EIA Guideline Revised 2010

Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline, Revised in 2010/11
AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE

BUREAU OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION LAND
ADMINISTRATION AND USE
GENERAL
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
GUIDELINE
2011
Bahir Dar
BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar i REVISED IN 2010/11

Table of Contents
Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... ii
Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................... v
Chapter One..........................................................................................................1
1. Introduction .....................................................................................................1
1.1. What is EIA? ................................................................................................................................ 1
1.2. Legal and Policy Framework .............................................................................................. 2
1.3. Guiding Principles of EIA ..................................................................................................... 4
1.4. Benefits of EIA .............................................................................................5
1.5. Responsible Bodies and Their Roles ................................................................................ 5

1.5.1. Proponent ............................................................................................................................................5
1.5.2. Consultant ...........................................................................................................................................6
1.5.3. Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) ...................................................................................6
1.5.4. Competent Agency ...........................................................................................................................6
1.6. Overall Goals and Objectives of EIA ................................................................................ 7
Chapter Two .........................................................................................................8
2. The Environmental Impact Assessment Process ..............................8
2.1. Pre-Screening Consultation................................................................................................. 8
2.2. Screening ..................................................................................................................................... 8
2.3. Scoping........................................................................................................................................ 11
2.4. Impact Analysis ....................................................................................................................... 12

2.4.1 Characteristics of environmental impacts ............................................................... 13
2.4.2 Cumulative Environmental Impacts ........................................................................ 14
2.4.3 Evaluation of impact significance ............................................................................. 14
2.4.4 Significance Criteria .................................................................................................. 15
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2.5. Identification of mitigation Measures ........................................................................... 17
2.6. Reporting ................................................................................................................................... 17
2.7. Reviewing .................................................................................................................................. 18
2.8 Planning public involvement ...................................................................18

2.9. Record of Decision and Appeal ........................................................................................ 21
2.10. Condition of Approval ........................................................................................................ 22
2.11. EIA and the Project Cycle ................................................................................................ 22
Chapter Three ....................................................................................................24
3. Checklists of Possible Environmental Impacts and their

Mitigation Measures ................................................................................24
3.1. Introduction.............................................................................................................................. 24
3.2. Soil Resources .......................................................................................................................... 25
3.3. Water Resources ..................................................................................................................... 27
3.4. Air Quality ................................................................................................................................. 30
3.5. Flora, Fauna and Ecosystem ............................................................................................. 31
3.6. Socio-Economic Impact ....................................................................................................... 34
3.7. Impacts on Cultural Heritages ......................................................................................... 37
3.8. Noise............................................................................................................................................. 38
3.9. Impacts on Human Health and Safety........................................................................... 40
Chapter Four ......................................................................................................42
4. Environmental Monitoring, Standards, and Auditing ......................................42

4.1 Environmental monitoring ............................................................................................................. 42
4.2 Environmental Standards .............................................................................................................. 44
4.3 Environmental Auditing ................................................................................................................. 45
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Chapter Five .......................................................................................................51
5. Guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment Report Writing ..................51

5.1. Introduction ................................................................................................................................. 51
5.2.1 Executive Summary ................................................................................. 52
5.2.2 Introduction .............................................................................................. 52
5.2.3 Approach to the Study ............................................................................. 53
5.2.4 Assumptions and/ or Gap in Knowledge’s .......................................... 53
5.2.5 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework ................................... 54
5.2.6 Description of the project and its alternatives .................................. 54
5.2.7 Baseline Information on Biophysical Environment and
Socioeconomic situation ................................................................................ 55
5.2.8 Assessment of Significant Environmental Impacts ......................... 55
5.2.9 Mitigation Measures................................................................................ 56
5.2.10 Environmental Management Plan ..................................................... 56
5.2.11 Environmental Monitoring/Auditing Programme ......................... 57
5.2.12 Nature of Public Participation ........................................................... 58
5.2.13 Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................. 58
5.2.14 Appendices .............................................................................................. 59
References................................................................................................................60
ANNEXES ...............................................................................................................65
Annex I: Categories of Activities ............................................................................65
Annex II: EIS Review Criteria ...............................................................................85
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Glossary of Terms
Alternative A possible course of action that might be adopted in line of the

proposal or activity or in terms of site, design, input, process,
including the "no action" alternative.
Audit The process through which how well compliance with policy
objectives and regulatory requirements is met and the fidelity
of the implementation of conditions attached to an approved
environmental impact assessment report is examined.
Competent Authority (CA) Those which the states designate as responsible for
performing the duties arising from the Directive.
Cost-Benefit Analysis Objective, careful and explicit analyses of the costs and benefits
of a proposed action. Such an analysis should also determine
social discount rates for both costs and benefits.
Cumulative Impact An impact that may in itself not be significant but the
combination of one or more impacts that can have a greater
effect than the sum of the individual impacts.
Developer The applicant for authorization for a private Project or the public
authority which initiates a Project.
Development Consent The decision of the Competent Authority or Authorities which
entitles the Developer to proceed with the Project.
Effect/Impact Any change in the physical, natural or cultural environment
brought about by a development Project. Effect and Impact are
used interchangeably.
EIA Team The team which carries out the Environmental Studies and
prepares the environmental information for submission to the
Competent Authority.
Environmental Consultant Individuals or firms that act in an independent and
unbiased manner to provide information for decision making.
Environment The physical, biological, social, economic, cultural, historical
and political factors that surround human beings. It includes
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both the natural and built environments. It also includes

human health and welfare.
Environmental Assessment The methodology of identifying and evaluating in
advance, any impact positive or negative, which results from
the implementation of a proposed action.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) A formal process used to predict the
environmental consequences of any development project. EIA
thus ensures that the potential problems are foreseen and
addressed at an early stage in the projects planning and
design.
Environmental Impact Assessment Report A report containing sufficient information to
enable the Environmental Agency to determine whether and
under what conditions a proposed action should proceed.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) See Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
Environmental Information The information provided by a Developer to a Competent
Authority the Project and its environmental effects.
Environmental Management Plan An action plan that addresses the how, when, who,
where and what of the environmental mitigation measure
aimed at optimizing benefits and avoiding or mitigating
adverse potential impacts of proposed operation or activity. It
encompasses mitigation, monitoring, rehabilitation and
contingency plans.
Environmental Management System Is the means of ensuring effective implementation
of an environmental management plan or procedures and
compliance with environmental policy, objectives and targets.
Environmental Policy of an Organization A statement by the organisation of its
intentions and principles in relation to its overall
environmental performance that provides a framework for
action and for the setting of its environmental objectives and
targets.
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Environmental Studies The surveys and investigations carried out by the Developer and
the EIA Team in order to prepare the Environmental
Information for submission to the Competent Authority.
Exclusion List A list of thresholds and criteria for specified categories of
projects defining those projects for which EIA is not required
because they are considered to be unlikely to have significant
effects on the environment.
Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) Individuals or groups concerned with or affected
by an activity and its consequences. These include local
communities, work force, customers, or consumers,
environmental interested groups and the general public.
Licensing Agency Any organ of government empowered by law to issue an
investment permit, trade or operating license or work permit or
register business organization as a case may be.
Mandatory List A list of thresholds and criteria for specified categories of
projects defining those projects for which EIA is always
required because they are considered to be likely to have
significant effects on the environment.
Mitigations Measures taken to reduce or rectify undesirable impacts of a
particular activity when an environmental evaluation process
deems the impact is adversely significant.
Monitoring The repetitive and continuing observations, measurements and
evaluation of changes that relate to the proposed activity.
Project The execution of construction works or of other installations or
schemes and other interventions in the natural surroundings
and Landscape including those involving the extraction of
mineral resources.
Proponent/ Developer Any organ of government, if in the public sector or any person
if in the private sector that initiate a project or a public
instrument.
Public Instrument Means a policy, a plan, a strategy, a program, a law or an
international agreement.
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Regional Environmental Agency Any regional government organ entrusted by that

Region, with a responsibility of the protection or regulation of
the environment and natural resources.
Rehabilitation Restoration of an environmental component, social service or
system that has been affected by an activity to more or less its
former states.
Review The process of establishing whether an EIS is adequate for the
Competent Authority to use it to inform the decision on
Development Consent.
Scoping an early and open activity to identify the impacts that are most
likely to be significant and require investigation during the
EIA work. The results of scoping are frequently used to
prepare a Terms of Reference for the EIA.
Screening preliminary activity undertaken to classify proposals according

to the level of assessment that should occur.
Strategic Environmental Assessment The assessment used to identify the potential
impacts of the proposed public instruments and the design of
their containment.
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Chapter One
1. Introduction
Our experience shows that most development endeavors in the country in general,
and Amhara Region in particular has focused on short-term economic benefits no
matter for its sustainability. Environment as cross cutting issue has received little
attention during project planning, decision-making and implementation phases of
most development projects.
The rugged topography, high human and livestock population have exposed the
region to severe environmental degradation. The alarming environmental
degradation rates calls for devising mechanisms to reverse the present situation.
Considering environmental issues by Implementing Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) procedure before implementing development projects or programs
ensures sustainable development. Hence to safeguard the environment in assisting
the project proponents in developing environmental impact assessment report and
the competent agency to follow in reviewing EIA reports BoEPLAU has developed
general EIA guideline based on the federal EIA guideline as an overall framework
to integrate environmental concerns in its Regional Development Strategies.
1.1. What is EIA?

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a process or an instrument used to
forecast and consider both positive and negative environmental and social
consequences of a proposed development project. EIA can be defined in the following
ways:-
 “…systematic & interdisciplinary identification, prediction &

evaluation, mitigation & management of impacts from a proposed
document & its reasonable alternatives.”
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 “…an activity designed to identify and predict the impact on the bio-
geophysical environment and on man’s health and well-being of
legislative proposals, policies, programmes, projects and operational
procedures, and to interpret and communicate information about the
impacts”
 “…a procedure designed to provide information about the potential

impact on the environment of a proposed new development, before
planning decisions are made”
 “… a mechanism for all interested parties to be consulted and provide

a framework within which agreement may be reached between the
developers causing the impacts and those who are affected by the
impacts’’
…etc
1.2. Legal and Policy Framework

The Ethiopian National Legislations, Proclamations and policies require
implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment for those projects,
programmes, policies and plans which have adverse impact on the society and
environment to bring sustainable development. Some of these are mentioned below.
The Federal Constitution adopted on August 21, 1995 required current and future
legislation and the conduct of government to conform to a Bill of rights. The
proclamation No1/1995 was proclaimed to effect the constitution of the Federal
Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The same legislation was issued in Amhara
National Regional State in the Regional Constitution Declared on Gazette No-2; 22,
June 1995. These legislations have entrenched the environmental rights and
obligations of the peoples’ of the region in line with sustainable development.

Article 43, 44 and 92 of the Federal Constitution states the following people’s
environmental concerns.
Article, 43: The Right to Development
 The peoples of Ethiopia as a whole and each Nation, Nationality and people
in Ethiopia in particular have the right to improved living standards and to
sustainable development.
 Nations have the right to participate in national development and, in
particular, to be consulted with respect to policies and projects affecting their
community.
 All international Agreements and relations concluded, established or
conducted by the state shall protect and ensure Ethiopia’s right to
sustainable development.
 The basic aim of development activities shall be to enhance the capacity of
citizens for development and to meet basic needs.
Article, 44: Environment Rights
 All persons have the right to live in a clean and healthy environment.
 All persons who have been displaced or whose livelihoods have been
adversely affected because of state programs have the right to commensurate
monetary or alternative means of compensation, including relocation with
adequate state assistance.
Article, 92: Environmental Objective
 Government shall endeavor to ensure that all Ethiopians live in a clean and
healthy environment.
 The design and implementation of programs and projects of development shall
not damage or destroy the Environment.
 People have the right to full consultation and the expression of views in the
planning and implementation of environmental policies and projects that
affect them directly.
 Government and citizens shall have the due to protect the environment.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation (federal proc. No.

299/2002): has made it mandatory that all development projects should be
subjected to the environmental scrutiny. It means that EIA is a legal requirement.
The Environmental Policy and Strategy: National environmental policies,
conservation strategy as well as the Amhara Regional Conservation Strategy (RCS)
provide a number of guiding principles that indicate and require a strong adherence
to sustainable development. Concerning the needs of EIA, the following basic issues
are contained indicated in these documents.
 An early consideration of environmental impacts in project and program
design
 Reorganization of public consultation, including mitigation plans and
contingency plans
 Provision of auditing and monitoring is a legally binding requirement and
needs to be institutionalized.
1.3. Guiding Principles of EIA
Some of the basic principles that underlie the objectives of EIA are:
 Early Application: Proactive consideration and integration of environmental
concerns at the earliest stages of the conceptualization of the projects, programs
or policies.
 Participation: Appropriate and timely access and opportunity to the process
for all interested and affected parties (IAPs)
 Issues Based: The focus of an EA is on the resolution of major issues of
significant impacts.
 Alternatives: All feasible options to a project, policy, program or their
components like site, processes, products, raw materials, designs etc should be
considered.
 Accountability: Refers to responsibility of proponent, consultant and
environmental agencies for their respective roles and responsibilities.
 Credibility: Assessments and reviews are under taken with professionalism
and objectivity.

 Time and Cost Effectiveness: The assessment process, its outcomes and
decision making will ensure environmental protection at the least cost and
within reasonable time.
 Transparency: All assessments, decisions & their basis should be open &
accessible to the public.
 Practicality: The information and out puts provided by the assessment
process are readily usable in the decision making and planning.
 Conservation Based: The EIA process should strive to promote conservation
based development.
1.4. Benefits of EIA
Enhance environmentally sustainable project design,
Better compliance with environmental standards,
Saving in capital and operating costs,
Avoids later plan adaptations,
Reduces health costs,
Increases project acceptance.
1.5. Responsible Bodies and Their Roles
The major actors in an EIA process are the following:
1.5.1. Proponent
The proponent is the project applicant. The proponent is responsible for complying with the
requirements of the EIA and for all associated costs incurred in the EIA process. The first
responsibility of the proponent is to appoint an independent consultant who will act on the
proponent’s behalf in the EIA process. The proponent must ensure adequate participation of
the competent agency and interested and affected parties and the public in general in the
EIA process. Two hard copies and one electronic copy of the EIA study report should be
submitted to the reviewing bureau. After the 12 days of submission of the first draft copy of
EIA report the proponent should take comments from the competent agency and resubmit
four hard copies and one electronic copy of the corrected final documents to the competent
agency for approval. The proponent is responsible to declare the document and implement
his project based on the report.

1.5.2. Environmental Consultant

The independent environmental consultant acts on behalf of the proponent in
preparing the EIA report complying with the EIA process. The environmental
consultant is responsible for employing appropriate professional experts that best
fit in preparing readable and informative EIA report in compliance with endorsed
policies, legislations and guideline. Furthermore, he/she should ensure that all of
this information is made available to the Competent Agency via the proponent.
1.5.3. Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs)
IAPs are key actors of a successful EIA and are responsible for providing input and
comments at various stages in the EIA process. The input from interested and
affected parties should be sought in all EIA process.
1.5.4. Competent Agency
The Competent Agency is responsible for ensuring that the proponent/consultant
complies with the requirements of the EIA process and the bureau through a
regular and effective communication between the bureau and the proponent to
provide general guidance on procedure, information and reports required by
involving other responsible authorities. The Competent Agency must not conduct an
EIA in order to avoid significant conflict of interest in the decision-making process.
The Competent Agency should:
 Ensure that the evaluation/review and decisions provided are done efficiently
and within reasonable time, and that the proponent is informed of any delays
that may be incurred through the review process; and
 Ensure that the proponent is informed of any shortfalls in the process as
identified through the reviews.
The legal bureau that monitor compliance, and apply enforcement action is the
Amhara National Regional State Environmental Protection, Land Administration
and Use Bureau (BoEPLAU) and its organizations at zonal and woreda level. This
Regional Authority was established by proclamation No. 47/2000 in response to the
institutional demand for implementing Regional Conservation Strategy.

