Screening and Scoping

Sustainable Development:

“meeting the needs and

aspirations of the people without
compromising the ability of future
generations to meet theirs.”
Definition: World Commission on Environment and Development (WCED)
pSustainable Development
(continued):
• Economic growth and environmental
protection are mutually compatible.
• Growth objectives compatible with
the needs of society, and with the
natural dynamics and carrying
capacities of the ecosystems.
EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a

process.
p It
involves predicting and evaluating the likely
impacts of a project as well as the ensuring
preventive, mitigating and enhancement
measures in order to protect the environment
and the community’s welfare.”
p AnEIA is a process a Proponent undertakes
before an ECC is issued.
 PURPOSE OF EIA

The real value of the EIA Process is

in the reduction of adverse
environmental impact as a result of
incremental decision making before
a proposed action reaches final
decision-making on whether it
should be allowed to proceed or
not.
 PURPOSE OF EIA

ØToaid the project proponent on

environmental considerations prior to
starting construction works on the
project
ØToaid agencies in considering EIA
results in their decision making for
their respective permitting system
 Philippine EIS System
p P.D. 1151 - Philippine Environmental Policy (1977)
p P.D. 1152 - Philippine Environment Code (1977)
p P.D. 1586 - Philippine EIS System (1978)

p Implementing Rules and Regulations of P.D. 1586 (1979)

p Presidential Proclamation 2146 - identified ECPs and ECAs (1981)

p Letter of Instruction 1179 – authorizing NEPC to issue ECC (1981)

p NEPC Office Circular No. 3 – technical definitions and scope for ECPs and areas
p DAO 21, series of 1992

p DAO 96-37
p DAO 2003-30
Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs)
p Heavy industries
• Non ferrous metal industries
• Iron and steel mills
• Petroleum and petrochemical industries, including oil and gas
• Smelting plants
p Resource extractive
• Major mining and quarrying industries
• Forestry projects
• Fishery projects
p Infrastructure projects
• major dams
• major reclamation projects
• major power plants
• major roads and bridges
p Golf course projects (Proclamation No. 803 of 1996)
 Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs)
i. All areas declared by law as national parks, watershed reserves, wildlife
preserves, and sanctuaries
ii. Areas set aside as aesthetic tourist spots;
iii. Areas which constitute the habitat for any endangered or threatened
species of indigenous Philippine wildlife (flora and fauna)
iv. Areas of unique historic, archeological or scientific interest
v. Areas which are traditionally occupied by cultural communities or tribes
(indigenous cultural communities)
vi. Areas frequently visited and/or hard-hit by natural calamities (geologic
hazards, floods, typhoons, volcanic activity, etc.)
vii. Areas with critical slopes
viii. Areas classified as prime agricultural lands
ix. Recharged areas of aquifers
x. Water bodies tapped for domestic purposes; within the controlled and/or
protected areas; support wildlife and fishery activities
xi. Mangrove areas
xii. Coral reefs
Objectives of DAO 2003-30
(PD 1586)

1. Address deficiencies in the system

2. To be consistent with the thrust of the

government to achieve optimum
economic growth

3. Ensure sustainable development

Implementing Guidelines for EIA

Ø Revised
the Procedural Manual issued under MC
2005-01 issued on 05 January 2005
Ø Revised
Guidelines for Coverage Screening under MC
2014-005 issued on 07 July 2014
Main Features of Philippine EIA
Requirements
• Scoping as a requirement
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Initial
Environmental Examination (IEE) and IEE Checklist
• Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA)
• Timetable for review of EIS/IEE
• Accountability of proponents and preparers
• Public participation and social acceptability
• Environmental monitoring and guarantee fund
• Review Cost
EIA Process in Relation to Enforcement
of other Laws
• Supplementary and complementary to other existing
laws
• Identifies the likely issues or impacts (maybe covered by
other environmental permits and other regulatory
bodies’ permitting requirements)
• Fills the gap and provides appropriate cover for
environmental protection and enhancement related
actions
EIA Process in Relation to other
Agencies’ Requirements

• No permits/clearances issued by other

government agencies is required in the
processing of ECC/CNC application
• Findings and recommendations of the EIA
evaluation to be transmitted to relevant
government agencies
• The issuance of ECC does not exempt the
proponent from securing other permits.
 THEORETICAL AND LEGAL
Sustainable FRAMEWORK: PHILIPPINE
SOCIO ECONOMIC GROWTH LAWS ON
(SD) ENVIRONMENTAL
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION PROTECTION
Development PROJECT

