CE-408

ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING – II
LECTURE # 02
DATED: 2ND MARCH, 2020
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
Introduction
• A systematic identification and evaluation of the potential impacts of
proposed projects, plans, programs, or legislative action relative to
physical-chemical, biological, cultural and socioeconomic components
of environment.
OR
• The process of predicting, identifying, evaluating and mitigating the
biological, social and other relevant effects of developmental proposals
prior to major decision being taken and commitment made.
OR
• An important procedure for ensuring that the likely effects of new
developmental activities on the environment are fully understood and
taken into account before the development is allowed to go ahead.
Introduction

• An environment impact assessment is an event or effect,

which results from a prior event. It can be described as the
change in an environmental parameter, over a specific period
and within a defined area, resulting from a particular activity
compared with the situation which would have occurred if
the activity not been initiated.
Objectives of EIA
• To ensure that Environmental considerations are addressed properly and
incorporated into decision making process.

• To avoid, minimize or balance the adverse significant bio-physical, social and

other relevant effects of developmental projects.

• To protect the productivity and capacity of natural system and ecological

processes with the maintenance of their function.

• To promote development that is sustainable, optimize resources use, and

management opportunities.
What is an Ideal EIA?
• Applied to all activities that have significant environmental impact and address all the impacts that
are expected to be significant.

• Compare alternatives to a proposed project (including the possibility of not developing the site),
management, techniques and mitigation measures.

• Clear EIS mentioning importance of impacts and their specific characteristics to experts as well as to
non expert in the field.

• Public participation and stringent administrative review procedure

• Be on time so as to provide information for decision making and be enforceable.

• Including monitoring and feed back procedures.

 Screening (does the project Impact assessment
require EIA?) (interpreting the impacts)

Scoping (what issues and Mitigation (what can be done to

impacts should the EIA address?) alleviate negative impacts?)

Baseline studies (establish EIS preparation/review

the environmental baseline) (document the EIA findings)

Alternatives (consider the Public consultation

different approaches) (consult general public and NGOs)

Impact prediction (forecast Monitoring (monitor impacts

the environmental impacts) of project)
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EIA Processes
Screening
• The first step of EIA process to decide whether or not EIA is required. It is a
preliminarily study to investigate the negative and positive impacts of a
proposed project. The project type and size is used to evaluate the extent of
potential environmental impacts. Small projects some time have more
adverse environmental effects than larger projects. Therefore the threshold
value of judgment must be applied always on case to case basis. Two principal
approaches to screening:

• (i) The use of thresholds and (ii) Case-by-case examination against

criteria.
• The sectoral guidelines, which contain a checklist of environmental parameters for
different sectors, can be used to help organize the screening process.

• Environmental problems due to project location are

• (i) Design problem (ii) Construction problem; and (iii) Operational problem

• The screening process is usually addressed in EIA guidelines that described which
type of project needs to proceed in EIA or not. If the screening process suggests that
there is no need of detailed assessment then preliminarily assessments are essential.
If screening and/or preliminarily assessment suggest an impact assessment then the
next step is scoping.
 Screening Screening
• Identify environmental issues of concern
• Determine whether EIA is needed
• Establish need for project

Environmental
impact

No need of EIA EIA required Impacts

Economic and IEE Unclear
Project IEE
impact

Social Threshold criteria Impact criteria

impact • Size • Significant but
• Location easily identifiable
• Output impacts
• Cost/Finances • Significant impacts
• Environmental • Sensitive area 12
effects
• etc.
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Types of EIA Process

• Preliminary Assessment: carried out in the early stages known as

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE).

• Detailed Assessment: carried out during project planning and

reported as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• Initial Environmental Examination (IEE): It is a preliminary
environmental evaluation of predictable qualitative and quantitative
impact of a proposed activity on environment. It is the procedure with
the help of which to decide whether the proposed activity caused an
undesirable environmental effect that would require preparation of an
EIA. Thus, the IEE is a further detailed investigation into the impact
assessment using information from the scoping process. The IEE
examines the issues to assists in the prediction and judgment of
environmental impact in order to identify required mitigation
measures.
• It is an effort that systematically considers all environmental impacts
arising from a proposal and identifies which impacts need further
consideration, and of mitigation measures which reduce the impacts to
an acceptable level. If the IEE discloses impacts that are more
significant then an environmental impact assessment study would have
to be conducted.
Scoping
During the scoping stage the key issues that the EIA will address are identified. Thus
scoping process helps in identifying important issues to be fully evaluated, and
eliminate those factors which are not important in EIA process. This process depends on
the nature of proposed project. The local government representatives, Local
communities, environmental agency and NGOs attend the meeting and review the
proposed action.

In other cases, it is essential that members of the local community involvement be along
with other key representatives. The scoping process indicates the detailed information
that will be required and it can be used to review alternatives for project design. Scoping
process identify the following as early as possible
• The purpose of scoping is;
• To consider a balance and appropriate options for a proposed action;

• To inform affected people due to the proposed and alternatives plan

of action;

• To evaluate the possible effects on environment due to the proposed

and alternatives plan;
• Following the scoping phase, it is essential to assemble all the relevant
information on the current status of the environment.

