ENVS402 – Environmental Impact Assessment
Chapter 1: Introduction to EIA
1
a. Definition
b. History of development
c. Objectives
d T
d. Types of EIA
f EIA
e. Difference between effect and impact
DAY 1 TIME 1.5 HR
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
Introduction: Definition of EIA
2
Is it about doing the right thing Is
it about doing the right thing
and/or doing things the right way ?
“ Impact assessment, simply defined, is the process of identifying the future consequences of a current or proposed action ”. (
(International Association for Impact Assessment)
f
p
)
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
Introduction: Definition of EIA
3
Munn (1979) defines EIA as a need “to identify and
predict
di the
h impact
i
on the
h environment
i
and
d on man’s
’
health and well being of legislative proposals, policies,
programs,
p
g
, projects
p j
and operational
p
procedures
p
and to
interpret and communicate information about the impact”
Wathern (1988) defines EIA as “a
a process having the
ultimate objective of providing the decision-makers with
an indication of the likely consequences of their actions”
Canter (1996) defines EIA as “the physical-chemical,
g
, cultural and socio-economic components
p
of the
biological,
total environment”
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
Introduction: Definition of EIA
4
“ Environmental impact assessment means an orderly and
systematic process for evaluating a proposal including its
alternatives and objectives and its effect on the environment
including the mitigation and management of those effects.
The process extends
Th
t d from
f
the
th initial
i iti l conceptt off the
th proposall
through implementation to commissioning and operation, and
where appropriate, decommissioning. “
(Environmental Protection Authority 1993; Environmental
Protection Act 1986; Western Australia)
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
Introduction: EIA Defined?
5
““ Environmental impact assessment is a process of identifying, l
f d
f
predicting, evaluating, and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of proposed projects and physical
and other relevant effects of proposed projects and physical activities prior to major decisions and commitments being made ”
made .
(Sadler, B. 1996, International Study of the Effectiveness of (Sadler,
B. 1996, International Study of the Effectiveness of
Environmental Assessment)
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
History of Development of EIA
6
The use of EIA began in 1970 in the USA and spread
rapidly throughout the world.
It was first introduced in the USA within the
framework of the National Environment Policy Act
(NEPA) in 1969 which became a law on Jan 1,
1 1971
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
NEPA 1971: Key provisions
7
1 Established environmental quality as a leading national priority by stating
1.
a national policy for the environment.
2. Made environmental protection part of the mandate of all federal
agencies , establishing procedures for the incorporation of environmental
concerns into agency decision making.
3. In particular
l it requires federal
f d
l agencies to prepare an environmentall
impact assessment for major actions or projects that can affect the
environment.
4. Established a council on environmental quality in the executive office of
the President to oversee and coordinate all federal environmental effort
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
NEPA 1971: Key provisions
8
Impact statements must contain:
1.
A description of the proposed action, its purpose, and the description of
the environment affected;
2. The relationships to land use plans, policies, and controls for the affected
areas;
3 The
3.
Th probable
b bl environmental
i
t l iimpacts,
t positive
iti and
d negative
ti , di
directt and
d
indirect, and possible international implications;
4 A discussion of alternatives;
4.
5. The probable negative impacts that cannot be avoided or mitigated;
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
NEPA 1971: Key Provisions
9
6. The relationship between local and short
term use and long term considerations;