1.6. Overall Goals and Objectives of EIA

Overall Goal
To promote environmentally sound and sustainable livelihood development i.e. to
bring ecological economic and social sustainability in the process of development.
Objectives
EIA objectives can be categorized into long-term and short-term objectives
The long-term objectives include:-
 Conservation and sustainable use of natural resources;
 Protection and enhancement of the quality of all life forms; and
 Integration of environmental considerations in development planning
processes
The short-term objectives include:-
 To assess the nature, intensity and duration of influence, positive and/or
negative, of proposed development project;
 To promote local community and public participation in the EIA processes of
a project;
 To promote social and cultural considerations in project design: and
 To provide a methodology for prevention and mitigation of expected impacts
due to the presence of a project.

Chapter Two
2. The Environmental Impact Assessment Process
2.1. Pre-Screening Consultation
In this phase, the proponent should contact the Competent Agency and other
sectoral agencies, which may have an interest in the proposed project and establish
an official contact. The consultation may take the form of a formal meeting, a
telephone conversation or correspondence by means of electronic mail. Consultation
at this stage should avoid delays caused by requests from the authority requiring
additional information occurring at a later stage.
2.2. Screening
Prior to entering into the screening phase of the EIA, it is recommended that the
proponent should appoint an independent consultant to assist in the process. The
screening process would form the same purpose as a “preliminary environmental
impact assessment”. Therefore, the proponent should submit to the Competent
Agency a screening report that contains the following items:
 The title of the proposed activity;
 The name of the proponent and the consultant (s);
 The address of the proponent and the consultant(s);
 Location of the proposed development;
 The extent of proposed activity;

Any potential environmental issues identified by the proponent may include a short
description of the affected environment. The screening report and accompanying
documentation must be submitted to the Competent Agency for review. The
Competent Agency shall make its decision within two weeks (12 days) from the day
of receipt of the screening report of the proposed project regarding amendment;
exemption or conducting detailed study and notify the proponent accordingly. In
addition, the Competent Agency must inform the applicant whether the applicant
must advertise the application. Advertising may take the form of "on-site"
advertising (placing on notice board) or through media advertising and newspaper.

Fig 1 Flow Chart for Environmental Screening
The activity will

Yes require full EIA.
Is the project
included in
Yes Category 1?
Is the Activity
identified as a Is the project
included in No further environmental
project? Yes
Category 3? study is required.
No Does IEE identify significant

The project will
No environmental effect by the Yes
require IEE. project activities?
Is the Activity
considered to be a The activity will No
program, plan, or Yes
require SEA.
policy?
No further environmental
study is required.
No
No further
environmental
study is required.

2.3. Scoping
Scoping is the process of identifying and “narrowing down” the potential
environmental impacts associated with the proposed development project. The level
of an impact assessment will depend on the nature and scale of the development
proposal and its complexity, the sensitivity of the environment; and issues identified
during the scoping process.
Initial consultation with IAPs determines the scope of impact assessment (whether
a full EIA or IEE will be required). It is important to maintain the scope throughout
the assessment process. Public consultation and participation aims to assure that
the views and concerns of all IAPs are taken into consideration. Various techniques
may be employed through the participation exercise, including public meetings;
telephone surveys; exhibits/displays; newspaper advertisements; written
information; surveys, interview and questionnaires; discussion with established
groups (e.g. NGO’s, community organizations etc) and workshops and seminars. The
scoping exercise should be documented in the form of a scoping report, which is
submitted to the authority for review and approval. The Competent Agency shall
make its decision within five days from the day of receipt of the scoping report of the
proposed project regarding amendment; exemption or correction and notify the
proponent accordingly. The scoping report should be a concise presentation of the
major issues identified and the public participation process. As a minimum, the
report should reflect the following:
 A brief description of the project;
 All the alternatives identified during the scoping process;
 All the issues raised by IAPs and how these will be addressed; and
 A description of the public participation process including a list of IAPs, and
minutes of meetings.

It is recommended that the scoping report contain a detailed plan of study for the
EIA if found to be necessary. Scoping ensures that the relevant alternatives are
investigated further and that the critical issues are carried forward into further
processes. The plan for study of EIA should contain the following:
 A description of the environmental issues identified during scoping that may
require further investigation and assessment;
 A description of the feasible alternatives identified during scoping that may be
further investigated;
 An indication of additional information required to determine the potential
impacts of the proposed activity on the environment;
 A description of the proposed method of identifying these impacts; and
 A description of the proposed method of assessing the significance of these
impacts.
 List of specialists that would be required for conducting EIA study report
 TOR for the preparation of EIA
The scoping report should be submitted to the Competent Agency for review. The
Competent Agency should review the document to determine whether the process
followed in preparing the report has been adequate and that there has been
sufficient consultation with IAPs.
2.4. Impact Analysis

An impact or effect can be described as the change in an environmental parameter,
which results from a particular activity or intervention. The change is the difference
between the environmental parameter with the project compared to that without
the project. It is predicted or measured over a specified period and within a defined
area.
Once all the important impacts have been identified, their potential size and
characteristics can be predicted and analyzed. Impact prediction or forecasting is a

technical exercise. It utilizes physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural data to

estimate the likely characteristics and parameters of impacts (e.g. magnitude,
spatial occurrence etc.). A range of methods and techniques may be employed. These
can be a continuum from simple methods for impact identification to advanced
methods, often involving the application of mathematical models. Impact
identification/ analysis methods include checklists, matrices, networks, overlays,
GIS computer and expert system
Choice of EIA method depends on the type and size of the proposal, the type of
alternatives being considered, the nature of the likely impacts; the availability of
impact identification methods, the experience of the EIA team with their use, and
the resources available - cost, information, time, personnel.
In many cases, impact analysis/prediction will need to be carried out by specialists

in the disciplines involved or in the application of models and techniques.
Impact predictions are made against a ‘baseline’ established by the existing

environment (or by its future state). When establishing a baseline, information is
gathered on:
 Current environmental conditions;

 Current and expected trends;
 Effects of proposals already being implemented; and
 Effects of other foreseeable proposals.
2.4.1 Characteristics of environmental impacts
The characteristics of environmental impacts vary depending on the nature of the

project and the sensitivity of the environment. Typical parameters to be taken into
account in impact prediction and decision-making include:
 nature (positive, negative, direct, indirect, cumulative);

 magnitude (severe, moderate, low);

 extent/location (area/volume covered, distribution);

 timing (during construction, operation, decommissioning, immediate,
delayed, rate of change);
 duration (short term, long term, intermittent, continuous);
 reversibility/irreversibility;
 likelihood (probability, uncertainty or confidence in the prediction); and
 Significance (local, regional, global).
2.4.2 Cumulative Environmental Impacts

A cumulative environmental effect is an impact that is likely to result from the
project in combination with impacts due to other projects or activities that have
been or will be carried out. The purpose of analyzing cumulative impacts is to
identify and avoid situations where the impacts of discrete projects or activities act
together to create significant adverse impacts.
2.4.3 Evaluation of impact significance
A systematic process should be followed in evaluating significance, distinguishing

between ‘as predicted’ and ‘residual’ impacts. It is determined by the joint
consideration of its characteristics (magnitude, extent, duration, etc.) and the
importance (or value) that is attached to the resource losses, environmental
deterioration or alternative uses which are foregone.
Impact evaluation is a difficult and contestable exercise, which cuts across the fluid
boundary between ‘facts’ and values and between EIA and decision-making. The
attribution of significance usually will influence final approval and condition
setting; for example by indicating whether or not the impact of a proposal is
acceptable or not.

Aids and principles for evaluating significance
Key reference points for evaluating significance include:
 environmental standards, guidelines and objectives;

 level of public concern socio-economic and cultural values;
 scientific and professional evidence for:
o loss/disruption of valued resource stocks and ecological functions;
o negative impact on social values, quality of life and livelihood; and
o For closure of land and resource use opportunities.
Guiding principles for determining significance include:
 use procedure and guidance established by the jurisdiction;

 adapt other relevant criteria or identify points of reference from comparable
cases;
 assign significance in a rational, defensible way;
 be consistent in the comparison of alternatives; and
 Document the reasons for the judgments made.
A test of significance can be applied by asking three questions:
 Are there residual environmental impacts?

 If yes, are these likely to be significant or not?
 If yes, are these significant effects likely to occur e.g. are the probability high,
moderate or low?
Significance Criteria
Criteria to evaluate whether or not adverse impacts are significant include:
 environmental loss and deterioration;

 social impacts resulting directly or indirectly from environmental change;

 non-conformity with environmental standards, objectives and guidelines; and

 Likelihood and acceptability of risk.
Criteria to evaluate adverse impacts on natural resources, ecological functions or

designated areas include:
 reductions in species diversity;

 depletion or fragmentation on plant and animal habitat;
 loss of threatened, rare or endangered species;
 Impairment of ecological integrity, resilience or health e.g.
o disruption of food chains;
o decline in species population;
o Alterations in predator-prey relationships.
Criteria to evaluate the significance of adverse social impacts that result from
biophysical changes include:
 threats to human health and safety e.g. from release of persistent and/or
toxic chemicals;
 decline in commercially valuable or locally important species or resources e.g.
fish, forests and farmland;
 loss of areas or environmental components that have cultural, recreational or
aesthetic value;
 displacement of people e.g. by dams and reservoirs;
 disruption of communities by influx of a workforce e.g. during project
construction; and
 pressures on services, transportation and infrastructure.
Environmental standards, objectives and targets to evaluate significance include:
 prescribed limits on waste/emission discharges and/or concentrations;

 ambient air and water quality standards established by law or regulations;

 environmental objectives and targets contained in policy and strategy; and

 Approved or statutory plans that protect areas or allocate, zone or regulate
the use of land and natural resources.
Generally speaking Impacts are likely to be significant if they:
 are extensive over space or time

 are intensive in concentration or in relation to assimilative capacity
 exceed environmental standards or thresholds
 do not comply with environmental policies/ land use plans
 affect ecological sensitive areas and heritage resources
 affect community lifestyle, traditional land uses and values
2.5. Identification of mitigation Measures

Mitigation measures for issues that have significant negative impacts should be
clearly stated in the EIS. Mitigation measures should aim at minimizing or
eliminating negative impacts and enhance the benefits wherever possible. The
mitigation measures should be prepared as an operational management plan and
could include a combination of the following mitigation options:
 Alternative ways of meeting the needs,
 Changes in planning and design,
 Improving monitoring and management,
 Compensation in different forms (e.g. monetary),
 Replacing, relocating, rehabilitating, etc.
2.6. Reporting

Once impacts have been interpreted and mitigation measures have been set, it is
essential that the information should be presented in a form that enables non-
experts to comprehend.
2.7. Reviewing
In completion, the EIS or the EIA report should be submitted to the Competent
Agency, the IAPs and to the specialist for review. Impacts identified in the
document should be reviewed in terms of the EIS, via.
 Socio-economic context and potential benefits; effect on public health or risk to
life;
 Scale, geographical extent; duration and frequency
 Reversibility or irreversibility; ecological context; degree of uncertainty
 Regional, national or international importance;
The proposed tables (see appendix 2) are in the form of a hierarchical review
framework concerning eight sub-headings.
 Description of development and its Alternatives
 Description of the Environment
 Scoping, Consultation, and Impact Identification
 Prediction and Evaluation of Impacts
 Mitigating and Monitoring
 Non-technical Summary
 Organization and presentation of Information
As pointed out by UNEP and EEU (1996) the contents of the evaluation (review)
should also be extended to recommend the following:
 a brief summary of strengths and weaknesses of the report
 any needs for further study
 any impact monitoring and management requirements
 Any terms and conditions that should apply if approval of the proposal is
granted.

In this regard therefore, in order to determine the validity and accuracy of

information contained in the EIS report and advise on whether a project should be
allowed to proceed, the reviewers are recommended to use this adopted
environmental criteria.
As retreated from the cross referred material it is unlikely that any EIS report will
fulfill all the criteria. Similarly, some criteria listed in the tables (see appendix 2)
may not apply to all projects. In view of this therefore, the reviewers are expected to
judge the information based on the relevance to the project context and importance
of decision-making.
As per the instruction mentioned in the Reference Material, for each review
subheading (category) indicated above, the reviewer is asked to rate the EIS report
for its performance in addressing a list of issues. The reviewer gives each issue a
rating between A and F (see marking criteria at the top of the table in the appendix
The overall rating for a category is determined by the reviewer based on the results
of the individual ratings, weighted according to their relative importance by the
reviewer.
The relevant environmental organization should review within 12 days of
submission of the final EIS. Sometimes more time is required to revise depending
on the nature of the project. When the review has been completed, the competent
agency should decide whether to accept the application as it stands, reject the
application or request that the document be amended.
2.8 Planning public involvement
Planning by the proponent for a public involvement programme needs to begin early
before other EIA work. A systematic approach to planning a public involvement
programme typically involves addressing the following key issues:
 Who should be involved? – identify the interested and affected public

(stakeholders), noting any major constraints on their involvement.

The Stakeholder can be broadly defined as all those people and institutions
with an interest in the successful design, implementation and sustainability
of a project. This includes those negatively affected by the project.
Accordingly the stakeholder analysis seeks to answer questions like:
 Who depend on the project?

 Who are interested in the outcome of the project?
 Who will influence the project?
 Who will be affected by the project?
 Who will work against the project?
Key questions in stakeholder analysis
 Have the stakeholders’ views been disclosed?

 Who has disclosed the different views?
 Are there stakeholders groups that have less opportunity to make their views
heard?
 Have all stakeholders’ views been taken into account?
Particular attention should be given to disadvantaged groups, ethnic minorities and

others who may be inhibited from taking part or may have difficulty in voicing their
concerns. Often, special provision may need to be made to inform and involve these
groups.
What type and scope of public involvement is appropriate? – ensure this is

commensurate with the issues and objectives of EIA. However, the level of
public involvement include:
 Co-option- manipulating public opinion

 Informing -one way

 Consultation-seeking public opinion, two way, no power in decision

making
 Participation-interaction with the public, face to face discussion
 Collegial or partnership- public as partner becomes part of the
process. Mutual benefit.
 Devolution of power or community control-fear of control by
community
How should the public be involved? – identify the techniques which are
appropriate for this purpose.
When and where should opportunities for public involvement be provided –
establish a plan and schedule in relation to the EIA process and the number,
type and distribution of stakeholders. Public involvement in key stages of the
EIA process:
 screening - determining the need for, and level of EIA

 scoping -identifying the key issues and alternatives
 impact analysis- identifying the significant impacts and mitigating
measures
 review- commenting on/responding to the EIA report
 implementation and monitoring- checking EIA follow up
2.9. Record of Decision and Appeal

An application may be accepted or refused by the competent agency after the
screening, scoping or EIA phases. Competent agency must provide a record of
decision report, which should be provided to the proponent, be made available to
any interested and affected party on request. The record of decision report may form
the basis of an environmental clearance certificate if the project is approved and
may contain the details of the conditions of approval.

A proponent or other interested party who is dissatisfied may object to actions,

opinions or decision made no later than four weeks after receipt of such a decision.
Appeal should be submitted in writing, clearly specifying the grounds for the appeal
to the general manger of the BoEPLAU depending on the competent agency for the
EIA. The head of the competent agency should make his decision within two weeks
following the receipt of the appeal.
2.10. Condition of Approval

The conditions of approval may be included into the record of decision but are
typically prepared as a separate document.
The authority, in approving a proposal may wish to make implementation of

mitigation measures on condition of approval. The proponent may then be required
to submit a detailed environmental management plan (EMP). The EMP would
describe in detail how each mitigation measure should be undertaken. Monitoring
criteria should also be supplied and responsibilities clearly defined. Regular
independent monitoring would be undertaken at the cost of the proponent.
The condition of approval is a legally binding relationship between the authority
and the developer. The purpose of the contract is to provide the authority with an
additional means of ensuring that EMP, and any other environmental requirements
are implemented to their satisfaction.
2.11. EIA and the Project Cycle

The fundamental premise is that the stage in the EIA process should be linked to
the corresponding stages in the project cycle. The schematic diagram below
indicates the sequential events of EIA in the project cycle.

