environment).
Principles
and Methodology of EIA
•A suggested sequence of EIA steps is illustrated in Figure
2, where the arrows indicate possible iterations.
• There is no standardised methodology of EIA.
•The EIA process may be described as a number of steps,
the contents of which are dependent on the purpose
and nature of the study.
•There is a large component of iteration in the process.
•It is important that an EIA is carried out early in a
development project, e.g. at a stage before the detailed
design in a technical project see figure 1.
•According to E7, (1997), EIA must begin as soon as a
project is conceived, before irrevocable decisions are
made.
and Methodology of EIA
•A suggested sequence of EIA steps is illustrated in Figure
2, where the arrows indicate possible iterations.
• There is no standardised methodology of EIA.
•The EIA process may be described as a number of steps,
the contents of which are dependent on the purpose
and nature of the study.
•There is a large component of iteration in the process.
•It is important that an EIA is carried out early in a
development project, e.g. at a stage before the detailed
design in a technical project see figure 1.
•According to E7, (1997), EIA must begin as soon as a
project is conceived, before irrevocable decisions are
made.
FIGURE 1: EIA In the Project Life Cycle Source: E7, 1997.
Implementation
Needs/Justification
Figure
2: The EIA process adapted from Morgan 1998.
Needs/Justification
Figure
2: The EIA process adapted from Morgan 1998.
Summary
of the EIA process
Need/justification
• What is the problem?
• What options/alternatives are available to solve the problem?
• What are the environmental implications of these options/ alternatives?
• What is the preferred option/ alternative? Why?
Screening
• Is a full EIA required?
Scoping
• What should the EIA include?
Impact identification and Prediction
• What are the environmental effects associated with proceeding with this project and its alternatives?
Impact Assessment
• What is the significance and/or importance of the effects?
• Which of the project alternatives is the preferred alternative?
Impact Mitigation
• Are there mitigation measures that could reduce the overall effects of the project and its alternatives?
Review and Decision-making
• Do the benefits of the proposed project outweigh the potential residual environmental effects?
Implementation
• How can the project best be implemented?
Monitoring
• ensure environmental regulations are being adhered to in project implementation,
• compare actual and predicted impacts
• Were there any unanticipated effects?
•Evaluate performance /effectiveness of mitigation
Auditing
•Analysis o f technical, procedural, and decision making aspects of the EIA process, draw lessons
of the EIA process
Need/justification
• What is the problem?
• What options/alternatives are available to solve the problem?
• What are the environmental implications of these options/ alternatives?
• What is the preferred option/ alternative? Why?
Screening
• Is a full EIA required?
Scoping
• What should the EIA include?
Impact identification and Prediction
• What are the environmental effects associated with proceeding with this project and its alternatives?
Impact Assessment
• What is the significance and/or importance of the effects?
• Which of the project alternatives is the preferred alternative?
Impact Mitigation
• Are there mitigation measures that could reduce the overall effects of the project and its alternatives?
Review and Decision-making
• Do the benefits of the proposed project outweigh the potential residual environmental effects?
Implementation
• How can the project best be implemented?
Monitoring
• ensure environmental regulations are being adhered to in project implementation,
• compare actual and predicted impacts
• Were there any unanticipated effects?
•Evaluate performance /effectiveness of mitigation
Auditing
•Analysis o f technical, procedural, and decision making aspects of the EIA process, draw lessons
Screening
•The process to decide whether an EIA is required or not.
•Performed in order to ensure that proposals that will have a significant
impact on the environment will undergo an EIA.
•The process is governed by national legislation.
•In some countries there is a list of projects where EIA is required.
•Examples of projects that require EIA in Zimbabwe are;
–Dams and lakes,
–Drainage and Irrigation
–Drainage of wetland or wildlife habitat,
–Forestry
– Conversion of forestry land to other use,
–Housing Developments
–Industry e.g. Chemical plants, Iron and steel smelting, cement plants, mining and
quarrying plants, oil refineries, tourists resorts and recreational developments,
–Infrastructure e.g. Highways, airports, railway lines, major pipelines, Thermal
and hydro power plants, High voltage transmission lines, waste treatment and
disposal facilities.
•The process to decide whether an EIA is required or not.
•Performed in order to ensure that proposals that will have a significant
impact on the environment will undergo an EIA.
•The process is governed by national legislation.
•In some countries there is a list of projects where EIA is required.
•Examples of projects that require EIA in Zimbabwe are;
–Dams and lakes,
–Drainage and Irrigation
–Drainage of wetland or wildlife habitat,
–Forestry
– Conversion of forestry land to other use,
–Housing Developments
–Industry e.g. Chemical plants, Iron and steel smelting, cement plants, mining and
quarrying plants, oil refineries, tourists resorts and recreational developments,
–Infrastructure e.g. Highways, airports, railway lines, major pipelines, Thermal
and hydro power plants, High voltage transmission lines, waste treatment and
disposal facilities.
Screening
cont.
Project screening can be done in a number of different ways including:
• measuring against simple criteria such as size, location or cost;
• comparing the proposal with lists of project types that rarely need
an EIA in other jurisdictions (e.g. minor transmission line) or that
always need extensive study (e.g. major new power generation);
• use lists of resources (e.g. rain forests), environmental problems
(e.g. soil erosion, deforestation) and/or areas of special importance
or sensitivity (e.g. national parks) so that any activity that affects
such areas of concern will be judged to have significant
environmental effects and require an EIA;
• estimating the general impacts of a proposed project and comparing
these against set thresholds;
• doing a detailed, informal analysis using readily available data. Here
tools like checklists or matrices (these are discussed in detail later in
the text)
cont.
Project screening can be done in a number of different ways including:
• measuring against simple criteria such as size, location or cost;
• comparing the proposal with lists of project types that rarely need
an EIA in other jurisdictions (e.g. minor transmission line) or that
always need extensive study (e.g. major new power generation);
• use lists of resources (e.g. rain forests), environmental problems
(e.g. soil erosion, deforestation) and/or areas of special importance
or sensitivity (e.g. national parks) so that any activity that affects
such areas of concern will be judged to have significant
environmental effects and require an EIA;
• estimating the general impacts of a proposed project and comparing
these against set thresholds;
• doing a detailed, informal analysis using readily available data. Here
tools like checklists or matrices (these are discussed in detail later in
the text)
Scoping
•The process of deciding what should be included in an EIA.
• It may be seen as a means for identifying the main public concern about a
proposal and for organising the scientific work for the assessment.
•The objectives of scoping are:
• to identify project stakeholders;
• to identify existing information sources and local knowledge;
• to inform stakeholders of the EIA and its objectives and get input on the EIA;
• to identify the key environmental concerns (community and scientific) related to a project
and the relative importance of issues;
• to define the EIA work program, including a plan for public and stakeholder involvement;
• to define the range of project alternatives to be considered;
• to obtain agreement on the methods and techniques used in EIA studies and document
preparation;
• to determine the spatial and temporal boundaries for the EIA studies.
•Scoping helps to centre EIA efforts on the collection and analysis of pertinent data
and the assessment of significant environmental attributes.
•The end result will be a work program which is well focused and cost-effective.
•Failure to obtain government and public input at the scoping stage may result in
later criticism of impact predictions and possible project delays.
•The process of deciding what should be included in an EIA.
• It may be seen as a means for identifying the main public concern about a
proposal and for organising the scientific work for the assessment.
