The Environmental Impact

Assessment Process
 Major steps in the EIA process are:
 Screening
 Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
 Scoping
 Full-Scale Assessment
 EIA Review and Decision Making
 Monitoring and Follow-Up
1
 Initial Environmental IEE
Screening Examination (IEE) Review

EIA
Scoping/ Required EIA Not
Terms of
Required
You are here Reference

Full-Scale
EIA
EIA
Approved
EIA Decision EIA Audit and
Making Monitoring
Review Evaluation
EIA Not
Approved
Evaluate
Options

2
 Screening
 It would be time consuming and a waste of
resources for all proposed projects and activities to
undergo EIA

 Not all development projects require an EIA, as

some projects may not pose an environmental threat

 Screening is the process used to determine whether

a proposed project or activity requires an EIA and, if
so, what level of environmental review is necessary
3
 Purpose
 Identify those projects or activities that may cause
potential significant impacts

 Identify special conditions/analyses that may be

required by international funding bodies

 Categorize the project as one where:

» Full-Scale EIA required
» Some further environmental analysis required
» No further environmental analysis required
4
 Typical Proposals
Requiring Full-Scale EIA
 Infrastructure projects
 Large-scale industrial activities
 Resource extractive industries and activities
 Waste management and disposal
 Substantial changes in farming or fishing practices

5
 Screening Techniques
 Assessor or decision-maker discretion

 Project lists with thresholds and triggers

 Exclusion project lists

 Preliminary or initial EIAs

 Combination of these techniques

6
 Screening Criteria
» Screening criteria typically consider:

 Project type, location, size (e.g., capital investment,

number of people affected, project capacity, areal
extent)

 Receiving environment characteristics

 Strength of community opinion

 Confidence in prediction of impacts 7

 Project Location
Requirements for screening:
 The screening checklist should include a section on
site location characteristics, including, at a minimum,
the four categories of environmentally critical areas:

» National Parks
» Indigenous people’s area
» Tourist area
» Ecologically sensitive area
8
 Project Location (Cont’d)
 Site selection defines the location of the study area
and the specific environmental resource base to be
examined

 Often the single most important factor contributing

to a project’s potential negative impacts

 Regional development plans should be used as

guides to select project locations where
environmental conditions will be minimally
impacted
9
 Example Project Screening
Criteria from Thailand
Type of Project Threshold Scale Location

1. Infrastructure
• Commercial Airport All -
• Mass Transit System All -
• Hotel or Resort > 80 Rooms 4 Critical
Areas

2. Agriculture and Natural

Resources
• Dam or Reservoir >100 million cu. m.
• Irrigation > 15 sq. km.

10
Example Project Screening Criteria
from Thailand (Cont’d)
Type of Project Threshold Scale Location

3. Industrial and Power

• Petrochemical Industry > 100 tons/day (raw material)
• Oil Refinery All
• Chlor-Alkaline Industry All
• Natural Gas Separation 100 tons/day (output)
• Iron/Steel 100 tons/day, batch
• Cement Industry All
• Smelting > 50 tons/day
• Pulp Industry > 50 tons/day
• Industrial Estates All
• Thermal Power Plants > 10 megawatts
• Mining All

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 Asian Development Bank (ADB)
Screening Categories
All Projects

Category A Category B Category C

Projects that Projects that Projects that

typically require an typically require typically do not
EIA study only an IEE require an IEE

Examples: Examples:
Examples: • Renewable Energy • Forestry Research &
• Forest Industries • Aquaculture Extension
• Water Impoundment • Tourism Development • Rural Health Services
• Industries • Infrastructure • Marine Sciences
Rehabilitation Education
Project Screening Flow Chart
Project type on project screening NO
checklist?
YES
NO
Project scale above the
screening threshold?
YES Project located in a critical
area?
NO
YES
IAA funding, or any other special
Will the project be funded by circumstances?
an IAA? NO

YES
NO
Get specific IAA NO
requirements

YES No initial
Prepare the work plan for the initial environmental
environmental examination (IEE) examination
required (IEE)
 Initial Environmental IEE
Screening Examination (IEE) Review

EIA
Scoping/ Required EIA Not
You are here Terms of
Reference
Required

Full-Scale
EIA
EIA
Approved
EIA Decision EIA Audit and
Making Monitoring
Review Evaluation
EIA Not
Approved
Evaluate
Options

14
 Initial Environmental
Examination

 Initial environmental examination (IEE) is

intended as a low-cost environmental
evaluation that makes use of information
already available
15
 Purpose of IEE
 Describes the proposed project or activity and
examines alternatives

 Identifies and addresses community concerns to

extent possible

 Identifies and assesses potential environmental

effects
 Directs future action 16
 Objectives of IEE
 Identify all potential environmental concerns
relating to a proposed project or activity
 Identify all significant environmental issues (SEIs)
 Resolve simple SEIs
 Develop the focus for follow-up studies based on
unresolved SEIs

17
 Possible IEE Outcomes
1. No requirement for further environmental study;
proposal not anticipated to have significant impact.