Fig.2 The activities of EIA process in the project cycle
Environmental screening,
initial assessment, scoping
of significant issues
Detailed Assessment of
significant impacts,
Feasibility
Pre-screening Pre-feasibility
consultation
Project concept Project Design

Detailed design of
mitigation
Monitoring & measures
Post-auditing
Monitoring & Implementation
evaluation
Implementation of
mitigation measures

Chapter Three
3. Checklists of Possible Environmental Impacts and their

Mitigation Measures
3.1. Introduction
Environmental Impact is the change in an environmental parameter, over a

specified period and within a defined area resulting from a particular activity
compared with the situation, which would have occurred, had the activity not been
initiated. Environmental impacts (negative or positive) resulted from different
interventions, can vary in their nature being direct, indirect, etc. Impacts can range
from insignificant to highly significant. Their extent could be local, regional or
global. Some impacts may be felt immediately or may not be evident for some time.
The others may have short term or long term; temporary or permanent impacts.
Some impacts can be random or predictable; they may be reversible or irreversible
upon the decommissioning of a project.
The potential environmental impact resulted from the intervention should be

identified, analyzed and described. The impacts can be on biophysical (soil, water,
air, flora and fauna), social, economic, cultural heritages or social elements of the
environment.
The checklists of impacts listed here in this document are examples and not
complete list of impacts occurring in exercising different interventions. Similarly,
mitigation measures are not complete list of what can be done in order to mitigate
negative impacts. Mitigation measures can be taken before or after the occurrence
of the impacts to rehabilitate or compensate the negative impact already occurred.
Under this section, expected impacts of different interventions on biophysical, socio-
economic etc. environment and their mitigation measures are detailed.

3.2. Soil Resources

Possible Impacts on Soil and Their Mitigation Measures
Possible Impacts Some Mitigation Measures
 Soil erosion as a  Replanting right species of trees, shrubs and grasses in a
result of different right time on disturbed areas;
activities  Minimize the area of ground clearance; provide good
vegetative cover or prevent the raindrops from direct hitting
the soil; or reduce the free movement of runoff; control the
volume and speed of water flows;
 Careful design/plan of projects can avoid soil erosion;
 Carry out soil conservation and or agro-forestry measures.
 Loss of nutrients  The same as above
because of different  Reducing harvest removal.
activities  Improve the management of irrigation water to reduce the
loss of nutrients down the profile.
 Improving the soil structure through different means.
 Planting deep-rooted crops, which pump nutrients.
 Use of mechanization,  Using appropriately machineries/mechanization (when
pesticides and necessary) in appropriate time.
machineries may  Planting leguminous plants improve soil structure.
result in soil  Improve soil structure by planting species that improve soil
compaction. structure or by adding organic matter.
 Application of IPM
 Be selective for biodegradable pesticides
 Water logging results  Digging of canals to lower the water table.
from mismanagement  Use improved farming system.
of water resources.  Planting high water consuming species.
 Occurrence of  Careful management of irrigation water reduces the rate of
salinization because of saline.
different activities  Making underground water drainage systems reduces the


like irrigation with saline.
saline water.  Adding organic matter for neutralizing.
 Planting salt tolerant species
 Liming of soils
 Soil Acidity  Reduce the addition of artificial/organic chemical.
 Adding alkaline substance like lime.
 Appropriate use/disposal of chemicals.
 Use organic fertilizer (compost)
 Alkilinization of  Avoiding the use of alkaline water for irrigation purposes.
arable land  Adding organic matter (compost).
 Imbalance of  Appropriate use of wastes/toxic chemicals.
biological activities as  And take any measures that are used to minimize loss of
a result of nutrients.
contamination of soil  Adding organic matter (green manure, compost).
with toxic chemicals
and loss of organic
nutrients due to may
be soil erosion.
 Productive topsoil  Decrease the amount/size of the area that will be used for the
covered by proposed proposed project.
activities or removal  Collect and reuse the excavated top soil to form a superficial
of productive top soil layer
for temporary or  Conversions of borrow pits and spoil dumpsites into scenic
permanent purposes lookouts.
 Use vertical space than horizontal.
 Loss of wetland  Avoid planting of inappropriate tree species in wetland areas
resources due to  Reduce sedimentation of wetlands through catchment’s
Planting of treatment.
undesirable tree  Develop the buffer zones around wetlands


species, lowering of  Avoid the use of agricultural drainage in such cases.
water table by  Use Plant species, which improve water table.
agricultural drainage,
sedimentation etc.
3.3. Water Resources

Possible Impacts on Water and Mitigation Measures
 Flooding, channel  Leaving sufficient enough buffer zones of undisturbed
modification, river canal vegetation between the site of the project and water
siltation. bodies
 Use water flow speed reduction measures e.g. soil
conservation measures
 Use silting basins to reduce silt, pollutants and debris
from runoff before it is discharged to adjacent water
bodies
 Plan carefully to avoid the change/modification of the
previous channel flow / natural flow of water
 Watershed management
 Reduction/lowering of  Sitting projects far away from susceptible areas
surface or ground water  Use alternative technologies/techniques/process to
table. minimize the consumption of water
 Locate those water-consuming projects, if possible, in
areas where availability of ground or surface water is
not a problem.
 Choose the most appropriate techniques to minimize
the amount of water consumed.
 Ensure that the utilization of ground water is within
the capacity of natural system to replenish itself


 Re-use the recycled wastewater.
 Harvest rain water and recharge the ground water
 Excess increment of  Sitting projects far away from susceptible areas to
nutrients in water bodies erosion in order to reduce chemical pollution of water
(Eutrophication). bodies
 Carry out soil conservation measures.
 Leaving sufficient enough buffer zones of undisturbed
vegetation between the site of the project and water
bodies
 Avoid direct discharge of untreated wastewater into or
near water bodies
 Reduce the amount of inlet of both chemical and
biological fertilizers to water bodies
 Pollution of surface and  Sitting projects far away from susceptible areas to
ground water through erosion in order to reduce chemical pollution of water
direct or indirect bodies
addition of toxic  Leaving sufficient enough buffer zones of undisturbed
chemicals or waste or vegetation between the site of the project and water
organic chemicals etc. bodies.
 Install silting basins to reduce silt, pollutants and
debris from runoff before it is discharged to adjacent
water bodies
 Monitoring, pipeline systems and impoundments for
leaks to reduce contamination of ground water. E.g.
Preparing waterproof wastewater collectors.
 Monitor sites even after the project has been closed (as
necessary) and train local communities to conduct
water quality tests to reduce ground water pollution
 Reclaiming landscapes where devastating activities


have been taken place to reduce water pollution;
 Recycling of wastes to reduce water pollution
 Use treatment techniques especially in industrial
activities;
 Choice of the most appropriate technique, replacing
processing equipment
 Dispose Safely/properly expired toxic chemicals;
 Increment of suspended  Sitting projects far away from susceptible areas to
solids (turbidity) in erosion in order to reduce siltation, turbidity and
water bodies through soil chemical pollution of water bodies
erosion or direct release  Use primary water treatment technique
of waste from different  Carry out soil conservation measures
activities.  Leaving sufficient enough buffer zones of undisturbed
bodies.
 Installing silting basins to reduce silt, pollutants &
debris from runoff before it is discharged to adjacent
water bodies
 Increment of the amount  Minimize the area of ground clearance; provide good
of silt/sediment in vegetative cover or prevent the raindrops from direct
downstream area hitting the soil; or reduce the free movement of runoff;
including agricultural control the volume and speed of water flows
land, reservoirs, etc.  Careful design/plan of projects can avoid soil erosion;
 Carry out soil conservation measures.
 Leaving sufficient enough buffer zones of undisturbed
bodies.

3.4. Air Quality

Possible Impacts on Air and Their Mitigation Measures
 Depletion of ozone layer&  Control the emission of SOx, NOx, CO and other
climatic change due to applicable chemicals by scrubbing with water or alkaline
emission of some gases solutions, incineration or absorption by other catalytic
(SO2, CO2, NO2, fluoride, processes.
CO, CFCs etc.) to the  Recycle wastewater and wastes to reduce the amount of
atmosphere. pollutants released to the atmosphere
 Choose environmentally friendly processes, technologies
or raw materials.
 Treat effluent gases to reduce the amount of pollutants.
 Affecting human health  Establish projects or activities far from residential and
due to the emission of commercial areas
gases like ammonia,  Consider prevailing wind directions from population
methane, etc. centers
 Sitting projects with minimum distance of at least it
doesn't create problem to the vicinity area;
 The use of treatment plants for instance biological
methods to reduce bad smell and odors
 Recycle wastewater and wastes to reduce the amount of
pollutants released to the atmosphere
 Treat effluent gases to reduce the amount of pollutants
 Planting tall, leafy and dense vegetations between
activities and human settlements as a barrier filters
pollutants
 Construction of bio-gas schemes so as to use methane
gas for house hold use,
 Reduction of air quality;  Control particulate matters by scrubbers, fabric filter
endangering of life (flora, collectors or electrostatic precipitators, cyclones;


fauna, human being and  Choice of environmentally friendly processes,
damage of settlements due technologies or raw materials reduce the amount and
to PM. significance of pollutants
 Planting tall, leafy and dense/hedge vegetations between
activities and human settlements as a barrier filters
pollutants
 Watering of the area from which dust is generated;
 Use service sharing & reduce extra manufacturing to
decrease the impact
3.5. Flora, Fauna and Ecosystem

Possible Impacts on Flora and fauna; and Mitigation Measures
 Loss of flora and fauna  Locate projects far away from sensitive areas;
can be occurred when  Establishment of biotic buffer zones.
projects are established  Carry out necessary rehabilitation measures when
at the spot or in vicinity. phasing out a project
 Give special consideration to mining operation in
particular when located close to vulnerable areas;
 Stability and health of an  Plant with native species in vicinity of a project &
ecosystem may be adjacent areas to wildlife to provide additional habitats
affected when habitat is & migration routes/corridors for local animals;
fragmented.  Fence wildlife areas to avoid people interference If
possible also establish a legal protection
system/framework;
 Direct killing of animals  At important areas use of tunnels/bridges reduces
like collisions with interference and collision rates
vehicles  Fencing or plant barriers can reduce the interference of
human beings and traffics to wildlife;


 Take measures, like speed break on roads, to reduce the
speed of vehicles where road crosses protected areas.
 Disturbance of ecosystem  Avoid, if possible, the extraction of sand, gravel etc from
because of extraction of river bottom/water bodies.
sand, gravel or rock  Use alternative sites to exploit the resources
 Avoid the use of dynamite/explosive in water bodies
 Avoid construction materials during breading seasons
in both water and terrestrial ecosystems
 Exploitation of natural  Before the establishment of projects planting
resources (flora and  appropriate tree species, which can be used for different
fauna) because of purposes, to minimize burden on the existing natural
immigrants to project resources;
area  Use alternative energy resources and construction
materials.
 Use proper waste management not to affect the
resources
 Make clear demarcation between the resources and
project..
 Flora and fauna in  Avoid the excessive clearance of vegetation from stream
wetlands are affected banks.
 Locate projects as much as possible far from wetlands
 Avoid the release or minimize the use of hazardous
chemicals in the catchments of vulnerable wetlands;
 If possible, the project should not modify water
flow/course
 Use soil & water conservation measures in the
catchment to reduce siltation.
 Introduction of new  If needed research on invasive exotic species should be
species or change of carried out in enclosed areas


cultivation may cause for  Avoid the use of invasive exotic species for landscaping,
development of pests, reforestation, or for other purposes;
diseases or weeds.  Control the importation of uncertified seed or germ
plasm to the region to avoid import of plant
pests/diseases;
 Directly or indirect killing  Use Integrated Pest Management to avoid mass killing
of aquatic and terrestrial of animals;
animals Spreading of  The concentration and length of time of chemicals
pesticide/insecticide for should be to the level of the standard.
different purposes.  Use appropriate and trained man power for application
of chemicals
 Avoid the use of very poisonous pesticides in particular,
on fields sloping down to watercourses during rain
seasons with heavy precipitation.
 Apply pesticide, when a number of fauna are at the
side. e.g. timing.
 Contamination or use of  Use of chemicals or disposal of wastes in a proper way
polluted water may affect reduce the impact;
wildlife and nearby  Handling of unused/used poisonous chemicals until they
communities to the are treated and disposed properly
project area.  Be sure that effluents are treated to the standard before
joining water bodies.
 Avoid the use of very poisonous pesticides in particular
on fields sloping down to watercourses during seasons
with heavy precipitation.
 Proper disposal of expired chemicals prevents the
potential impacts on flora and fauna.
 Proper disposal of wastes reduces siltation and
pollution of water


 Improper use of modern  Regulate/control importation of varieties to avoid
biotechnology or genetic erosion;
introduction of  Regulate import of species to avoid the spoiling of the
genetically modified natural means of existence of existing fauna.
varieties to the region  Avoid the use of invasive exotic species for landscaping,
may lead to genetic reforestation, research or for other purposes;
erosion  Care has to be taken in activities related to modern
biotechnology to reduce/avoid the impacts on indigenous
species or genetic erosion;
 Change of the living  Design carefully diversion wears, dams/reservoirs etc.
condition of fish when its to allow aquatic species to swim against the current;
migration route is blocked  Use filters not to get away fishes to irrigation canals
by constructions e.g.  Construct ladders so that the fishes jump and migrate
dams/reservoirs against the flow of the water.
 Water logging may affect  Digging of canals to lower the water table.
the flora (especially deep  Planting high water consuming species.
rooted plants) and fauna  Minimizing over irrigation
of the area.
 Depletion of resources  Restrict or limit the optimum amount to be
beyond their exploited/harvested according to the management plan
done for that specific resource.
 Use recycling methods
3.6. Socio-Economic Impact

Possible Socio-Economic Impacts and Their Mitigation Measures
Destruction of resources in Consider mitigation measures mentioned under
downstream areas by activities section (3.2, 3.3, 3.5)
undertaken in upstream areas.


Lifestyles, travel patterns and Sitting the project far from human settlement area
social as well as economic to reduce disruption of social and cultural way of
activities etc. are affected by life; and disturbance, nuisance from noise, dust
the intervention of projects. etc;
Implementation of appropriate technology that
reduce disruption.
Ensure that project site is not located in sensitive
areas like major flood plains; inundation areas;
etc;
Health and social problems Sitting the project far from human settlement area
like disease, alcohol abuse and reduces disruption of social and cultural way of
unemployment are often life; and disturbance, nuisance from noise, dust
brought with new settlers etc;
Employing the local people to reduce the number
of immigrants
Conduct awareness raising programme
Establishment of health centers
Loss of traditional sense of Locate as much as possible Projects in areas where
self-identity can occur because encroachment up on the productive resources,
of new settlers sacred sites, and burial grounds is less;
Aware the project so that it can keep the
norms/bylaws of indigenous people.
Inundation of farmlands like Wastes generated from the project have to be
loss of agricultural, forest or properly disposed.
grazing lands by huge amount Minimize the amount of wastes released to the
of waste generated from the area by using alternative technologies, processes
project, for example from mine etc.
tailings. Ensure that project site is not located in sensitive
areas.