EMB Thru PD 1586

(ECC)

Water Solid Forestry & Agriculture Zoning Water Air Housing Mining Fisheries
Usage Waste Protected Pesticides Pollution Pollution
Areas

PD 198 RA RA 8435 RA9275 RA 8749 BP 220 RA

PD 705 RA 7160 RA 8550
9003 7942
PD 1067 PD 1144 PD 856 PD 957
RA 7586 HLURB
PD 856 RA
7076
PD 1899
PERMITS/CLEARANCES
From concerned government agencies
 Project Grouping under DAO 2003-30
Group I Environmentally Critical Projects Full EIA

Group II Non Environmentally Critical Projects but located in ECAs IEE or full
(Environmentally Critical Areas) EIA

Group III NECPs in NECAs (Non-Environmentally Critical Projects in IEE or full

Non-Environmentally Critical Areas) EIA
ALL Group II project types outside ECAs.

Group IV Co-located Projects in either ECA or NECA Programmatic

Group of single projects (one or more proponents/locators EIA
located in a contiguous area
Ex. economic zone or industrial park, mix of projects within a
catchment, watershed or river basin, or any other
geographical, political or economic unit of area
Group V Unclassified Projects PD
Projects not listed in any of the groups
e.g. projects using new processes/technologies with uncertain
impacts
Interim category – unclassified projects will eventually be
classified into their appropriate groups after EMB evaluation
 New Project Category under MC
2014-05
Category A Environmentally Critical Projects

Category B Non Environmentally Critical Projects but located in

ECAs (Environmentally Critical Areas)
• EIS
• IEE Checklist
Category C Environmental enhancement projects
• Project description
Category D Projects not covered by PD1586
• Project description
 ECC

• Environmental Compliance Commitment

(ECC) is a document.
• It is a “decision document” issued to the
Proponent after thorough review of the
EIA Report.
• It outlines the commitments of the
Proponent that are necessary for the
project to comply with existing
environmental regulations.
 PROJECT SCREENING

EIA EIA Required No EIA

Process
EIA STUDY SCOPING

LEGEND:
Proponent
EIA Study / Report preparation by Project
P
Driven Proponent as a requirement for ECC application
U
DENR-EMB
Change B
Driven Project L
plan / I
Proponent REVIEW & EVALUATION of EIA as C
Options Relocate facilitated by DENR-EMB
Project
Not Part of
EIA Process

Public DENY ISSUE ECC w/ recommendations to

Involvement I
ECC GAs / LGUs N
V
O
Secure necessary permits / clearances from other GAs / LGUs L
V
E
Expansion / Project M
modifications Implementation E
N
T
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
MONITORING & EVALUATION / AUDIT
EIA Report Types and Generic
Contents
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
• Initial Environmental Examination Report
(IEER) / IEE Checklist (IEEC)
• Environmental Performance Report and
Management Plan (EPRMP)
• Programmatic EPRMP (PEPRMP)
• Project Description Report (PDR) for non-
covered projects
When should you do an EIA?
Planning & Decision-Making Process
Detailed
Findings and assessment,
recommendations of EIA Identification of
considered in various mitigation needs
permits and licenses
needed
Site selection,
Feasibility Pre-feasibility envi screening,
initial
assessment,
Detailed design of
mitigation measures scoping
Project
Detailed Engineering & Conceptualization/
Design Improvement
Implementation
of mitigation
measures

Project Construction Operation & Monitoring and

& Development Maintenance Evaluation of
Environmental
Performance
SCREENING AND TECHNICAL
SCOPING
SCREENING