7. An irreversible commitment of resources;
8. A description of federal actions to
mitigate and offset adverse effects, and
9. Comments from reviewers.
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
European Implementation of
Environmental Impact Assessment
10
Council of the European communities
d i r e c t i v e o f 2 7 th J u n e 1 9 8 5 o n t h e
assessment of the effects of certain public
and private projects on the environment
(85/337/EEC),
Official journal of the European
communities, no. L, 175/40
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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EIA (85/337/EEC): Key Provisions
11
Applies to the assessment of the
environmental effects of those public
and private projects which are likely to
have significant effects on the
environment
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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EIA (85/337/EEC): Key Provisions
12
Project means:
• The execution of construction
works or of other installations or
schemes
• Other interventions in the natural
surroundings
di
and
d landscape
l
d
including those involving the
extraction
e
t act o o
of minerals
e a s
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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EIA (85/337/EEC): Key Provisions
13
Development consent means:
the decision of the competent authorities which entitles the developer to proceed with the project il h d l
d ih h
j
………………….have significant effects on the environment by virtue inter alia of their:
environment by virtue inter alia, of their:
nature, size and location
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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EIA (85/337/EEC): Key Provisions
14
………direct and indirect effects of a project on
the following factors;
•
•
•
•
human beings, fauna and flora;
soil, water, air, climate and the landscape,
the interactions between the factors
material assets and the cultural heritage.
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
EIA (85/337/EEC): Key Provisions
15
information to be provided by the developer;
• a description of the project: site, design, size
• a description
p
of the measures to avoid,,
reduce, and if possible remedy significant
adverse effects
• data required to identify and assess the main
effects on the environment, and
• a non technical summary of this information
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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History of EIA in Nepal
16
• In the p
planning
g history
y of Nepal,
p , the Sixth Plan
(1980-'85), for the first time recognized the need
for EIA integration for major infrastructure
projects.
• The government of Nepal enunciated
environment conservation related policies in the
Seventh Plan (1985-90).
• Environmental Assessment Guideline 1993 was
the first “lesson learnt” document in Nepal which
has played facilitation role in the EIA process.
Bhatta & Khanal, 2009
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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EIA Legislation
g
in Nepal
p
17
•
Environment Protection Act (EPA; 1996) and Environment Protection
Rules (EPR; 1997; first amended in 1999): The EPA and EPR are the
two main legal documents mandatory for environmental assessment of
the infrastructure development projects.
(The section 4 of EPA states that no one shall implement a proposal without approving
IEE and EIA from the concerned body (the ministry related to local infrastructures
i.e. MLD).
•
•
•
•
•
•
Local Self-Governance Act (LSGA) (1999) and Local Self-Governance Regulation (LSGR)
(1999)
The Forest Act (1993) and Forest Regulations (1995)
The National Parks and Wildlife and Conservation Act (1973; as amended 1993)
The Soil and Watershed Conservation Act (1982)
The Water Resources Act (1992) and Water Resources Regulations (1993)
The Explosive Material Act, (1973)
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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EIA – The Philosophy
18
Impact assessment is designed as
a preventive measure
measure.
It should give environmental
considerations
id ti
equall weight
i ht with
ith
technical and economic aspects.
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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EIA – The Philosophy
19
• Environmental considerations should be
introduced early on in the planning
processes.
• Broad and public participation should
ensure wide acceptance of projects
implemented
implemented.
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
EIA – Objectives
20
Principle 1 : Focus on the main issue.
issue
Principle 2: Involve the appropriate persons and groups.
Principle 3: Link information to decisions about the project.
project
Principle 4: Present clear options for the mitigation of impacts and
for sound environmental management.
management
Principle 5: Provide information in a form useful to the decision
makers
makers.
(UNEP, 1988)
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
EIA TYPES
21
1 IEE and
1.
d EIA ffor the
h projects
j
2. REA (Regional Environmental Assessment ) for the proposals of regional scale
3. SeEA (Sectoral Environmental Assessment) for a sector level proposals
4. CIA (Cumulative Impact Assessment) for the past, present and reasonably
forseeable future actions (proposals) in the given area
5. SEA (Strategic Environmental Assessment) for a policy, or plan or programme;
and
6 SIA (Social Impact Assessment) for in-depth
6.
in depth analysis of the social aspects of a
proposal.
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
Introduction: Environmental Impacts
p
or Effects !