Destruction of resources by Giving due attention to blasting and combustible
fire, which can be generated raw materials that generate fire preventive
from an activity measures have to be in place.
Provide fireproofing structures, safety buffer zones
around the plant boundary, escape routes and
others.
Provide fire protective instruments.
Fire brigade has to be in place
Precaution measures as fire proofing instruments
have to be used.
Curative measures have to be in place.
land use and tenure conflict When it is mandatory compensation may need to
may occur when the area is be considered for those whose housing, land
occupied resources, welfare or livelihood are directly
affected by projects,
Use integrated and intensive utilization of land.
Give employment opportunity
Physical conflict may breakout Provide short-term support and/or skills or an
between settler and the alternative livelihood to minimize the effect.
indigenous people as the latter Aware the project so that it can keep the
try to reclaim their heritage. norms/bylaws of indigenous people.
The increased competition Allow sufficient time and money for public
between indigenous & the participation to ensure the planning of a project;
project for existing resources Increase the supply of resources and services.
affect the indigenous people at Use of alternative technologies that efficiently
disadvantage. utilize the resources
People are exposed to further Preconditions have to be fulfilled for settlers when
social and economic crises resettlement is found to be mandatory;
when they are resettled to new Conducting awareness raising program on the


area as their original place is resettlement program.
occupied by project Involve/participate the community in the whole
process of the project
3.7. Impacts on Cultural Heritages
Possible Impacts on Cultural Heritages and Their Mitigation Measures

 Historical relics, burial sites  Consider alternative sites for project
and other objects may be establishment to avoid the impact
affected when the area is  Avoid establishment of projects across or in
occupied by projects. known cultural, historical sites or landscapes
having /considerable/scenic value;
 Scenic value or the  Avoid the damages of historical relics, burial
appearance of landscape may sites, other objects, and landscapes;
be impaired because of  Relocate artifacts or ruing from a site when it is
different activities for instance mandatory and possible;
massive excavation of sand  If possible avoid the natural landscape
etc. disturbance, if not compensate by rehabilitation
measures;
 Cultural monuments and  Involving the indigenous people in the whole
archeological sites may be process of planning and implementation of
damaged by different projects.
activities  Maintaining or repairing with out changing its
original design;
 Honoring norms and taboos before the
implementation of projects


 Subsequent breaching of dams  Structural, soil and rock stabilization; control of
may also result for local ground water levels, vegetative stabilization, and
earthquake. or site surveillance is required;
 Landslides/unsuitability or  Daily follow up of sensitive has to be carried out;
danger of rock falling at the  Establish projects in relatively stable areas.
faces etc. may lose scenic
values
 Spoiling of landscapes or  Appropriate site for waste disposal has to be
recreational areas could occur selected and dispose properly;
when projects are established  Conduct reuse and recycling methods.
in the vicinity area
 Change of channeling of  Water flow modification should not affect the
waterway may result in loss of scenic value of landscape/cultural heritages in
aesthetic value down stream areas.
 Consider alternative site for project
establishment
 Loss of scenic value of an area  Take the advantage of natural openings in the
due to deforestation. existing vegetation; or use bare areas
3.8. Noise
Possible Noise Impacts and Their Mitigation Measures
 Continuous noise exposure  Establish the project far away from noise-
creates communication sensitive areas;
problem, behavioral and health  Provide protective measures for workers
effects.  Keep the noise at a standard level
 Use of noise barriers are among the most common
mitigation measures
 Install sound dampers in ventilation systems in


stationed sources. Enclose machine or use sound
barrier walls to reduce the effect of noise.
 Consider wind direction at the design stage in
terms of sources of noise to minimize its effect;
 Reduce noise at the sources to minimize its effect
on wildlife and people living along or around the
project;
 Vibration can cause  Establish the project far away from noise-
detrimental effect on sensitive areas (buildings)
structures particular to  Install sound dampers in ventilation systems in
cultural heritage sites, stationed sources. Enclose machine or use sound
standing near the project barrier walls to reduce the effect of noise.
project;
 Noise can cause wild animals  Establish the project far away from noise-
to leave their original habitat sensitive areas;
that may exposes them to  Use of noise barriers are among the most common
further danger mitigation measures
 Consider wind direction at the design stage in
terms of sources of noise to minimize its effect.
project;
 Use alternative technologies that reduce noise.
 Regulating the sound level to a farley a constant
level

3.9. Impacts on Human Health and Safety

Possible Impacts on Human Health and Safety; and Their Mitigation
Measures
Table 3
 Transmission of disease between  Sanitary or Precaution measures can be
human and from plants/animals to accomplished through a comprehensive health
humans awareness campaign.
 Curative measures should be in place.
 Fire, explosions, emission of toxic  Establishing projects far away from settlements
gases, vapors, dust, emission of  Curative measures have to be in place if
toxic liquid, radiation and their accidents from different activities can happen;
cumulative effects badly affect  Provide fire proofing of structures, safety buffer
human health in and around the zones around the plant boundary, escape routes
project and others;
 Store properly easily flammable/explosive gases
or toxic chemicals.
 Preventive/protective instruments have to be
provided
 Occupational health effects on  Prevent accidents through proper design of
workers due to fugitive dust, projects
material handling, noise,  Train responsible personnel how to properly
mechanical or chemical contact can handle chemicals;
be occurred.  Use protective measure, for example ear/eye
masks etc.
 Transmit patterns may be  Site selection can be taken as a preventive
disrupted, noise and congestion measure.
may be created and pedestrian
hazards could be aggravated by
heavy trucks


 Death and injuries to human  Facility should implement a safety and health
beings and damages to property program designed to identify, evaluate, monitor
could be happened in factories, and control health hazards
roads etc.  Site selection can be taken as a preventive
measure to minimize risk of accidents
especially in road projects.
 Prevent accidents through proper design of
projects
 Use protective measure, for example ear/eye
masks etc.
 Extraction of sand, gravel or rock  Sanitary or Precaution measures can be
may form unnecessary pond, which accomplished through a comprehensive health
creates suitable condition for awareness campaign.
malaria and water vector borne  Avoid stagnating water and give consecutive
disease awareness to reduce the occurrence of malaria
and other related diseases.
 In mining activities workers are  Proper design has to be done well in such away
injured when rocks/soils are that rocks don’t collapse.
collapsed,  Curative measures have to be in place
The above possible impacts may or may not be occur in any project. During
predicting these impacts the possible causes for their occurrence should be
elaborated well. All direct and indirect impacts that may occur due to the
implementation of the project should be speculated at this stage.

Chapter Four
4. Environmental Monitoring, Standards, and Auditing

4.1 Environmental monitoring
Environmental monitoring is the systematic observation of the state of the environment and of
the factors influencing it. It refers to collection of relevant data on previously identified (in the
EMP) environmental parameters through repetitive and systematic sampling (measurement) or
observation. The main purposes of environmental monitoring are to forecast changes to the state
of the environment and to provide initial data for planning documents, programs and projects
through systematic collection of environmental data to meet the specific environmental needs
and objectives. The main goal of environmental monitoring is to demonstrate to the community
at large and the government authorities that the project development complies with the
environmental requirements and the desired environmental performance of the project as is
stipulated in the EIA report, specifically, the mitigation measures identified in the EMP.
The main objectives of environmental monitoring are:
 Identify short, medium, and long term trends in change of the environmental
characteristics of the project and surrounding areas;
 Distinguish the environmental changes as a result of the project development and

analyzing the causes of the changes;
 Measure the identified environmental impacts and make a comparative study with the
predicted impacts in the EIA report; and
 Improve the effectiveness of the EMP by incorporating the findings of the monitoring
activities in modification of the EIA report.
Environmental monitoring can be used by both the project proponents and the regulatory
agencies to ensure that the activities and mitigation plans proposed in the EIA report in general,
and the issues stipulated in the environmental management plan (EMP) in particular, are
implemented and have the perceived impact on improving the environmental conditions and
preventing the deterioration of natural and social environment.

Environmental monitoring is generally performed to:
 Document the baseline environmental and social conditions before commencement of the
project;
 Assess the environmental performance of the project and to monitor whether the project
complies and perform the activities and conditions that are specified in the EMP,
construction permit, and/or operating licenses. It can also be used to determine whether
there is a need to modify, change approved mitigation measures to ensure that project
impact on natural and social environmental is minimized, especially if unforeseen and
harmful environmental effects of the projects are identified;
 Determine the general trends on project’s effect on the environment and whether the
proposed activities in the EMP and licensing permit are adequately complying with the
project’s environmental needs; and
 Verify the accuracy of environmental and social predictions of project effects and the
effectiveness of the proposed mitigation measures. Such information can be used as
lessons learned for the future similar projects to ensure that negative environmental
effects of such projects are minimized and positive effects are enhanced.
The specific requirements of the environmental monitoring program that should be included in
the EMP include where, what, when, and how to measure the monitoring items, the methods to
be used in evaluation and whether any additional information will be required.
Environmental monitoring is used by practitioners to identify trends and to determine causes of

environmental impacts of the project and assess the environmental performance of the project
and whether it complies with the environmental performance indicators identified in the EIA and
EMP. The monitoring activities should assist the project proponent and the CA to determine the
potential environmental effects of projects during different project phases from construction to
dismantling. The most common types of environmental monitoring are presented in the
following table.

Table 4 Types of environmental monitoring and issues to be considered
Monitoring Definitions Issues Methodology
Type
Baseline Measurement of Measuring the reference Sampling and

environmental parameters points (baseline) status of laboratory analysis.
before project construction major environmental
(pre-project status). performance indicators.
Effects Measurement of Determine the changes and Visual inspection,

environmental parameters at trend in the environmental systematic sampling
regular intervals during parameters identified as and laboratory
project construction, performance indicator. analysis, interviews,
implementation, and document review.
operation.
Compliance Periodic and unannounced Periodic check of Document review,

monitoring and environmental performance visual inspection,
environmental sampling to indicator to determine the interview, random
ensure that regulatory project compliance to sampling and
compliance are observed regulatory requirements. laboratory analysis.
and environmental Periodic check of
standards are met by the environmental performance
project proponents. indictors against pre-
determined standards.
4.2 Environmental Standards
Environmental standards are documents that set the rules, guidelines and numeric values defined
by the scientific bodies and regulatory bodies in order to regulate activities or results of activities
that either have or are likely to have impact on the state of the environment.

During a typical environmental audit, a team of qualified inspectors, either employees of the
organization being audited (internal audit), contracted personnel (external audit), or regulatory
body conducts a comprehensive examination of a processing plant, project, or facilities to
determine whether they are complying with environmental laws and regulations. Using
checklists and audit protocols and relying on professional judgment and evaluations of site-
specific conditions, the team should systematically verify compliance with applicable
requirements. The team may also evaluate the effectiveness of the environmental management
systems in place to achieve compliance and assess the environmental risks associated with the
facility's operations (environmental risk audit).
4.3 Environmental Auditing
Environmental auditing is part of the overall environmental management and monitoring system.
It is a term generally used in accounting profession and is borrowed by the environmental
professionals to describe a systematic process of examining, documenting and validating that the
project’s impact on environment, the EIA procedures adopted, and outcomes of the project do
not significantly differ from the original objectives and requirements of the EIA and EMP.
The scope of an environmental audit can range from an assessment of all environmental aspects
of a complex project, such as large industrial premises, to a focused assessment of a small
component of an activity. It is used for assessment of the compliance of environmental effects
and performance of an operating business with environmental protection requirements.
Environmental audit should follow the sound environmental practices in general, and the
principles of sustainable development, in particular. Environmental audits are being used as a
tool and an aid to test the effectiveness of environmental efforts and to check whether
project/business is following the legal requirements, standards, best practices, and professional
judgment. An environmental audit is a systematic, independent internal or external review to
check whether the results of environmental work, conducted by the said business or project,
conform to the environmental goals stated in the EIA and environmental management plan
(EMP) and whether the business or project’s conformity to the EMP has been effective. To be
more precise the work of an environmental audit is a study of documents and reports to see
whether there are any deviations between targets and results. This is done by interviewing key
people in the organization, and visit to the project site. Therefore, an environmental audit

confirms whether or not the environmental targets have been attained. It should be understood
that the concept of environmental auditing is closely related to environmental monitoring, and
standards.
Examples of environmental audits of projects include audit of projects to:
 Assess the risk to air quality from industrial complexes;
 Assess the risk to surface waters and groundwater from a wastewater treatment plan;
 Assess whether a dam constructed for the purpose of irrigation, flood control, or
hydropower development has been constructed in accordance with nominated
requirements, thereby minimizing the risks to land, groundwater, and other natural
resources;
 Assess compliance of a cattle feedlot or compliance of timber harvesting operations to

environmental guidelines and approved EMP for the project; and
 Identify risks to catchments condition from one or a number of projects.
Generally, BoEPLAU defines environmental audit as a “systematic, documented, periodic, and

objective review of facility or project operations and practices related to meeting environmental
requirements and standards”. The environmental compliance auditing policy of BoEPLAU has
also identified several objectives for environmental audits:
 Verifying compliance with environmental requirements;
 Evaluating the effectiveness of in-place environmental management systems; and
 Assessing risks from regulated and unregulated materials and practices.
Environmental audit can be done internally, by the project proponents, externally, by

independent auditors, hired by the project proponent, or by the competent authority on its
discretion to determine whether the facility/project is in compliance with the approved
environmental protocols, mitigation measures defined in the project EMP, and the environmental
standards. Facilities and project proponents are encouraged to conduct internal environmental
audits and disclose the environmental problems to the authority. To have an incentive for self-
policing by the project proponents, BoEPLAU will negate the possibility of fines and penalties
for the facilities who voluntarily report the violations of environmental norms, standards, or

mitigation measures agreed upon in EMP, as long as the facility is not deemed as a repeated
violator (offender). However, if the facility does not report the violation, and authority, through
independent audit of the facility/project, identifies that the project/facility has committed major
violations of environmental protocols, major fines and penalties may be levied on the project
proponents.
Environmental audit protocols, especially internal audit by the project proponent, should also be
used as a basis to implement, upgrade, or improve environmental management activities
identified in the EMP. Conducting an internal environmental audit should be considered as a
management tool by the project proponent for measuring and improving environmental
performance of the project/facility by correcting potential deficiencies uncovered by the audit.
The following figure is a simple flow chart that clearly demonstrates how an effective internal or
external environmental audit can identify the potential causes of poor environmental compliance
of the project and facility, and how the problems can be rectified and the EMP improved to
ensure further violations, causing undue harm to the environment and potential penalties/fines
for the project proponents, do not occur.
Figure 3 A proposed action model (flow chart) demonstrating involved processes in an audit.
Analysis of cause
Audit and effect
Problem
Identification exceptions
Grouping findings
Fixing the for common causes
Problem
Improve Develop corrective Identify underlying

effectiveness of the actions for causes for each
project/facility EMP underlying causes group

Environmental audit normally include a series of steps. Table 5 provides a synopsis of major
types of environmental audits, the issues to be considered, and the methodologies that can be
used in performing environmental audit. In general, each audit should cover at least the
following:
 Site Evaluation. If a potential environmental violation is suspected at a project site or a

facility, the first requirement will be site evaluation. The goal of site evaluation is to
collect data, evaluate potential environmental impacts and their significance, say the
release of pollutants, contaminant, or hazardous substances into water bodies or the air to
determine the extent of release and its impact on public health and natural resources such
as flora, fauna, and natural habitats. A site evaluation might include (i) a preliminary
assessment to determine if further investigation is necessary, (ii) a site inspection that
can include on-site investigation to determine whether a release has occurred and to
identify the preliminary public health and potential environmental threat associated with
the release. This might also include on-site and off-site field sampling and analysis, and
(iii) a review to determine if the release requires the issuance of fines or penalties to the
project proponents or whether further environmental remediation is required.
If the environmental impact is found significant, the CA might decide to request the project
proponents to conduct a remedial investigation or feasibility study. The remedial
investigation/feasibility study must be conducted immediately upon request by the CA. The
intent of the study is to assess site conditions and evaluate remedial alternatives to the extent
necessary.
Upon completion of the feasibility study and determination of alternative methods to remedy the
environmental effect, the project proponent, in conjunction with the CA should identify the
preferred proposed alternative for remediation that can be presented to the affected public for
their review and comment. Upon receiving comments from the public or other regulatory
agencies, if appropriate, the CA should make the final decision on the selection of preferred
remedial method so that the remedial design or remedial action can commence. The project
proponent will be responsible to bear the cost of the study and implementation of the proposed
remedial measures and the cleanup activities, if issues are found significant.

Table5: Types of Environmental Audits and Issues to be considered
Type of Audit Definition Issues Methodology
Implementation Process of verifying that EIA Check whether all Review of

implementation met the environmental parameters documents, site
conditions set forth by the CA identified in the EMP have investigation,
for project approval. been measured. interviews,
Impact Determining project impact on Review whether predicted Review of

environmental parameters and impacts of the project on documents, site
the accuracy of predicted environment in EIA were inspection and visual
impacts in EIS. accurate and present verification.
necessary amendments to
EMP.
Compliance The verification process Check whether all relevant Interview using
whereby project or facility environmental legislation checklists, document
establishes the extent to which and standards are review, site
it complies with environmental considered. inspection, and
legislation, discharge, and visual verification.
emission limits and building
permit standards.
Environmental Process of conducting an Asses working condition Interview with

Risk assessment of environmental and process. Assess the workers, site
risks to determine the potential potential of occurrence of inspection, visual
risks in the process chain from an environmentally verification, and
project initiation through damaging incident and its document review.
implementation and operation. consequences.
Pre-acquisition Process undertaken before Assess land and building Interviews,

transfer of ownership of a contamination. Prepare a document review,
factory or development project historical survey of the visual survey, site
from one entity to the other. facility or project through inspection,

identifying past and laboratory analysis.
current activities. Site
assessment and air, soil,
and/or water sampling, as
needed.
Management Process of checking the Compare operation Interviews, visual

System management system and/or procedure against written survey, and
procedures against existing procedures. Check whether document review.
environmental policies, norms, the management system is
standards, and procedures to designed for continual
ensure continual improvement improvement of
of environmental performance. environment.

