An environmental impact assessment eia is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the environmental, social and economic aspects. An environmental change is the measurable change in physical and biological systems and environmental quality resulting from a development activity. The explanatory statement made by the competent authority on the significant. Stages of environmental impact assessment environment. Environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental assessment. Environmental impact assessment tools and techniques. Eia is defined by the international association for impact assessment iaia as the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and. Information leaflet 5 what are the advantages of eia. It is important to note that the project area is benign from a geological perspective ith no known history of flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes or other climatic nor january 2011 6. Pdf environmental impact assessment principles and process. Environmental impact assessment should provide a basis for better decision making for the department and other public bodies with environmental responsibilities.
The moef has brought out several notifications restricting the development of industries in specified ecologically sensitive areas. Information from environmental impact assessment is also relevant to the sustainable development impact test. Environmental proposed investment or development project satisfies impact assessment introduction the main focus of this guidance note is the use of eia as a policy tool available to policy makers for effective pollution management. The objective of environmental impact assessment is to offer information to decision makers concerning matters that may be brought about as a result of decisions relating to a new project, program, plan or policy. The second edition developed many issues of growing importance in this fast. Environmental impact assessment food and agriculture. Environmental proposed investment or development project. Importance of an eia in environmental protection sciencing.
For example, map overlay methods, originally pioneered by mcharg 1971, have evolved into sophisticated geographic. However, if a developer completely ignores this requirement and builds a project without submitting an environmental impact statement, the only penalty is that the environmental protection bureau epb. The preparation of the eia report guidance aims to help developers and consultants alike prepare good quality environmental impact assessment reports and to guide competent authorities and other. Each plan of ac tion should be analyzed independently. Challenges of environmental impact assessment eia procedure for transboundary projects in the black sea basin introduction the largescale projects always involve a large number of stakeholders, which may trigger the environmental and socioeconomic impact of the s and even cause conflicts of local, national. One of the key objectives of the esia is to assist in ensuring. Environmental impact assessment and strategic environmental. The specialists in the evaluation of the impacts apply the revised definitions. Historical development of environmental assessment in scotland 7. Impact assessment ia is a routine practice at the european commission. Evaluation of the environmental impacts assessment eia. The impact assessments are based on the professional opinions of the specialists, fieldwork and desk top analysis available information. Pdf environmental impact assessment of the bakolori dam.
A strength, weakness and opportunity analysis taken up in this article has suggested that there are several issues that need to be readdressed. Environmental impact assessment, environmental impact. For developers, the process should draw attention at an early stage, to the potential environmental effects of the proposal so the alternatives can be examined or remedial measures. In its impact assessment guidelines ec 2009, the commission calls for an integrated approach taking into account various dimensions of impacts, notably economic, social and environmental implications of planned public interventions. Environmental impactenvironmental impact assessment eiaassessment eia there are two types of eia models the statutory model which makes the assessment of impact compulsory under an enacted law, or a delegated legislation, and the administrative model under which an administration exercises its discretion to find out whether an impact study. The explanatory statement made by the competent authority on the significant effects of. In view of the colossal damage to the environment, governments and public are now concerned about the environmental impacts of developmental activities. 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. Environmental impact assessment eia and environmental impact statement eis. Where necessary, an assessment should be made of the effect that small changes in the magnitude of the impact say less than 10 per cent have on the environment, particularly if significant or valued resources are. The assessment team designs and performs the appropriate study, including prediction, assessment and mitigation of impacts via an environmental management plan. Simply defined, the eia process helps identify the possible environmental effects of a proposed activity and. Introduction course on environmental impact assessment in. These two documents focus on getting the eia process started well.
It contains information regarding the project, the likely significant effect of the project, the baseline scenario, the proposed alternatives, the features and measures to mitigate. This document is available in its entirety in electronic format pdf on the. Eia report the environmental impact assessment report is the document prepared by the developer that presents the output of the assessment. Environmental impact assessment based on agri environmental indicators in different spatial levels. An impact can be described in terms of its magnitude and significance, terms to be dealt with more in detail in section 7. Environmental impact assessment is defined as an activity designed to identify the impact on the biogeophysical environment, on man and wellbeing of legislative proposals, projects, policies, operational. The environmental impact assessment eia, which is one of the environmental management tools established in many countries to ensure environmental protection 1, is a process whereby the potential environmental im. In this context, the term environmental impact assessment eia is usually used when applied to actual projects by individuals or companies and the term strategic.
The process of carrying out an environmental impact assessment as required by. Environmental impact assessment eia has emerged as a key process used to address the environmental consequences of development projects, plans and policies biswas et al. It is further designed to help improve understanding of the contribution that eia can make towards sustainable development planning in tanzania. The two types of assessments organization level and community level. Environmental impact assessment earth provides enough to satisfy every mans need, but not every mans greed mahatma gandhi 1869 1948 1. Environmental impact assessment eia can broadly be defined as a study of the effects of a proposed project, plan or program on the environment.
