OVERVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS

OVERVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS

Lesson Learning Goals At the end of this lesson you should be able to:
Flow-chart the overall environmental impact assessment (EIA) process and describe step-by-step assessment procedures Define, and illustrate with examples, key terminology used in EIA Describe, with examples, methods for identifying environmental impacts and their significance Identify common shortcomings concerning the application of EIA in practice EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

You are here EIA Required EIA Not Required EIA Approved EIA Not
Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) IEE Review Screening EIA Required Scoping/ Terms of Reference EIA Not Required You are here Full-Scale EIA EIA Approved Decision Making Monitoring EIA Review EIA Audit and Evaluation EIA Not Approved Evaluate Options EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Screening Techniques Assessor or decision-maker discretion
Project lists with thresholds and triggers Exclusion project lists Preliminary or initial EIAs Combination of these techniques EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Example Project Screening Criteria from Thailand
Type of Project 1. Infrastructure Commercial Airport Mass Transit System Hotel or Resort Threshold Scale All > 80 Rooms Location - 4 Critical Areas 2. Agriculture and Natural Resources Dam or Reservoir Irrigation >100 million cu. m. > 15 sq. km. SLIDE 8 NOTES ANNEX A PROJECT SCREENING CRITERIA IN THAILAND 1.OVERVIEW This slide shows the project screening criteria used in Thailand. Column headings represent the three criteria used to determine whether a project requires an IEE: type, size, location. 2.TYPE OF PROJECT Thailand's project screening criteria define many types of projects which require an IEE. Most of these are in the industrial and power sector. This is not surprising since such projects typically have the most severe potential significant environmental issues. In the agriculture and natural resource sector, water resources projects are targeted for environmental impact assessment. These projects typically impact terrestrial and aquatic biological resources and may have both positive and negative significant impacts on quality of life resources for the population in the study area. 3.THRESHOLD SCALE The threshold scale for each project type is well defined. It is listed in units appropriate to the specific project type, or as "All" for project types for which an EIA is required irrespective of size. 4.LOCATION The use of sensitive locations as a requirement for an IEE has not been well developed in Thailand, except for hotel or resort projects. Several of the other project types listed could have severe environmental issues at sizes well below the threshold scale, if they were located in environmentally sensitive areas. For example, a reservoir of only 10 square kilometers could have severe environmental issues if located in a wildlife refuge. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Example Project Screening Criteria from Thailand (Cont’d)
Type of Project Threshold Scale Location 3. Industrial and Power Petrochemical Industry Oil Refinery Chlor-Alkaline Industry Natural Gas Separation Iron/Steel Cement Industry Smelting Pulp Industry Industrial Estates Thermal Power Plants Mining > 100 tons/day (raw material) All 100 tons/day (output) 100 tons/day, batch > 50 tons/day > 10 megawatts SLIDE 8 NOTES ANNEX A PROJECT SCREENING CRITERIA IN THAILAND 1.OVERVIEW This slide shows the project screening criteria used in Thailand. Column headings represent the three criteria used to determine whether a project requires an IEE: type, size, location. 2.TYPE OF PROJECT Thailand's project screening criteria define many types of projects which require an IEE. Most of these are in the industrial and power sector. This is not surprising since such projects typically have the most severe potential significant environmental issues. In the agriculture and natural resource sector, water resources projects are targeted for environmental impact assessment. These projects typically impact terrestrial and aquatic biological resources and may have both positive and negative significant impacts on quality of life resources for the population in the study area. 3.THRESHOLD SCALE The threshold scale for each project type is well defined. It is listed in units appropriate to the specific project type, or as "All" for project types for which an EIA is required irrespective of size. 4.LOCATION The use of sensitive locations as a requirement for an IEE has not been well developed in Thailand, except for hotel or resort projects. Several of the other project types listed could have severe environmental issues at sizes well below the threshold scale, if they were located in environmentally sensitive areas. For example, a reservoir of only 10 square kilometers could have severe environmental issues if located in a wildlife refuge. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Asian Development Bank (ADB) Screening Categories
All Projects Category A Projects that typically require an EIA study Category C Projects that typically do not require an IEE Category B Projects that typically require only an IEE Examples: Forestry Research & Extension Rural Health Services Marine Sciences Education Forest Industries Water Impoundment Industries Renewable Energy Aquaculture Tourism Development Infrastructure Rehabilitation SLIDE 9 NOTES ANNEX A ASIAN DEVELOPMENT BANK PROJECT CATEGORIES 1.OVERVIEW This slide shows the categories used by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) to differentiate between projects which require different levels of environmental review. For projects that are anticipated to be funded by ADB, every effort should be made to adhere to ADB procedure from the earliest project development stages. The categorization procedure is explained in Section 21 of ADB's Operations Manual entitled "Environmental Considerations in Bank Operations". The band uses the categorization to prioritize projects that will require the involvement of ADB environmental specialists. Project categorization can be incorporated into a country's national procedures for project screening to facilitate the prioritization of environmental resource assessment expertise. Section 21 of ADB's Operations Manual is reproduced in full in Annex B. 2.PROJECT CATEGORY A Projects in this category typically require an EIA. The project type, scale and location determine this designation. The potential significant environmental issues for these projects may lead to significant changes in land use, as well as changes to the social, physical, and biological environment. ADB suggests that an environmental specialist's advice will be required to determine the scope of the EIA necessary for compliance with ADB's environmental policies. Bank personnel are involved in this category of project from early field reconnaissance through EIA review. Additional examples of projects which fall under this category are provided in Section 21 of ADB's Operations Manual which is reproduced in full in Annex B. 3.PROJECT CATEGORY B This category is for projects that usually require an Initial Environmental Examination, but not an EIA study. Often the only difference between projects in this category and those in category A is the scale. Large power plant projects fall under category A; medium-sized power plant projects are in category B. The environmental impacts from these projects are generally less severe than projects in category A, and these projects are not located in environmentally sensitive areas. Mitigation measures for these projects are more easily prescribed. The Bank suggests that an environmental specialist will be required to assist in formulating the Terms of Reference for the IEE so that the IEE report will comply with the bank policies. Additional examples of projects which fall under this category are provided in Section 21 of ADB's Operations Manual which is reproduced in full in Annex B. 4.PROJECT CATEGORY C This category is for projects that typically do not require an environmental assessment. These projects are unlikely to have adverse environmental impacts.