Chapter Five
5. Guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment Report Writing
5.1. Introduction
This section is intended to provide information about the contents of the EIA report.
The focus of this guidance framework is to support informed decision making by
enabling the reviewers to make quick and detailed evaluation of EIS report.
5.2 Structure and Contents of the Report
Executive Summary
Introduction/Background
Approach to the study
Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework
Baseline Information on Bio-Physical and Socio-Economic Situation
Description of the Proposed Project and its Alternatives
Significant Environmental Impacts
Mitigation Measures
Environmental Management Plan
Environmental Monitoring/Auditing Programme
Nature of public Participation
Conclusions and Recommendations
List of References
Appendices

5.2.1 Executive Summary
This section is an important part of the report that enables the reviewers to have
very clear view of the intended project. To this effect therefore, the summary should
provide brief, accurate, clear and concise information about the project, in particular
highlighting the main findings and recommendations that are relevant for decision-
making. As a general guide, this section needs to contain:
 title and location of the project;
 name of the proponent;
 name of the consultants and/or organization preparing the EIS report;
 a brief project description;
 project alternatives;
 the major impacts;
 recommendation for mitigation/compensation;
 Proposed monitoring activity, and implementation strategy.
5.2.2 Introduction
This section will have importance in providing background information about the
proposal and indicating how the report is structured. This needs to be outlined in
one to two pages. It is important that the 'context' of the study report should make
clear especially the following:
 Background information that can be used for the project proposal or the
study in context;
 An outline of the proposal (e.g. objectives, location; proposed alternatives in
terms of location, design, process, input, etc, input and resource requirement,
life-span of development);
 The structure of the report concerning the location of the TOR, summary,
conclusions and recommendations;
 Methodologies employed, by how many specialist and which disciplines.

5.2.3 Approach to the Study
The methodologies to be used for identifying, predicting and evaluating of the

impacts (both positive and negative), alternatives, mitigating measures and public
participation are required to be described. In describing this aspect, the following
points should be clearly stipulated:
 Objectives of the assessment;
 Approaches employed for assessment and evaluation (e.g. based on
professional opinion or involving some techniques such as cost benefit
analysis, personal experience, checklist, overlay);
 Description of the approach and/or methodology in involving the relevant
stakeholders effectively;
 Explanation as to how the study team is constituted to undertake the study.
5.2.4 Assumptions and/ or Gap in Knowledge’s
Reliability and quality of data to be collected with regard to the proposed project
from different sources may involve some degrees of uncertainties due to absence of
sufficient information As a consequence of this, some of the assessment may be
based on assumptions or there may be gaps and uncertainties in impact prediction
and valuation. In this regard therefore, the study preparer is required to clearly
state the level of assessment by considering the following.
 Identification of knowledge gaps, assumptions and unavailable information;

 Reasons for the incomplete nature and/or assumptions of information;
 The implications of those identified knowledge gap and assumptions for
decision making;
 Proposals and/or suggestions to avoid the identified constraints and limitations.

5.2.5 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework
This section of the EIA Report describes the policy and legal basis within which the
project may be implemented. Regulations and standards applicable to the project
should be referred to. This section should contain the following information:
 Identification of planning and administrative procedures followed and the
relevant legislations;
 Indication of how compliance has been achieved with respect to other
environmental requirement provisions;
 Inclusion of relevant section of the legislation as an appendix.
5.2.6 Description of the project and its alternatives
In the description of the project the following elements are required to be covered:
 Size and nature of development;

 Brief description of project alternatives;
 Sources, types, characteristics, and volume of raw materials;
 Time schedule for phasing of development (i.e. construction, operation,
maintenance, decommissioning),
 Description of technological process;
 Output volume ( by products and products of the raw materials);
 Removal and disposal of waste;
 Human and Resource Materials costs

5.2.7 Baseline Information on Biophysical Environment and Socioeconomic
situation
Acquisition of baseline information as to the actual site of the project and the
description of the state of the environment are required. This section will give more
emphasis on brief description of the environment that will be affected by the
development. The elements to be included in this section are the following:
 Area specific information about the location of the project (e.g. land tenure,
surrounding land, physical constraints, infrastructure services in and around
the project),
 Boundaries of the project and its implication on the environment,
 Qualitative and quantitative biophysical environment data(e.g. climate, soil,
geology, hydrology, topography, flora and fauna),
 Qualitative and quantitative socio- economic data (e.g. demographic indices,
standard of living, infrastructure services, housing. energy and water supply)
 Cultural and historic environment (e.g. sites of national parks, sanctuaries,
monuments, statues, religious significant areas).
 Location map, figures, tables and other illustrative information.
 Description of both the local and regional biophysical and socio-economic
environment of a project when it likely produces trans-regional impacts.
5.2.8 Assessment of Significant Environmental Impacts

This is an important and crucial section that will have importance in identifying,
predicting and evaluation of impacts (both negative and positive). With regard to
each impact, the following elements (points) should be included.
 Criteria used for determining significance of impact (e.g. magnitude,
geographic extent, duration, frequency, reversible or irreversible, risk of
uncertainty, size of group affected);
 Brief description and analysis of each impact (e.g. nature, significance, and
extent);

 Affected stakeholders in and around the project area;
 A comparison of proposal options (such as size, site, technology; layout,
energy sources, source of raw materials, technical, environmental and social
constraints;
 Impacts on the environment which results from the incremental effect of the
proposed project when added to other past, current and reasonably
foreseeable future proposals:
 Potential accident or hazard scenarios covered in the assessment:
 Degree of confidence in prediction:
 Weighing (judging) the collected information for selecting the best
alternatives.
5.2.9 Mitigation Measures

It is recognized that it is seldom possible to eliminate an adverse environmental
impact altogether, but it is often feasible to reduce its intensity. This reduction is
referred to as mitigation. For each potential adverse impact the plan for its
mitigation at each stage of the project should be documented and its cost assessed.
It is essential that these costs of mitigation be adequately assessed and be fully
documented. This is very important in the selection of the preferred alternative. In
the case of beneficial impacts it should be demonstrated how these can be
maximized.
5.2.10 Environmental Management Plan
This section should document how the environment will be managed during the
implementation of the project both construction and operational phases. The
training programme for employees of the facility should be outlined. This section
should identify any institutional needs for implementing the recommendations of
the EIA.

The environmental management plan of a proposed project should be provided as
follows:
Project Project Adverse Proposed Mitigation Institutional Cost
Stage Activity Impacts Measures Responsibilities Estimates
5.2.11 Environmental Monitoring/Auditing Programme

A detailed environmental monitoring programme/plan should be described. The
reasons for and the costs associated with the monitoring activities should be
covered. It should be noted that some details presented might change depending on
the final designs after the EIA preparation and review. These changes must be
submitted to and approved by the competent authority. The monitoring programme
should clearly state the:
 institutional arrangements for carrying out the work and methods to be
employed;
 parameters to be monitored and standards or guidelines to be used;
 evaluation of the results and schedule and duration of monitoring;
 initiation of action necessary to limit adverse impacts disclosed by
monitoring;
 Format and frequency of reporting.
The following is a temple for Environmental Monitoring/Auditing Programme
Requirement of a proposed project.
Project Mitigation Parameters to be Location Measurements Frequency Responsibility cost
Stage Measure Monitored

5.2.12 Nature of Public Participation
Have people who may be adversely or beneficially affected by the project got the opportunity to
comment on it? The following should be reported to the Responsible Competent Agency.
 When did public participation start?
 Describe the nature of the public participation.
 What concerns were raised and how were they addressed?
5.2.13 Conclusions and Recommendations
This section is important to highlight key issues, which are relevant to decision
making. Especially, the main reasons for selecting the recommended alternative
need to be clearly stipulated. Besides, the strategies to be employed for
compensating unavoidable adverse impacts as well as reducing the associated risks
of the project proposal should be provided in outline form. This information can
easily be extracted from the EMP prepared for the project proposal. This section
hence is required to include:
 Brief discussion of key issues;
 Statement of adverse impacts and the suggested measures to compensate
them;
 Identification of management and monitoring needs and additional
recommendations;
 Net benefits, which justify the project by indicating both positive and
negative impacts;
 Explanation of how adverse effects have been mitigated;
 Explanation of use or destruction of any irreplaceable components;
 Provisions for follow-up surveillance and monitoring.

5.2.14 Appendices
These are separate documents to be used as references for the reviewers. They
enable reviewers to reach at appropriate decision-making. Examples of documents
that may be provided as appendices are:
 A glossary and an explanation of acronyms (Terms of Reference);
 Endorsement letter from the concerned relevant environmental agency or
local administration;
 Safety or product quality certificate and Health and product quality
assurance certificates as the case may be;
 detailed technical reports, flow charts and site maps
 approved minutes of public involvement process;
 List of members of the study team (names, CV etc.).
 License of the consultancy
 Proponent’s declaration for the document

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Training Resource Manual. Edited by B. Saddler and M. McCabe. The Economic and Trade
Branch. Division of Technology, Industry, and Economics. Geneva, Switzerland.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA). 1998. Protocol for Conducting
Environmental Compliance Audits under the comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act. US Government Printing Office. Washington, DC.
USEPA. 2000. Incentives for Self-Policing: Discovery, disclosure, correction, and prevention of
violations. Final Policy Statement. Federal Register. Vol. 65, No. 70. US Government
Printing Office, Washington, DC.
World Bank Technical Paper Number 139: Environmental Assessment Source-book,

Vol. I,
World Bank. 1995. Environmental Auditing. Update. Environmental Assessment Sourcebook.
World Bank, Washington, DC.

World Bank. 1997. Environmental Performance Monitoring and Supervision. Update.
Environmental Assessment Sourcebook. World Bank, Washington, DC.
World Bank. 1999. Operational Policy (OP 4.01). Environmental Impact Assessment.
Yonas Tekelemichael (December, 2002), The Role, Status and Effectiveness of

Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment in
Ethiopia

ANNEXES
Annex I: Categories of Activities
There are three major classes of action (Categories) that prescribe the level of documentation required in
the environmental assessment process.
1. Category 1 (Inclusion/Mandatory List). Actions that are perceived to have potentially significant
environmental effect on the environment require full EIA report or environmental impact
statement (EIS). Projects that fall into this category (inclusion list) must forego a detailed
environmental study, including primary and secondary data collection, public participation and
disclosure, with a final output presented to the competent authority for review and approval in the
form of a full EIA report (EIS).
2. Category 2. Actions in which the significance of the environmental impact is either not clearly
established or potential environmental impacts are not widespread, considered to be less complex,
or are relatively easy to mitigate. All development actions included in this category require the
preparation of a preliminary environmental impact study report or an initial environmental
examination (IEE).
3. Category 3 (Exclusion List). Actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant
environmental effect or are considered to be environmental improvement are included in this
category (exclusion list) and do not require to prepare an IEE or EIS. A specific list of categorical
exclusions is presented below. Such projects normally do not require environmental
documentation and will receive an environmental clearance letter from the competent authority
and licensing agency as per the requirements set forth in the ANRS environmental Proclamation.
When appropriately documented and approved by the competent agency, additional projects may
also qualify to be included in Category 3 (categorical exclusion list).
In the following sections, the details of project types that will fall in each Category are presented. It is
important to note that the provided Categories are not exhaustive or fixed. The competent authority, at
its discretion and based on provided information in the environmental screening report or public
consultation results, can change the categorization of the proposed development projects or activities.
The following flow chart provides a schematic presentation of the proposed process for determining
how to categorize different projects.

Category 1 Activities (List of projects requiring full EIA (Inclusion List)
1. Agriculture
 Land development schemes covering an area of 500 hectares or more to change land
use for agricultural production.
 Large scale (more than 500 hectares) monoculture of cash and food crops.
 Establishment of large scale floriculture farms or processing plant for a cropped area of
larger than 30 hectares.
 Any size agricultural projects, including floriculture that is located in environmentally

sensitive areas or within 30 meters of wetlands and other water bodies.
 Agricultural programs necessitating the resettlement of 100 families or more.
 Development of agricultural estates covering an area of 500 hectares or more involving

a change in type of agricultural use.
 Agricultural Mechanization of projects covering an area of larger than 500 ha.
 Pest control activities involving the use of new pesticides that have not been included
in the WHO categories II and III (See annex 2).
 Projects involving manufacture, transport or storage of agrochemicals.
 Introduction of new (exotic) animal breeds, crops, or seeds.
 Introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
 Land based aquaculture projects accompanied by clearing of swamp forests or

wetlands covering an area of 5 hectares or more.
 Introduction of exotic or new aquatic species in water bodies.
 Large scale (over 1 ton per day) commercial fishery.
 River Basin Development (all sizes).
2. Airports
 Construction of airports having an airstrip of 2,000 meters or more.

 Airstrip development in Regional and national parks or any other environmentally
sensitive areas.
3. Defense activities and military services
 Designing of large military range or training grounds, or significant changes in the uses
of such areas.
 Shooting range, artillery range, or any other related installations.
 Temporary military campsites, designed for more than one year.
 Planning the use of low-level flying military fixed-wing jet aircraft as part of a training
program at an altitude below 330 m above ground level for more than 25 hours per
calendar year in populated areas, in areas designated as major wildlife habitat, and/or
in known staging areas of migratory birds.
4. Forestry
 Conversion of hill forest land to other land use covering an area of 50 hectares or more.
 Logging or conversion of forest land to other land use within the catchment area of
reservoirs used for municipal water supply, irrigation or hydro power generation or in
areas adjacent to Regional and national parks (all sizes).
 Introduction of new/exotic tree species for development of forest plantations.
 Timber logging covering an area of over 200 hectares.
 Logging of areas that are known to include threatened or endangered plant species or
within ecologically sensitive areas (all sizes).
 Aforestation or reforestation (monoculture forest plantation) projects with 200 hectares

or more coverage.
 Resettlement programs in natural forests or nature reserves.
 Construction of roads inside forest or nature reserves.

5. Housing/Urban Development
 Development of any structure including residential areas, shopping centers, complexes,

hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and learning centers with a foot print of larger than 5,000
m2 .
 Establishment of bus and rail terminals with a foot print of more than 5,000 m2.
 Construction of any structure with a foot print of more than 500 m2 in close proximity
of significant wetlands or water bodies (less than 30 meters)
 Township development with a foot print of 30 hectares or more.
 Subdivisions of 10 or more lots and housing projects of 10 houses or more.
 Conversion of swamps/wetlands of significant value for industrial, housing or

agricultural use covering an area of more than one hectare.
 Conversion of any other swamps and/or wetlands for industrial, housing or agricultural
use covering an area of more than 10 hectares.
6. Industry1
 Chemical production where production capacity of each product or of combined

products is greater than 100 tons/day or any mechanized plant employing more than 10
people.
 Petrochemical plants (All sizes).
 Manufacturing, transport and use of pesticides and other hazardous substances (all
sizes).
 Non-ferrous primary smelting producing 50 tons/day and above of product and

refining, drawing, rolling and surface treatment.
 Non-metallic
 Cement - for clinker throughput of 30 tons/hour and above
1
Source: Central Statistical Agency, Addis Ababa

 Lime - 100 tons/day and above burnt lime rotary kiln or 50 tons/day and above
vertical kiln.
 Asbestos (all sizes).
 Glass and glass products manufacturing with a total of value of 500,000 Birr or
more or plants employing more than 10 employees, using mechanization.
 Manufacturing of tiles and ceramics with a total value of 500,000 or more or plants
employing more than 10 employees, using mechanization.
 Iron and steel
 Require iron ore as raw materials for production greater than 100 tons per day;
 Using scrap iron as raw materials for production greater than 200 tons per day; or
 Plants employing more than 10 people, using mechanization.
 Wood, pulp and paper industry with a production capacity of greater than 50 tons per
day, or industries employing more than 10 people, using mechanization.
 Fiber and particle board manufacturing with a production capacity of greater than 30
tons per day, or industries employing more than 10 peoples and using mechanization.
 Textile industries including cotton and synthetic fibers, cloth dying, etc. with a total
value of 500,000 Birr or more or industries employing more than 10 people, using
mechanization.
 Food and beverage industries including manufacturing of animal oil and fats, vegetable
oil refinery, manufacturing of dairy products, brewing, distilling, and malting, fish
meal factories, soft drinks, canned fruits, sugar factories, and other agro-processing
industries with a total cost of total cost of 500,000 Birr or more, or industries
employing more than 49 people2.
2
Source: Ministry of Trade and Industry, Addis Ababa.
The costs of the project are based on 2009 currency values provided by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the
Bureau of export promotion and can be changed with out notice as per inflation rate and or changes in definition of
the project sizes by the Federal / Regional state.