• provide a description of the status and trends of environmental factors

(e.g., air pollutant concentrations etc.) against which predicted
changes can be compared and evaluated in terms of importance. The
baseline study should anticipate the future state of the environment
assuming the project is not undertaken - the ‘no action alternative’

• This provides the ‘baseline’ against which future impacts can be

assessed .
Baseline Studies

• It should be undertaken for each alternative site so that the relative

severity of the impacts for each alternative can be assessed.

• provide a means of detecting actual change by monitoring once a

project has been initiated

• New field work may necessary (e.g. ecological survey) if relevant data is
not already available
ALTERNTIVES
• An EIA process is conducted for a project and its alternatives (e.g. different locations,
scales, designs). Alternatives are the “raw material” of EIA process. The different
alternatives can be clearly assessed to help the decision makers to select the best available
option. They are;

i. To approve the same site without change of operation, and design;

ii. To change operation, site and/or design; and

iii. No action option.

• Option (iii) is not a practicable option, when donor agencies are interested to invest in an
area. For decision makers they have to select from the two remaining options. It is a
difficult decision, because of non-availability of baseline information in a country like
Pakistan.
• The decision makers should try their best to utilize the available data
for selection of site. It is a common practice that alternatives are
ignored and the only option is to select the site, which is under
consideration. If the alternative site or operation has minimum impact
on environment, then decision makers should use the second option to
change the site for the proposed activities.
Impact Prediction and Assessment

At the screening and scoping process, impacts of proposed

project has to be addressed. The next step in EIA phase is to
investigate these impacts. Four types of impacts will be
identified. They are physical, biological, social and
economical. Two types of questions to determine the criteria
to either include or exclude an environmental factor in
decision-making mechanism
1. Will the proposed action or any of its alternatives have an impact,
either beneficial or detrimental on the environmental concern? and

2. Will the environmental concern exert an influence on project

construction scheduling or subsequent operation?

• Impact assessment also helps in selection of alternatives sites, design,

and operation process. Different alternatives can be clearly assessed to
help decision makers to select the best available option.
• Impact Assessment involves characterising the impact in terms of its likely
nature, duration, frequency, reversibility and magnitude. Finally a judgement
must be made as to whether the impact is likely to be significant or not.

• A large number of impact analysis techniques exist, each have their

advantages and disadvantages. Impact analysis techniques can be quantitative
or qualitative.

• Quantitative techniques tend to involve a prescriptive method being set out

and followed whereas qualitative techniques rely less upon a prescribed
method instead relying heavily upon professional judgement. The
environmental assessment will determine the most appropriate impact
analysis technique.
Mitigation
• The next phase of EIA process is to propose measures to minimize, prevent or to
compensate those who affected by developmental projects. One of the main purpose
of impact assessment is to predict and prevent adverse effects through
implementation of mitigation measures. During public consultation of the EIA team,
additional mitigation measures may be acknowledged, that should be implemented
during operation of a project.

• The Council on Environmental Quality regulations (USA) stated

• Avoiding the impact by not taking a certain action or parts of an action.

• Minimizing impacts by limiting the degree or magnitude of the action and its implementation.
• Rectifying the impact by repairing, rehabitating, or restoring the affected
environment.

• Reducing or eliminating the impact over time by preservation and

maintenance operations during the life of the action

• Compensating for the impact by replacing or providing substitute resources

or environments.

When significant impacts are identified in the construction or operation

phases of a project, then collaboration is essential between project designer
and EIA team to see if change in design can mitigate the problem.
There is a number of alternatives available to check which one will be
suitable like; change in planning/ design; improved monitoring and
management practices; compensation to be effected by project activity;
and replacement, relocation, rehabilitation. Alternative options can be
used if adverse impact is identified and difficult to mitigate within
available resources.

It is the responsibility of proponent to clearly mentioned impact

assessment and its commitment to use mitigation measures.
Public Participation
• Public participation in the EIA process is mandatory according to
PEPA -97. There are two options available for public participation. The
first is to arrange an open forum in which EPA and other departments
related to proposed project discussed issues in detail. Public are
allowed to present their viewpoints in an open debate, and if some
positive suggestions are received from public that should be given top
priorities in decision making process. In this type of participation,
some times culturally and unacceptable proposals are presented by
audience. The other way of public participations is the arrangement of
survey workshops, small group meetings, discussions, and interviews
in the shape of individuals and groups. The second option of
participation is a good option if carefully conducted.
• Developmental activities are usually undertaken to improve the condition of a
society. The lacks of understanding of society in developmental activities have
negative consequences. EIA provide an ideal forum to know that affected
public is consulted properly and their views taken into account in project
preparation. Elite groups, scholars and Ulemah (religious scholars) play an
important role in public participation in Pakistani society. Their regular
participation in decision-making mechanisms especially in environmental
discipline will provide baseline information for EPA and other government
department staff. The public participation in Pakistan EIA system needs some
amendments.
• According to EPA-Pak Review of IEE and EIA regulations, 2000 public
will be informed through media like newspapers and a date, time, and
location will be fixed for public hearing of any comments on the
proposed project.