World Bank Screening Categories
Category A: An EIA is typically required Category B: An IEE is usually sufficient Category C: Typically no environmental review is required Category D: Environmental Projects Environmental review required, but may be incorporated in feasibility study ALL PROJECTS SLIDE 10 NOTES ANNEX A WORLD BANK PROJECT CATEGORIES 1.OVERVIEW This slide lists the project categories used by the World Bank to differentiate among projects which require different levels of environmental review. For projects that are anticipated to be funded by the World Bank, every effort should be made to adhere to the Bank's procedure from the earliest project development stages. The categorization procedure is explained in the World Bank's Operational Manual under Operational Directive This directive is reproduced in full in Annex B. The World Bank's categorization differs from that of ADB in two ways. First, the IEE is part of the project screening step, so although Category B projects require an environmental assessment reduced in scale from that of an EIA, an IEE is not mentioned. The second difference is that a fourth category - Category D - is used. The purpose of this category is defined below. 2.PROJECT CATEGORY A Projects in this category typically require an EIA. The potential significant environmental issues for these projects may lead to significant changes in land use, as well as changes to the social, physical, and biological environment. This category is identical to that of ADB. 3 .PROJECT CATEGORY B This category is for projects that usually require an environmental review but at a scope less than an EIA study. This category is essentially the same as Category B for ADB. 4.PROJECT CATEGORY C This category is for projects that typically do not require an environmental assessment. These projects are unlikely to have adverse environmental impacts. This is the same as ADB's Category C. 5.PROJECT CATEGORY D This is a category specific to the World Bank for environmental resource projects that require environmental studies at the level of an EIA. As an environmental project, the main focus of the project's feasibility study will be an environmental review. A separate EIA may not be required for these projects as the environmental issues will be addressed in the feasibility study. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Project Screening Flow Chart
Project type on project screening checklist? NO YES Project scale above the screening threshold? NO Project located in a critical area? YES NO YES IAA funding, or any other special circumstances? Will the project be funded by an IAA? NO YES NO Get specific IAA requirements NO YES No initial environmental examination required (IEE) Prepare the work plan for the initial environmental examination (IEE)

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) IEE Review Screening EIA Required Scoping/ Terms of Reference EIA Not Required You are here Full-Scale EIA EIA Approved EIA Review Decision Making Monitoring EIA Audit and Evaluation EIA Not Approved Evaluate Options EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Initial Environmental Examination
Initial environmental examination (IEE) is intended as a low-cost environmental evaluation that makes use of information already available EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 OBJECTIVES OF THE INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION (IEE) 1. OVERVIEW The objectives of the IEE are to: (1) identify all of the potential environmental issues associated with the project type and location; (2) from the complete set of potential SEIs, determine which are applicable to the specific project; (3) evaluate the significance of each issue's impact on environmental resources, (4) decide which issues may be resolved in the IEE and which require an EIA, (5) resolve all issues possible within the scope of the IEE, (6) develop recommendations for additional studies to resolve outstanding issues. 2. IDENTIFY ALL POTENTIAL SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES (SEIs) AND DETERMINE THOSE THAT APPLY TO A SPECIFIC PROJECT The IEE, as its name suggests, is the initial examination of a project's environmental issues. The examination should be time and resource efficient, using existing information on the environmental resources of the area whenever possible. This function of the IEE may be viewed as a low-cost scoping study that identifies environmental issues to be resolved. A number of methods may be used to facilitate the identification of potential SEIs typical to specific project types, or projects of a particular development sector. These methods are discussed in later slides. The potential SEIs are checked against the project and study area information to determine the actual environmental issues for a particular project. The issues must be evaluated and graded according to their significance and complexity of resolution. 3. RESOLVE ALL SIMPLE SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES A work plan should be created for the simple SEIs that may be resolved within the scope of the IEE. These are the SEIs that may be resolved by easily identified and applied environmental protection measures. For these types of SEIs, the IEE can take the place of an EIA, and if no complex SEIs are found, an EIA may not be necessary. 4. DEVELOP FOCUS FOR FOLLOW-UP STUDIES Complex SEIs must be resolved through follow-up studies whose scope allow for extensive field work, in-depth analysis, and whatever else is required. Recommendations to resolve these issues must be developed and included in the IEE report. If these recommendations are accepted by reviewing agencies, the IEE will have additional responsibility of creating a complete terms of reference for the recommended study. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

IEE in the Overall EIA Process
Project Screening Identifies projects that typically contain potential significant issues Initial Environmental Examination 1. Identifies potential significant environmental issues associated with a project 2. Grades effects and identifies actual 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 SLIDE 2 NOTES FLOW CHART LINKING THE FUNCTIONS OF PROJECT SCREENING INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 1. OVERVIEW This slide shows the functional linkage between these three steps in the Environmental Impact Assessment process. 2. PROJECT SCREENING Project screening identifies the projects that typically contain potential Significant Environmental Issues. The projects are identified, or selected, using screening criteria based on project type, size, and location. Projects that are selected must pass through an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) so that Significant Environmental Issues (SEIs) may be identified, and when possible, resolved. 3. INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION The IEE performs four important functions. 1) It identifies the potential SEIs associated with a project. These potential SEIs are effects on environmental resources that may result from various components of a project. They may be related to the design, the construction, or the operation phase of the project. 2) It determines the actual environmental issues for the specific project and grades them according to their significance and whether or not they may be resolved within the scope of the IEE. 3) The SEIs that are simple enough to be resolved within the scope of the IEE are pursued. Environmental protection measures and an environmental management plan are developed. Projects for which all issues have been resolved in the IEE use the IEE in place of an EIA. 4) For SEIs that cannot be resolved within the scope of the IEE, recommendations are made for the work required for resolution. 4. THE EIA The EIA is used to resolve complex environmental issues. The IEE is very important for the EIA because it focuses the tasks to be performed in the study on specific complex issues, and develops the background on these issues. The EIA is a much more efficient study when it can draw on the work of the IEE.