•The objectives of scoping are:
• to identify project stakeholders;
• to identify existing information sources and local knowledge;
• to inform stakeholders of the EIA and its objectives and get input on the EIA;
• to identify the key environmental concerns (community and scientific) related to a project
and the relative importance of issues;
• to define the EIA work program, including a plan for public and stakeholder involvement;
• to define the range of project alternatives to be considered;
• to obtain agreement on the methods and techniques used in EIA studies and document
preparation;
• to determine the spatial and temporal boundaries for the EIA studies.
•Scoping helps to centre EIA efforts on the collection and analysis of pertinent data
and the assessment of significant environmental attributes.
•The end result will be a work program which is well focused and cost-effective.
•Failure to obtain government and public input at the scoping stage may result in
later criticism of impact predictions and possible project delays.
Scoping
cont.
•Possible methods for scoping include:
• Examination of EIAs for similar types of projects in similar environments;
• EIA methods such as checklists, matrices, networks, overlays, evaluation techniques and
adaptive methods (hypotheses of effects);
• Public participation methods, including: public meetings, networking, open houses and
advisory councils;
• Group process methods, including: interactive group meetings, Delphi method, nominal
group techniques, and workshops.
•Results of the scoping exercise are presented in an EIA
Scope Document,
or
Terms
of Reference
, which describes the proposed work program.
•The EIA Scope Document represents an agreement with external stakeholders
on the general approach and scope of the EIA.
•It forms the basis for the EIA study and preparation of the EIA document.
•The proponent may wish to provide a draft EIA Scope Document for review by
government and the public before preparing a final.
•The EIA Scope Document can become a critical piece of process documentation
should disputes among stakeholders develop during the EIA study.
•It can be used to bring the study back on-track with originally agreed to terms of
reference, thereby saving time and money.
cont.
•Possible methods for scoping include:
• Examination of EIAs for similar types of projects in similar environments;
• EIA methods such as checklists, matrices, networks, overlays, evaluation techniques and
adaptive methods (hypotheses of effects);
• Public participation methods, including: public meetings, networking, open houses and
advisory councils;
• Group process methods, including: interactive group meetings, Delphi method, nominal
group techniques, and workshops.
•Results of the scoping exercise are presented in an EIA
Scope Document,
or
Terms
of Reference
, which describes the proposed work program.
•The EIA Scope Document represents an agreement with external stakeholders
on the general approach and scope of the EIA.
•It forms the basis for the EIA study and preparation of the EIA document.
•The proponent may wish to provide a draft EIA Scope Document for review by
government and the public before preparing a final.
•The EIA Scope Document can become a critical piece of process documentation
should disputes among stakeholders develop during the EIA study.
•It can be used to bring the study back on-track with originally agreed to terms of
reference, thereby saving time and money.
Figure 3. Sample EIA Scope Document Table of Contents for a Hydraulic Development Project. Source: E7, 1997.
Impact
Identification and Impact Prediction
•Identification of key effects can be achieved by using one or all of the
following methods:
• compile a list of important impacts from analysis of previous projects of a
similar nature in a similar environmental setting;
• use checklists, networks, matrices or map overlays to match sources of
project impact with potential receptors (see EIA Tools and Methods section);
• use hypotheses of effect to map out linkages and potential impacts on the
environment.
•Much of this identification work may have already been done at the scoping
phase where critical issues should have been defined.
•After impact identification, predicting the magnitude and severity of these
impacts follows. At this stage there is a need for relevant baseline
information.
• The predictions must be supported by documentation of process and data.
•The prediction may also contain information on the probability of a certain
impact to occur and the uncertainty in the prediction.
Identification and Impact Prediction
•Identification of key effects can be achieved by using one or all of the
following methods:
• compile a list of important impacts from analysis of previous projects of a
similar nature in a similar environmental setting;
• use checklists, networks, matrices or map overlays to match sources of
project impact with potential receptors (see EIA Tools and Methods section);
• use hypotheses of effect to map out linkages and potential impacts on the
environment.
•Much of this identification work may have already been done at the scoping
phase where critical issues should have been defined.
•After impact identification, predicting the magnitude and severity of these
impacts follows. At this stage there is a need for relevant baseline
information.
• The predictions must be supported by documentation of process and data.
•The prediction may also contain information on the probability of a certain
impact to occur and the uncertainty in the prediction.
Impact
identification and Impact prediction Cont.
•Impact/Effects prediction is the most challenging and
controversial stage of the EIA process.
•Development projects can set in motion a complex chain of
events that can affect the environment in ways which are often
difficult to predict in advance.
•Reliable methods are available for predicting some
environmental parameters, e.g. air quality impacts, whereas
other predictions will be based more on professional judgment,
e.g. impacts on wildlife populations.
•Impact/Effects prediction attempts to answer the following
questions:
• How will a particular project activity give rise to an impact?
• How likely is it that an impact will occur?
• What will be the magnitude of each impact?
• What will be the spatial and temporal extent of each impact?
identification and Impact prediction Cont.
•Impact/Effects prediction is the most challenging and
controversial stage of the EIA process.
•Development projects can set in motion a complex chain of
events that can affect the environment in ways which are often
difficult to predict in advance.
•Reliable methods are available for predicting some
environmental parameters, e.g. air quality impacts, whereas
other predictions will be based more on professional judgment,
e.g. impacts on wildlife populations.
•Impact/Effects prediction attempts to answer the following
questions:
• How will a particular project activity give rise to an impact?
• How likely is it that an impact will occur?
• What will be the magnitude of each impact?
• What will be the spatial and temporal extent of each impact?
Impact
identification and Impact prediction Cont.
•An environmental effect is defined as a reaction to a change
in the environment as a result of a project action.
•Distinction is often made between direct and indirect effects;
•Direct
effects
are the immediate physical effects and
alterations to the environment which follow as a direct
cause-effect consequence of a project activity,
•e.g. reservoir flooding can result in bioaccumulation of
methyl mercury in the aquatic food chain.
•Indirect
effects
are effects induced or stimulated by the
project, and at least one step removed from a project activity
in terms of cause-effect linkages,
•e.g. project access road construction in a remote area can
result in secondary development along the access road.
identification and Impact prediction Cont.
•An environmental effect is defined as a reaction to a change
in the environment as a result of a project action.
•Distinction is often made between direct and indirect effects;
•Direct
effects
are the immediate physical effects and
alterations to the environment which follow as a direct
cause-effect consequence of a project activity,
•e.g. reservoir flooding can result in bioaccumulation of
methyl mercury in the aquatic food chain.
•Indirect
effects
are effects induced or stimulated by the
project, and at least one step removed from a project activity
in terms of cause-effect linkages,
•e.g. project access road construction in a remote area can
result in secondary development along the access road.
Quantification/Estimation of Impacts/Effects
•A number of methods which are commonly used in
estimating/quantifying environmental effects include :
• Pre-project experiments (e.g. toxicity testing);
• Mathematical modelling (e.g. air dispersion, hydrology and
hydrodynamics, water quality, groundwater quality, erosion
and sedimentation, biotic habitat, oil spills, and risk
analysis);
• Physical modelling (e.g. hydraulic models or wind tunnels);
• Computer simulation (useful in assessing visual impacts of a
project);
• Constraint mapping (useful for predicting impacts related to
land or resource use displacement, particularly siting and
routing).