 Rubber and plastic products manufacturing employing more than 10 people and using
mechanization or with a value of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr.
 Wood and wood product manufacturing with a total cost of 500,000 Birr or more, or
industries employing 10 people or more and using mechanization.
 Leather industries including tanneries, and dressing factories. (All sizes)
 Electrical machinery apparatus, appliance, and supplies employing over 10 people

using mechanization or with a total value of 500,000 Birr or more.
7. Infrastructure
 Construction of hospitals with outfall into lakes and major water bodies used for,
recreational purposes.
 Industrial estate development for medium and heavy industry covering an area of 10
hectares or more.
8. Irrigation, Drainage, and Flood Control3
 Construction of dams and man-made lakes and artificial enlargement of lakes with
surface areas of 100 hectares or more.
 Construction of dams for use in irrigation or flood control purposes with either or both
of the following:
 Dam height of more than 15 meters,
 Reservoir surface area larger than 30% of command area.
 Drainage of wetland, wild-life habitat or of virgin forest covering an area of 10

hectares or more.
 Modern surface Irrigation schemes covering an area of 200 hectares or more.
3
Source: Ministry of Water Resources, Addis Ababa.
The costs of the project are based on 2009 currency values provided by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the
Bureau of export promotion and can be changed with out notice as per inflation rate and or changes in definition of
the project sizes by the Federal / Regional state.

 Groundwater based irrigation schemes covering an area of 100 hectares or more.
 River diversions and water transfers between two watersheds.
9. Land Reclamation
 Land reclamation activities involving an area of 5,000 hectares or more.
10. Livestock and Range Management
 Introduction of new breeds including genetically modified breeds.
 Intensive livestock rearing areas with more than 50 cattle/equines, more than 10 dairy
cows, or more than 200 shoats.
 Introduction of new or exotic species.
 Large-scale livestock production in urban areas (more than 5 cattle/equine or 25

shoats).
 Large-scale slaughter houses (more than 25 cattle and/or 200 shoats per day).
 Large-scale extensive grazing of cattle, equines, shoats, etc (more than 500 ha).
11. Mining
 Mining of materials in new areas where the mining lease covers a total area in excess
of 100 hectares or any size mining activity within environmentally sensitive, nature
reserves or protected areas.
 Ore processing, including concentrating for metallic material.
 Sand dredging involving an area of 50 hectares or more.
12. Petroleum Industry
 Development of oil and gas fields (oil and gas field exploration).
 Construction of oil and gas separation, processing, handling, and storage facilities.
 Construction of oil refineries.
 Construction of product depots for the storage of petrol, gas or diesel (excluding
service stations) which are located within 3 kilometers of any commercial, industrial or

residential areas and which have a combined storage capacity of 50,000 barrels or
more.
14. Ports
 Construction of ports on lakes such as Tana Lake.
 Port expansion involving an increase of 50 percent or more in handling capacity per

annum.
15. Power Generation and Transmission
 Construction of steam generated (thermal) power stations burning fossil fuels and
having a capacity of more than 50 MW.
 Construction of dams and hydroelectric power schemes with either or both of the
following.
 dams over 15 meters high and ancillary structures covering a total area in excess of
20 hectares;
 reservoirs with a surface area in excess of 250 hectares;
 Hydroelectric power generation more than 100 MW.
 Construction of combined cycle power stations.
 Construction of nuclear-fueled power stations.
 Construction of high voltage (more than 11 KV) transmission lines.
 Construction transmission lines and substation 115 KV or greater.
 Construction of oil and gas pipelines with a pipe diameter of over 60 cm.
 Large scale windmill farms and solar power generating plants with a foot print of over
10 and 1 hectare, respectively.
 Production and distribution of electricity, gas, steam, and geothermal energy.
16. Quarries
 Proposed quarrying of aggregate, limestone, silica, quartzite, sandstone marble and,

decorative building stone within 3 kilometers of any existing residential, commercial

or industrial areas, or any area for which a license, permit or approval has been granted
for residential, commercial or industrial development.
17. Railways
 Construction of new routes.
 Construction of branch lines.
18. Tourism and Recreational Development
 Construction of resource facilities or hotels along the shorelines of Lake Tana, Abay
River, and in Lake Tana Islands.
 Hilltop resort or hotel development in nature reserve or environmentally sensitive

areas.
 Construction of lake front resort-facilities or hotels with more than 30 rooms.
 Hilltop resort or hotel development covering an area of 5 hectares or more.
 Development of tourist or recreational facilities in national/Regional parks.
 Development of tourist or recreational facilities, on islands within the lakes that have a
potential to be declared as national parks.
 Development of tourism or recreational facilities in protected and adjacent areas

(national parks, forest reserves, Lake Tana islands, etc).
 The removal of natural resources/objects for construction purposes within a national

park, nature reserve, or national/regional historic site, if the removal involves the
establishment of a new borrow site, the expansion of an existing borrow site, the
reopening of an inactive borrow site, an increase in the amount of extraction, new
extraction or the extraction of materials from aquatic locations.
 The establishment, expansion or relocation of a trail, campsite or day-use area within a

national park, nature reserve, or national/regional historic site.
 Physical activities carried out in national parks, nature reserves, or national/regional

historic sites for management or scientific purposes that involve intent to:
 Manipulate ecosystem function;

 Remove from a national park, nature reserve, or national/regional historic site,
damage or destroy a member of a species that has been identified as endangered or
threatened wildlife in Ethiopia or as a species of special concern;
 Damage or destroy fossils or in-situ archaeological resources; or
 Threaten the continued existence of a biological population within a national park,

or nature reserve.
 Major construction works for sport complexes.
19. Transportation
 A new controlled access freeway.
 Construction of new national trunk roads.
 Major urban roads (four lane highways).
 Upgrading and/or rehabilitation/paving of major rural roadways.
 New construction or extension of fixed rail transit facilities and/or branch lines.
20. Rural and Urban Water Supply
 Construction of dams or impounding reservoir for water supply with a surface area of
200 hectares or more or a height of over 15 meters.
 Groundwater development for industrial, agricultural or urban water supply of greater

than 2,000 m3 per day.
 Canalization of water courses (water course training).
 Water transfer schemes (between two catchments).
 Water treatment plants.
21. Waste Treatment and Disposal
 Toxic and Hazardous Waste.
 Construction of incineration plant.
 Construction of recovery plant (off-site).

 Construction of waste water treatment plant (off-site).
 Construction of secure landfill facility.
 Construction of storage facility (off-site).
 Municipal Solid Waste
 Construction of incineration plant.
 Establishment, expansion, relocation or closure of a site for the disposal of solid

waste within national parks, nature reserve, or national/regional historic sites.
 Construction of composting plant.
 Construction of recovery/recycling plant.
 Construction of municipal solid waste landfill facility.
 Municipal Sewage
 Construction of waste water treatment plant and sewerage systems.
 Construction of Lake Outfall.
 Night soil collection, transportation and treatment.
 Construction of sewage systems.
22. Watersheds Development
 Watershed development project that comprise other infrastructure construction in

addition to management or rehabilitation activities.

Category 2 Activities (List of projects requiring Preliminary EIA (Initial
Environmental Examination (IEE)
The project may have adverse environmental impacts that are less significant than Category 1
impacts. Few if any of these impacts are irreversible. The impacts are not as sensitive, numerous,
major, or diverse as Category 1 impacts; remedial measures can be more easily designed.
Preparation of a mitigation plan suffices for many Category 2 projects. Category 2 projects
generally will require the preparation of a preliminary environmental assessment or initial
environmental evaluation (IEE) report by the project proponent. Typical examples of project types
that will require IEE include:
1. Agro-industries (Agriculture, Livestock, and Fishery);
 Land development schemes covering an area of less than 500 hectares to bring
forest/grazing land into agricultural production.
 Medium and small scale monoculture of cash and food crops (smaller than 500
hectares).
 Establishment of small and medium scale floriculture farms or processing plant for
cropped area of smaller than 30 hectares.
 Agricultural projects located within 30 to 200 meters of environmentally sensitive

areas.
 Agricultural programs necessitating the resettlement of up to 100 families.
 Development of agricultural estates covering an area of less than 500 hectares

involving changes in type of agricultural use.
 Agricultural mechanization of projects covering an area of smaller than 200 ha.
 Pest control programs involving the use of new pesticides that are assigned as less
toxic categories II and III, according to the WHO nomenclature.
 Land based aquaculture projects covering an area of less than 5 hectares.
 Small and medium scale (less than 1 ton per day) commercial fisheries.
 Projects involving repackaging, formulation, or warehousing of agricultural products.

2. Airports
 Construction of airports having an airstrip of less than 2,000 meters.
3. Forestry
 Conversion of hill forest land to other land use, covering an area of less than 50
hectares.
 Timber logging covering an area of less than 200 hectares.
 Aforestation and reforestation (monoculture forest plantation) projects smaller than

200 hectares in coverage.
4. Housing/Urban Development
 Development of any structure including residential areas, shopping centers, complexes,

hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and learning centers with a foot print of between 500 m2
and 5,000 m2.
 Establishment of bus and rail terminals with a foot prints of between 500 m2 and 5,000
m2 .
 Construction of any structure with a foot prints of between 100 m2 and 500 m2 within
30 meters of significant wetlands or water bodies.
 Township development with a foot print of less than 30 hectares.
 Conversion of any swamps/wetlands that is not designated as significant for industrial,

housing or agricultural use covering an area of one to 30 hectares.
5. Industry
 Chemical production where production capacity of each product or of combined

products is less than 100 tons/day or any mechanized plant employing between 3 and
10 people.
 Non-ferrous primary smelting producing less than 50 tons/day of product and refining,
drawing, rolling and surface treatment.
 Non-metallic
 Cement - for clinker throughput of less than 30 tons/hour.

 Lime – less than 100 tons/day burnt lime rotary kiln or less than 50 tons/day of
vertical kiln.
 Glass and glass products manufacturing with total cost of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr or
any manufacturing that employs between 3 and 10 people.
 Manufacturing of tiles and ceramics with total cost of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr or any
mechanized plant that employs between 3 and 10 people.
 Iron and steel
 Require iron ore as raw materials for production of 100 tons per day or less; or
 Using scrap iron as raw materials for production of 200 tons per day or less.
 Wood, pulp and paper industry with a production capacity of 50 tons per day or less, or
mechanized industries that employ between 3 and 10 people.
 Fiber and particle board manufacturing with a production capacity of 30 tons per day
or less or mechanized industries that employ between 3 and 10 people.
 Textile industries including cotton and synthetic fibers, cloth dying, etc. with
production of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr or mechanized industries that employ between 3
and 10 people.
 Food and beverage industries including manufacturing of animal oil and fats, vegetable
oil refinery, manufacturing of dairy products, brewing, distilling, and malting, fish
meal factories, soft drinks, canned fruits, sugar factories, and other agro-processing
industries with a total cost of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr or mechanized industries that
employ between 5 and 49 people.
 Rubber and plastic products manufacturing employing between 3 and 10 person, or

with a total value of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr.
 Wood and wood product manufacturing with total cost of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr, or
mechanized industries that employ between 3 and 10 people.
 Electrical machinery apparatus, appliance, and supplies employing between 3 and 10

persons using mechanization, or with a total value of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr.

6. Infrastructure
 Industrial estate development for medium and heavy industry covering an area of less
than 10 hectares.
7. Irrigation, drainage, and Flood Control (small-scale);
 Construction of dams and man-made lakes and artificial enlargement of lakes with
surface area of less than 100 hectares.
 Construction of dams for use in irrigation or flood control purposes with a dam height
of less than 15 meters.
 Drainage of wetlands, wildlife habitats or virgin forest for the purpose of using for
irrigation, covering an area of less than 10 hectares.
 Surface area modern irrigation schemes (diversions, dams) covering an area of less
than 200 hectares.
 Groundwater based irrigation schemes covering an area of less than 100 hectares.
8. Land Reclamation
 Land reclamation activities involving an area of less than 5,000 hectares.
9. Livestock and Range Management
 Intensive livestock rearing areas with less than 50 cattle/equines, or less than 10 dairy
cows, or less than 200 shoats.
 Small-scale livestock production in urban areas (between 2 and 5 cattle/equines or 5 to

50 shoats).
 Small-scale slaughter houses (less than 25 cattle and/or 200 shoats per day).
 Small-scale (less than 500 hectares) extensive grazing of cattle, equines, shoats, etc.
10. Mining
 Mining of materials in new areas where the mining lease covers a total area of 100
hectares or less.
 Sand dredging involving an area of less than 50 hectares.

11. Petroleum Industry
 Construction of product depots for the storage of petrol, gas or diesel (excluding
service stations) which are located within 3 kilometers of any commercial, industrial or
residential areas and which have a combined storage capacity of 5,000 to 50,000
barrels.
12. Power Generation and Transmission
 Construction of thermal power stations burning fossil fuels and having a capacity of 50
MW or less.
 Construction of dams and hydroelectric power schemes with either or both of the
following.
 Dams less than 15 meters high and ancillary structures covering a total area of 20
hectares or less;
 Reservoirs with a surface area of 250 hectares or less.
 Hydroelectric power generation of 100 MW or less.
 Transmission lines less than 11 KV, and large distribution projects.
 Construction of transmission lines and substations of smaller than 115KV.
 Construction of oil and gas pipeline with a ipe diameter of less than 60 cm.
 Small scale windmill farms and solar power generating plants with foot prints of less
than 10 and 1 hectares, respectively.
 Power generation projects involving waste-to-energy conversion.
13. Quarries
 Proposed quarrying of aggregate, limestone, silica, quartzite, sandstone marble and,

decorative building stone within 3 to 10 kilometers of any existing residential,
commercial or industrial areas, or any area for which a license, permit or approval has
been granted for residential, commercial or industrial development.
14. Resort and Recreational Development
 Construction of lake front resort-facilities or hotels with less than 80 rooms.

 Hill station resort or hotel development covering an area of less than 50 hectares.
15. Rural and Urban Water Supply
 Construction of dams, impounding reservoir with a surface area of less than 200
hectares.
 Groundwater development for industrial, agricultural or urban water supply of 500

cubic meters per day or less.
16. Tourism
 Tourism development that does not include construction and are outside nature
reserves and national parks.
 Hilltop resort or hotel development covering an area of less than 5 hectares.
18. Transportation
 Construction of rural/feeder roads.
19. Rural water supply and sanitation
 Construction of rural water supply and sanitation infrastructure that is farther than 30
meters from water bodies or other environmentally sensitive areas.
 Construction of dams or impounding reservoir for water supply with a surface area of
less than 25 hectares or height of 15 meters or less
 Groundwater development for industrial, agricultural or urban water supply of 2000 m3

per day or less.
20. Watershed projects
 Watershed development project that only comprise of management or rehabilitation

activities.
21. Rehabilitation, maintenance, and upgrading projects
 Rehabilitation, maintenance and upgrading of small scale projects that do not include
major construction activities.
22. Promulgation of rules, regulations, and directives.

