MODULE III-1.pptx EIA ENVIRONMENT IMPACT ASSESSMENT

EIA

1. MODULE III

2. EIA methodologies There are about six methodologies followed in literature for determining the impacts and to adhere to the stipulations of regulating agencies, which in our case is Ministry of Environment and Forest. Choice of methodology will depend on the specific user and project being undertaken. The key considerations are: i ) Use: Whether the document is for information or a decision document. The decision document requires more details and greater emphasis is on key issues, quantification and comparison of alternatives. ii) Alternatives: Much would depend on what alternatives to the project are available since these would require a more thorough quantification and comparison. iii) Public involvement: The role of stake holders and their participation may also require issues which are relevant and need discussion and thus details.

3. iv) Resources: What resources are available for the document preparation in terms of experts available, data, time and money. v) Familiarity: Familiarity with ground conditions will also be a keen element. Greater familiarity will improve the validity of subjective significance. vi) Issue significance: If the issues involved are larger than more details are needed, quantification is important and hence the choice vii) Administrative: Are the documents being prepared are dictated by procedure of implementing agency

4. EIA Methodologies Ad-HOC method Check list method Over lays method Matrix method Network method

5. Ad-HOC method Ad hoc methods indicate broad areas of possible impacts by listing composite environmental parameters (Ex: flora and fauna) likely to be affected by the proposed activity. These methods involve assembling a team of specialists who identify impacts in their area of expertise. Here, each parameter is considered separately and the natures of impacts (long term or short term, reversible or irreversible) are considered. These methods give a rough assessment of total impact while giving the broad areas and the general nature of possible impacts. In this method, the assessor relies on an intuitive approach and makes a broad-based qualitative assessment Ad hoc method is useful when time constraints and lack of information require that the EIA must rely exclusively on expert opinion. When more scientific methods are available, it is not recommended.

6. This method serves as a preliminary assessment and helps in identification of important areas like: Wildlife Endangered species Natural vegetation Exotic vegetation Grazing Social characteristics Natural drainage Groundwater Noise Air quality Visual description and services Open space Recreation Health and safety

7. Types of Ad hoc method Opinion polls. Experts opinion. Delphi methods (The Delphi method is a forecasting process framework based on the results of several rounds of questionnaires sent to a panel of experts. Several rounds of questionnaires are sent out, and the anonymous responses are aggregated and shared with the group after each round. The experts are allowed to adjust their answers in subsequent rounds. Since multiple rounds of questions are asked and the panel is told what the group thinks as a whole, the Delphi method seeks to reach the correct response through consensus)

8. Advantages Specialists on a particular area will provide guidance. Disadvantage It require expert. Short/long term impact are merely examined on guess basis. Identification, prediction and interpretation of impacts are quite poor It gives no assurance that a comprehensive set of all relevant impacts have been studied.

9. Check list method Checklist means a listing of potential Environmental Impacts. This method is done to assess the nature of the impacts i.e. its type such as adverse /beneficial, short term or long term, no effect or significant impact, reversible or irreversible etc. in the actual implementation of check list one would place a cross or checkmark opposite to each item to indicate whether proposed project will have adverse/non beneficial impact on the item in question. the compilation of one general, all inclusive list of impact areas with applicability to all projects and conditions is difficult to use and may contain too generalized information. hence state agencies have prepared specific impact check list for different projects like highway, sewage treatment etc.

10. Types of check lists Simple Lists. Descriptive Checklists Scaling Checklists. Scaling Weighing checklist Simple Lists. Presents a list of parameters related to the project No guidelines on how to interpret and measure the parameter Does not help in decision making No information on cause effect relationship Strong in impact identification No information needed on magnitude or importance of impacts List of parameters without guidelines provided on how to interpret and measure an environmental parameter.