•A number of methods which are commonly used in
estimating/quantifying environmental effects include :
• Pre-project experiments (e.g. toxicity testing);
• Mathematical modelling (e.g. air dispersion, hydrology and
hydrodynamics, water quality, groundwater quality, erosion
and sedimentation, biotic habitat, oil spills, and risk
analysis);
• Physical modelling (e.g. hydraulic models or wind tunnels);
• Computer simulation (useful in assessing visual impacts of a
project);
• Constraint mapping (useful for predicting impacts related to
land or resource use displacement, particularly siting and
routing).
Quantification/Estimation of Impacts/Effects Cont.
•To prevent unnecessary expense, the sophistication of the
prediction method should be properly matched with the
scope of the EIA.
•For example, a complex mathematical model of atmospheric
dispersion should not be used if only small amounts of
relatively harmless pollutants are expected to be emitted.
Simpler models may suffice.
•These types of requirements should be established and
documented at the scoping phase.
•All prediction techniques involve some degree of uncertainty.
•It is important to recognize this uncertainty, and state
probabilities and margins of error involved in predicting the
likely impact of a proposed project.
•To prevent unnecessary expense, the sophistication of the
prediction method should be properly matched with the
scope of the EIA.
•For example, a complex mathematical model of atmospheric
dispersion should not be used if only small amounts of
relatively harmless pollutants are expected to be emitted.
Simpler models may suffice.
•These types of requirements should be established and
documented at the scoping phase.
•All prediction techniques involve some degree of uncertainty.
•It is important to recognize this uncertainty, and state
probabilities and margins of error involved in predicting the
likely impact of a proposed project.
Impact
Evaluation
•Once predictions are made and quantified, the next step is
to decide if these predicted changes really “matter”, i.e. are
significant or are perceived to be important.
–The significance of environmental effects is generally
evaluated in terms of ;
–Their spatial
extent
(geographic distribution),
–Duration
(short vs. long-term),
–Magnitude
(measured level of change in a parameter
and whether thresholds are being exceeded),
–Reversibility
(reversible versus irrevocable), and
–Special
sensitivity
(whether an impact affects a sensitive
area within the country - like a nature reserve).
Evaluation
•Once predictions are made and quantified, the next step is
to decide if these predicted changes really “matter”, i.e. are
significant or are perceived to be important.
–The significance of environmental effects is generally
evaluated in terms of ;
–Their spatial
extent
(geographic distribution),
–Duration
(short vs. long-term),
–Magnitude
(measured level of change in a parameter
and whether thresholds are being exceeded),
–Reversibility
(reversible versus irrevocable), and
–Special
sensitivity
(whether an impact affects a sensitive
area within the country - like a nature reserve).
Impact
Evaluation Cont.
•Judgment of significance can be based on one or more of
the following:
• Comparison with laws, regulations or accepted standards
(i.e., does the project meet legal requirements, are
standards exceeded?);
• Reference to pre-set criteria (such as threshold limits,
dose-response relationships, conflicts with protected
sites, features or species, and/or maintenance of local
breeding populations);
• Consistency with government policy objectives and
goals; and/or
• Social acceptance (i.e., acceptability to the local
community or the general public).
Evaluation Cont.
•Judgment of significance can be based on one or more of
the following:
• Comparison with laws, regulations or accepted standards
(i.e., does the project meet legal requirements, are
standards exceeded?);
• Reference to pre-set criteria (such as threshold limits,
dose-response relationships, conflicts with protected
sites, features or species, and/or maintenance of local
breeding populations);
• Consistency with government policy objectives and
goals; and/or
• Social acceptance (i.e., acceptability to the local
community or the general public).
Impact
Evaluation Cont.
•The impact evaluation stage usually involves utilizing a
mixture of both quantitative comparison and qualitative
judgment.
•Impact evaluation should be undertaken in a way that
allows a comparison of project alternatives and facilitates
the communication of results to the public and decision-
makers.
•It should be tied back to issues and concerns raised during
scoping exercises and issue identification.
•Additional stakeholder input will likely be required during
this stage of the EIA process to help determine the
significance and relative importance of impacts.
Evaluation Cont.
•The impact evaluation stage usually involves utilizing a
mixture of both quantitative comparison and qualitative
judgment.
•Impact evaluation should be undertaken in a way that
allows a comparison of project alternatives and facilitates
the communication of results to the public and decision-
makers.
•It should be tied back to issues and concerns raised during
scoping exercises and issue identification.
•Additional stakeholder input will likely be required during
this stage of the EIA process to help determine the
significance and relative importance of impacts.
Impact
Evaluation Cont.
Factors used in determining whether or not environmental effects are adverse include (CEA A 1994
in E7, 1997):
• Negative effects on the health of biota including plants, animals, and fish
• Threat to rare or endangered species
• Reductions in species diversity or disruption of food webs
• Loss of, or damage to, habitats, including habitat fragmentation
• Discharges or release of persistent and/or toxic chemicals, microbial agents, nutrients (eg. nitrogen,
phosphorus), radiation or thermal energy (eg. cooling wastewater)
• Population declines, particularly in top predator, large, or long-lived species
• Removal of resource materials (e.g. peat, coal) from the environment
• Transformation of natural landscapes
• Obstruction of migration, or passage of wildlife
• Negative effects on the quality and/or quantity of the biophysical environment (e.g., surface water,
groundwater, soil, land and air)
• Negative effects on human health, well-being, or quality of life
• Increase in unemployment or shrinkage in the economy
• Detrimental change in the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by aboriginal
persons
• Negative effects on historical, archaeological, paleontological, or architectural resources
• Loss of, or damage to, commercial species or resources
• Foreclosure of future resource use or production
• Decreased aesthetic appeal or changes in visual amenities (e.g. scenic views)
Evaluation Cont.
Factors used in determining whether or not environmental effects are adverse include (CEA A 1994
in E7, 1997):
• Negative effects on the health of biota including plants, animals, and fish
• Threat to rare or endangered species
• Reductions in species diversity or disruption of food webs
• Loss of, or damage to, habitats, including habitat fragmentation
• Discharges or release of persistent and/or toxic chemicals, microbial agents, nutrients (eg. nitrogen,
phosphorus), radiation or thermal energy (eg. cooling wastewater)
• Population declines, particularly in top predator, large, or long-lived species
• Removal of resource materials (e.g. peat, coal) from the environment
• Transformation of natural landscapes
• Obstruction of migration, or passage of wildlife
• Negative effects on the quality and/or quantity of the biophysical environment (e.g., surface water,
groundwater, soil, land and air)
• Negative effects on human health, well-being, or quality of life
• Increase in unemployment or shrinkage in the economy
• Detrimental change in the current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by aboriginal
persons
• Negative effects on historical, archaeological, paleontological, or architectural resources
• Loss of, or damage to, commercial species or resources
• Foreclosure of future resource use or production
• Decreased aesthetic appeal or changes in visual amenities (e.g. scenic views)
Impact
Mitigation
•If identified impacts “matter”, i.e. are significant and/or important, it
is necessary to identify and implement mitigation measures.
•Mitigation measures are selected to reduce or eliminate the severity
of any predicted adverse environmental effects and improve the
overall environmental performance and acceptability of the project.