2. Limited environmental study needed;

environmental impacts are known and can be easily
mitigated.

3. Full-scale EIA required; impacts unknown or likely

to be significant.

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 IEE in the Overall EIA Process
Initial Environmental Examination
Project 1. Identifies potential significant
Screening environmental issues associated with a
Identifies projects project
that typically contain
potential significant
2. Grades effects and identifies actual
issues Significant Environmental Issues
(SEIs)
3. Resolves simple SEIs
4. Recommends further action for
resolving outstanding SEIs

Full-Scale EIA or Other

Additional Study
Resolves any remaining significant
environmental issues
 IEE Flow Chart
1. Identify Potential Significant
2. Obtain Information
Environmental Issues

4. Resolve SEIs Where Possible 3. Effects Classification/

(Review Alternatives/Develop Identification of Significant
Environmental Management Plans Environmental Issues (SEIs)
and Protection Measures)

IEE is the final EIA The IEE makes

Report, including: YES NO recommendations for
1. SEIs 5. Are all SEIs
further study:
2. EPM (Env. Plan. resolved?
Full-Scale EIA
Manag
 Identification of Potential Significant
Issues
1. Identify valued environmental/ecosystem
components (VECs)
» Professional judgment/past experience
» Legislative requirements
» Stakeholder and community values

2.Identify the potential for impacts to each VEC

3. Identify potential for cumulative impacts

(i.e.,to the site as a whole and to the region)
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 Commonly Considered VECs
 Natural physical resources (e.g., surface and
groundwater, air, climate, soil)

 Natural biological resources (e.g., forests, wetlands,

river and lake ecology)

 Economic development resources (e.g., agriculture,

industry, infrastructure, tourism)
 Quality of life (e.g., public health, socio-economic,
cultural, aesthetics)

 National commitments (e.g., endangered species

22
protection)
 Methods for Identifying Potential
Impacts to VECs
 Matrices
» Sectoral

» Project type

 Checklists

 Professional expertise and experience with similar

project types

 Combination of techniques 23
 Airports
Projects

Highways
Development

Rapid Transit

Significant Impact
Oil/Gas Pipelines
(VEC)

Ports and Harbours

Component
Valued Env.

Surface Water Quality

Air Quality
Seismology/Geology
Erosion
Land Quality
Fisheries
Forests

Moderate - Significant Impact

Terrestrial Wildlife
Noise
Land Use
Aesthetics
Industries
Resettlement
Archaeological/Historical
Sectoral Matrix Example

Public Health
Socioeconomic
Insignificant Impact
 Project Checklist Example
Actions Affecting
Resources and Values: Potential Damages:

1. Disruption of Hydrology 1. Impairment of Other Beneficial

2. Resettlement Water Uses
3. Encroachment on Precious 2. Social Inequities
Ecology 3. Loss of these Values
4. Encroachment on Historic/ 4. Loss of these Values
Cultural Values 5. Conflicts with Other Beneficial
5. Cooling Tower Obstruction Water Uses
6. Regional Flooding Hazard 6. Hazard to Plant Operations
7. Waste Emissions Related to 7. Intensification of Problems of
Siting Pollution Control

EIA Procedures and Decision Making 25

 Considerations in Determining
Potential Effects
 Impacts to:
» individual VECs
» entire site (i.e., impacts to all VECs combined)
» cumulative impacts to the area (i.e., considering other
existing and planned projects)

 Impacts from all phases of the project (i.e.,

construction, operation, decommissioning)

 Impacts on different time-scales

 Impacts from different orders of impact
26
 Orders of Impact Example
River Embankment

First Order Dry Flood Plains

Second Order Loss of Plain Fisheries

Third Order Loss of Fisheries Income

Fourth Order Social Tension and Poverty Intensified

 Data Requirements
 Project
» Type
» Size
» Location

 Area of potential impact

» Physical resources
» Biological resources
» Economic development resources
» Quality of life
» Other existing and planned projects
28
 Sources of Information
 Existing reports on environmental resources in the area

 Previous assessment reports

» IEE and EIA reports on similar project types
» Reports on other projects in the region that may cause similar
disturbances

 Regional planning, policy and other reports

 Field studies

 Local citizens and traditional knowledge

29
 Effects Classification
Effects vary in significance, depending on their:
 Nature: positive, negative, direct, indirect,
cumulative, synergistic