11. Descriptive Checklists Require information on magnitude or importance of impacts as well as indication on prediction methods and indicators Includes identification of environmental parameters and guide lines on how to measure data on particular parameter. Scaling Checklists. similar to a descriptive checklist, but with additional information on subjective scaling of the parameters List out environmental parameters Gives textual rating for impacts Nature of impact- Direct, Indirect, Cumulative, Long term, short term, severe moderate insignificant, Reversible, Irreversible Not suitable for impact measurement Scaling Weighing checklist Can be used for decision making- Comparing alternatives Impact identification, Impact measurement and evaluation

12. ADVANTAGES Simple to understand and use. Checklists provide all possible relationships and impacts, out of which a set tailored for the specific assignment may be chosen. Checklists help people in responsible positions to become more aware of what they should be looking for when assessing a proposed project. Checklists may also help to produce a higher degree of awareness of the environmental aspects of a project. Quantification of impacts is possible using the weighted-scale method. DISADVANTAGES Do not distinguish between direct and indirect impacts. Do not link action and impact. They are too general or incomplete They do not illustrate interactions between effects The number of categories to be reviewed can be immense, thus distracting from the most significant impacts The identification of effects is qualitative and subjective.

13. Overlays method Overlay methods involve preparation of a set of transparent maps, which represent the spatial distribution of environmental characteristics (e.g., Extent of dense forest area). Information on wide range of variables will be collected for standard geographical units within the study area which will be recorded on series of maps typically one for each variable. These maps will be overlaid to produce a composite. The resulting composite maps characterize the area's physical, social, ecological, land use and other relevant characteristics relative to the location of the proposed development. To evaluate the degree of associated impacts many project alternatives can be located on the final map and validity of the assessment will be related to the type and number of parameters chosen. Normally to have some clarity the number of parameters that can be over layed in a transparency map is limited to 10. These methods are widely used for assessing visually the changes in the landscape before and after the activity.

14. Normally to have some clarity the number of parameters that can be over layed in a transparency map is limited to 10. These methods are widely used for assessing visually the changes in the landscape before and after the activity. Secondly it can be used for preparing combined mapping with an analysis of sensitive areas or ecological carrying capacity. As these methods are spatially oriented they can very clearly show the spatial aspects of cumulative impacts. These maps are overlaid to produce a composite characterization of the regional environment. Impacts are identified by noting the impacted environmental characteristics lying within the project boundaries. The approach seems most useful as a method of screening alternative project sites or routes, before detailed impact analysis. Overlays can be useful for industrial EIA of any project for comparing land capabilities existing and projected land uses, road route alternatives and other under parameters, and alternative levels of air quality conditions along with pollution control

15. Advantages: It is easy to understand and use It has a good display It is good for setting site selection Disadvantages The overlay method can accommodate both qualitative and quantitative data. The weakness of the overlay method is that it is only moderate comprehensive, because there is no mechanism that requires consideration of all potential impacts. There is no provision for quantification and measurement of the impacts nor is it assured that all impacts will be covered. The overlay approach is generally effective for selecting alternatives and identifying certain types of impacts; however, it cannot be used to quantify impacts to identify secondary and tertiary interrelationships.

16. Network Method This method uses the matrix approach and extends it to include both the primary as well as the secondary impacts. It is shown in the form of a tree called impact tree. This diagram is also called as reference or sequence diagram. Identification of direct, indirect along with short, long term impact is a crucial and basic step of making an impact tree. The impact tree is used to identify cause-effect linkages. The impact tree is a visual description of linkages.

17. Advantages: It links action to impact. It is useful to check second order impacts in a simplified form. It handles direct and indirect impacts. Disadvantages: It becomes overly complex if used beyond simplified version. It is completely qualitative in nature

18. Matrix Method It identifies interaction between Project actions- Environmental Parameter. a matrix of potential interactions is produced by comparing these two lists (by placing Environmental items on Y axis and Project actions on X axis one of the earliest matrix method was developed by LeoPoid matrix. in this method, column of the matrix represents the project action and rows represents environmental conditions (temp., humidity, water level etc.) most of the matrices were built for specific applications. it can be made to suit the needs of any project that is to be evaluated. it should cover both the construction and operation phase of the project.

19. Types of matrix 1.Simple Interaction Matrix Method Example is Leopod Interaction Method 100 specified actions and 90 existing environmental conditions (Can be increased or decreased as per requirement) Environmental items (Y axis) and Project action (X axis) When an action is expected to cause an impact, the interaction box is marked with a diagonal line Magnitude (1 to 10)-Above the diagonal line Significance (1 to 10)- Below the diagonal line Can identify beneficial and adverse impacts by using + or – The Leopold matrix is the best known matrix methodology available for predicting the impact of a project on the environment.