IEE Flow Chart 1. Identify Potential Significant Environmental Issues 2. Obtain Information 3. Effects Classification/ Identification of Significant Environmental Issues (SEIs) 4. Resolve SEIs Where Possible (Review Alternatives/Develop Environmental Management Plans and Protection Measures) The IEE makes recommendations for further study: Full-Scale EIA IEE is the final EIA Report, including: 1. SEIs 2. EPM 3. EMP 5. Are all SEIs resolved? YES NO SLIDE NOTES FLOW CHART OF THE FUNCTIONAL STEPS IN THE INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION 1. OVERVIEW This slide shows the steps involved in performing an Initial Environmental Examination. Each of these steps will be described in the slide series. 2. USE OF THIS SLIDE The information contained in this slide was for the most part presented in the previous slide. This graphical representation may aid some participants' comprehension through reiteration of the steps in a pictorial format. In addition, the critical step of data collection is included here.

Identification of Potential Significant Issues
1. Identify valued environmental/ecosystem components (VECs) Professional judgement/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) EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 protection) CLASSIFICATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCES 1. OVERVIEW This listing of environmental resources is useful as a general checklist, but as with environmental screening checklists, it lacks situation specific information. 2. CLASSIFICATION Environmental resources can be separated into four classifications for environmental assessment work. These classifications provide a minimum of overlap in specific resource impact assessment. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Methods for Identifying Potential Impacts to VECs
Matrices Sectoral Project type Checklists Professional expertise and experience with similar project types Combination of techniques EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Sectoral Matrix Example
Ports and Harbours Airports Rapid Transit Highways Oil/Gas Pipelines Development Projects Valued Env. Component (VEC) Archaeological/Historical Surface Water Quality Seismology/Geology Terrestrial Wildlife Socioeconomic Resettlement Public Health Land Quality Air Quality Aesthetics Fisheries Land Use Industries Erosion Forests Noise Insignificant Impact Significant Impact Moderate - Significant Impact SLIDE NOTES SECTORAL MATRICES FOR IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL SEIs 1. OVERVIEW This slide is an environmental screening matrix for the transportation sector. The impacts listed are typical of the project types. They may or may not pose an actual environmental issue to be resolved depending on the specifics of any given project and its location.

Project Checklist Example
Actions Affecting Resources and Values: 1. Disruption of Hydrology 2. Resettlement 3. Encroachment on Precious Ecology 4. Encroachment on Historic/ Cultural Values 5. Cooling Tower Obstruction 6. Regional Flooding Hazard 7. Waste Emissions Related to Siting Potential Damages: SLIDE NOTES PROJECT CHECKLIST FOR IDENTIFYING POTENTIAL SEIs 1. OVERVIEW This slide shows a portion of an environmental screening checklist that may be used to identify potential SEIs. The example is a checklist for a thermal power project. The portion shown relates to the issues resulting from the selection of project location. Additional sections deal with other design considerations as well as other project implementation phases. The checklist includes a section containing general suggestions for environmental protection measures. The suggestions can be especially useful to inexperienced IEE staff. 1. Impairment of Other Beneficial Water Uses 2. Social Inequities 3. Loss of these Values 4. Loss of these Values 5. Conflicts with Other Beneficial 6. Hazard to Plant Operations 7. Intensification of Problems of Pollution Control EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Orders of Impact Example
Loss of Fisheries Income Social Tension and Poverty Intensified Loss of Plain Fisheries Dry Flood Plains River Embankment First Order Second Order Third Order Fourth Order THE ORDER OF ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS (IMPACTS) 1. OVERVIEW This slide shows an important EIA concept utilized extensively at the IEE stage. This is an important technique in identifying SEIs. It is a chain reaction effect caused by impacts to interdependent resources. In this example, the project activity that initiates the environmental impact chain is a river embankment which usually overflows during the rainy season and supports an extensive flood plains fisheries. This is a common occurrence in many deltaic areas. 2. FIRST ORDER EFFECT The river embankment causes the flood plains to dry up during the rainy season. This is an obvious first order impact. In the past, when only conventional project planning process was utilized (i.e. without an EIA) in river training schemes, consideration of environmental effects went no further than this stage. In fact, the drying up of the flood plains was the purpose of the river embankment scheme in the first place. 3. SECOND ORDER EFFECT The second order effect would be the loss of flood plain fisheries. Although this is obvious to an environmental scientist, it may not be so to an engineer in an office in the city. 4. THIRD ORDER EFFECT The third order effect is the impact on the local people who rely upon the fisheries for consumption and for income. The loss of the fisheries might have a substantial impact on them. 5. FOURTH ORDER EFFECT The fourth order effect might be an increase in social tension which could lead to violence. For instance, if the fishermen were mainly landless farmers who relied on the fisheries for most of their income, the reclamation of the land for agricultural purposes might make the large landowners wealthier and the landless fishermen poorer. This is a social equity issue. 6. CONCLUSION The chain of impacts can quickly become very complicated. The purpose of the IEE and the role of the expert is to determine which issues are substantial and where to draw boundaries on the analysis. For instance, there may or may not be productive fisheries in the flood plains; there may or may not be a substantial population which relies on the fisheries for their income and food; and there may or may not be alternative livelihoods readily available for the displaced fishermen. Through this process, all environmental issues for a project are identified.