• Where mitigation is deemed appropriate, a proponent should strive
to act upon effects, in the following order
of priority
, to:
1. Eliminate or avoid adverse effects, where reasonably achievable.
2. Reduce adverse effects to the lowest reasonably achievable level.
3. Regulate adverse effects to an acceptable level, or to an acceptable time
period.
4. Create other beneficial effects to partially or fully substitute for, or counter-
balance, adverse effects.
• Mitigation is an integral part of impact evaluation. It looks for better
ways of doing things so that the negative impacts of the proposal are
eliminated or minimized and the benefits are enhanced.
Mitigation
•If identified impacts “matter”, i.e. are significant and/or important, it
is necessary to identify and implement mitigation measures.
•Mitigation measures are selected to reduce or eliminate the severity
of any predicted adverse environmental effects and improve the
overall environmental performance and acceptability of the project.
• Where mitigation is deemed appropriate, a proponent should strive
to act upon effects, in the following order
of priority
, to:
1. Eliminate or avoid adverse effects, where reasonably achievable.
2. Reduce adverse effects to the lowest reasonably achievable level.
3. Regulate adverse effects to an acceptable level, or to an acceptable time
period.
4. Create other beneficial effects to partially or fully substitute for, or counter-
balance, adverse effects.
• Mitigation is an integral part of impact evaluation. It looks for better
ways of doing things so that the negative impacts of the proposal are
eliminated or minimized and the benefits are enhanced.
Impact
Mitigation cont.
•As soon as significant adverse impacts are identified,
discussions should be held to see if they can be ‘designed out’
through changes in project design, location or operation.
•It is important therefore, that there is good integration
between the EIA team and project design engineers.
•Where residual
impacts
remain after mitigation has been
applied, some form of monetary or other compensation
(e.g.,
create new fish spawning habitat, or build a new school) might
be considered or required to ensure the public do not bear
costs which are greater than the benefits which accrue to them
from the project.
•Special financial and other assistance to communities affected
by the operation and construction of major facilities may be
necessary.
Mitigation cont.
•As soon as significant adverse impacts are identified,
discussions should be held to see if they can be ‘designed out’
through changes in project design, location or operation.
•It is important therefore, that there is good integration
between the EIA team and project design engineers.
•Where residual
impacts
remain after mitigation has been
applied, some form of monetary or other compensation
(e.g.,
create new fish spawning habitat, or build a new school) might
be considered or required to ensure the public do not bear
costs which are greater than the benefits which accrue to them
from the project.
•Special financial and other assistance to communities affected
by the operation and construction of major facilities may be
necessary.
Impact
Mitigation cont.
•Community
Impact Agreements
(CIAs) can be developed with host
communities to ensure that assistance will be available to help local
areas adjust to the possible “boom and bust” effects often associated
with the construction and operation of major electricity projects.
•This type of agreement might also provide a sum of money to the
community to help offset identifiable local, social and community
effects, and establish a monitoring program to measure the impacts
on the community during construction and operation.
•Mitigation and compensation measures should be identified early
and properly costed and incorporated in the overall capital budget
for the project to ensure that recommended actions do get carried
out.
• Mitigation/compensation costs can account for up to 10 percent of
total project costs, but are more typically in the 3 to 5 percent range
(World Bank 1991in E7, 1997).
Mitigation cont.
•Community
Impact Agreements
(CIAs) can be developed with host
communities to ensure that assistance will be available to help local
areas adjust to the possible “boom and bust” effects often associated
with the construction and operation of major electricity projects.
•This type of agreement might also provide a sum of money to the
community to help offset identifiable local, social and community
effects, and establish a monitoring program to measure the impacts
on the community during construction and operation.
•Mitigation and compensation measures should be identified early
and properly costed and incorporated in the overall capital budget
for the project to ensure that recommended actions do get carried
out.
• Mitigation/compensation costs can account for up to 10 percent of
total project costs, but are more typically in the 3 to 5 percent range
(World Bank 1991in E7, 1997).
Decision
Making
•The EIA document should describe the evaluation process and the
methodology used in arriving at the recommended project, so that
decision-makers are able to trace each step of the process.
•The assumptions and subjective judgments used in the evaluation
should be stated in the document. As well, the issues leading to and
influencing the selected course of action, and any unresolved issues,
should also be described.
•The most acceptable alternative which emerges from the evaluation
and decision-making process is usually the recommended project to
be put forward in the EIA document by the proponent for approval.
•Any residual effects which cannot be avoided or alleviated through
mitigation or compensation measures should be described in the
overall assessment section of the EIA document.
•It is the job of decision-makers to assimilate all the information
provided and decide if the benefits to be accrued through a project
justify the potential disruptions that will occur.
Making
•The EIA document should describe the evaluation process and the
methodology used in arriving at the recommended project, so that
decision-makers are able to trace each step of the process.
•The assumptions and subjective judgments used in the evaluation
should be stated in the document. As well, the issues leading to and
influencing the selected course of action, and any unresolved issues,
should also be described.
•The most acceptable alternative which emerges from the evaluation
and decision-making process is usually the recommended project to
be put forward in the EIA document by the proponent for approval.
•Any residual effects which cannot be avoided or alleviated through
mitigation or compensation measures should be described in the
overall assessment section of the EIA document.
•It is the job of decision-makers to assimilate all the information
provided and decide if the benefits to be accrued through a project
justify the potential disruptions that will occur.
Project
Implementation
•During this stage a proponent is responsible for ensuring that the environmental
commitments made to regulatory agencies, lending agencies and other stakeholders
during the EIA process are met.
•EIA follow-up documents, such as an Impact
Management Plan,
should be prepared,
defining for project staff and any consultants or contractors, the environmental
guidelines, regulations and criteria to be followed in the design, construction and
operation of the generating station including the specific comments and conditions
imposed by government agencies during the EIA process.
•Project specific environmental
construction guidelines
should be developed.
•These should specify precautions and mitigation measures for construction activities, and
include a plan for monitoring those activities which could have a significant
environmental effect (e.g. stream crossing, dredging, dewatering).
•Construction
monitoring
, including field inspections and surveys, should be carried out
by an environmental specialist, to ensure that environmental protection requirements
are being met.
•It is important to plan and budget for environmental construction monitoring as part of
the project.
•If construction is to be contracted out, specific environmental requirements during
construction should be built into construction bidding documents and contracts to
ensure they are met (e.g. requirements for local hiring).
Implementation
•During this stage a proponent is responsible for ensuring that the environmental
commitments made to regulatory agencies, lending agencies and other stakeholders
during the EIA process are met.
•EIA follow-up documents, such as an Impact
Management Plan,
should be prepared,
defining for project staff and any consultants or contractors, the environmental
guidelines, regulations and criteria to be followed in the design, construction and
operation of the generating station including the specific comments and conditions
imposed by government agencies during the EIA process.
•Project specific environmental
construction guidelines
should be developed.
•These should specify precautions and mitigation measures for construction activities, and
include a plan for monitoring those activities which could have a significant
environmental effect (e.g. stream crossing, dredging, dewatering).
•Construction
monitoring
, including field inspections and surveys, should be carried out
by an environmental specialist, to ensure that environmental protection requirements
are being met.
•It is important to plan and budget for environmental construction monitoring as part of
the project.
•If construction is to be contracted out, specific environmental requirements during
construction should be built into construction bidding documents and contracts to
ensure they are met (e.g. requirements for local hiring).
