Birla Institute of Technology & Science, Pilani

Work Integrated Learning Programmes Division

First Semester 2022-2023
Mid-Semester Test
(EC-2 Regular)

Course No. : EE ZG623

Course Title : Environmental Impact and Risk Assessment
Nature of Exam : Open Book
Weightage : 35% No. of Pages = 1
Duration : 2 Hours No. of Questions = 7
Date of Exam : 25/09/2022 (AN)
Note to Students:
1. Please follow all the Instructions to Candidates given on the cover page of the answer book.
2. All parts of a question should be answered consecutively. Each answer should start from a fresh page.
3. Assumptions made if any, should be stated clearly at the beginning of your answer.

Q.1 What is meant by baseline data collection? Explain.

Q.2 Briefly explain screening and scoping process in EIA for their purpose and result
of those stages

Results:

The screening process can have one of the four outcomes: no further level of EIA is
required, a full and comprehensive EIA is required, a more limited EIA is required (often
called preliminary or initial assessment), or further study is necessary to determine the
level of EIA required (often called an initial environmental evalua tion or examination
(IEE)).

Typically, Scoping process concludes with the establishment of terms of reference for the
preparation of an EIA. In this way, scoping ensures that EIA studies are focused on the
significant effects and time and money are not wasted on unnecessary investigations
Q.3 What are the guiding principles of EIA and briefly explain.
Q.4 How National Air Quality Index is calculated? Minimum how many pollutant data
required to calculate AQI and how many hours of data required minimum to calculate
AQI?

Air Quality Index (AQI) is a number used to convey the quality of air by the government
to the general public. Air quality deteriorates with an increase in the concentration of
pollutants. The Air Quality Index represents the severity of pollution for ordinary people.

According to the CPCB, Indian AQI range is from 0-500, from 0 being good and 500
being severe.

There are eight major pollutants to be taken into account for AQI calculation, viz.
particulate matter (PM 10 and PM 2.5), carbon monoxide (CO), ozone (O3), nitrogen
dioxide (NO2), sulfur dioxide (SO2), ammonia (NH3), and lead (Pb).

To calculate AQI, data for a minimum of three pollutants must be present, of which one
should be either PM10 or PM2.5.

Sl. No. Pollutant No. of hours data required to calculate AQI

1 PM 10 24 hrs
2 PM 2.5 24 hrs
3 CO 8 hrs
4 O3 8 hrs
5 NO2 24 hrs
6 SO2 24 hrs
7 NH3 24 hrs
8 Pb 24 hrs
Q.5 Discuss Preliminary EIA and Full EIA and when they are required and the differences
between them.

Preliminary EIA (Initial Environmental Examination)

Q.6 What are different processes in Mass, Heat and Momentum transport in air pollution?
Define each process.
Q7. What are the differences between simple checklists, descriptive checklists, scaling
checklists, and weighing checklists.