Data Requirements Project Area of potential impact Type Size Location
Physical resources Biological resources Economic development resources Quality of life Other existing and planned projects COLLECTION OF INFORMATION ON THE PROJECT AND STUDY AREA 1. PROJECT INFORMATION Project information should be available from the project pre-feasibility team. Project type, size (or scale), and proposed location are the most important information areas. 2. STUDY AREA INFORMATION Information on the environmental resources in the study area is critical for determining the significant environmental issues (SEIs). Depending on the area, there may or may not be reports describing these resources. If there are no existing reports and the area is rich in environmental resources, the SEIs will probably have to be resolved by a full-scale EIA. 4. PREVIOUS REPORTS ON SIMILAR PROJECTS Reports on similar project types, or projects that may cause similar environmental disturbances, should be reviewed. These reports may include valuable baseline data on environmental resources as well as environmental impact assessment methodology. IEE and EIA reports are the most applicable, but feasibility studies and project permitting reports may also be useful. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 OBTAINING INFORMATION ON THE ISSUES 1. OVERVIEW Sufficient information must be collected to determine which of the potential significant environmental issues pose impacts to environmental resources for the specific project in question. Where possible, the information should also be used to determine the level of significance of issues and provide a basis for developing environmental protection measures. Because the IEE is not a full-scale assessment, the information should come primarily from existing reports, whenever possible. Field data may be collected, depending on the scope of the IEE. If the IEE has the potential to act as the EIA final report, then field data is usually collected. 2. EXAMPLE REPORTS Examples of environmental resource reports are presented below. These are only a few of the many kinds of reports which may be produced on environmental resources. 2.1 Natural Physical Resources: * hydrologic surveys, geophysical surveys, soil surveys 2.2 Natural Biological Resources * timber inventories, flora and fauna inventories 2.3 Economic Development Resources * agricultural production summaries, fisheries catch statistics census data, industrial production reports, tourism statistics 2.4 Quality of Life * income stratification statistics, public health statistics EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Effects Classification (Cont’d)
Duration: short-term, long-term, intermittent, continuous Reversibility/irreversibility Likelihood: risk, uncertainty or confidence in the prediction EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 CRITERIA FOR EVALUATING THE ANTICIPATED EFFECTS (IMPACTS) OF SIGNIFICANT ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 1. OVERVIEW This is one of the many steps in the IEE which require professional judgment. The categories of evaluation are somewhat subjective in their interpretation. Governmental agency guidelines, and the guidelines of international assistance agencies (IAAs), when applicable, should be referred to. 2. IMPORTANCE OF AFFECTED RESOURCE How much value is attached to the resource in its current condition? This question may have notable differences at the local, regional, national and global levels. If IAAs are involved in the project, this is a criteria for which they often specify conditions. 3. EXTENT OF DISTURBANCE How far does the disturbance of environmental resources extend? Disturbances to resources may extend a large distance but diminish rapidly beyond a critical distance. It is important to focus on significant disturbances. 4. DURATION AND FREQUENCY The duration and frequency of a disturbance can often determine its effect on an environmental resource. For example, short term intermittent flows of fresh water from dry season irrigation runoff have been found to produce beneficial impacts on the biological resources in esturine wetlands, whereas long term and frequent flows produce negative impacts on these resources. 5. RISK Risk refers to the probability of an unplanned incident caused by the project with major impacts on the environmental resources, for example a large uncontained chemical spill at a petrochemical plant. 6. REVERSIBILITY For impacts that are short term, for example many construction impacts, can the environmental resources recover? If the impact is reversible, what is the rate of recovery? If the impact is not reversible, is there another beneficial use for the area? EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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) EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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) EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Effects Significance Grading
Increasing Severity No effect Insignificant effect Unknown significant effect Significant effect, resolution is within the scope of the IEE Significant effect, resolution is outside the scope of the IEE GRADING A PROJECT'S ANTICIPATED ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES 1. OVERVIEW This slide shows a grading scale for anticipated environmental issues that may be used to determine which course of action to take to resolve them. The general matrix methodology is used to review each project activity against the list of environmental resources. Evaluation criteria are employed to assign a rating to each effect of an environmental resource by each project activity. The rating scale is described below. 2. NO EFFECT It is usually very obvious when an activity is definitely not expected to have an effect on an area of the environment. For example, if a project site is in an area lacking surface water, environmental resource categories such as surface water quality, aquatic ecology, and water related aesthetics will obviously be rated - "no effect." 3. INSIGNIFICANT EFFECTS If a potential adverse environmental effect is known, but is not considered significant, it is rated as "insignificant." An example would be an industry that uses very small amounts of cooling water which it discharges into a sewer to be treated at a centralized wastewater treatment plant. It is obvious that the discharge will have some impact on the local receiving water body, but this impact can be considered as insignificant. 4. UNKNOWN SIGNIFICANCE If there is a lack of knowledge concerning the possible environmental effects of an activity, it should be rated as having unknown significance. For example, the introduction of a large irrigation system into an area with many different types of farmers will probably have a profound socioeconomic impact, benefiting some farmers and hurting others. Without a detailed socioeconomic review, it may be difficult to anticipate what will happen. More information must be collected and this should be assigned to the EIA stage. 5. SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS BUT ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES EASILY IMPLEMENTED Many environmental problems have standard solutions which can be easily implemented; for example pollution control for industries. If an industry burns fuel for its boiler, some air pollution will result. If a large amount of fuel is used but the industry is located in a suitable industrial area, then only standard air quality modeling needs to be performed to determine the height of the stack. This can occur as part of a follow-up study and does not need a full-scale EIA by itself. 6. SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS WITHOUT EASILY IDENTIFIABLE ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION MEASURES These include environmental effects which are very large and need special or unique solutions for their resolution. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Where To from Here? Action Required: No Further Action Required:
Issues with: Significant Effects outside the Scope of the IEE No Further Action Required: Write up findings in brief IEE Write up findings and recommendations in IEE report Action Required: Develop the Environmental Management Plan & Protection Measures to Resolve Issues Identify Information Needs and Tasks Required to Resolve Outstanding Issues In Additional Studies Issues with: No Effect Issues with: Insignificant Effect SLIDE 3.7 NOTES TREATMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES BASED ON THEIR SIGNIFICANT GRADING 1. OVERVIEW This slide shows the action to be taken on differently rated environmental issues contained in a single project. The example shows the most complex project and possible includes each of the five grades. Many projects contain issues with no significant effect, or no effect at all, and can be resolved with no further examination. 2. ISSUES WITH "NO EFFECT" OR "INSIGNIFICANT EFFECT" These issues require no further examination. The findings of the examination and the justification for the rating must be included in the appropriate section of the IEE. 3. ISSUES WITH "UNKNOWN SIGNIFICANT EFFECT" OR "SIGNIFICANT EFFECT OUTSIDE THE SCOPE OF THE "IEE" These issues require additional study, which in most cases means full scale EIA. For projects with special circumstances, additional specialized reports may be needed. The social design study, which focuses on socioeconomic issues, is one of these. A social design study report may be required for a project involving major resettlement issues. In this case, the EIA and social design study would be separate interactive reports. The IEE develops the tasks and scope for these studies. This information is the foundation for the terms of reference for future studies. All of the findings on these issues as well as the requirements for additional studies, must be included in the IEE report. 4. ISSUES WITH "SIGNIFICANT EFFECT WITHIN THE SCOPE OF THE IEE" These issues may be resolved by the IEE, but environmental protection measures (EPM) and an environmental management plan must be produced. This can only be accomplished in the IEE stage if the EPMs are obvious and simply developed. For these issues, the IEE report will serve as a final EIA report. For projects whose only SEIs are of this grade, no additional reports will be required. 5. CONCLUSION The issues resolved in the IEE will undergo a similar regulatory critiquing and final approval process as that required for the EIA. This ensures that the justifications for grading the significance of environmental issues was sound and agreeable to responsible agencies. If an international assistance agency is involved in the project, it will also pursue a thorough critiquing. Issues with: Unknown Significant Effect Issues with: Significant Effects within the Scope of the IEE

