Lecture 1: EIA Introduction

NE 4063
(Penilaian Kesan Alam Sekitar)
23rd February 2016
 Synopsis Kursus
• Kursus ini meneliti prosedur penilaian impak alam sekitar
(EIA) terutamanya yang dipraktikkan di Malaysia.
Kaedah, rekabentuk, pengurusan dan teknik membuat
keputusan untuk EIA akan dibincangkan.
• Kaedah-kaedah ini meliputi aspek persekitaran fizikal,
biologi dan sosio-ekonomi. Penekanan akan diberikan
kepada parameter yang sesuai, skop, penilaian dan juga
penyediaan laporan EIA.
• Pelajar akan didedahkan kepada program pemantauan
persekitaran seperti pemantauan kualiti udara, air dan
sumber pencemaran lain, pemonitoran aspek-aspek
fiziko-kimia dan juga penggunaan, haiwan, tumbuhan,
mikroorganisma dan komponen tisu sebagai petunjuk
biologi.
• Kajian kes yang sedia ada dan kerja lapangan EIA juga
akan ditekankan.
 Perancangan Kursus
Title Hours Lecturer
1. Introduction of EIA and overview of EIA 30 minutes Dr Mazrura

2. EIA in Malaysia 1hr 30 Dr Mazrura

minutes
3. Procedures and methodology in EIA 2 Dr Mazrura
4 Impact of Environment to Human health 1 Dr Mazrura
5. Methodology in health impact assessment 1 Dr Mazrura
6. Visit to the Assessment Unit, Dept of Env, Putrajaya 4

7. Ecological and biological component in EIA 2 Dr Sham

8. BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT IN EIA 2 Prof Shukor (FST)

9. QUALITATIVE HRA IN EIA 2 PM Hidayatulfathi

10 PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENTIN EIA 2 Dr Muhammad Ikram

11. Social Economic Profiling and Impact Assesment 2 Dr Mazrura

12 QUANTITATIVE HRA IN EIA 2 Dr Mazrura
13 FIELD WORK EIA 8hrs Dr Mazrura/ Pn Shima

14. RISK COMMUNICATION AND COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION 2 Dr Mazrura

15. RISK MANAGEMENT AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN 2 Dr Mazrura

16 PREPARATION OF ASSIGNMENT 8
17 PRESENTATION ON ASSIGNMENT 8 Dr Mazrura
 Objectives
• By the end of this course you should be able to:
 Define EIA
 describe the EIA process, listing the different stages
and types of activity involved;
 list the characteristics of projects which may give rise
to significant impacts;
 critically assess impact and prediction techniques for
use within the EIA process;
 describe methods for evaluation and decision-
making based on EIA; and
 understand how to carry out an environmental
impact assessment and prepare an environmental
statement.
 Introduction
What is Environmental Impact Assessment?

• EIA is a planning tool that is used for identifying,

predicting and communicating information about the
environmental effects (on the environment and human
health) of a proposed development

• EIA is “an assessment of the impact of a planned

activity on the environment”.
• UN Economic Commission for Europe, 1991
 EIA
• EIA is designed to:
•anticipate and prevent environmental problems
•identify ways to increase environmental benefits
•support informed decisions on project options and trade-offs
•integrate environmental considerations into the planning, design
and construction of projects at all scales

• An activity designed to identify and predict the impact on the bio-

geophysical environment and on man’s health and well being (Munn, 1979)

• The process of identifying, evaluating, predicting and mitigating the

biophysical, social or other relevant effects of development proposals prior
to major decisions being taken and commitments made.
 Objectives of EIA
• To assess the overall impact on the environment of
development projects proposed by the public and private
sectors.
• The objectives of EIA are:
– To disclose significant environmental effects of proposed projects to
decision-makers and the public
– To identify ways to avoid or reduce environmental damage
– To prevent adverse environmental impacts by requiring implementation of
feasible alternatives or mitigation measures
– To disclose reason of approvals for the projects with significant
environmental impacts to the public
– To foster interagency co-ordination and enhance public participation
– To document and ensure that environmental aspects such as potential
physical, biological, social and health effects are addressed for the planned
activity

Potential problems are foreseen at the appropriate stage of project design

EIA should be envisaged as an integral part of the planning process and
initiated at the project level from the start
 Why do we need EIA?
• EIA is essentially a planning tool for preventing environmental
problems due to an action/ development.
• It seeks to avoid costly mistakes in project implementation, either
because of the environmental damages that are likely to arise during
project implementation, or because of modifications that may be
required subsequently in order to make the action environmentally
acceptable.

The philosophy of EIA:

• EIA is designed as a preventive measure
• EIA should be introduced early on in the planning processes
• Broad public participation should ensure wide acceptance of
projects implemented

EIA Legal Requirement: under section 34A, Environmental

Quality Act, 1974 which specifies the prescribed activities.
 EIA Order 1987: 19 Prescribed Activities
 Agriculture  Mining
 Airport  Petroleum
 Drainage & Irrigation  Power Generation
 Land Reclamation  Quarries
 Fisheries  Railways
 Forestry  Transport
 Housing  Resort & Recreation
 Industry  Waste Treatment &
 Infrastructure Disposal
 Ports  Water Supply

2 additional prescribed activities since 2011;

• Using radioactive material(s) and generating radioactive waste(s).
• Petrochemical activities
 Benefits of EIA include:
• more environmentally • increased project
sustainable design acceptance
• better compliance • reduced time and
with standards costs for approvals
• reduced social costs • more informed
• savings in capital and decision-making
operating costs • better monitoring and
management of
impacts
 Making EIA work
• What values and principles must EIA have
in order to make it work?
– Write your answers down individually then
discuss with your colleague.
(5 minutes)
 EIA – UNEP core values
• Sustainability
– to result in environmental safeguards
• Integrity
– to conform to agreed standards
• Utility
– to provide balanced, credible information for
decision-making
 EIA – UNEP guiding principles
• Participation • Credibility
• Transparency • Cost-effectiveness
• Certainty • Flexibility
• Accountability • Practicality
 How to conduct EIA?
To assist in the preparation of EIA reports refer to;
• "A Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment
Guidelines" and EIA guidelines for specific activities
published by the Department of Environment.

• DOE.Guidance document on health impact assessment

(HIA) in environmental impact assessment (DOE, 2012
by Jamal HH et al )

. MOH Guidance Document on Health Risk Assessment

of Solid Waste Management, Mazrura et al, 2011)
 The EIA process cycle
Prediction of impacts 2
Evaluation and assessment
of impacts
Project screening 1 Identification of mitigating
Scoping measures
Description of project
Presentation of findings
Description of environment Public consultation in an EIS 3
Identification of key impacts

Review of the EIS 4

Decision-making 5

Post-decision monitoring 6
Auditing of predictions and
mitigation measures
 Steps in the EIA
Is an Environmental Impact Assessment
Screening
necessary?

Scoping What should be included in the study?

Impact What aspects of the project will cause

& prediction impacts on the environment?

Impact How can the design be changed

mitigation to reduce the predicted impacts?

What are the key issues to be taken

Reporting
into account by decision makers?

Decision Do the benefits of the project (social and economic)

making outweigh the environmental costs?

Monitoring & Were the environmental impacts correctly

evaluation predicted?