Environmental Impact Assessment

By Akhil Gupta|Updated : May 1st, 2021

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  1. INTRODUCTION

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is the formal process used to predict policy, program or project prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. It is an important management tool for ensuring the optimal use of natural resources for sustainable development.  EIA is just an information-gathering exercise carried out by the developer and other bodies which enables a Local Planning Authority to understand the environmental effects of development before deciding whether it should go ahead or not.

It is meant to be a systematic process that leads to a final product, the Environmental Statement (ES). The ES has to address the direct and indirect effects of the development on a number of factors including the population, fauna, flora, soil, air, water, climatic factors, landscape and archaeology. The ES must also contain a non-technical summary so that involved persons can understand what is being proposed and its likely effects.

EIA has been addressed some of the basic factors listed below:

(i) Meteorology and air quality

(ii) Hydrology and water quality

(iii) Site and its surroundings

(iv) Occupational safety and health

(v) Transportation of raw material and details of material handling

(vi) Control equipment and measure proposed to be adopted

  • The objective of EIA is to ensure that development is sustained with minimal environmental degradation.
  • The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change has been assigned the responsibility for arraying out an environmental impact assessment in India.
  • The developmental projects are required to prepare an environmental impact statement covering the following:

(i) Effect on land including land degradation and subsidence

(ii) Deforestation and compensatory afforestation

(iii) Air and water pollution including groundwater pollution

(iv) Noise pollution and vibrations

(v) Flora and fauna, and loss of biological diversity

(vi) Socio-economic impact including human displacement, cultural loss and health aspects.

(vii) Risk analysis and disaster management

(viii) Recycling and the reduction of waste

(ix) Efficient use of inputs

  • The coverage of the project generally includes:

(a) Those requiring clearance from the public investment boards

(b) Projects referred by a state government or administrative ministers

(c) Projects in sensitive areas

(d) Projects on which there are public complaints

  • The environment impact assessment of development projects has so far been done on the basis of the ‘Executive Order’ issuing the provision of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1956 to ensure implementation of the suggested safeguards.

2. EIA RULES & REGULATIONS

The ElA regulations define two schedules of developments:

  1. For Schedule-1 projects, an ElA must always be carried out.
  2. For Schedule-2 projects, an EIA must be carried out if the development is likely to have a significant impact on the environment by virtue of its nature, size or location.

Examples of Schedule-1 projects include:

Major power plants, Chemical works, Waste disposal plants and Major road schemes etc.

Examples of Schedule-2 projects include:

Some intensive live-stock rearing, Overhead transmission lines, Surface storage of fossil fuel, Foundries and forges, Coke ovens, Manufacture of dairy products, Some textile operations, Rubber production, Wastewater treatment plants, Holiday villages and Golf courses etc.

3. ROLES OF PARTIES INVOLVED IN EIA

EIA involves many parties, grouped by their role definition within the process. The following section outlines the basic roles of various bodies:

(i) The Project Proponent

(ii) The Environmental Consultants

(iii) The State Pollution Control Board / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)

(iv) The Public

(v) The Impact Assessment Agency (IAA)

 4. STAGES IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS

EIA represents a systematic process that examines the environmental consequences of the development actions in advance. The emphasis of a EIA is on prevention and therefore It is more proactive than reactive in nature.

The EIA process involves a number of steps, some of which are listed below:

  • Project screening: This entails the application of EIA to those projects that may have significant environmental impacts.
  • Scoping: This step seeks to identify at an early stage of the key significant environmental Issues among a host of possible impacts of a project and all the available alternatives,
  • Consideration of alternatives: This seeks to ensure that the proponent has considered other feasible approaches including alternative project locations, scales, processes, layouts and operating condition,
  • Description of the project development action: This step seeks to clarify the purpose and rationale of the project and understand its various characteristics Including the stages of development, location and processes.
  • Description of the environmental baseline: This Includes the establishment of both the present and future state of the environment in the absence of the project by taking into account the changes resulting from natural events and from other human activities.
  • Identification of key impacts: This brings together the previous steps with a view to ensure that all potentially significant environmental impacts (adverse and beneficial) are Identified and taken into account in the process.
  • The prediction of impacts: This step aims to Identify the likely magnitude of the change (i.e„ Impact) in the environment when the project is implemented In comparison with the situation when the project is not carried out.
  • Evaluation and assessment of significance: This seeks to assess |ho relative significance of (lie predicted impacts to allow a focus on key adverse impacts. Formal definition of significance Is the product of consequence and likelihood. i.e. Significance = Consequence × Likelihood
  • Identifications of mitigating measures: This involves the Introduction of measures to avoid, reduce, remedy or compensate for any significant adverse impacts,
  • Public consultation and participation: This alms Io assure the quality, comprehensiveness and effectiveness of the El A, as well as to ensure that the views of public are adequately taken into consideration In the decision-making process.
  • EIS presentation: This is a vital step in the process. If done badly, much good work in the EIA may be negated.
  • Review of EIS: This involves a systematic appraisal of the quality of the EIS as a contribution to the decision-making process.
  • Decision-making: At this stage, decisions are made by the relevant authority of the EIS (including consultation responses) together with other material considerations as, whether to accept, defer or reject the project.
  • Post-decision monitoring: This involves examining the outcomes associated with development impacts, after the decision to proceed with the project. It can contribute to effective project management.
  • Auditing and predictions of mitigating measures: This follows monitoring and involves comparing actual outcomes with predicted outcomes. It provides a vital step in the EIA learning process.

The above figure shows that, it is a cyclical process involving feedback and interaction among the various steps and the sequence of the steps may also vary.

  1. ADVANTAGES OF EIA 

Reduced cost and lime of project Implementation.

Cost-saving modifications in project design.

Increased project acceptance.

  1. LIMITATIONS OF EIA  

EIA process provides advice to the decision-makers; it does not provide a final decision.

The implementation of the environmental policy focused on the EIA, and this led to overburdening process.

Public consultation and public participation are limited.

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