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 SLIDE 3.8 NOTES IEE REPORT TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OVERVIEW The IEE report is similar in content to the EIA report. It covers the description of project, the environment of the study area, and the significant environmental issues (SEIs). It also contains a development of the environmental protection measures and environmental monitoring required to resolve simple, yet significant environmental issues. Recommendations must be included for additional studies when SEIs remain unresolved due to their complex nature, or a lack of necessary information. 2. INTRODUCTION This section should include background information for the IEE study. The following subject areas are relevant: 2.1 Identification of project and project proponent 2.2 A brief description of the nature, size and location of the project 2.3 A description of the project's importance 2.4 A description of the IEE study 2.4.1 Scope 2.4.2 Staffing requirements 2.4.3 Identification of the lead agency overseeing the study 3. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT The description of the project must be sufficiently detailed so that reviewers of the study can understand the cause of the anticipated environmental impacts. The amount of detailed information available is necessarily limited by the stage of the project (ideally it should be at the pre-feasibility stage at the time of the IEE). The important subjects to be covered in this section are: 3.1 Project Type 3.2 Need for the project 3.3 Location (including maps detailing project site and the IEE study area) 3.4 Size and magnitude of project operations 3.5 Proposed schedule for implementation EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) IEE Review Screening EIA Required Scoping/ Terms of Reference EIA Not Required Full-Scale EIA You are here EIA Approved EIA Review Decision Making Monitoring EIA Audit and Evaluation EIA Not Approved Evaluate Options EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Terms of Reference Context
IEE Project Proceeds according to terms of IEE Terms of Reference 1. Background 2. Impact Issues Significant Issues Relevant Resources Report Formatting 3. Work Plan When/Who/How of Task Completion Full-Scale EIA Yes No IEE Review: All potential SEIs resolved SLIDE 1.1 NOTES FLOW CHART OF TERMS OF REFERENCE, INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION, AND FULL-SCALE EIA 1. OVERVIEW This slide shows the inter-relation between the Initial Environmental Examination, the Terms of Reference, and the Environmental Impact Assessment. Through this process, the significant environmental issues which remain unresolved in the IEE are linked to the study area resources which may be impacted. The research and analysis of resource impacts are the tasks to be performed in the EIA. THE TOR: 1) Delineates the study area; 2) Lists the significant issues and the related resources to be investigated and describes how the findings will be presented; 3) Details a work plan for the EIA so that the process will run smoothly, on time and within budget.