• For better public participation, local community should be informed

through news media as well as through Ulemah of masjids and
madrassas, and through local elected and/or selected members of the
society.
Environmental Impact Statement
• Once it has been determined that a project has potentially significant impacts
on the environment and the main issues to be considered in the study have
been identified. Then the EIA has to be undertaken and presented in the form
of an Environmental Impact Assessment Report known as Environmental
Impact Statement (EIS). This is the most important activity of EIA process.
This written communication will be utilized by decision makers, will be
scrutinized by interested publics and Govt. agencies in the review process.
The assessment must determine the significance of direct and indirect
impacts of the activity . Similarly the beneficial and adverse impact as well as
the duration of the impacts will be considered.
Decision Making
• After studying the expected impact assessment and proposed mitigation
measures caused by the project operation the next step in EIA process is
making a decision. This is an important stage to decide whether actual
design/ location is feasible or to change location/ operation process. Decision
should have to be based on the information gathered from the assessment
process, mitigation options and public opinion.

The decisions on proposals subject to EIA, whether they are Yes / No decisions
or involve choice between alternatives are frequently made incrementally.
At early stages of EIA process, it will be clear that some impacts are unacceptable
causing to redesign or withdrawal. Similarly, at review process new information will
be collected from public and experts for further actions.

Donor agencies and government of Pakistan decide all international developmental

projects in the country. EIA reports are being prepared but have no or little effects on
decision-making process. Similarly, those projects that are financed by federal or
provincials or local governments, all decisions are based on political basis influenced
by certain quarters. In such cases, the influence of Pak-EPA is usually ignored. This
attitude of the elite group in Pakistan needs to be change, by the influence of
Environmental societies, NGOs and individuals. For this purpose, there is a need of
environmental capacity building, environmental education and proper training in
environmental related fields.
• Once the study is finished and EIA report is submitted, the responsible
decision-makers start what is often the difficult task of balancing
environmental, economic, political and technical factors in reaching a
final decision regarding the course of action to be taken.
Monitoring
• Monitoring is used to evaluate the effect of project on construction and operation
phases on natural and cultural environment. It evaluate the success or failure of
environmental management measures and afterward reorients the management
plan. A continuous process of monitoring program indicates either the proposed
mitigation measures are effectives or not. It also assists in advancing the practice of
impact forecasting. The purpose of monitoring is the diffusion of EIA practice and
the amendment of the EIA system to incorporate feedback from the experience and
remedy any weakness identified. The degree of records kept on the numbers of EIA
reports produced, types of projects assessed, decision reached, numbers of
implemented projects and availability of documents etc. are vary for various
activities.
• Monitoring program may involve all relevant checks of activities, impacts and
environmental parameters, to ensure that they are in accordance with plan,
predictions and approvals. The proponent will be responsible to carry out
monitoring on regular basis or at certain interval of time and to report to the
authorized agency. If mitigation measures are not sufficient to reduce adverse
effects, then extra measures have to be taken to minimize impacts, other wise
closure of the project will be required.

According to Pak-EPA there will be a monitoring committee constituted

consists of representative of EPA, the proponent, key government agencies
and NGOs.
Once the project approved proponent is responsible for all mitigation measures and
monitoring program.

Monitoring committee is authorized to inspect the site periodically to ensure that the

proponent is keeping its environmental commitment as a part of project approval.

The committee shall consider any significant environmental impact not foreseen
in the report, and shall advise the proponent of suitable mitigating measures.
 The monitoring activities can be classified as:

Baseline Monitoring: It can be conducted before the development of a project and

oriented towards establishing the baseline environmental conditions. Analysis is an
essential element of monitoring. Raw or unprocessed environmental data is not useful to
decision makers. Dissemination of monitoring results is critical

• Construction phase Monitoring: It can be carried out during the construction and
oriented either to the emissions and discharges of the installation or to the status of the
environmental variable.

• After-use Monitoring: it can be carried out when the installation is left or has finished

its operative period and oriented to residual emissions, e.g. long term evaluation of the
environmental conditions.
EIA Auditing and Evaluation
• Environmental auditing is an assessment process to check that the pollution level or an impact
of project is within the limits prescribed by the authorized agency at the time of decision-
making process. Environmental audit will usually be carried out by authorized agency and will
report it to EPA-Pak. There is a need of regular environmental audit procedure to check the
proponent is following the instructions of project approval or not. Similarly, the existing
industries are polluting water, land and air. An independent commission to check pollution
level is essential to prevent the degradation of environment. For this purpose, industries have
to be obliged to keep a proper and regular record of pollutants. The Commission members can
randomly, check industries records and monitor the procedure personally for minimizing of
pollutants. Also, different samples can be selected and compare its level of pollution with the
one that has been taken from industries record. Inspection and audit of industrial units is the
best way to achieve the goals of pollution control strategy.