Fundamental approach to Environmental Impact Assessment.pptx

Approaches to EIA

1. Approach To EIA Procedure Dr. K. Pavan Kumar Associate Professor SCALE, VIT

2. EIA Procedure Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) IEE is a means of reviewing the environmental integrity of projects to help determine whether or not EIA level studies can be undertaken. Full Scale Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

3. Analytical Functions Associated with the EIA Defining scope of an EIA Important issues and concerns Areas of less concern for the present acts Regulation requirement Identification Description of the existing environment system Determination of the components of the Project Definition of the environment modified by the project Prediction Identification of environmental modifications that may be significant Forecasting of the quantity and spatial dimensions of change in environment identified Estimation of the probability that the impact will occur

4. Impact evaluation and analysis Evaluation of least environmentally damaging alternatives Critical assessment of impacts Preparation of draft and final impact statements Defining the Scope of EIA Scoping refers to early coordination with interested and affected agencies and public Scoping identifies important issues and concerns, areas of no concern for a particular project or action, and other legislative or regulatory requirements The scoping process should be specifically designed to suite the needs of the individual project or action being proposed

5. Scoping is used to: • Define the proposed action, • Enlist the cooperation of agencies, • Identify what's important, • Identify what's not important , • Set time limits on studies, • Determine requirements of the study team, • Collect background information, • Identify required permits, • Identify other regulatory requirements, and • Determine the range of alternatives.

6. Identification of Impacts on the Environment by Preliminary Overview Assessment Purpose of preliminary assessment is to identify the potential for significant environmental impacts of the initial set of alternatives Examples of some of the questions asked in a preliminary overview assessment: Will the proposal either directly or indirectly: modify a channel or a river or a stream? reduce the habitat of any unique, threatened, or endangered species ? divide or disrupt an established community? require the displacement of businesses or farms? What will happen if the project does not come into existence? What will happen if the project comes up?

7. Classification and Prediction of Impacts Direct impacts Indirect impacts Indirect or secondary impacts are those that may occur remote as they are in distance or time from the actual proposed project Cumulative impacts Cumulative impacts occur in those situations where individual projects or actions may not have a significant effect, but when combined with other projects or actions, the individual project's incremental contribution of adversity may cause an overall adverse cumulative effect These three groups can be further broken down according to their nature into: Positive and negative impacts Random and predictable impacts Local and widespread impacts Short and long term impacts

8. Example: Various types of impacts that occur in a typical road development project

9. Cumulative Impacts The process of cumulative environmental change can arise from any of the four following types of events: Single large event, i.e., a large project Multiple interrelated events, i.e., a road project in a region Catastrophic sudden events, i.e., a major landslide into a river system Incremental, widespread, slow change, such as a poorly designed culvert, or a drainage system along a long road extending through a watershed Prediction of cumulative impacts require: Definition of temporal and spatial boundary for the assessment Selecting measurable variables Establishment of relationships between the chosen variables

10. Cumulative Impacts: The example of a stream

11. Assessment of Significance of an Impacts The determination of significance is defined in terms of context and intensity Context – refers to the geographical setting of a proposed project or action Intensity – refers to the severity of an impact Example: The degree to which the proposed action affects public health or safety The degree at which the effects are likely to be highly controversial The degree at which the possible effects will be highly uncertain or involve risks The degree of effect on sites listed in the Central Court Register of Historic Places The degree of effect on the threatened or endangered species or their habitats Whether the action conflicts with other Central, State, or local laws or requirements

12. Impact Evaluation and Analysis The purpose of an environmental impact evaluation and analysis, or evaluation, is to comparatively evaluate alternative courses of action . The major steps involved in this are: I. Identifying major activities 2. Selecting environmental components 3. Selecting types of impacts 4. Assessing the possibilities and or probabilities of occurrences 5. Determining the degree and time frame of impacts 6. Designating impacts as positive, neutral or negative 7. Determining trade-offs among activities and impacts.

13. Examination of project alternatives Developing a preliminary range of alternatives Factors to be considered for taking decisions based on assessment of significance of an impact Magnitude Prevalence Duration and frequency Risk Importance Mitigations The possible assessment decisions, using above criteria are: No impact Unknown and potential adverse impact Significant impact

14. Critical Assessment Criteria The methodology includes questions such as: (a) if the project results in the loss of precious/irreplaceable natural resources. how the project is justified ? ( b) whether the project will sacrifice important long-term environmental resources and values (ERVs) for the sake of immediate gains. ( c) if the project creates environmental issues which are likely to be highly controversial how will it be managed, ( d) the project endangers survival of species, how is it justified ( e) whether the project will establish a precedent for future actions involving sensitive environmental issues (f) whether the project while in itself not causing serious impacts, will be related to other actions where the accumulated total effects could be serious , (g) whether the project is consistent with national energy policies, ( h) whether the project is consistent with national foreign exchange policies , and ( i ) whether due consideration has been given in the project feasibility study. To alternative projects

15. Steps Involved in Assessment Description of the study area Description of the project Description and quantification of impacts or effects of the projects Development of conclusions and recommendations on the environmental integrity of the project and on feasible measures which should be considered by the project proponents

16. Systematic Approach For Using EIA as a Planning Tool For Major Project Activities Introduction Preparation of Environmental B ase M ap (EBM) Identification of Study Area Classification of Environmental Parameters Formation of EIA Study Team Preparation of Terms of Reference Preparation of an EIA Report Environmental Monitoring and Management Plan Draft and Final Environmental Impact Statements Impact Analysis Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Processing Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS)

17. Standard EIA Report as per CPCB (Central Pollution Control Board) India Introduction Description of the existing environment Consideration of alternatives Monitoring programme Summary and conclusions Format and Contents of a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) Report Coversheet, summary, and table of contents Purpose of and need for proposed action Alternatives Affected environment Environmental consequences