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Terms of Reference Content
Background information section should include: Project Description (i.e., type, magnitude, location, alternatives and constraints) Environmental Setting (i.e., delineation of study area, 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) SLIDE 2.1 NOTES ANNEX A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF TERMS OF REFERENCE BACKGROUND INFORMATION SECTION 1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1) Project Description The project information available during the initial engineering examination is likely to be preliminary. The project type (dam/hydroelectric, wastewater treatment, etc.) will be known, as well as its magnitude, proposed location, project status and project proponent. The additional project information layout, material mass balance and design criteria - represent aspects which will be dealt with in the EIA report. 2) Environmental Setting The focus of this section is the delineation of the geographical area of study, as well as description of the area in terms of environmental resources and locations of special value. The information provided by the initial examination of potentially significant issues is often insufficient to evaluate them. Extensive surveys of "at risk" environmental resources may be required. Base maps showing resource distribution are valuable for orienting these resources with respect to the proposed project location. 2. BACKGROUND REPORTS These include any reports which may be of value to the EIA team in their detailed study of the project's significant impacts on the environmental resources. The following examples relate to the environmental classification grouping on slide 2.1.1: 1)streamflow surveys, geophysical surveys, soil surveys; 2)timber inventories, ecosystem inventories; 3)agricultural production summaries, fisheries catch statistics, livestock production reports; 4)census data, public works department reports, industrial production reports, reports from the national tourism board; 5)national or regional energy board reports, United Nations ESCAP reports, reports from governmental and non-governmental agencies involved with the protection of endangered species. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 SLIDE 2.1 NOTES ANNEX A DETAILED BREAKDOWN OF TERMS OF REFERENCE BACKGROUND INFORMATION SECTION 1. BACKGROUND INFORMATION 1) Project Description The project information available during the initial engineering examination is likely to be preliminary. The project type (dam/hydroelectric, wastewater treatment, etc.) will be known, as well as its magnitude, proposed location, project status and project proponent. The additional project information layout, material mass balance and design criteria - represent aspects which will be dealt with in the EIA report. 2) Environmental Setting The focus of this section is the delineation of the geographical area of study, as well as description of the area in terms of environmental resources and locations of special value. The information provided by the initial examination of potentially significant issues is often insufficient to evaluate them. Extensive surveys of "at risk" environmental resources may be required. Base maps showing resource distribution are valuable for orienting these resources with respect to the proposed project location. 2. BACKGROUND REPORTS These include any reports which may be of value to the EIA team in their detailed study of the project's significant impacts on the environmental resources. The following examples relate to the environmental classification grouping on slide 2.1.1: 1)streamflow surveys, geophysical surveys, soil surveys; 2)timber inventories, ecosystem inventories; 3)agricultural production summaries, fisheries catch statistics, livestock production reports; 4)census data, public works department reports, industrial production reports, reports from the national tourism board; 5)national or regional energy board reports, United Nations ESCAP reports, reports from governmental and non-governmental agencies involved with the protection of endangered species. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

WORK PLAN TASK SCHEDULE EXAMPLE IRRIGATION PROJECT
Work Plan Example Detailed Task Assignment 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 Month 1 Month 2 Month 3 Month 4 Month 5 SLIDE NOTES ANNEX A WORK PLAN TASK SCHEDULE EXAMPLE IRRIGATION PROJECT 1. OVERVIEW The scheduling of EIA tasks in the TOR is important to: a) facilitate the resolution of any task conflicts, b) properly manage the various tasks, and c) plan the budget for the tasks. Each task must be scheduled by action item (sub-task) and compared with the schedule for interdependent tasks. 2. TASK CONFLICT AND TASK MANAGEMENT Due to the interdependent nature of tasks in environmental impact assessment, the evaluation of a Task (A) often requires completion of a separate task (Task B) in another scientific discipline. If Task A and Task B are scheduled for completion at the same time, a conflict arises. Task B must be completed first. The independence of tasks and action items within tasks must be taken into account by the entire EIA team. Task interdependencies should be noted in the work plan task schedules and monitored during the production of the EIA by the planner and management staff. 3. BUDGETING Task level budgeting is facilitated by the scheduling process. Once time requirements for action items and tasks are determined, a man-hour or man-month budget can be constructed. The monetary task budget may be computed by applying the overhead rate and expected salaries to the time requirement budget. An example of a task budget developed from the work plan task schedule slide is provided in Annex B (Selected References).

EIA in the Project Cycle
Conventional Project Planning Monitoring Operations and Environmental Effects Corresponding Environmental Protection Activity Initial Environmental Examination Environmental Impact Assessment Checking Design Monitoring Construction Project Screening Reconnaissance Survey Pre-feasibility Study Feasibility Study Final Design Construction Operation EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 Prepare Environmental Management Plan Design Monitoring Program SLIDE 5.2 NOTES ANNEX A FLOW CHART OF THE PRIMARY ANALYSIS AND DESIGN STEPS IN THE EIA Each significant environmental issue undergoes a similar process in assessing its environmental impact. The first step is to evaluate the treatment of the issue in the IEE. This determines: (1) the adequacy of the data available on the issue, the casual aspects of the project and the baseline data on the resources affected; and (2) the adequacy of the impact prediction that was made, i.e. do the impact pathways include all of the probable higher order effects to the resources in the study area? The second step is to conduct field research to fill in the information gaps and confirm that all of the environmental resources in the study area have been taken into consideration. The information collected by the feasibility study teams helps to fill in the information gaps. Detailed descriptions of project activities are required for impact prediction. In this context, public participation is essentially field data collection from the study area and often the surround communities as well. Impact prediction is the step in which specialists determine a project's probable impacts to environmental resources. This step is divided into socioeconomic and other resources categories because socioeconomic resources are so important that they are often treated separately. An entire module is devoted to socioeconomics. Risk assessment is a specific type of impact prediction used for assessing the risks of a major project-related accident. It applies predominantly to industrial and large structure projects, but can also be applied to other projects with the potential for large impacts from unplanned occurrences. A review of standards follows the impact predictions in order to ascertain whether there are any existing standards regarding the impacts or disturbances the project may cause. Finally, an economic evaluation of the issue is performed to determine what kinds of actions are justified, based on the severity of the impacts in the issue. Environmental protection measures (EPM) are designed to address the impacts to environmental resources. They either: (1) limit the impacts to resources by reducing the disturbance that creates the impacts; or (2) replace the lost value of the resource by creating a new resource or enhancing an existing one. The monitoring plan measures the effectiveness of the EPMs in achieving their objective of maintaining levels of environmental parameters. The results of the monitoring program may suggest a change in the EPM or conclude that the EPMs are not being implemented. The environmental management plan is the terms of reference for the monitoring plan. The management plan also incorporates implementation strategies for such monitoring related activities as strengthening regulations for environmental resource protection and developing local or regional environmental protection agencies to continue ambient monitoring beyond the time frame of the EIA related monitoring. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