Category 3 Activities (List of projects that normally will not require any environmental
studies (Exclusion List)
Categorical exclusions (Category 3) are actions which, based on past experience with similar
actions, do not involve significant environmental impacts. They are actions which: (i) do not
induce significant impacts to planned growth or land use for the area; (ii) do not require the
relocation of significant numbers of people; (iii) do not have a significant impact on any
natural, cultural, recreational, historic or other resource; (iv) do not involve significant air,
noise, or water quality impacts; (v) do not have significant impacts on travel patterns; and/or
(vi) do not otherwise, either individually or cumulatively, have any significant environmental
impacts. Projects that fall in this category typically will not require further environmental
studies because the Competent Authority, based on past experience, has determined that such
projects are unlikely to have adverse environmental impacts. Professional judgement finds
such projects to have negligible, insignificant, or minimal environmental impacts.
1. Any action which normally would be classified as a Category 3, but could involve unusual
circumstances, say being in close proximity of an environmentally sensitive area, might
require additional review by the competent authority, in cooperation with the proponent, to
determine if the Category 3 classification is proper. Such unusual circumstances include:
 Potential impact on significant environmentally sensitive areas;
 Substantial controversy on environmental grounds;
 Significant impact on surrounding prime agricultural land, areas of significant

cultural/heritage value, nature reserves, and/or any other environmentally sensitive
areas (wetlands, major wildlife habitats, significant riverine/riparian vegetation,
etc); or
 Inconsistencies with any Federal, Provincial, or local law, requirement or

administrative determination relating to the environmental aspects of the action.
2. The following actions meet the criteria to be included in Category 3 of this guideline and
normally do not require any further approvals by the Competent Authority:
 Activities that do not involve or lead directly to construction, such as:
i. Education and training projects;

ii. Family planning projects;
iii. Health education awareness raising projects;
iv. Grants for training and research programs;
v. Nutrition improvement projects;
vi. Institutional development/capacity building projects;
vii. Research activities not covered in category 1 or 2;
viii. Technical assistance;
ix. Most human resource projects;
x. Approval of a unified work program and any findings required in the

planning process pursuant;
xi. Approval of project concepts; and
xii. Engineering to define the elements of a proposed action or alternatives so

that social, economic, and environmental effects can be assessed.
 Approval of utility installations along or across a transportation facility.
 Landscaping, implementation of soil conservation practices on farmer level,

improvement of health posts or other structures with a small foot prints (less than
500 m2).
 Installation of fencing, signs, pavement markings, small passenger shelters, traffic

signals, and railroad warning devices where no substantial land acquisition or traffic
disruption will occur (less than 100 m2).
 Development of any structure including residential areas, shopping centers,

complexes, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and learning centers with a foot print of
less than 500 m2.
 Establishment of bus and rail terminals with a foot prints of less than 500 m2.
 Construction of any structure with a foot print of less than 100 m2 in close
proximity of significant wetlands or water bodies (more than 30 meters).

 Program administration, technical assistance and capacity building activities, and
operating assistance to allow for continuation/improvement of existing service or
increase service to meet routine changes in demand.
3. Any development activity that is not included in Category 1 and 2 projects.
4. Additional actions that meet the criteria may be included in Category 3 of this section, only
if the competent authority approves the inclusion of the said action in the exclusion list
(Category 3). The applicant shall submit documentation which demonstrates that the
specific conditions or criteria for inclusion of activity in the exclusion list are satisfied and
that significant environmental effects will not result.
Where a pattern emerges of granting Category 3 status for a particular type of action, the
Competent Agency will initiate rulemaking proposing to add this type of action to the list of
categorical exclusions in paragraph (c) or (d) of this section, as appropriate.

Annex II: EIS Review Criteria
EIA Report (EIS) Review Process

The completed draft/final EIA reports (EIS) should be presented to the Competent Authority
(CA) for technical review to ensure that all significant issues are considered by the project
proponent before an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) can be issued. The CA
should decide, based on a preliminary review of the submitted EIS, whether specific technical
expertise from outside agencies will be required in assisting the authority with the review of
the EIS. The main objective of review is to critically examine, whether the following criteria
are met:
 Full response to the requirement of environmental assessment ToR - if the ToR was
amended during the course of the EIA work, an explanation of the reasons for change
should be presented in the introduction and Executive Summary sections of the EIS;
 An executive or non-technical summary should be included in the EIS;
 The 'no-project' baseline situation should be adequately described in the report;
 Significant adverse and beneficial impacts should be identified and described. The
decision on significance of positive and negative effects of the project should clearly
be justified in the EIS report;
 Alternatives, including the “no project” scenario should be clearly assessed and a
comparative study of the alternatives, giving equal weighting to all alternatives should
be presented in the EIS;
 Based on the findings of analysis of alternatives, the environmentally preferred

alternative should be identified with justifiable reasoning for the selection;
 There should be a section in the EIS to clearly demonstrate that the stakeholders and
potentially affected and interested parties were involved in the EIA process;

 Data sources used in the preparation of EIS should be properly identified and
referenced;
 The specific methodologies and techniques used to predict and evaluate potential
impacts and proposed mitigation measure should be clearly described and data
limitations should be identified; and
 A well documented section on proposed environmental management and monitoring

plan (EMMP) should be included with proper and detail costing and identification of
all responsible parties for implementation of the plan to be included as a condition of
environmental approval of the proposed project.
If the review determines that the EIA report does not provide adequate information and
found technically unacceptable by the EIS review team, the CA should require additional
work before the EIS can be accepted for decision-making purposes. The authority should find
the EIS non-compliant or significant deficiencies and inform the project proponent to revise
the report based on the matters that are clearly specified by the EIS review team. The revised
report should then be further reviewed by the CA until it is considered to be acceptable so
that the ECC can be issued.
Need for a Systematic Review

In order to ensure transparency of environmental review process, it is proposed by many
environmental experts (Petts, 1999, Sandler, 1996) that a systematic approach should be used in
EIS review to enhance its benefits. The proposed “good practice” approach, recommended by
Sandler (1996) follows the process presented below:
 Set the boundaries of the EIS review based on the (i) time available, (b) funds available,
and (c) the established deadline;
 Select the EIS review team, deciding whether the in-house staff will be able to effectively
review the EIS or the involvement of outside experts would also be required;
 Identify the public concerns presented in EIS;
 Identify review criteria such as scoping guidelines, general review criteria, and experience
of the review team with similar projects;

 Undertake the review by (i) identifying the good points of the EIS and its deficiencies
(effective use of the provided checklist), (ii) determining whether deficiencies are
significant and crucial to the decision of adequacy of the EIS, and (iii) determine how the
significant shortcomings of the EIS can be remedied by the project proponent; and
 Based on the findings of the EIS review checklist, publish the review report and provide
the project proponent with the final decisions of the CA.
Adoption of a systematic environmental review process will assists the CA to:
 Establish a set of actions that should be followed by all reviewers, irrespective of their
affiliations or technical expertise;
 Can improve the transparency of the EIS review process by allowing the review process to
be made public;
 Can make the review process more defensible through establishment of well defined and
readily available review process; and
 Help EIS review team to become conversant with the process and clarify the expectations
from the team members, especially when resources are limited.
Potential Limitations of EIS Review
The systematic review of EIS is believed to be a significant and useful quality control mechanism,
but it could also have limitations that should be recognized by the review team, the CA, and the
project proponents. An EIS review is generally relies on the information provided in the EIS by the
project proponent, supplemented with the knowledge of other consultees, the interviewed public,
and general knowledge of the review team members about similar projects. However, it is well
understood by all parties involved that the role of the review is not to repeat the EIA to verify
whether the information provided by the project proponent in the EIS. Therefore, if some
information is omitted deliberately or by an oversight, such as, the presence of rare or endangered
species of significant conservation value, especially if its presence is not known to other members
of the EIS review team, the result will be that the review will not address the problem. Therefore, it
is critical to have confidence on professionalism of those who prepare the EIA report. One method
to increase the possibility of receiving more realistic and professionally prepared EIA reports is to
develop a certification or registration mechanism for environmental professionals who are allowed

to perform EIA studies. To produce reliable and quality EIA studies, the EIA consultants must
possess substantial analytical capabilities for field work, laboratory testing, research, data
processing and predictive modeling. To this end, training and/or certification of EIA consultants
should be made a requirement. In addition, developing code of conduct and code of ethics for the
consultants is also critical.
EIS review is normally conducted by the CA staff without input from other outside professionals.
Rarely technical staffs of other relevant disciplines, not represented at the authority such as process
engineers or irrigation/geotechnical experts, are partaking in the EIS review process. Many of the
potential environmental impacts may rely on the reliability of the technology, but only
technological experts may be able to identify such issues, limiting the completeness of the EIS
review.
It should be understood that although EIS review is probably the most important control
mechanism in the EIA process, the review might not be able to resolve all uncertainties associated
with the environmental impact of a project proposal and at best, it can point out the potentially
significant issues that might have not been addressed adequately. However, the EIS review
probably is the best tool available, in conjunction with other tools that are available to the CA
experts during screening, and scoping to ensure that sufficient information is provided to use as a
basis for decision-making on environmental impact of the project.
EIA Report (EIS) Review Checklist:

The following checklist is prepared for use by the CA staff and external reviewers, if deemed
necessary due to complexity of the project, who are assigned to critically review the quality of EIS,
the environmental information provided by the project proponents and/or developers, to determine
whether the information is adequate for decision making and consultation and, if not, what more
information is needed.
The checklist is organized in seven sections:
 Description of the project
 Alternatives
 Description of the environment likely to be affected by the project

 Description of the likely significant effects of the project
 Description of Mitigating Measures
 Executive (non-technical) summary
 Quality of presentation
Within each section there are numbered Review Questions. For some questions notes are provided
to assist the reviewer.
A. Criteria for Reviewing EIA Reports (EIS)
Step 1:
Briefly review the EIS to better understand the report’s organizations to assist you on determining
where to find required information within it.
Step2:
Decide for each Review Question, whether the question is relevant to the specific project.
If so enter “Yes” in Column 2. At the end of each section of the checklist there is an opportunity to
include relevant issues or features of the project that have not been included or considered in the
Checklist.
Step 3:
If a Review Question is identified as relevant, review the EIS in more detail and decide whether
the particular information identified in the question is provided and whether the provided
information in the EIS is sufficient for decision-making. If it is complete enter “Yes” in Column 3.
If it is not complete, enter “No”. In considering whether the information is sufficient for decision-
making the reviewer should consider whether any information is omitted and if the omissions are
critical to the decision-making process. If they are not, then it should not be necessary to request
further information from the project proponents. This will avoid unnecessary delay to the review
process and increases the efficiency of the CA in issuance of ECC. The main factors that have
been considered in developing the checklist include:
 The legal provisions applying and the factors that the decision maker is required to take
into account at this stage in the project approval process.

 Whether the approval process at the EIA stage is about the principle of the project or the
detailed design.
 The scale and complexity of the project and the sensitivity of the receiving environment.
 Whether the environmental issues raised by the project are high profile.
 The views of the public and project affected people about the project and the degree of
controversy.
Step 4:
If the answer to a review Question is “No”, consider what further information is required and note
this in Column 4. The reviewer may also wish to make suggestions on where or how the
information could be obtained.
The appraisal can be completed with a final step to provide an overall grade for the EIS.
A: Full provision of information with no gaps or weaknesses (Fully satisfactory).
B: Good provision of information with only minor weaknesses which are not of importance to the
Decision (Generally Satisfactory).
C: Adequate provision of information with any gaps or weaknesses in information not being vital
to the decision process (Just satisfactory).
D: Weak provision of information with gaps and weaknesses which will hinder the decision
Process but require only minor work to complete (Significant Omissions, need revisions).
F: Very Poor provision of information with major gaps or weaknesses which would prevent the
Decision process proceeding and require major work to complete (Unsatisfactory).
A final section is provided in the checklist for this purpose. The reviewer grades the quality of
information in each section of the checklist by aggregating the grades for the individual Review
Questions and aggregates these to provide an overall grading.
Aggregation will require judgment; so for example if one section has ten Review Questions and
nine are graded B and one A, then a B grade overall is probably reasonable. If nine are graded B

and one E, then an overall D grade is probably appropriate as overall the information is still
inadequate.

The Review Checklist4:
EIS title, date and number: ______________________________
Project Name: ________________________________________
Reviewer Name: ______________________________________
No. Review Question What Further
Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
SECTION 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The objectives and Physical Characteristics of the Project
1.1 Are the needs and objectives of the project adequately

explained?
1.2 Is the program for project implementation adequately
described? Are the details of project activities such as
start and finish dates for construction, operation and
decommissioning and length of project activities
described?
1.3 Are all the major components of the project described?
1.4 Is the location of each Project component identified,

through the use of maps, plans and/or diagrams, as
necessary?
1.5 Is the layout of the site (or sites) occupied by the project
described? (This section might include ground levels, buildings,
other physical structures, underground works, storage facilities, water
features, planting, access corridors, boundaries, etc.)
1.6 For linear projects such as transmission lines, pipelines,
or roads are the route corridor, the vertical and horizontal
alignment and any tunneling and earthworks described?
1.7 Are all the activities involved in construction of the
4
Adapted from the EU (2001), and the UNEP (2002) environmental guidelines.

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
project described?
1.8 Are all the activities involved in operation of the project
described?
1.9 Are all the activities involved in decommissioning the
project described? (Such as closure, dismantling, demolition,
clearance, site restoration, etc.)
1.10 Are all additional services that will be required for the
project described? (Such as. transport access, water, sewerage,
waste disposal, electricity) or developments (roads, power lines,
pipelines, etc.)
1.11 Are any developments that are likely to occur as a

consequence of the Project development identified? (Such
as new housing, roads, water or sewerage infrastructure, borrow sites,
aggregate extraction, etc.)
1.12 Are any existing activities that will alter or cease as a
consequence of the project identified?
1.13 Are any other existing or planned development activities
with which the Project could potentially have cumulative
or interactive effects identified and the effects described?
The size of the project

1.14 Is the area of land, planned to be occupied by the
permanent project components quantified and shown on
a scaled map?
1.15 Is the area of land required for temporary occupation
during construction quantified and mapped?
1.16 Is a plan for rehabilitation of land that has been occupied
temporarily for operation of the Project described? (Such
as land used as borrow site, staging area, quarrying, etc.)
1.17 Is the size and location of proposed structures or other

construction works to be developed as part of the Project
identified? (Such as floor area and height of buildings, excavations
or borrow sites area, height of structures such as embankments,
bridges, the flow or water depth, etc.)
1.18 Is the form and appearance of any structures or other

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
works developed as part of the Project described? (Such as
the type and materials to be used, the architectural design of buildings
and structures, plant species, etc.)
1.19 For urban or similar development projects, are the

numbers and other characteristics of new populations or
business communities described?
1.20 For projects involving the displacement of people or
businesses, are the numbers and other characteristics of
those displaced described?
1.21 For new transport infrastructure or projects generating
significant change in traffic flows, is the type, volume,
temporal pattern and geographical distribution of new
traffic generated or diverted as a consequence of the
Project described?
Production Processes and Resources Used
1.22 Are all the processes involved in operating the Project
described? (Such as manufacturing or engineering processes,
primary raw material production, agricultural or forestry production
methods, extraction processes, etc.)
1.23 Are the types and quantities of outputs produced by the

Project described?
1.24 Are the types and quantities of raw materials and energy
needed for construction and operation discussed?
1.25 Are the environmental implications of the sourcing of
raw materials discussed?
1.26 Is efficiency in use of energy and raw materials
discussed?
1.27 Are any hazardous materials used, stored, handled or
produced by the Project identified and quantified?
 During construction
 During operation
 During decommissioning
1.28 Are the transport of raw materials to the Project and the
number of traffic movements involved discussed?