Impact
monitoring
•Environmental
Impacts/effects monitoring
is used to identify
environmental changes resulting from the implementation of the
project. In the context of EIA, effects monitoring programs are carried
out to achieve the following results:
• To ensure that the facility is meeting all environmental regulatory
requirements, and that commitments made in the EIA document and/or
the conditions of approval are being met;
• To test impact hypotheses, and to verify the predictions and
assessment of environmental effects, thus contributing to better
assessments in the future;
• To evaluate the performance effectiveness of mitigation;
• To compare actual and predicted changes to the environment, so that
immediate actions can be taken to mitigate unanticipated impacts;
• To strengthen confidence by both government and the public in the
EIA process, the decisions made, the station design etc., especially when
a decision is made to proceed with a project with a high level of
uncertainty.
monitoring
•Environmental
Impacts/effects monitoring
is used to identify
environmental changes resulting from the implementation of the
project. In the context of EIA, effects monitoring programs are carried
out to achieve the following results:
• To ensure that the facility is meeting all environmental regulatory
requirements, and that commitments made in the EIA document and/or
the conditions of approval are being met;
• To test impact hypotheses, and to verify the predictions and
assessment of environmental effects, thus contributing to better
assessments in the future;
• To evaluate the performance effectiveness of mitigation;
• To compare actual and predicted changes to the environment, so that
immediate actions can be taken to mitigate unanticipated impacts;
• To strengthen confidence by both government and the public in the
EIA process, the decisions made, the station design etc., especially when
a decision is made to proceed with a project with a high level of
uncertainty.
Impact
monitoring Cont.
•The monitoring programs to be carried out during the
construction and operation of the undertaking are
normally described in the EIA document.
•The effects monitoring program should include several
years of pre-operational monitoring (depending on
the scope of the project), and continue several years
into the operation of the project.
•The pre-operational phase establishes a baseline
against which to measure change, while the
operational phase measures the change and trends
over time.
•The results of the effects monitoring program should
be summarized in an
Environmental Effects Report.
monitoring Cont.
•The monitoring programs to be carried out during the
construction and operation of the undertaking are
normally described in the EIA document.
•The effects monitoring program should include several
years of pre-operational monitoring (depending on
the scope of the project), and continue several years
into the operation of the project.
•The pre-operational phase establishes a baseline
against which to measure change, while the
operational phase measures the change and trends
over time.
•The results of the effects monitoring program should
be summarized in an
Environmental Effects Report.
EIA
Auditing/Verification
•In order to capitalise on the experience and knowledge gained, the last stage of
an EIA is to carry out an Environmental Audit some time after completion of the
project or implementation of a programme.
• It will therefore usually be done by a separate team of specialists to that
working on the bulk of the EIA.
• The audit should include an analysis of the technical, procedural and decision-
making aspects of the EIA.
•Technical aspects include: the adequacy of the baseline studies, the accuracy of
predictions and the suitability of mitigation measures.
•Procedural aspects include: the efficiency of the procedure, the fairness of the
public involvement measures and the degree of coordination of roles and
responsibilities.
•Decision-making aspects include: the utility of the process for decision making
and the implications for development.
•The audit will determine whether recommendations and requirements made
by the earlier EIA steps were incorporated successfully into project
implementation.
•Lessons learnt and formally described in an audit can greatly assist in future
EIAs and build up the expertise and efficiency of the concerned institutions.
Auditing/Verification
•In order to capitalise on the experience and knowledge gained, the last stage of
an EIA is to carry out an Environmental Audit some time after completion of the
project or implementation of a programme.
• It will therefore usually be done by a separate team of specialists to that
working on the bulk of the EIA.
• The audit should include an analysis of the technical, procedural and decision-
making aspects of the EIA.
•Technical aspects include: the adequacy of the baseline studies, the accuracy of
predictions and the suitability of mitigation measures.
•Procedural aspects include: the efficiency of the procedure, the fairness of the
public involvement measures and the degree of coordination of roles and
responsibilities.
•Decision-making aspects include: the utility of the process for decision making
and the implications for development.
•The audit will determine whether recommendations and requirements made
by the earlier EIA steps were incorporated successfully into project
implementation.
•Lessons learnt and formally described in an audit can greatly assist in future
EIAs and build up the expertise and efficiency of the concerned institutions.
Public
involvement
•The degree of public involvement in EIA varies between different
countries due to different legal requirements as well as to tradition.
•In many countries like Sweden or the USA the public is supposed to have
a large influence on the EIA process.
•However, reality shows that public participation is often treated as a
procedural exercise instead of a living process.
•The contact with public often comes far too late in the process.
•The importance of early communication with the public is essential to
the success of an EIA and to the outcome of the proposed project.
•The public can be providing information into the process, regarding
concerns to be recognised or considered or values to be reflected.
•Also in the procedural phase the public has a role as scrutinisers of the
process, thereby encouraging better quality of the assessments.
•There are many examples of problems connected to public opinion
against projects due to lack of communication during the planning and
design process.
involvement
•The degree of public involvement in EIA varies between different
countries due to different legal requirements as well as to tradition.
•In many countries like Sweden or the USA the public is supposed to have
a large influence on the EIA process.
•However, reality shows that public participation is often treated as a
procedural exercise instead of a living process.
•The contact with public often comes far too late in the process.
•The importance of early communication with the public is essential to
the success of an EIA and to the outcome of the proposed project.
•The public can be providing information into the process, regarding
concerns to be recognised or considered or values to be reflected.
•Also in the procedural phase the public has a role as scrutinisers of the
process, thereby encouraging better quality of the assessments.
•There are many examples of problems connected to public opinion
against projects due to lack of communication during the planning and
design process.
Public
involvement Cont.
•Potential stakeholders include:
oAn investor;
o Regulatory authorities;
o Government policy makers;
o Regional planners;
o The local community and its representatives;
o Public interest groups (i.e., nongovernment
organizations or NGO’s);
oPoliticians
oCustomers
oIndigenous/ Local Peoples
oResource users
involvement Cont.
•Potential stakeholders include:
oAn investor;
o Regulatory authorities;
o Government policy makers;
o Regional planners;
o The local community and its representatives;
o Public interest groups (i.e., nongovernment
organizations or NGO’s);
oPoliticians
oCustomers
oIndigenous/ Local Peoples
oResource users
Documentation
•All pertinent information that was collected as part of the EIA process,
as well as the manner in which it was assessed and the judgments used
in selecting the preferred alternatives must be described in an EIA
document.
•The EIA
document
is the main vehicle for the project proponent to
present their case (i.e., rationale and justification) for proceeding with a
proposed development activity.
•It is critical that information presented in this report is clear, focused,
and useful to decision-makers.
•The language of the EIA document must be clear and concise.
•The information presented should be balanced, relevant, and succinct.
•Detailed technical data should be generally confined to appendices or
referenced to reports.
•As the EIA document is used for decision making, it should focus on
clarifying issues which are important to project decisions, such as trade-
offs, evaluation criteria, evaluation and selection process, irreversible
impacts, etc.
•All pertinent information that was collected as part of the EIA process,
as well as the manner in which it was assessed and the judgments used
in selecting the preferred alternatives must be described in an EIA
document.
•The EIA
document
is the main vehicle for the project proponent to
present their case (i.e., rationale and justification) for proceeding with a
proposed development activity.
•It is critical that information presented in this report is clear, focused,
and useful to decision-makers.