 Magnitude
 Extent/location: area/volume covered, distribution

 Timing: during construction, operation,

decommissioning, immediate, delayed, rate of
change

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 Effects Classification (Cont’d)

 Duration: short-term, long-term, intermittent,

continuous

 Reversibility/irreversibility

 Likelihood: risk, uncertainty or confidence in the

prediction
31
 Criteria for Evaluating
Potential Effects
 Importance of affected resource

 Magnitude and extent of disturbance

 Duration and frequency

 Risk/likelihood of occurrence
 Reversibility

 Contribution to cumulative impacts

32
 Options for Addressing SEIs
1. Resolve SEIs within IEE
» Number of different strategies for addressing SEIs
» Strategies chosen will depend on the number, type, and
significance of identified SEIs

2. Identify need for future studies to address SEIs

(e.g., full-scale EIA or other detailed studies)

33
 Possible Strategies for
Resolving SEIs Within the IEE
 Re-evaluate regional plans (e.g., to address
cumulative impacts with other planned projects)

 Review project options (i.e., alternatives and

modifications)

 Evaluate site mitigation strategies; including

compensation strategies

 Likely will use a combination of strategies

34
 Examples of Project Alternatives
 No-build alternative
 Demand alternatives (e.g., using existing energy
capacity more efficiency rather than building more
capacity)

 Activity alternatives (e.g., providing public transport

rather than increasing road capacity)

 Location alternatives 35
 More Examples of
Project Alternatives
 Process alternatives (e.g., re-use of process water,
reducing waste, different logging methods)

 Scheduling alternatives (e.g., timing of project

construction)

 Input alternatives (e.g., use of different raw

materials or sources of energy)
36
 Effects Significance Grading

No effect
Increasing Insignificant effect
Severity
Unknown significant effect
Significant effect, resolution is within the
scope of the IEE
Significant effect, resolution is outside the
scope of the IEE

37
 Where To from Here?
No Further
Action
Issues with: No Effect Required:
Write up
Issues with: Insignificant Effect findings in brief IEE

Issues with: Unknown

Significant Effect
Issues with: Significant Effects
within the Scope of the IEE

Issues with: Significant Effects

outside the Scope of the IEE
Action Required:
Identify Information Action Required:
Needs and Tasks Develop the
Required to Resolve Environmental
Outstanding Issues In Management Plan &
Additional Studies Protection Measures to
Write up findings and Resolve Issues
recommendations in IEE report
 Example IEE Report Contents
1. Description of the Project
2. Description of the Environment
3. Screening of Potential Environmental Issues and
Rationale for their Significance Grading
4. Environmental Protection Measures
5. Environmental Monitoring and
Institutional Requirements
6. Recommendations for Additional Studies
7. Conclusions

39
Screening Initial Environmental IEE
Examination (IEE) Review

EIA
Scoping/ Required EIA Not
Terms of
Required
Reference

Full-Scale
EIA
EIA
You are here
Approved
EIA Decision EIA Audit and
Making Monitoring
Review Evaluation

EIA Not
Approved
Evaluate
Options

40
Terms of Reference Context
IEE Review: Project
Yes
IEE All potential Proceeds
SEIs resolved according to
terms of IEE

No
Terms of Reference
1. Background
2. Impact Issues
Significant Issues Full-Scale
Relevant Resources EIA
Report Formatting
3. Work Plan
When/Who/How of Task Completion
 Scoping
 A process of interaction between government
agencies and project proponents

 Identifies:
» spatial and temporal boundaries for the EIA
» important issues and concern
» information necessary for decision making
» significant effects and factors to be considered

 Establishes Terms of Reference for full-scale EIA

42
 Importance of Scoping
 Serves to facilitate efficient EIA by identifying
appropriate areas for consideration (e.g, key issues,
concerns, alternatives)

 Reduces likelihood of deficiencies in EIA (e.g.,

ensures that important issues are not overlooked)

 Prevents unnecessary expenditures and time delays

from oversights or unnecessary areas of study

43
 Terms of Reference Content

Background information section should include:

 Project Description (i.e., type, magnitude, location,
alternatives and constraints)

 Environmental Setting (i.e.,listing of environmental

resources and sensitive or special value areas)

 Background Reports (e.g., aspects of the

environmental setting, previous projects with
relevant impacts or resources)
44
 Terms of Reference Content (Cont’d)
Specific EIA requirements typically include:

 EIA objectives
 Institutional context (i.e., legal and policy
requirements)

 Significant issues of concern (SEIs)