20. It is a two dimensional matrix cross-referencing: the activities linked to the project that are supposed to have an impact on man and the environment. the existing environmental and social conditions that could possibly be affected by the project. The activities linked to the project are listed on one axis: raw material production, building construction, water supply, energy supply, raw material preparation, pulp and paper mills processing, gaseous emissions, liquid effluents, cooling water discharges, noise, solid wastes treatment and disposal, transportation. The environmental and social conditions are listed on the other axis, and divided in three major groups: physical conditions: soil, water, air…, biological conditions: fauna, flora, ecosystems…, social and cultural conditions: land use, historical and cultural issues, populations, economy…

21. The Leopold matrix proposes a three-step process to estimate the impact: First step : for all the interactions considered significant by the authors, the first step is to mark the corresponding boxes in the matrix with a diagonal line. Second step : once the boxes with supposed significant interactions are slashed, the author evaluates each box by applying a number from 1 to 10 (1 is the minimum and 10 the maximum) to register the magnitude of the interaction. This number is transferred to the upper left hand corner. It represents the scale of the action and its theoretical extent. Third step : the final step for this method is to mark (from 1 to 10), in the lower right hand corner, the real importance of the phenomenon for the given project. It then gives an evaluation of the extent of the environmental impact according to the assessor's judgement . 10 represent the greatest magnitude of impact. 1 is the least magnitude of impact (no zeroes). Before each number place + (if the impact would be beneficial).

22. 2.Stepped Matrix Method Also called cross impact matrix, can be used to address secondary and tertiary impacts of initiating actions Environmental factors displayed against project actions as well as other environmental factors Helps in identifying secondary impacts

23. Basic Rules of Matrix Method The objectives and assumptions must be clear. the matrices can be used creatively to identify the indirect impact, cumulative impact or combination of impacts. it is better to use colour codes and graphical symbols in the matrix. the development of a matrix doesnot implies that it needs to be used in the report, it may simply an element of a work.

24. Advantages of Metrix Method It presents an easily understood summary of a large number of primary impacts. It is a generalized but well defined approach, forcing a comprehensive consideration of environmental components and primary impacts. It is an easily performed process which can specify the overall character of a project early in the design phase. In an extended form, the method can include information about many impact attributes, and clarify the assumptions supporting the assessments. Matrices have low resource requirements.

25. Disadvantages of Metrix Method Difficult to distinguish direct and indirect impacts Significant potential for double-counting of impacts Qualitative

26. Socio economic impacts Socio-economic impacts are the influence of projects and/or programmes or policies on the human values, culture, living standard. Institutions undertaking large investment projects such as highways, air ports, sewerage systems, water resources projects stimulates secondary impacts in the form of associated investments and changes in socio-economic activities. These effects include changes in the existing community facilities and activities, induced new facilities in the next round and changes in natural conditions. All such effects may be substantial than the primary impacts of the original actions.

27. Displacement of people from a project area reduction in permanent population from the project area displaced people resettlement somewhere requiring economic cost, housing, water power, public services at new place, with cultural and psychological adjustments. During construction of project temporary population ( labourers and their families) will come to the project area. Such persons will be accommodated in the project area. They will need all kind of services for living. The area will undergo changes by the temporary population. All such changes will come under socio-economic changes of the project or Socio-economic Impacts Assessment (SIA)

28. a) Demographic impacts: Labour force, population shift, employment and multiplier effects, displacement and relocation and change in population make up b) Socio-economic Impacts Includes income and multiplier effects, employment rates and patterns, prices of local goods and services, taxation effects and property value c) Institutional Impacts : Demands on Government and Social Services NGO’s in the areas, housing, schools, policing, justice health and welfare d) Cultural Impacts : Such as those on traditional patterns of life and work, family structure, authority, religion, tribal factors, archaeological features and social work, community cohesion e) Gender Impacts: Implications of development projects on women’s role in society, income generating opportunities access to resources and employment opportunities

29. TYPES OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACTS 1. Physical Environment Land use- type of development, density, building height, design, intensity, etc. Infrastructure and public services like water supply, waste disposal, energy resources etc. 2. Social Environment Community facilities like location and capacity of school, neighbourhood , community, recreational and cultural activities, public transportation, etc. Employment centers and commercial facilities Community life, population size, housing conditions, etc.