22
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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Impacts or Effects
The term impact is an outcome of two preceding events
Air pollution
23
Leaves of crops
Marshy Land
change
Slow Photosynthesis
effect
Reduced Crop Yield
Prevents respiration of
mosquitoes
Farmers
a
e s economic
eco o c
affected
M
Mosquitoes
it
are kill
killed
d
impact
Reduces Oxygen
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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Biosphere – a life support system
24
•
•
•
•
Atmosphere Hydrosphere
Lithosphere
Biosphere
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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Human depends on biosphere
Human
depends on biosphere
25
y Atmosphere…air
p
to breathe
y Hydrosphere
y Lithosphere
p
y Biosphere
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
Human depends on biosphere
Human
depends on biosphere
26
y Atmosphere…air
p
to breathe
y Hydrosphere …water to drink
y Lithosphere
p
y Biosphere
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
Human depends on biosphere
27
y Atmosphere…air
p
to breathe
y Hydrosphere …water to drink
Days w/o water
y Lithosphere
p
…food to eat
y Biosphere …food to eat
Minutes
without air
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
Months w/o food
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Levels of Organization
Biosphere
Ecosystem
Community
P
Population
l
Organism
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ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
28
Levels of Organization
Best way to delimit modern ecology is to consider it in terms of the concepts of level of organization (Odum 1971)
(Odum, 1971)
Diagram Showing Ecological Organization From Odum (1971)
BIOTIC
COMPONENTS
Genes
Cells
Organs
Organisms
Populations
Communities
Plus
Matter
ABIOTIC
Energy
COMPONENTS
Equals
BIOSYSTEMS
9/16/2011
Genetic
Systems
Cell
Systems
Organ
Systems
Organismic P
Ecosystems
Population
l ti
Systems
Systems
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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Photosynthesis - produces food for all life
30
http://www.biologycorner.com/resources/photosynthesis.jpg
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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Food Chain - a closed cycle
31
a. Herbivores
b. Carnivores
c Detrivores
c.
h
https://www.cbd.int/images/youth/food‐chain.jpg
//
bd i /i
/
h/f d h i j
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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Ecosystem – a dynamic and self functioning system
32
Biosphere contains many ecosystems such as forests, water grasslands marine etc
water, grasslands, marine etc.
http://www.fws.gov/invasives/volunteersTrainingModule/images/invasives/ecosystem.jpg
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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Environment – human in biosphere
33
“the natural and social conditions that process around all the organisms which include mankind and future generations” i
hi h i l d
ki d d f
i ”
1. Bio‐physical
2. Social and Economic
3. Cultural
http://www.eaststaffsbc.gov.uk/SiteCollectionImages/Environment%20Image.jpg
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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Environment – sink for all wastes
34
•Food
•Freshwater
F
h
•Fuelwood
•Fiber
•Biochemicals
•Genetic
Resources
•Climatic
regulation
l i
•Diseases
g
regulation
•Water
regulation
•Pollination
Pollination
•Spritual and
religious
li i
•Recreation and
ecotourism
•Aestheic
•Aspirational
•Educational
Educational
•Sense of place
•Cultural heritage
http://www.sustainablescale.org/images/uploaded/Ecosystem%20Service%20Categories%20%20MA.gif
•Soil
formation
•Nutrient
y
g
cycling
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
•Primary production
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Impact
35
1. Adverse and
Beneficial
2 Cumulative (spatial
2.
and Temporal)
3. Direct and Indirect
4 Short,
4.
Sh t Medium
M di
and
d
Long Term
5. Environment on
Project and Project
on Environment
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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Introduction: An Environmental Impact
p
36
Initiation of
project
With project
Environmental impact
Without project
time
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
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Introduction: An Environmental Impact
37
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
Assessment
38
•
•
•
•
•
Quantification
P di ti
Prediction
Evaluation
Monitoring
Auditing
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011
Conclusion
39
1 Natural
1.
Natural capital provides man made capital provides man made
capital and human capital
2 Excessive use of natural capital has 2.
E
i
f t l
it l h
affected global ecosystems
3. EIA is a useful instrument for reducing adverse impact on the g
p
environment
ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma
9/16/2011