 Required information and data,
methodologies for impact assessment

 Process for incorporating public input 45

 Work Plan Example
Detailed Task Assignment Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5

1. Waterlogging and Soil Salinity

2. Field Data: Collate, Fill Gaps, Organize
3. Models: Review, Verify, Reconcile
4. Drainage: Develop Final Criteria,
Perform Design
5. Compile Report
6. Land Acquisition and Resettlement
7. Project Proponent Document: Review
and Verify
8. Environmental Impact
9. Social Impact and Equity
10. Public Participation
11. Monitoring and Evaluation
 Initial Environmental IEE
Screening Examination (IEE) Review

EIA
Scoping/ EIA Not
Required
You are here Terms of
Reference
Required

Full-Scale
EIA
EIA
Approved
EIA Decision EIA Audit and
Review Making Monitoring
Evaluation
EIA Not
Approved
Evaluate
Options

EIA Procedures and Decision Making 47

 EIA in the Project Cycle
Conventional Project
Corresponding Environmental
Planning
Protection Activity
Project Initial Environmental
Reconnaissance Survey
Screening
Examination

Pre-feasibility Study Environmental Impact

Assessment
Feasibility Study
Checking Design
Final Design
Monitoring Construction
Construction
Monitoring Operations and
Environmental Effects
Operation

48
 Evaluate the IEE’s Treatment of Significant Issues

Identify Information Gaps Review Impact Pathways

Conduct Field Research

Conduct Public Participation
Perform Impact Prediction
Perform Risk Assessment

Evaluate Economic Impacts Review Applicable Standards

Design Environmental Protection Measures

Design Monitoring Program

Prepare Environmental Management Plan

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 Full-Scale EIA Overview
 Input = Outstanding SEIs from IEE

 Assessment phase:
» Qualitative/quantitative analysis of SEI
» SEI impact significance

 Mitigation development phase:

» Select appropriate mitigation measures
» Residual impact significance 50
  Checklists
 Matrices

Qualitative
 Networks

 Overlays/GIS

 Expert Systems


51

Risk Assessment
Quantitative
EIA Impact Identification Methods
 Selection of Appropriate Methods

 Type and size of proposal

 Type of alternatives being assessed
 Nature of likely impacts
 Experience using EIA methods
 Resources available
 Nature of public involvement
 Procedural/administrative requirements

52
 Checklists

ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Simple to understand  Do not distinguish
and use between direct and
indirect impacts
 Good for site
selection and priority  Do not link action and
setting impact

 Qualitative
53
 Matrices
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Link action to  Difficult to
impact distinguish direct and
 Good method for indirect impacts
displaying EIA  Significant potential
results for double-counting
of impacts
 Qualitative

54
 Networks
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Link action to  Can become overly
impact complex if used
 Useful in simplified beyond simplified
form in checking for version
second order
impacts
 Handles direct and
 Qualitative
indirect impacts

55
 Overlays
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Easy to understand  Address only direct
and use impacts
 Good display  Do not address
method impact duration or
probability
 Good for site
selection setting

56
 Expert Systems
ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Excellent for impact  Heavy reliance on
identification and knowledge and data
analysis  Often complex and
 Good for expensive
experimenting
 Semi-quantitative to
quantitative

57
 Impact Significance
Determination
Impact Impact
Impact
Characteristics x Importance = Significance
(e.g., spatial extent) (e.g., value)

58
 Characteristics Affecting
Impact Significance

 Nature of impact (e.g., positive, negative,

synergistic)
 Extent and magnitude
 Timing (i.e., construction, operation, closure)
 Duration (i.e., short, chronic, intermittent)
 Reversibility/irreversibility
 Likelihood (i.e., probability, uncertainty)
59
 Some Criteria for Significance
 Importance: the value that is attached to the affected
environmental component
 Extent of disturbance: the area expected to be
impacted
 Duration and frequency of disturbance
 Reversibility
 Risk: probability of an unplanned incident caused by
the project
60
 Assessing Significance
 Considerable expert judgment and technical
knowledge are often required to fully understand
the nature and extent of environmental impacts

 Categories of significance include:

» no impact » unknown impact
» significant impact » mitigated impact
» insignificant impact
61
 Guidelines for Assessing Significance
 Use rational and objective methods
 Provide consistency for comparison of project
alternatives
 Document values and beliefs used in making
judgement decisions
 Apply impact significance criteria, e.g.,
» Ecological importance/sustainability criteria
» Social importance
» Environmental standards 62
 Ecological Importance
 Effect on plant and animal habitat
 Rare and endangered species
 Ecosystem resilience, sensitivity, biodiversity and
carrying capacity
 Population viability
 Community viability

63