30. 3. Aesthetic Environment Scenic areas, natural land scape Architectural character of existing building Proximity to significant historic, archeologic and architectural properties 4. Economic environment Employment and unemployment level Level and source of income Economic base of the area Land ownership including private, local, state, etc. Land value

31. SOCIO-ECONOMIC IMPACT ASSESSMENT METHODOLOGY The general methodology will include the following Step 1. Identification of potential socio-economic impact assessment . This is to identify the basic indicators to assess the environmental impacts of all kinds (air pollution, water pollution, noise pollution) which will effect human quality of life Other important factors will be a) demographic factors – population, density, literacy b) economic variables – land use patterns, income levels, price levels, employment/unemployment level, commercial activities c) social variables – patterns of life and work, ethnic composition, religious and tribal factors, public utilities d) project specific variables – displacement, business, recruitment of manpower, project technology

32. Step 2. Description of existing socio-economic or human environment of the project area Developing a social profile based on siting of projects. Step 3. Procurement of relevant standards, criteria and guidelines There are direct effects of pollutants/emissions on the public and whenever people are affected, health and welfare socio economic considerations become important. Step 4. Prediction of Socio-economic Impacts Prediction of Socio-economic Impacts with or without the project is an important technical exercise. There is no unique method for predicting the impacts yet four approaches are indicated: a) qualitative description b) quantitative description c) application specific prediction technique (may involve survey from secondary sources or qualitative descriptive approach like Delphi method or Historical analogies d) comparison of the effects of alternatives

33. Step 5. Assessment of Socio-economic Impact Assessment of socio-economic impacts with or without project in its surrounding areas is difficult as there are no established standards for these. Some impacts may be clearly visible and assessable such as: a) generation of employment for local people (+ ve impact) b) increase in earnings of people (+ ve impact) c) pressure on local services (- ve impact) d) increase in business and trade (+ ve impact) e) increase in crime rate in the region (- ve impact) f) interaction with outside people (+ ve impact) g) opening of attitudes of people (+ ve impact) There are no threshold levels of comparison for such impacts. They may be perceived on the basis of experience gained elsewhere about similar projects (historical analogy).

34. Professional judgment may also be important. Some projects might have broader impacts on National economy rather than local level impacts. The significance of such impacts may be judged by National goals, such as power generation, employment generation, income generation, irrigation, provision of food. Step 6. Mitigation Measures Though there is very little in the form of mitigation measure to reduce the adverse socio-economic impacts of the project. However, Some local benefits, particularly employment of the local people, rehabilitation and resettlement of project affected people will be mandatory by law. The project is a user of local resources and i it has to give back some benefits to the local population otherwise they resent its activities and the project functioning is put at risk. Mitigation measures will include, providing housing schools, colleges, hospital, power and other social services

35. ECOLOGICAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT Ecological Impact Assessment ( EcIA ) is a process of identifying, quantifying and evaluating potential effects of development-related or other proposed actions on habitats, species and ecosystems . The findings of an EcIA can help competent authorities understand ecological issues when determining applications for consent . EcIA can be used for the appraisal of projects of any scale including the ecological component of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). EcIA is a process that is most effective if all contributing ecologists and other specialists work in collaboration . An EcIA report (or the ecological chapter of an EIA Environmental Statement) should clearly and simply describe the significant effects of any project so that all interested parties understand the implications of what is proposed.

36. The key elements of the EcIA process are: Chapter 1 – Introduction Overview of the EcIA process and underpinning principles . Chapter 2 – Scoping Determining the matters to be addressed in the EcIA , including consultation to ensure the most effective input to defining the scope. Scoping is an ongoing process – the scope of the EcIA may be modified following further ecological survey/research and during impact assessment . Chapter 3 – Establishing the baseline Collecting information and describing the ecological conditions in the absence of the proposed project, to inform the assessment of impacts . Chapter 4 – Important ecological features Identifying important ecological features (habitats, species and ecosystems, including ecosystem function and processes) that may be affected, with reference to a geographical context in which they are considered important . Chapter 5 – Impact assessment An assessment of whether important ecological features will be subject to impacts and characterisation of these impacts and their effects. Assessment of residual ecological impacts of the project remaining after mitigation and the significance of their effects, including cumulative effects . Chapter 6 – Avoidance, mitigation, compensation and enhancement Incorporating measures to avoid, reduce and compensate ecological impacts, and the provision of ecological enhancements. Monitoring impacts of the development and evaluation of the success of proposed mitigation, compensation and enhancement measures . Chapter 7 – Consequences for decision making. Consideration of the legal and policy framework throughout the EcIA process.