ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT (EIA)
STRUCTURE :
 Origin
 Definitions
 Process
 Methodologies
 Case Study
 Exercises
 EIA ORIGIN: LATE 1960’S
DEVELOPMENTAL (BENEFITS)

EIA TRADE-OFF

ENVIRONMENTAL (DAMAGES)

PLANNING/ DECISION MAKING TOOL

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

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EIA was introduced as a legislative tool with
 National Envtl Policy Act, 1969, USA
 Envtl Protection Act, 1986, India
 MoE and F Notification, May, 1994

AIM: The environmental impacts of a developmental

activity should be analyzed before it is implemented

Special features
 Umbrella act
 Anticipatory act: (Envtl impacts of proposed action)
Project clearance act
‘3E’ for project feasibility :
4 Environment + Economics + Engineering
 EIA Acronym

E →  EARLY

I →  INTEGRATED
 INTERNALIZED

A →  ALWAYS
 ALTERNATE ACTIONS

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 DEFINITION
EIA : STUDY OF CHANGES IN ENVIRONMENT DUE TO PROPOSED
ACTION

WITH ACTION
INITIAL → FUTURE
STATE STATE IMPACT

WITHOUT ACTION

X
P R+
PX + R
IMPACT
PROJECT
REGION R-

STEPS :

1. IDENTIFICATION 2. PREDICTION 3. EVALUATION

(BASELINE
7 STATUS) (EXTENT OF CHANGE) (SIGNIFICANCE OF
CHANGE)
 DEFINITION OF ENVIRONMENT
PHYSICAL (AIR, WATER, LAND)

THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT ECOLOGICAL (AQUATIC,

TERRESTRIAL)

HUMAN INTEREST

 QUALITY OF LIFE VALUES

(SOCIOECONOMIC, HEALTH)

 HUMAN USE VALUES (POWER

TRANSPORTATION)

 ENVTL ENHANCEMENT TOOL

8  PUBLIC PARTICIPATION TOOL
(NOT COMMAND AND CONTROL)
 DEFINITION OF ‘ACTION’
 Project level EIA
 Strategic level EIA
– Policy, plans and program at national, state, regional
levels
– Regional level EIA
 Carrying capacity framework
CEA (Cumulative Envtl Assessment)
– Sectoral level EIA
energy/ agriculture/ transport sector

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 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
“Definition”
EIA is a process of establishing the changes

In the physical, biological, ecological and socio-

economic components of the environment

Before, during and after an impending action

(project, plan and policy)

So that undesirable effects, if any, can be

mitigated
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SALIENT FEATURES OF EIA TOOL
1. Management
2. Sustainable Development
3. Regulatory
4. Precautionary
5. Integrating
6. Internalization
7. Decision making on alternatives
8. Environmental Enhancement
9. Public Participatory
10. Cost – Benefit Analysis
 EIA ROLE PLAYERS
DEVELOPMENT
EIA
ENVIRONMENT

RESPONSIBILITY

DEVELOPERS PROPONENTS, PLANNERS, POLICY MAKERS

CONSULTANTS, ACADEMIC, R & D INSTS.

PRACTIONERS LEGAL ADVISORS

REVIEWERS EAC/IAA. DOEn, PCB’S

RELATED MINISTRIES, FINANCIAL INSTS.

RECEPTORS GENERAL PUBLIC, NGO’S

 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT TOOLS
• Environmental Impact
Assessment
• Environmental Auditing
• Environmental Economics or
Cost Accounting
• Eco Design and product Service
System (PSS)
• Environmental Bench Marking
• Green Marketing
• Green Productivity
• Corporate Environmental
Reporting (CER)
• Beyond Legal Compliance
• Good Housekeeping
• Zero Waste Process
• Life Cycle Analysis
• Environmental Management
System (EMS) (ISO 4001)
• Environment Management
Information System (EMIS)
• Green Supply Chain Management
• Green Consumption
• Sustainability Management
• Cleaner Technologies and
Pollution Prevention
• Environmental Performance
Indicators
• Recovery, Reuse and Recycling
(3 R’s)
 EIA PROCESS

SCREENING / RAPID/ SCOPING = IEE

COMPREHENSIVE EIA

IDENTIFICATION
PREDICTION
EVALUATION

MITIGATION /ALTERNATIVE ACTIONS

COMPILATION OF EIS

EAC/ PUBLIC HEARINGS

COMMUNICATION

REVIEW

DECISION

ENVTL. MANAGEMENT POST PROJECT MONITORING (PPM)

PLAN (EMP)
 EIA METHODOLOGIES
TYPE FEATURES
AD HOC : * NO FORMAL GUIDANCE
* EXPERT TEAM/TASK FORCE CONSTITUTED
CHECKLIST : * LIST OF ENV. PARAMETERS (EP)
* DOEn. GOI → QUESTIONNAIRE CHECKLIST
MATRIX : * 2D- CHECKLIST → PROJECT ACTIONS V/S EP
* ACTIONS → (TRANSPORT, WASTE DISPOSAL)
* M → MAGNITUDE (-5 TO +5); I → IMPORTANCE
(0-10)
ACTIONS →

EP I/M


ENVTL. IMPACT UNIT

N,Q
EIU   Mi j Iij
i, j
 I11
I1
I12

I13
ACTION
I21
I2

I22

NETWORK : * CHAIN OF IMPACTS → LINKAGES

* PRIMARY, SECONDARY, TERTIARY IMPACTS
OVERLAYS : * USE PHYSICAL/ELECTRONIC MAPS OF EP
* OVERLAID FOR COMPOSITE/SPATIALCHARAC.
* GEOGRAPICAL INFORMATION SYSTEM →
GIS → LOGICAL INTS. BET. SPATIAL DATA