Environmental the eia is applied in order to ensure that challenges of environmental impact assessment eia procedure for transboundary projects in the black sea basin introduction the largescale projects always involve a large number of stakeholders, which may trigger the environmental and socioeconomic impact of the. Environmental assessment iea, ecosystem assessment ea and environmental valuation assessments. Environmental impact assessment is the most comprehensive environmental policy tool in the world that is used in the decision making of proposed projects and strategic plans. Jul 18, 20 environmental impactenvironmental impact assessment eia assessment eia there are two types of eia models the statutory model which makes the assessment of impact compulsory under an enacted law, or a delegated legislation, and the administrative model under which an administration exercises its discretion to find out whether an impact study. An environmental impact is an estimate or judgement of the significance and value of environmental effects on physical, biological, social or economic environment. These regulations may be cited as the environmental impact assessment regulations, 1998. Environmental impact assessment eia course curriculum for tertiary level institutions in pakistan national impact assessment programme niap pakistan thomas b fischer phd fiema and obaidullah nadeem phd fipp september 20. This module highlights different types of environmental assessment, and the context. It is designed to accompany a 1 or 2 day intensive introductory training course on eia. More details on the types of information that may be useful for scoping are. Despite a lack of internationally consistent practice, integrated impact assessment, linking biophysical and socioeconomic effects, is identified as an important priority in agenda 21. Environmental impact assessment eia can be defined as the systematic examination of unintended consequences of a development project or program, with the view to reduce or mitigate negative impacts and maximize on positive ones eeaa 1996. Four types of impact assessment used in canada ncchpp.
It is important to note that the project area is benign from a geological perspective ith no known history of flooding, tornadoes, earthquakes or other. Environmental impact assessment must realize decisionmaking based on. The foundations of environmental impact assessment. Direct impacts occur through direct interaction of an activity with an environmental, social, or economic component. This audience assesses the environmental impact of policy, projects, processes and products and makes decisions based upon these assessments. Environmental impact assessment eia development projects in the past were undertaken without any consideration to their environmental consequences. Thus, to assess the environmental impacts, the mechanism of eia was introduced. Read this article to learn about environmental impact assessment eia. Environmental impact assessment, abbreviated as eia is comparatively new planning and decision making device first used in the united states in the national environmental policy act of 1969 that raised awareness of the serious environmental effects of human activities which were inadequately controlled by existing planning regulation. Throughout the wide range of environmental assessment processes available, all recognise that policy responses are needed for effective environmental management andor sustainable use of the environment.
Environmental impact assessment based on agrienvironmental indicators in different spatial levels. The environmental impact assessment law eia law requires that an environmental impact assessment be completed prior to project construction. Challenges for environmental assessment alternatives 62. The importance of an environmental impact assessment is to insure that impacts are evaluated in order to protect the environment. The following points highlight the ten main stages of environmental impact assessment.
Department of environmental affairs, 2014, environmental impact assessment and management strategy for south africa draft. Abbreviated contents of an environmental impact assessment. Environmental assessment ea is the assessment of the environmental consequences positive negative of a plan, policy, program, or actual projects prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. Challenges of environmental impact assessment eia procedure.
It also provides advice to snh and hes staff on procedures for handling eia casework. Environmental assessment law eia and habitats directive 69. Eia is a tool for decisionmakers to identify potential environmental. Environmental impact assessment must realize decisionmaking based on the inputted. Health impact assessment hia, environmental impact assessment eia, strategic. Small changes in impact magnitude may cause larger than expected increases or decreases in the severity of environmental change. Overview of the eia process environmental law alliance.
Environmental impact assessments eia are documents that contain detailed analyses of proposed projects that may have environmental, social and economic impacts. Environmental assessment eia is the term used for the assessment of the environmental consequences positive and negative of a plan, policy, program, or project prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action. The first step in seeking environmental clearance for a development project is to determine what statutory legislations apply to the particular project. Environmental impact assessment from a sudanese perspective osman mirghani mohamed ali abstract sudan, the largest country in africa and the middle east and an independent state since 1956, has witnessed profound climatic and political shifts within the last twenty years. The opportunities are realized as increasing public. Environmental impact assessment final report namibian marine phosphate pty ltd. Under section 107 of the national environment act cap 153 1st may 1998 part i.
This handbook provides an introduction to environmental impact assessment eia and its potential role in tanzania. Combining different types of thresholds andor criteria. Environmental impact assessment eia process with practical guidance and a ready source of information about the process. The analysis and recommendations of this report do not necessarily reflect the views of the department of environmental affairs. Environmental impact assessment of projects european commission. For example, a discharge of any industry or an effluent from the effluent treatment plant etp from the industrial estates. As a widely adopted process that already covers other impacts, eia is recognised as one of the best available mechanisms for implementing an integrated approach. Environmental social impact assessment during site preparation, construction activities may impact the land. The recommendations do not necessarily carry the full support of all the sectors represented. Environmental impact assessment course module nature. Environmental impact assessment of the bakolori dam. Pdf introduction to environmental impact assessment. Pdf on jan 26, 2010, ramesh prasad bhatt and others published environmental impact. Evaluation of environmental impacts of crop production on o soil state, o soil water balance, o biomass production by its cause and effect relations.
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