•The language of the EIA document must be clear and concise.
•The information presented should be balanced, relevant, and succinct.
•Detailed technical data should be generally confined to appendices or
referenced to reports.
•As the EIA document is used for decision making, it should focus on
clarifying issues which are important to project decisions, such as trade-
offs, evaluation criteria, evaluation and selection process, irreversible
impacts, etc.
Documentation Cont.
An EIA document should typically include:
• Executive Summary providing a concise discussion of significant
findings and recommended actions.
• Policy, legal and administrative framework within which the EIA is
prepared.
• Project Need/Justification.
• Description of project and its alternatives in a geographic, ecological,
social and temporal context.
• Description of existing environment including a description of relevant
physical, biological, resource use and socio-economic conditions
prevailing before the project is developed.
• Discussion of potential environmental impacts, both positive and
negative, that are likely to result from the proposed project - including
an identification of mitigation measures, residual impacts that cannot
be mitigated, opportunities for environmental enhancement, and
uncertainties associated with impact predictions.
An EIA document should typically include:
• Executive Summary providing a concise discussion of significant
findings and recommended actions.
• Policy, legal and administrative framework within which the EIA is
prepared.
• Project Need/Justification.
• Description of project and its alternatives in a geographic, ecological,
social and temporal context.
• Description of existing environment including a description of relevant
physical, biological, resource use and socio-economic conditions
prevailing before the project is developed.
• Discussion of potential environmental impacts, both positive and
negative, that are likely to result from the proposed project - including
an identification of mitigation measures, residual impacts that cannot
be mitigated, opportunities for environmental enhancement, and
uncertainties associated with impact predictions.
Documentation cont.
• An analysis of alternatives, which compares design, site,
technological and operational options systematically (and
quantitatively where possible) in terms of potential environmental
impacts, capital and operating costs, appropriateness, and
institutional and monitoring requirements.
• Impact management plan including proposals for feasible and cost-
effective mitigation measures that may reduce potentially
significant adverse environmental impacts to acceptable levels;
and compensatory measures where mitigation measures are not
possible.
• A summary of the EIA for the general public
• Appendices - including a list of EIA contributors, references and
record of inter-agency meetings.
•Detailed data and analysis that are important but not critical to
the EIAs findings should be provided in a series of support
documents to the main EIA report.
• An analysis of alternatives, which compares design, site,
technological and operational options systematically (and
quantitatively where possible) in terms of potential environmental
impacts, capital and operating costs, appropriateness, and
institutional and monitoring requirements.
• Impact management plan including proposals for feasible and cost-
effective mitigation measures that may reduce potentially
significant adverse environmental impacts to acceptable levels;
and compensatory measures where mitigation measures are not
possible.
• A summary of the EIA for the general public
• Appendices - including a list of EIA contributors, references and
record of inter-agency meetings.
•Detailed data and analysis that are important but not critical to
the EIAs findings should be provided in a series of support
documents to the main EIA report.
The
Length and Cost of on EIA
•The length will depend on the programme, plan or project under review.
•However, the process usually lasts from between 6 and 18 months from
preparation through to review.
•It will normally be approximately the same length as the feasibility study
of which it should form an integral part.
• It is essential that the EIA team and the team carrying out the feasibility
study work together and not in isolation from each other.
•This often provides the only opportunity for design changes to be made
and mitigation measures to be incorporated in the project design.
•The cost of the study will vary considerably and only very general
estimates can be given here.
•Typically, costs vary from between 0.1 and 0.3 percent of the total
project cost for large projects over US$ 100 million and from 0.2 to 0.5
percent for projects less than US$ 100 million.
• For small projects the cost could increase to between 1 and 3 percent of
the project cost.
Length and Cost of on EIA
•The length will depend on the programme, plan or project under review.
•However, the process usually lasts from between 6 and 18 months from
preparation through to review.
•It will normally be approximately the same length as the feasibility study
of which it should form an integral part.
• It is essential that the EIA team and the team carrying out the feasibility
study work together and not in isolation from each other.
•This often provides the only opportunity for design changes to be made
and mitigation measures to be incorporated in the project design.
•The cost of the study will vary considerably and only very general
estimates can be given here.
•Typically, costs vary from between 0.1 and 0.3 percent of the total
project cost for large projects over US$ 100 million and from 0.2 to 0.5
percent for projects less than US$ 100 million.
• For small projects the cost could increase to between 1 and 3 percent of
the project cost.
EIA
TOOLS AND METHODS
•EIA methods are generally selected to meet and reflect the
nature of the project, its setting, and societal conditions.”
•Some of the more commonly used tools are summarized
below.
•These include;
–Baseline studies,
–Checklists
–Matrices,
–Network diagrams,
–Overlays,
–Mathematical modelling,
–Graphical comparisons
–Economic techniques,
TOOLS AND METHODS
•EIA methods are generally selected to meet and reflect the
nature of the project, its setting, and societal conditions.”
•Some of the more commonly used tools are summarized
below.
•These include;
–Baseline studies,
–Checklists
–Matrices,
–Network diagrams,
–Overlays,
–Mathematical modelling,
–Graphical comparisons
–Economic techniques,
Baseline Studies and Checklists
•Required for scoping.
•Once key issues have been identified, the need for further in-depth studies can
be clearly identified and any additional data collection initiated.
•Specialists, preferably with local knowledge, will be needed in each key area
identified.
•They will need to define further data collection, to ensure that it is efficient and
targeted to answer specific questions, and to quantify impacts.
•A full year of baseline data is desirable to capture seasonal effects of many
environmental phenomena.
•However, to avoid delay in decision making, short-term data monitoring should
be undertaken in parallel with long-term collection to provide conservative
estimates of environmental impacts.
•Checklists
•A common, simple and inexpensive. These can be of different types:
•Help to organise the work and identify important issues.
•The risk of using checklists is that important issues not included in the checklist
may exist.
•Below is an example of a simple checklist used to identify impact categories.
•Required for scoping.
•Once key issues have been identified, the need for further in-depth studies can
be clearly identified and any additional data collection initiated.
•Specialists, preferably with local knowledge, will be needed in each key area
identified.
•They will need to define further data collection, to ensure that it is efficient and
targeted to answer specific questions, and to quantify impacts.
•A full year of baseline data is desirable to capture seasonal effects of many
environmental phenomena.
•However, to avoid delay in decision making, short-term data monitoring should
be undertaken in parallel with long-term collection to provide conservative
estimates of environmental impacts.
•Checklists
•A common, simple and inexpensive. These can be of different types:
•Help to organise the work and identify important issues.
•The risk of using checklists is that important issues not included in the checklist
may exist.
•Below is an example of a simple checklist used to identify impact categories.