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
1.29 Is employment created or lost as a result of the Project
discussed?
1.30 Are the access arrangements and the number of traffic
movements involved in bringing workers and visitors to
the Project estimated?
1.32 Is the housing and provision of services for any
temporary or permanent employees for the Project
discussed?
Residues and Emissions (if applicable to the proposed project)
1.33 Are the types and quantities of solid waste generated by
the Project identified? (including construction or demolition
wastes, surplus spoil, process wastes, by-products, surplus or reject
products, hazardous wastes, household or commercial wastes,
agricultural or forestry wastes, site clean-up wastes, mining wastes,
decommissioning wastes)
1.34 Are the composition and toxicity or other
hazards of all solid wastes produced by the
Project discussed?
1.35 Are the methods for collecting, storing, treating,
transporting and finally disposing of these solid wastes
described?
1.36 Are the locations for final disposal of all solid wastes

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
discussed?
1.37 Are the types and quantities of liquid effluents generated
by the Project identified? (Including site drainage and run-off,
process wastes, cooling water, treated effluents, sewage, etc.)
1.38 Are the composition and toxicity or other
hazards of all liquid effluents produced by the
Project discussed?
1.39 Are the methods for collecting, storing, treating,
transporting and finally disposing of these liquid
effluents described?
1.40 Are the locations for final disposal of all liquid effluents
discussed/ identified?
1.41 Are the types and quantities of gaseous and particulate
emissions generated by the Project identified? (Including
process emissions, fugitive emissions, emissions from combustion of
fossil fuels in stationary and mobile plant, emissions from traffic, dust
from materials handling, odours, etc.)
1.42 Are the compositions and toxicity or other hazards of all
emissions to air produce by the Project discussed?
1.43 Are the methods for collecting, treating and finally
discharging these emissions to air described?
1.44 If applicable, are the locations for discharge of all
emissions to air identified and the characteristics of the
discharges identified? (Such as height of stack, velocity and
temperature of release, etc.)
1.45 If project produces wastes, is the potential for resource

recovery from wastes and residues discussed? (including
re-use, recycling or energy recovery from solid waste and liquid

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
effluents)
1.46 If project causes increase in noise, heat, light or
electromagnetic radiation, are the sources identified and
quantified?
1.47 If the project produces residues and emissions, are the
methods for estimating the quantities and composition of
all residues and emissions identified and any difficulties
discussed?
1.48 If the project produces residues and emissions, is the
uncertainty attached to estimates of residues and
emissions discussed?
Risks of Accidents and Hazards

1.49 Are any risks associated with the Project discussed?
 Risks from handling of hazardous materials
 Risks from spills fire, explosion
 Risks of traffic accidents
 Risks from breakdown or failure of processes or
facilities
 Risks from exposure of the Project to natural
disasters (earthquake, flood, landslip, etc)
1.50 Are measures to prevent and respond to accidents and
abnormal events described? (preventive measures, training,
contingency plans, emergency plans, etc )
Other questions on Description of the Project
SECTION 2 CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES

2.1 Is the process by which the project was developed
described?
2.2 Are alternatives considered during this process
described?
2.3 Is the baseline situation in the “No Project” situation
described?

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
2.4 Are the alternatives realistic and genuine alternatives to
the project?
2.5 Are the main reasons for choice of the proposed project
explained, including any environmental reasons for the
choice?
2.6 Are the main environmental effects of the alternatives
compared with those of the proposed project?
Other Questions on Consideration of Alternatives
SECTION 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED

BY THE PROJECT
Aspects of the Environment
3.1 Are the existing land uses of the area to be occupied by
the Project and the surrounding area described and are
all people living on or using the land identified? (Including
residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, etc.)
3.2 Are the topography, geology and soils of the area to be
occupied by the Project and the surrounding area
described?
3.3 Are significant features of the topography or geology of
the area as well as the conditions and use of soils
described? (including soil quality, stability and erosion, agricultural
use, and agricultural land quality)
3.4 Are the flora and fauna and the natural habitats of the
land to be occupied by the project and the surrounding
area described and illustrated on appropriate maps?
3.5 If present, are species populations and characteristics of
habitats that may be affected by the Project described
and are any designated or protected species or areas
defined?
3.6 If project impacts water bodies. is the water environment
of the area described? (Including running and static surface

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
waters, groundwater, lakes, wetlands, and including run off and
drainage)
3.7 Are the hydrology, water quality and use of any water
resources that may be affected by the Project described?
(Including use for water supply, fisheries, angling, bathing, amenity,
navigation, effluent disposal, etc.)
3.8 If the atmospheric environment will be affected by the
project, are local climatic and meteorological conditions
and existing air quality in the area described?
3.9 If acoustic environment will potentially be affected by
the project, is the existing noise levels described?
3.10 If light, heat and electromagnetic radiation condition
might be affected by the project, is the existing situation
described?
3.11 Are any material assets in the area that may be affected
by the project described? (Including buildings, other structures,
mineral resources, water resources, etc.)
3.12 If present, are the locations or features of archaeological,

historic, architectural or other community or cultural
importance in the area that may be crossed by the project
activities described, including any designated or
protected sites?
3.13 Is the landscape of the area that may be affected by the
Project described, including any designated or protected
landscapes?
3.14 Are demographic, social and socio-economic conditions
(e.g. employment) in the area described?
3.15 Are any future changes in any of the above aspects of the
environment that may occur in the absence of the project
described? ( No Project situation)
Data Collection and Survey Method

3.16 Has the defined study area covers large enough an area
to include all areas likely to be significantly affected by
the project?

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
3.17 Have all relevant national and local agencies been
contacted to collect information on the baseline
environment?
3.18 Have sources of data and information on the existing
environment been adequately referenced?
3.19 Where surveys have been undertaken as part of the
Environmental Studies to characterize the baseline
environment, are the methods used, any difficulties
encountered and any uncertainties in the data described?
3.20 Were the methods used appropriate for the purpose?
3.21 Are any important gaps in the data on the existing

environment identified and the means used to deal with
these gaps during the assessment explained?
3.22 If surveys would be required to adequately characterize
the baseline environment but for some reason have not
been performed, are the reasons explained and proposals
set out for the surveys to be undertaken at a later stage?
Other Questions on the Description of the Environment
SECTION 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS OF THE

PROJECT
Scoping of Effects
4.1 Is the process by which the scope of the
Environmental Studies was defined described?
4.2 Is it evident that a systematic approach to scoping was
adopted?
4.3 Are evidences provided to demonstrate that full public
consultation was carried out during scoping?
4.4 Are the comments and views of consulted communities
presented in the EIS?
Prediction of Direct Effects

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
4.5 Are direct, primary effects of project on land use, people
and property described and whenever possible,
quantified?
4.6 Are direct, primary effects on geological features and
soil characteristics described and whenever possible,
quantified?
4.7 Are direct, primary effects on flora, fauna and natural
habitats described and where appropriate quantified?
4.8 Are direct, primary effects on the hydrology and water
quality of water features described and where
appropriate quantified?
4.9 Are direct, primary effects on uses of the water
environment described and where appropriate
quantified?
4.10 Are direct, primary effects on air quality and climatic
conditions described and where appropriate quantified?
4.11 Are direct, primary effects on the acoustic environment
(noise or vibration) described and where appropriate
quantified?
4.12 Are direct, primary effects on heat, light or
electromagnetic radiation described and where
appropriate quantified?
4.13 Are direct, primary effects on material assets and
depletion of non-renewable natural resources described?
4.14 Are direct, primary effects on locations or features of
cultural importance described?
4.15 Are direct, primary effects on the quality of the
landscape described and where appropriate illustrated?
4.16 Are direct, primary effects on demography, social and
socio-economic condition in the area described and
where appropriate quantified?
Prediction of Secondary, Temporary, Short Term, Permanent, Long Term, Accidental,

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
Indirect, Cumulative, Interactive Effects
4.17 Are secondary effects of any of the above aspects of the

environment caused by primary effects on other aspects
described and where appropriate quantified? (Such as
effects on flora, fauna, or natural habitats caused by soil, air or water
pollution or noise; effects on uses of water caused by changes in
hydrology or water quality; effects on archaeological remains caused
by desiccation of soils)
4.18 Are temporary, short term effects caused during

construction or during time limited phases of project
operation or decommissioning described?
4.19 Are permanent effects on the environment caused by
construction, implementation, and operation or
decommissioning of the project described?
4.20 If relevant, are long term effects on the environment
caused over the lifetime of project operations or caused
by build up of pollutants in the environment described?
4.21 Are effects which could result from accidents, abnormal
events or exposure of the project to natural or man-made
disasters described and where appropriate quantified?
4.22 Are effects on the environment caused by activities
ancillary to the main project described? (Ancillary activities
are part of the project but usually take place distant from the main
project location such as construction of access routes and
infrastructure, sourcing of aggregates, borrow sites, generation and
supply of power, disposal of wastes, etc.)
4.23 Are indirect effects on the environment caused by

consequential development described? (Consequential
development is other projects, not part of the main project, encouraged
to take place by implementation of the project such as provision of new
goods & services needed for the project, or housing new populations or
businesses to support project).
4.24 Are cumulative and interactive effects of the project on

the environment in combination with other existing or
planned developments in the locality described?

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
4.25 Are the geographic extent, duration, frequency,
reversibility and probability of occurrence of each effect
identified as appropriate?
Prediction of Effects on Human Health and Sustainable development Issues
4.26 Are primary and secondary effects on human health and
welfare described and where appropriate quantified?
(Such as health effects caused by release of toxic substances to the
environment, health risks arising from major hazards associated with
the project, effects caused by changes in disease vectors caused by the
project, effects on vulnerable groups, changes in living conditions, etc.)
4.27 Are impacts on issues such as biodiversity, global

climate change and sustainable development discussed
where appropriate?
Evaluation of the Significance of Effects

4.28 Is the significance or importance of each predicted effect
discussed in terms of its compliance with legal
requirement?
4.29 Are appropriate, regional, federal or international
standards used and relevant guidance followed in
evaluation of project effects on environment?
4.30 Are positive effects on the environment described as
well as negative effects?
4.31 Is the significance of each effect clearly explained?
Impact Assessment Method

4.32 Are methods used to predict effects described and are the
reasons for their choice, any difficulties encountered and
uncertainties in the results discussed?
4.33 Where there is uncertainty about the precise details of
the Project and its impact on the environment are worst
case predictions described?
4.34 Are difficulties acknowledged where there have been
difficulties in compiling the data needed to predict or
evaluate environmental effects? Are their implications

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
for the results discussed?
4.35 Is the basis for evaluating the significance or importance
of impacts clearly described?
4.36 Are impacts described on the basis that proposed
mitigations have been implemented? Are residual
impacts described?
4.37 Is the level of treatment of each effect appropriate to its
importance for the development consent decision? Does
the discussion focus on the key issues and avoid
irrelevant or unnecessary information?
4.38 Is appropriate emphasis given to the most severe,
adverse effects of the Project with lesser emphasis given
to less significant effects?
Other Questions Relevant to Description of Effects
SECTION 5 DESCRIPTION OF MITIGATION

5.1 Where there are significant adverse effects on any aspect
of the environment is the potential for mitigation of these
effects discussed?
5.2 Are measures which the project proponent proposes to
implement to mitigate effects clearly described and their
effect on the magnitude and significance of impacts
clearly explained?
5.3 If the effect of mitigation measures on the magnitude
and significance of impacts is uncertain is this
explained?
5.4 Is it clear whether the project proponent has made a
binding commitment to implement the proposed
mitigation or that the mitigation measures are just
suggestions or recommendations?
5.5 Are the project proponent’s reasons for choosing the
proposed mitigation explained?

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
5.6 Are responsibilities for implementation of mitigation
including funding clearly defined?
5.7 Where mitigation of significant adverse effects is not
practicable or the project proponent has chosen not to
propose any mitigation are the reasons for this clearly
explained?
5.8 Is it evident that the EIA Team and the project proponent
have considered the full range of possible approaches to
mitigation including measures to reduce or avoid
impacts by alternative strategies or locations, changes to
the project design and layout, changes to methods and
processes, changes to implementation plans and
management practices, measures to repair or remedy
impacts and measures to compensate impacts?
5.9 Are arrangements proposed to monitor and manage
residual impacts?
5.10 Are any negative effects of the proposed mitigation
described?
Other Questions on Mitigation

SECTION 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
6.1 Does the Environmental information include an
Executive Summary?
6.2 Does the Executive Summary provide a concise but
comprehensive description of the Project, its
environment, the effects of the Project on the
environment and the proposed mitigation?
6.3 Does the Executive Summary highlight any significant
uncertainties about the Project and its environmental
effects?
6.4 Does the Executive Summary explain the development
approval process for the Project and the role of EIA in
this process?

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
6.5 Does the Executive Summary provide an overview of the
approach to the assessment?
6.6 Is the Executive Summary written in such language to
avoid excessive use of technical terms, detailed data and
scientific discussion?
6.7 Would it be comprehensible to the members of affected
and interested public?
Other Questions on Executive Summary

7.1 Is the Environmental Information available in one or
more clearly defined documents?
7.2 Is there a table of contents at the beginning of the
document(s)
7.3 Is there a clear description of the process which has been
followed?
7.4 Is the presentation comprehensive but concise, avoiding
irrelevant data and information?
7.5 Does the presentation make effective use of tables,
figures, maps, photographs and other graphics?
7.6 Are all analyses and conclusions adequately supported
with data and evidence?
7.7 Does the presentation make effective use of annexes or
appendices to present detailed data not essential to
understanding the main text?
7.8 Is the document(s) logically organized and clearly
structured so that the reader can locate information
easily?
7.9 Are all sources of data properly referenced?
7.10 Is consistent terminology used throughout the

document(s)?
7.11 Does it read as a single document with cross referencing
between sections used to help the reader navigate
through the document(s)?

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
Information is
Needed?
7.12 Is the presentation demonstrably fair and as far as
possible impartial and objective?
Other Questions on Quality of Presentation
OVERALL APPRAISAL OF THE EIS

If the reviewer wishes to use the Review Checklist to make an overall appraisal of the quality of Environmental
Information, this can be done using the table below.
No. Review Topic Grade Comment
1 Characteristics of the Project
2 Alternatives Considered
3 Location of the Project
4 Mitigation
5 Characteristics of the Potential Impacts
6 Presentational Issues
Overall Assessment
Comments:

Annex III: World Health Organization Pesticide Classification


EIA Guideline Revised 2010

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EIA Guideline Revised 2010

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Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline, Revised in 2010/11

AMHARA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar i REVISED IN 2010/11

Table of Contents ..................................................................................................... ii

Glossary of Terms ............................................................................................... v

1.1. What is EIA? ................................................................................................................................ 1

1.2. Legal and Policy Framework .............................................................................................. 2

1.3. Guiding Principles of EIA ..................................................................................................... 4

1.4. Benefits of EIA .............................................................................................5

1.5. Responsible Bodies and Their Roles ................................................................................ 5

1.6. Overall Goals and Objectives of EIA ................................................................................ 7

Chapter Two .........................................................................................................8

2. The Environmental Impact Assessment Process ..............................8

2.1. Pre-Screening Consultation................................................................................................. 8

2.2. Screening ..................................................................................................................................... 8

2.4. Impact Analysis ....................................................................................................................... 12

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar ii REVISED IN 2010/11

2.5. Identification of mitigation Measures ........................................................................... 17

2.6. Reporting ................................................................................................................................... 17

2.7. Reviewing .................................................................................................................................. 18

2.8 Planning public involvement ...................................................................18

2.10. Condition of Approval ........................................................................................................ 22

2.11. EIA and the Project Cycle ................................................................................................ 22

Chapter Three ....................................................................................................24

3. Checklists of Possible Environmental Impacts and their

3.2. Soil Resources .......................................................................................................................... 25

3.3. Water Resources ..................................................................................................................... 27

3.4. Air Quality ................................................................................................................................. 30

3.5. Flora, Fauna and Ecosystem ............................................................................................. 31

3.6. Socio-Economic Impact ....................................................................................................... 34

3.7. Impacts on Cultural Heritages ......................................................................................... 37

3.9. Impacts on Human Health and Safety........................................................................... 40

Chapter Four ......................................................................................................42

4. Environmental Monitoring, Standards, and Auditing ......................................42

4.2 Environmental Standards .............................................................................................................. 44

4.3 Environmental Auditing ................................................................................................................. 45

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar iii REVISED IN 2010/11

Chapter Five .......................................................................................................51

5. Guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment Report Writing ..................51

Annex I: Categories of Activities ............................................................................65

Annex II: EIS Review Criteria ...............................................................................85

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar iv REVISED IN 2010/11

Alternative A possible course of action that might be adopted in line of the

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar v REVISED IN 2010/11

both the natural and built environments. It also includes

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar vi REVISED IN 2010/11

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar vii REVISED IN 2010/11

Regional Environmental Agency Any regional government organ entrusted by that

Screening preliminary activity undertaken to classify proposals according

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar viii REVISED IN 2010/11

1.1. What is EIA?

 “…systematic & interdisciplinary identification, prediction &

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar 1 REVISED IN 2010/11

 “…a procedure designed to provide information about the potential

 “… a mechanism for all interested parties to be consulted and provide

1.2. Legal and Policy Framework

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar 2 REVISED IN 2010/11

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar 3 REVISED IN 2010/11

The Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation (federal proc. No.

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar 4 REVISED IN 2010/11

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar 5 REVISED IN 2010/11

1.5.2. Environmental Consultant