EIA

(ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT)

Iqra Meshal
LECTURER
FACULTY OF ENGINEERING, LAHORE LEADS UNIVERSITY
DOMAINS OF THE ENVIRONMENT

Socio-
Physical Ecological
Economical
• Air • Flora • Social
• Water • Fauna • Economic
• Land • Cultural
 WHAT IS EIA?

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process of

identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical,

social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to

major decisions being taken and commitments made.

 WHAT IS EIA?

 The results of assessment are assembled in a

document which is called “Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).
Widely accepted tool in environmental management

Adopted in many countries

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Development

Environmental
Change
Social Change

Economic
Change
 IEE (INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL EXAMINATION )

 Initial environmental examination (IEE) is a preliminary

attempt to evaluate environmental impacts in order to
determine whether a full scale environmental impact
assessment is needed. It is also called initial environmental
investigation (IEI).
 WHAT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT?

 The change in 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.
 Benefits of the EIA
 Potentially screens out environmentally-unsound projects
 Predicts significant adverse impacts
 Proposes modified designs to reduce environmental impacts
 Identifies feasible alternatives
 Avoiding Conflicts
 Savings in capital and operating costs
 Increased project acceptance
 Better protection of the environment and human health
REGULATORY FRAME WORK IN PAKISTAN

Pakistan Environmental Protection Act

1.
(PEPA, 1997)
EIA or IEE mandatory under Section 12
2. of PEPA for new and existing
development projects
Environmental Assessment Guidelines
3.
Package 1997
4. The IEE/EIA regulations 2000
MAJOR PROJECTS

Major Chemical
Major thermal and New township
Power Stations manufacturing developments
plants

Industrial Sewerage
Major roads
estates schemes

Oil and gas

exploration and Water supply disposal
production
 General
Procedure
MAJOR STEPS OF AN EIA STUDY

Introduction of your project

(location, Area, estimated Capital cost etc)

Step No. 1

Screening

“Screening” is a process of determining whether an EIA is required for a project.

The list of Projects requiring EIA and IEE is listed out in “Pakistan Environmental
Protection Agency”.
Step no. 2
Scoping
“Scoping” is a process for determining what environmental issues to be
covered, assessed and addressed in an EIA Report.

It includes consultation with relevant agencies, stakeholders, local

representatives and experts.
 It should be focused and effective to assess at least:
Key environmental impacts of a project;
Alternatives to a project; and
Any other matters that may be of public concerns
 Which
Question to be Is the effect
characteristics of
Sr. No. considered in Yes/No likely to be
the environment
scoping significant
could be effected?
1

6
 Step no. 3
Identification and Analysis of information

Identification of Identification of
Base Line Data potential Analysis of Mitigation
Collection environmental Alternatives Measures and
Impacts Monitoring Plan

A B C D
Step 3 (Part A)

Base Line Data Collection

It includes the collection of information on the characteristics of the existing
environment (physical, biological) and socio-economic conditions in the study
area.

The baseline studies also, include the detailed description of the proposed
project activities and assess various pollutants that would be resulting from the
activity.
 Physical Biological Socio-Culture
Topography, Geology Flora Traffic Conditions
Hydrology, water Fauna Total population, trend
resources
Meteorology Social Behavior, culture,
customs
Ambient Air quality Occupation, employment
rate, income rate

Noise level Health conditions

Land Use pattern Historical and
Archeological sites
Step 3 (Part B & C)

Identification of potential environmental Impacts and analysis of alternatives

It includes identification, prediction and evaluation of impacts of the impacts of proposed

development.

• To identify the specific impacts and the type of impact data required for
evaluation and presentation to decision makers
Identification
• To predict the extent and nature of identified impacts
Prediction
• To evaluate the importance/ significance and acceptability of impacts based
on their prediction
Evaluation
CLASSIFICATION OF IMPACTS

Direct

Impacts Indirect

Cumulative
 Based on the nature of impacts further subdivision can be as
follows:

1.Positive & negative impacts

2.Random & predictable impacts

3.Local & widespread impacts

4.Temporary & permanent impacts

5.Short & long term impacts

METHODS FOR IMPACT IDENTIFICATION

Check
Matrices
Lists

Network
Network Overlays
SIMPLE
CHECKLIST

 A list of environmental
parameters which may be
affected by a development
activity.
 No guidelines are
mentioned on how these
environmental parameters
are to be measured and
interpreted.
Matrices
Networks
THE COMPILATION OF AN OVERLAY MAP FROM VARIOUS COMPONENT MAPS

Overlays
 Design of Alternatives

Consideration of alternatives
 Demand alternatives
 Supply or input alternatives
 Activity alternatives
 Location alternatives
 Process alternatives
 Scheduling alternatives
 Mitigation and impact management

The purpose of mitigation is to:

 enhance environmental and social benefits
 avoid, minimize or remedy adverse impacts
 ensure that residual impacts are within acceptable levels
A framework for impact Mitigation
STEP NO. 3 (PART D)
EMP (ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING PLAN)

A project's environmental and social management plan (EMP)

consists of the set of mitigation, monitoring, and institutional
measures to be taken during implementation and operation.

The plan also includes the actions needed to implement these

measures
OBJECTIVES OF EMP

 EMPs provide an essential link between the predicted

impacts and mitigation measures.

Allocates responsibilities for applying these measures.

MAJOR COMPONENTS OF EMP
More specifically, the EMP includes the following components.

1. Mitigation

2. Monitoring

3. Capacity Development and Training

4. Implementation Schedule and Cost Estimates for mitigation