The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) process is an interdisciplinary and multistep procedure to ensure that environmental considerations are included in decisions regarding projects that may impact the environment. EIA process helps identify the possible environmental effects of a proposed activity and how those impacts can be mitigated. The EIA process is to inform decision-makers and the public of the ecological consequences of implementing a proposed project.  The EIA document itself is a technical tool that identifies, predicts, and analyzes impacts on the physical environment, as well as social, cultural, and health impacts. If the process is successful, it identifies alternatives and mitigation measures to reduce the environmental impact of a proposed project.

Depending on the EIA system, responsibility for producing an EIA will be assigned to one of two parties:

• the government agency or ministry,
• the project proponent.

If EIA laws permit, either party may opt to hire a consultant to prepare the EIA or handle specific portions of the EIA process, such as public participation or technical studies. Some laws require consultants to be registered with the government and professionally accredited in EIA preparation.

Benefits of EIA

• Potentially screens out environmentally-unsound projects
• Proposes modified designs to reduce environmental impacts
• Identifies feasible alternatives
• Predicts significant adverse impacts
• Identifies mitigation measures to reduce, offset, or eliminate significant impacts
• Engages and informs potentially affected communities and individuals
• Influences decision-making and the development of terms and conditions

EIA PROCESS

How an EIA is carried out is not rigid: it is a process comprising a series of steps. The main steps in the EIA process are:

Identifying and Defining the Project or Activity

The goal of this step is to define the project with enough specificity to accurately determine the zone of possible impacts and to include activities that are closely connected with the proposal so that the entire scope of the environmental effects is evaluated.

Screening

The process determines whether a particular project warrants the preparation of an EIA. Requirements for an EIA vary from country to country – some states provide a list of the types of activities or projects that will require an EIA. In contrast, others require an EIA for any project that may have a significant impact on the environment or for projects that exceed a specific monetary value.  Occasionally if the possible effects of a project are unknown, a preliminary environmental assessment is prepared to determine whether the project warrants an EIA.

Scoping

This is a stage that involves the public and other interested parties. It identifies the critical environmental issues that should be addressed in an EIA.  At this stage, members of the society and NGOs learn about the proposed project and freely air out their opinions. This stage may reveal similar or connected activities that may be occurring in the locality of a project, or identify problems that need to be mitigated or that may cause the project to be canceled. Scoping is essential for two reasons. First, so that problems can be pinpointed early, allowing mitigating design changes to be made before expensive detailed work is carried out. Second, to ensure that complete prediction work is only carried out for critical issues. Significant activity in this stage is to identify key interest groups, both governmental and non-governmental, and to establish good lines of communication. People who are affected by the project need to hear about it as soon as possible. Their knowledge and perspectives may have a significant bearing on the focus of the EIA. The following techniques are used for scoping:

• Checklist technique
• Matrix technique
• Networks technique
• Overlay technique

Preparing Terms of Reference

The Terms of Reference serve as a roadmap for EIA preparation and should ideally encompass the issues and impacts that have been identified during the third stage of EIA. A draft Terms of Reference may be made available for public review and comment.  Public report at this early stage of the process provides a pivotal opportunity to ensure that the EIA is appropriately framed and will address issues of community concern.

Preparing Draft EIA

A draft EIA is made following the Terms of Reference and the range of issues identified during the scoping process. It must also meet the content requirements of the overarching EIA law or regulations.  This step will ideally engage a wide range of technical specialists to evaluate baseline conditions, predict the likely impacts of the project, and design mitigation measures.

Public Participation

Projects or programs have significant impacts on the local population. At the same time, as the aim is to improve the well being of the community, a lack of understanding of the people and their society may result in development that has considerable negative consequences. This process also engages the public at numerous points throughout the process with a two-way exchange of information and views. The level of consultation will vary depending on the type of plan or project. New projects involving resettlement or displacement will require the most extensive public participation. The purpose of an EIA is to improve projects, and this, to some extent, can only be achieved by involving those people directly or indirectly affected. The value of environmental amenities is not absolute, and agreement is one way of establishing values. A public consultation will reveal new information, improve understanding, and enable better choices to be made. Without discussion, legitimate issues may not be heard, leading to conflict and unsustainability.

Preparing Final EIA