EIA Impact Identification Methods
Expert Systems Overlays/GIS Risk Assessment Checklists Networks Matrices EIA Impact Identification Methods Qualitative Quantitative EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Checklists ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Simple to understand and use
Good for site selection and priority setting DISADVANTAGES Do not distinguish between direct and indirect impacts Do not link action and impact Qualitative EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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

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

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

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

Impact Significance Determination
Characteristics (e.g., spatial extent) Impact Importance (e.g., value) Impact Significance x = EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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) EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Assessing Significance
Considerable expert judgement 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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

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 EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Ecological Importance
Effect on plant and animal habitat Rare and endangered species Ecosystem resilience, sensitivity, biodiversity and carrying capacity Population viability Community viability EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Social Importance Effects on human health and safety
Potential loss of managed resources (e.g., fish, farmland, water) Recreation or aesthetic value Demands on public resources Demands on transportation or other infrastructure Demographic effects EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Environmental Standards
Permit-based limits on effluent discharge concentrations Clean air standards, water quality standards Plans or policies that protect or limit use of natural resources EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Impact Mitigation Evaluate Environmental Impacts
Review Applicable Standards Design Environmental Protection Measures EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Mitigation Development
Develop Alternative Environmental Protection Measures Evaluate Implementation Costs Assess Environmental Effectiveness Select Final Environmental Protection Measures EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Understand the Problem
Good understanding of problems is critical to development of effective mitigation measures What is the problem? When will the problem occur? When should the problem be addressed? Where should the problem be addressed? How should the problem be addressed? Who stands to lose or gain? EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Mitigation Options Alternative ways of meeting society’s need for the project Changes in project planning and design Improving monitoring and management Monetary compensation Replacing, relocating, rehabilitating EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Environmental Management Plan
Mitigation measures chosen are documented as part of the EMP which specifies how they are to be carried out: State policy and standards Designate responsibility Provide schedule for tasks Allocate responsibility for tasks Include system for progress reporting Include system for monitoring/auditing Develop a contingency plan EIA Procedures and Decision Making

EIA Reporting Variations in titles but all the same content:
Environmental Impact Assessment report (EIA report) Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) Environmental Assessment report (EA report) Environmental Effects Statement (EES) Local usage; often shortened to just EIA EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Effective Reporting Assists the project proponent to plan (e.g., changes to the project design or scheduling recommended as mitigation measures) Assists decision makers in deciding whether to approve or reject proposal, and if approved with what conditions Helps the public to understand core issues of concern EIA Procedures and Decision Making

EIA Report Contents Executive summary Objectives of the proposal
Description of proposal and alternatives Relationship to current land use policies Description of expected conditions Evaluation of impacts for each alternative Mitigation and monitoring plans Appendices EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Executive Summary Definition: A well written stand-alone document which contains the information necessary for the reader to understand the critical environmental issues and how the issues are to be addressed and resolved Audience: targeted at decision makers and international funding bodies Special Requirements: international funding bodies often require executive summaries to be submitted in English SLIDE NOTES ANNEX A EIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. OVERVIEW The importance of an executive summary for an EIA report cannot be over emphasized. Decision makers at local, regional and national levels of government need a mechanism to efficiently evaluate the significance of environmental impacts posed by a project. The executive summary provides this mechanism. Projects funded by IAAs require executive summaries of EIAs for review prior to approval. These lending agencies require executive summaries to be produced in English. 2. CONTENTS OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The executive summary must contain a summary of the information relevant to significant issues resolved in the EIA. Base maps are essential to orient the reader. In addition, pertinent information from study area, project description, environmental impacts and protection measures, environmental management plan, and the recommendations and conclusions sections should be included. Enough information, in a condensed form, must be provided for the reader to understand the issues and their resolution. 3. COMPLETENESS OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The executive summary must be a stand-alone document which can be reviewed separately from the main report. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Executive Summary (Cont’d)
What the executive summary MUST contain: a summary of impacts for each SEI background information including base maps offsetting, enhancement, and mitigation measures for minimizing negative impacts recommendations and conclusions summary of the environmental management plan SLIDE NOTES ANNEX A EIA EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1. OVERVIEW The importance of an executive summary for an EIA report cannot be over emphasized. Decision makers at local, regional and national levels of government need a mechanism to efficiently evaluate the significance of environmental impacts posed by a project. The executive summary provides this mechanism. Projects funded by IAAs require executive summaries of EIAs for review prior to approval. These lending agencies require executive summaries to be produced in English. 2. CONTENTS OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The executive summary must contain a summary of the information relevant to significant issues resolved in the EIA. Base maps are essential to orient the reader. In addition, pertinent information from study area, project description, environmental impacts and protection measures, environmental management plan, and the recommendations and conclusions sections should be included. Enough information, in a condensed form, must be provided for the reader to understand the issues and their resolution. 3. COMPLETENESS OF THE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The executive summary must be a stand-alone document which can be reviewed separately from the main report. EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Project Information Status of project
Planning, design and implementation strategies Requirements for materials, water, energy, equipment Planned processes and products Visual aids (e.g., maps) Options (e.g., siting, layout) Summary of technical, economic and environmental features EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Evaluating Impacts for Each Alternative
Assessment of impacts Data and predictive methods used Uncertainty and gaps in knowledge Compliance with standards Criteria used to assess significance Proposed impact avoidance or mitigation measures EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans
Describe proposed mitigation measures Contain schedule for implementation Assign responsibility for implementation Detail a monitoring program Detail proposed reporting and review procedures EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Appendices Technical information Glossary and Acronyms
Public involvement summary Information sources/references Details of study team Terms of Reference EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Common Reporting Shortcomings
Object of activity described too narrowly Incomplete description of activity Alternatives do not account for the environment Key problems not described Sensitive environment aspects overlooked Standards and legislation are not described or alternatives do not comply with them Some mitigating measures not considered EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Common Reporting Shortcomings (Cont’d)
Best alternative not described or described insufficiently Serious impacts are not mentioned or not correctly described Outdated or ineffective prediction models used Impacts are not compared with standards or targets Incorrect conclusions drawn EIA Procedures and Decision Making