A
simple checklist of impact categories for land development projects. (from Morgan 1998)
1
Local economy
•Public fiscal balance
•Employment
•Wealth
2
Natural environment
•Air quality
•Water quality
•Noise
•Wildlife and vegetation
•Natural disasters
3
Aesthetics and cultural values
•Attractiveness
•View opportunities
•Landmarks
4
Public and private services
•Drinking water
•Hospital care
•Crime control
•Feeling of security
•Fire protection
•Recreation - public facilities
•Recreation — informal settings
•Education
•Transportation - mass transit
•Transportation - pedestrian
•Transportation — private vehicles
•Shopping
•Energy services
•Housing
5
Other social impacts
•People displacement
•Special hazards
•Sociability/friendliness
•Privacy
•Overall contentment with neighbourhood
simple checklist of impact categories for land development projects. (from Morgan 1998)
1
Local economy
•Public fiscal balance
•Employment
•Wealth
2
Natural environment
•Air quality
•Water quality
•Noise
•Wildlife and vegetation
•Natural disasters
3
Aesthetics and cultural values
•Attractiveness
•View opportunities
•Landmarks
4
Public and private services
•Drinking water
•Hospital care
•Crime control
•Feeling of security
•Fire protection
•Recreation - public facilities
•Recreation — informal settings
•Education
•Transportation - mass transit
•Transportation - pedestrian
•Transportation — private vehicles
•Shopping
•Energy services
•Housing
5
Other social impacts
•People displacement
•Special hazards
•Sociability/friendliness
•Privacy
•Overall contentment with neighbourhood
Matrices
•The major use of matrices is to indicate cause and effect by listing activities along the
horizontal axis and environmental parameters along the vertical axis.
• In this way the impacts of both individual components of projects as well as major
alternatives can be compared.
• An example of a matrix is given as Table 1.
• The choice of symbols in this example enables the reader to see at a glance whether or
not there was an impact and, if so, whether the impact was beneficial or detrimental,
temporary or permanent.
•The greatest drawback of matrices is that they can only effectively illustrate primary
impacts.
•Network diagrams, described below, are a useful and complementary form of illustration
to matrices as their main purpose is to illustrate higher order impacts and to indicate how
impacts are inter-related.
•Matrices help to choose between alternatives by consensus.
•One method is to make pair-wise comparisons. It provides a simple way for a group of
people to compare a large number of options and reduce them to a few choices.
•First a matrix is drawn with all options listed both horizontally and vertically. Each option is
then compared with every other one and a score of 1 assigned to the preferred option or
0.5 to both options if no preference is agreed.
• An example of such a matrix is given as Table 2. As can be seen, Z is the preferred option.
•The major use of matrices is to indicate cause and effect by listing activities along the
horizontal axis and environmental parameters along the vertical axis.
• In this way the impacts of both individual components of projects as well as major
alternatives can be compared.
• An example of a matrix is given as Table 1.
• The choice of symbols in this example enables the reader to see at a glance whether or
not there was an impact and, if so, whether the impact was beneficial or detrimental,
temporary or permanent.
•The greatest drawback of matrices is that they can only effectively illustrate primary
impacts.
•Network diagrams, described below, are a useful and complementary form of illustration
to matrices as their main purpose is to illustrate higher order impacts and to indicate how
impacts are inter-related.
•Matrices help to choose between alternatives by consensus.
•One method is to make pair-wise comparisons. It provides a simple way for a group of
people to compare a large number of options and reduce them to a few choices.
•First a matrix is drawn with all options listed both horizontally and vertically. Each option is
then compared with every other one and a score of 1 assigned to the preferred option or
0.5 to both options if no preference is agreed.
• An example of such a matrix is given as Table 2. As can be seen, Z is the preferred option.
Table
1 .Ultimate net environmental impact assessment at a glance, Feitsui reservoir
1 .Ultimate net environmental impact assessment at a glance, Feitsui reservoir
TABLE
2 - Example of pair-wise comparison
2 - Example of pair-wise comparison
Network Diagrams
•These are techniques for illustrating how impacts are related and what the consequences
of impacts are.
•For e.g., it may be possible to fairly accurately predict the impact of increased diversions or
higher irrigation efficiencies on the low flow regime of a river. However, there may be many
and far reaching secondary or tertiary consequences of a change in low flow.
•These consequences can be illustrated using network diagrams. For example, reduced low
flows are likely to reduce the production of fish which may or may not be of importance
depending on the value (either ecological or economic) of the fish.
•If fish are an important component of diet or income, the reduction may lead to a local
reduction in the health status, impoverishment and possibly migration.
•Also, reduced low flow coupled with increased pollution, perhaps as a result of increased
agricultural industry, may further damage the fish population as well as reduce access to
safe water.
•Table 3 shows an example of a network diagram for a proposed plan to increase the use of
groundwater for irrigation by providing subsidies for sinking deep tube wells.
•This shows the primary through to quaternary impacts, as anticipated at the scoping stage.
• The main crop in the area is rice. Detailed prediction work following scoping would
estimate the level to which the groundwater would fall and quantify the impacts which,
together with economic analysis, would clarify which impacts were most important and
most likely and also determine the most suitable mitigation measures.
•These are techniques for illustrating how impacts are related and what the consequences
of impacts are.
•For e.g., it may be possible to fairly accurately predict the impact of increased diversions or
higher irrigation efficiencies on the low flow regime of a river. However, there may be many
and far reaching secondary or tertiary consequences of a change in low flow.
•These consequences can be illustrated using network diagrams. For example, reduced low
flows are likely to reduce the production of fish which may or may not be of importance
depending on the value (either ecological or economic) of the fish.
•If fish are an important component of diet or income, the reduction may lead to a local
reduction in the health status, impoverishment and possibly migration.
•Also, reduced low flow coupled with increased pollution, perhaps as a result of increased
agricultural industry, may further damage the fish population as well as reduce access to
safe water.
•Table 3 shows an example of a network diagram for a proposed plan to increase the use of
groundwater for irrigation by providing subsidies for sinking deep tube wells.
•This shows the primary through to quaternary impacts, as anticipated at the scoping stage.
• The main crop in the area is rice. Detailed prediction work following scoping would
estimate the level to which the groundwater would fall and quantify the impacts which,
together with economic analysis, would clarify which impacts were most important and
most likely and also determine the most suitable mitigation measures.
Table
3 Example of network analysis showing of a policy to utilize groundwater by subsiding tube wells
3 Example of network analysis showing of a policy to utilize groundwater by subsiding tube wells
Overlays
•Overlays provide a technique for illustrating the geographical extent of different environmental
impacts.
•Each overlay is a map of a single impact. For example, saline affected areas, deforested areas,
limit of a groundwater pollution plume etc can be analysed and clearly demonstrated to non
experts.
•Manual overlay techniques can be used as an effective tool for analyzing small projects.
•For large projects, geographic information systems (GIS) are favoured for map overlay analysis,
due to their capacity for handling very large data sets incorporating many map layers.
•Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
•These are computer based systems to support the capture, management, manipulation,
analysis, modelling and display of spatial data.
•UNEP’s Global Resources Information Database (GRID) is a global environmental data system
which assembles, processes and supplies geo-referenced environmental information to users
around the world.
•It is intended to be a world-wide GIS network which is accessible from any country in the world,
and which can support individual project EIAs.
•The most significant uses for GIS technology in EIAs are facility siting, modelling, change
detection and decision support.
•The scale and scope of anticipated impacts will influence the type of method selected.
• In general, even the largest projects will begin with the use of checklists, matrices and network
diagrams to aid in the identification of pertinent environmental components and ecosystem
linkages.
•Overlays provide a technique for illustrating the geographical extent of different environmental
impacts.
•Each overlay is a map of a single impact. For example, saline affected areas, deforested areas,
limit of a groundwater pollution plume etc can be analysed and clearly demonstrated to non
experts.
•Manual overlay techniques can be used as an effective tool for analyzing small projects.
•For large projects, geographic information systems (GIS) are favoured for map overlay analysis,
due to their capacity for handling very large data sets incorporating many map layers.
•Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
•These are computer based systems to support the capture, management, manipulation,
analysis, modelling and display of spatial data.
•UNEP’s Global Resources Information Database (GRID) is a global environmental data system
which assembles, processes and supplies geo-referenced environmental information to users
around the world.
•It is intended to be a world-wide GIS network which is accessible from any country in the world,
and which can support individual project EIAs.
•The most significant uses for GIS technology in EIAs are facility siting, modelling, change
detection and decision support.
•The scale and scope of anticipated impacts will influence the type of method selected.
• In general, even the largest projects will begin with the use of checklists, matrices and network
diagrams to aid in the identification of pertinent environmental components and ecosystem
linkages.
Mathematical modelling and Economic techniques
•Mathematical modelling
One of the most useful tools for prediction work.
•It is the natural tool to assess both flow quantities and qualities (eg salt/water balances,
pollution transport, changing flood patterns).
•However, it is essential to use methods with an accuracy which reflects the quality of the
input data, which may be quite coarse.
•It should also be appreciated that model output is not necessarily an end in itself but may be
an input for assessing the impact of changes in economic, social and ecological terms.
•Economic techniques
Developed to try to value the environment and research work is continuing in environmental
economics.
•This is a specialist subject and only a brief introduction is included here.
•Environmentally sound development brings long term economic benefits.
•Unfortunately, short term gains are often given priority.
•The most commonly used methods of project appraisal are cost-benefit and cost-
effectiveness analysis.
•It has not been found easy to incorporate environmental impacts into traditional cost-benefit
analysis, principally because of the difficulty in quantifying and valuing environmental effects.
•An EIA can provide information on the expected effects and quantify, to some extent, their
importance. This information can be used by economists in the preparation of cost-benefit
calculations.
•Mathematical modelling
One of the most useful tools for prediction work.
•It is the natural tool to assess both flow quantities and qualities (eg salt/water balances,
pollution transport, changing flood patterns).
•However, it is essential to use methods with an accuracy which reflects the quality of the
input data, which may be quite coarse.
•It should also be appreciated that model output is not necessarily an end in itself but may be
an input for assessing the impact of changes in economic, social and ecological terms.
•Economic techniques
Developed to try to value the environment and research work is continuing in environmental
economics.
•This is a specialist subject and only a brief introduction is included here.
•Environmentally sound development brings long term economic benefits.
•Unfortunately, short term gains are often given priority.
•The most commonly used methods of project appraisal are cost-benefit and cost-
effectiveness analysis.
•It has not been found easy to incorporate environmental impacts into traditional cost-benefit
analysis, principally because of the difficulty in quantifying and valuing environmental effects.
•An EIA can provide information on the expected effects and quantify, to some extent, their
importance. This information can be used by economists in the preparation of cost-benefit
calculations.
Economic techniques cont.
•Cost effectiveness analysis can also be used to determine what
is the most efficient, least-cost method of meeting a given
environmental objective; with costs including forgone
environmental benefits.
•Valuing the environment raises complex and controversial
issues.
•The environment is of value to the actual users (such as
fishermen), to potential users (future generations or migrants),
and to those who do not use it but consider its existence to
have an intrinsic value (perhaps to their “quality of life”).
•Clearly it is difficult to quantify such values.
•Nevertheless, attempts have been made and the two most
useful methods for irrigation projects in developing countries
are “Effect on Production” (EOP) and “Preventive Expenditure
and Replacement Costs” (PE/RC).
•Cost effectiveness analysis can also be used to determine what
is the most efficient, least-cost method of meeting a given
environmental objective; with costs including forgone
environmental benefits.
•Valuing the environment raises complex and controversial
issues.
•The environment is of value to the actual users (such as
fishermen), to potential users (future generations or migrants),
and to those who do not use it but consider its existence to
have an intrinsic value (perhaps to their “quality of life”).
•Clearly it is difficult to quantify such values.
•Nevertheless, attempts have been made and the two most
useful methods for irrigation projects in developing countries
are “Effect on Production” (EOP) and “Preventive Expenditure
and Replacement Costs” (PE/RC).
Economic techniques cont.
•The EOP method attempts to represent the value of change in output
that results from the environmental impact of the development.
•This method is relatively easy to carry out and easily understood.
•An example would be the assessment of the reduced value of fish
catches due to water pollution or hydrological changes.
•The PE/RC method makes an assessment of the value that people
place on preserving their environment by estimating what they are
prepared to pay to prevent its degradation (preventive expenditure)
or to restore its original state after it has been damaged
(replacement cost).
•Both methods have weaknesses and must be used judiciously.
•Environmental health effects present similar problems, cost-
effectiveness analysis is a useful tool in the selection of mitigating or
control measures, but for ex-ante project appraisal the
incompatibility of human health and monetary values has forced
economists to develop other techniques and indicators.
•The EOP method attempts to represent the value of change in output
that results from the environmental impact of the development.
•This method is relatively easy to carry out and easily understood.
•An example would be the assessment of the reduced value of fish
catches due to water pollution or hydrological changes.
•The PE/RC method makes an assessment of the value that people
place on preserving their environment by estimating what they are
prepared to pay to prevent its degradation (preventive expenditure)
or to restore its original state after it has been damaged
(replacement cost).
•Both methods have weaknesses and must be used judiciously.
•Environmental health effects present similar problems, cost-
effectiveness analysis is a useful tool in the selection of mitigating or
control measures, but for ex-ante project appraisal the
incompatibility of human health and monetary values has forced
economists to develop other techniques and indicators.
References
•E7 Network of Expertise for the Global Environment, 1997. Environmental impact
Assessment: An electric utility overview
•FAO, 1995. Environmental Impact Assessment of Irrigation and Drainage Projects. FAO
Irrigation and Drainage Paper 53.
•FAO, 2002 .Irrigation Manual: Planning, Development, Monitoring & Evaluation of
Irrigated Agriculture with Farmer Participation, Volume I Module 1–6. FAO, Harare.
•GoZ (2006). Environmental Management Act, Chapter 20: 27.
•GWP (2006). Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Tool Box Training
course. Cuttysark Hotel, Zimbabwe 24-25 June 2006.
•Manual for Environmental Impact Assessment in Lithuania. (Undated). Ministry of the
Environment of the Republic of Lithuania and Finnish Environment Institute.
•Morgan, R K. (1998) "Environmental Impact Assessment" Kluwer Academic Publishers,
Dordrecht
•E7 Network of Expertise for the Global Environment, 1997. Environmental impact
Assessment: An electric utility overview
•FAO, 1995. Environmental Impact Assessment of Irrigation and Drainage Projects. FAO
Irrigation and Drainage Paper 53.
•FAO, 2002 .Irrigation Manual: Planning, Development, Monitoring & Evaluation of
Irrigated Agriculture with Farmer Participation, Volume I Module 1–6. FAO, Harare.
•GoZ (2006). Environmental Management Act, Chapter 20: 27.
•GWP (2006). Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Tool Box Training
course. Cuttysark Hotel, Zimbabwe 24-25 June 2006.
•Manual for Environmental Impact Assessment in Lithuania. (Undated). Ministry of the
Environment of the Republic of Lithuania and Finnish Environment Institute.
•Morgan, R K. (1998) "Environmental Impact Assessment" Kluwer Academic Publishers,
Dordrecht
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