Lecture 04

Environmental Impact Assessment

(EIA)
Eng. Dhanushka Kobbekaduwa
PhD (reading), BSc. (Eng) Hons, AMIE(SL), A.Eng (ECSL), MIET, GMICE(UK)
• What is pollution/What is an impact?
▪ Pollution is a change in environment parameter (or an indicator) over time relative to the no
project scenario (i.e. relative to the natural trend of the parameter).
▪ Pollution and Environmental impacts are not synonyms, but are corelated.
Assessment of possible impacts (positive or negative), that a proposed project may have on
the environment is called an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
• EIAR: Environmental Impact Assessment Report.

Due to statutory nature of the environmental impact assessment report, it can be

considered as a decision-making tool.

In many countries it is a statutory requirement to evaluate or assess the environmental

impact of large scale projects. As infrastructure projects are massive and large in size,
technically almost all infrastructure projects needs to conduct an assessment of probable
impacts on the environment in advance.
• To commence a project these three need to be satisfied
1. Technical feasibility
2. Economic feasibility
3. Environmental feasibility

The developer is very much interested of the technical and economic feasibilities, as these factors
govern the return (profit) of the project. Its very rare to see a private developer (may be different if
the developer is government) consider the impact on the environment. However, now a days any
developer is compelled to check the impact on the environment as it is a statutory obligation.

EIA should be carried out for the stages; construction and operational and maintenance separately.
 Involved Parties of an EIA
1. Project Proponent (PP): the person/organization/company who put forward the project,
i.e. the developer
2. Project Approving Agency (PAA): the organization who gives the final approval for the
project to be commenced
3. Public & other stake holders
Scoping
 Alternatives

A requirement of many EIAs. Alternatives can be in different forms

Self Study

What are the advantages/benefits of preparing EIA

https://www.clr.lk/reports
 For any clarifications:

dhanushka@skillscollege.lk