EIA Review Determines whether the EIA report is an adequate assessment of environmental concerns and is of sufficient relevance and quality for decision making EIA Procedures and Decision Making

EIA Review Objectives Determine whether EIA report provides an adequate assessment Collects range of stakeholder opinion regarding the acceptability of the EIA report and of the proposed project or activity based on the EIA findings Ensures EIA compliance with established procedures (e.g., Terms of Reference, existing plans and policies) EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Critical Areas of Review
Compliance with the Terms of Reference Examination of alternatives, environmental setting, impact analysis, mitigation, and impact management and monitoring Sufficiency and accuracy of information Use of scientifically-defensible analytical techniques Conduct of the EIA; completeness and comprehensiveness of the assessment process Sufficiency of information provided for decision-making purposes EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Review Methods General statistics Project specific checklists
Ad hoc processes Expert opinion by accredited reviewers Public review Panels of inquiry, independent commissions Legal approaches EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Review Step-by-Step Set the intensity of the review (e.g., scale and depth) Select review methods and identify review criteria; make sure to include public input Select reviewers Conduct the review Determine remedial options Publish review report EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Decision Making EIA is an ongoing process of review, negotiation and incremental decision making Ultimately, an administrative or political decision is made whether to proceed or not to proceed with a proposed project or activity Function of the EIA report is to provide objective assessment of issues to inform and facilitate the decision-making process EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Requirements for Decision Makers
Decision makers need an understanding of: Principles and practices of sustainable development EIA aims, concepts and processes EIA guidelines, policy, law and conventions EIA implementation within the decision-making agency or organization Public involvement processes EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Decision-Making Inputs
Technical Analysis (e.g., physical, ecological, socio-economic, other) Facts/ Values EIA Decision Making prioritizing problems and actions, ensuring effective implementation Public Involvement Other Input (e.g., benefit-cost analysis, political priorities) EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Possible Decision Outcomes
Approval Approval with conditions Approval subject to ongoing investigation Further investigation required Request for a supplementary, or new, EIA report Rejection EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) IEE Review Screening EIA Required Scoping/ Terms of Reference EIA Not Required Full Scale EIA EIA Approved EIA Review Decision Making Monitoring EIA Audit and Evaluation EIA Not Approved Evaluate Options You are here EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Environmental Monitoring and Performance Assessment
Goal Specific Objectives Monitoring Monitoring Requirements Environmental Issues Performance Assessment EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Monitoring and Performance Assessment Goal
Demonstrate to governments and the public that the project or activity complies with the environmental quality objectives determined through the EIA process and achieves good environmental performance EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Specific Objectives Detect short- and long-term trends
Recognize environmental changes and analyze causes Measure impacts and compare with predicted impacts Assess effectiveness of mitigation measures Improve the monitoring system Improve practices and procedures for environmental assessment EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Performance Assessment
From monitoring program: identify trends, causes and impacts assess performance and compliance From the assessment: modify practices and procedures for environmental protection modify monitoring program EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Post-EIA Monitoring Report
PROJECT PHASE FINAL DESIGN STAGE CONSTRUCTION STAGE PROJECT ACCEPTANCE OPERATIONS STAGE MONITORING ACTIVITY A. INCORPORATION OF EPMs IN THE FINAL PROJECT DESIGN B. INCORPORATION OF EPMs INTO CONSTRUCTION CONTRACTS C. COMPLETION OF OPERATIONS MANUAL A. ENVIRONMENT CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR B. SCHEDULED REPORTS FROM SUPERVISOR C. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY SPOT CHECKS ENVIRONMENTAL SUPERVISOR PERFORMANCE THE THREE PARTIES : ENVIRONMENTAL CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR, PROJECT PROPONENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY; SIGN A STATEMENT THAT THE PROJECT MEETS EIA REQUIREMENTS A. PERFORMANCE MONITORING B. PERFORMANCE REPORTING C. FOLLOW-UP ACTION, IF REQUIRED EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) IEE Review Screening EIA Required Scoping/ Terms of Reference EIA Not Required Full-Scale EIA EIA Approved EIA Review Decision Making Monitoring EIA Audit and Evaluation EIA Not Approved You are here Evaluate Options EIA Procedures and Decision Making

EIA Audit EIA audits are a management tool to: Determine impacts
Check that conditions arising from EIA are being met Test accuracy of EIA predictions Identify areas where EIA could have been improved Compile lessons learned for future EIAs EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Concluding Thoughts Important points to remember are:
EIA is a process which should have influence at many stages and over a considerable period of time; it is not an activity aimed at producing a single set of results for use at one specific decision-making stage The EIA process should be iterative and adaptive; scoping and assessment should continually evolve throughout the entire process as more information becomes known (i.e., circular process) EIA Procedures and Decision Making

Concluding Thoughts (Cont’d)
Additional points to remember are: The EIA process needs to be inclusive and transparent The process should not be seen as an administrative task; EIA is a powerful management tool to be used to make informed and justifiable decisions Follow-up to review development results is essential to continually improve and strengthen the EIA process EIA Procedures and Decision Making

OVERVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS

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OVERVIEW OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS

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