Screening and categorization is undertaken to:

p Determine whether an EIA is required or not
p Determine the significance of potential impacts or risks
that a project might present;
p Identify the level of assessment and institutional resources
required for the safeguard measures; and
p Determine requirements for public consultation and
disclosure.
Outcomes of Screening Process

p No further level of EIA is required;

p A full and comprehensive EIA is required;
p A more limited EIA is required (IEE/IEE Checklist)
Screening Approaches

p prescriptive or standardized approach -

proposals subject to or exempt from EIA are
defined or listed in legislation and regulations
p discretionaryor customized approach -
proposals are screened on an individual or case-
by-case basis, using indicative guidance.
Screening Considerations

p legal
(or policy) definition of proposals to which
EIA does or does not apply;
p inclusionlist of projects (with or without
thresholds) for which an EIA is automatically
required; exclusion list of activities which do not
require EIA because they are insignificant or are
exempt by law (e.g. national security or
emergency activities); and
p criteria
for case-by-case screening of proposals
to identify those requiring an EIA because of
their potentially significant environmental effects
 ADB and WB Environmental
Categorization for Screening
Category Project Attributes
Category A A proposed project is likely to have significant adverse
environmental impacts that are irreversible, diverse, or
unprecedented. These impacts may affect an area larger than the
sites or facilities subject to physical works. An environmental
impact assessment is required.
Category B A proposed project has potential adverse environmental impacts
which are less adverse than those of category A projects. These
impacts are site-specific, few if any of them are irreversible, and in
most cases mitigation measures can be designed more readily
than for category A projects. An initial environmental examination is
required.
Category C A proposed project is likely to have minimal or no adverse
environmental impacts. No environmental assessment is
required although environmental implications need to be reviewed.
Category F1 A proposed project involves investment of ADB / WB funds to or
through a financial intermediary
World Bank Environmental Screening
 JBIC Environmental Categorization
Category Project Attributes
Category A A project is likely to have significant adverse impact on the
environment or a project with complicated impact or
unprecedented impact which are difficult to assess. The
impact of Category A projects may affect an area broader
than the sites or facilities subject to physical construction.
Category B A project has potential adverse environmental impact which
is less adverse than that of Category A. Typically, this is
site-specific, few if any are irreversible and in most cases
normal mitigation measures can be designed more readily.
Category C A project is likely to have minimal adverse environmental
impact; also includes projects for which JBIC’s share is not
above SDR10million; sectors or projects in which no
particular environmental impact would be normally
expected; there is only minor involvement of the project by
the borrower or JBIC
Category F1 JBIC’s funding of the project is provided to a financial
intermediary.
DENR Screening and Scoping
Forms
MC 2014-05
Scoping form
SCOPING

p The stage in the EIS System where

information and assessment
requirements are established to provide
the proponent with the scope of work for
the EIS.
Purpose of Scoping

• Identifies the important issues to be

considered in an EIA;
• Determines the appropriate time and
space boundaries of the EIA study;
• Determines the information necessary for
decision-making; and
• Identifies the significant effects and
factors to be studied in detail
Scoping

• Technical scoping with the regulatory

agency
• Public scoping
 Public Scoping
• inform the public about the proposal;
• identify the main stakeholders and their concerns
and values;
• define the reasonable and practical alternatives to
the proposal;
• focus on the important issues and significant
impacts to be addressed by an EIA;
• helps to identify and address valid concerns
• reduces level of misinformation and distrust
• promotes social acceptability
 Guiding Principles for Scoping
p recognize scoping is a process rather than a discrete activity or
event;

p design the scoping process for each proposal, taking into account
the environment and people affected;

p start scoping as soon as you have sufficient information available;

p prepare an information package or circular explaining the proposal

and the process;

p specify the role and contribution of the stakeholders and the public;

p take a systematic approach but implement flexibly;

p document the results to guide preparation of an EIA; and

p respond to new information and further issues raised by

stakeholders.
 Approaches to Scoping

• Compile a list of concerns from the information

available and the inputs of stakeholders
• Derive a list of key issues and problem areas based
on their potential significance and likely importance for
decision-making on the proposal.
• Classify and order the key issues into impact
categories by reference to policy objectives and
scientific concepts, such as emission levels that may
exceed health or environmental standards. Such a
synthesis or aggregation provides a coherent
framework for drafting the Terms of Reference for the
EIA study.
 Terms of Reference of the EIA
• project background and description;

• study area or impact zone(s) (e.g. the affected environment and community);

• applicable policy and institutional considerations;

• EIA requirements and decision-making particulars;

• provisions for public involvement;

• alternatives to be examined;

• the impacts and issues to be studied;

• the studies to be carried out (e.g. approach, time & space boundaries);

• the requirements for mitigation and monitoring;

• the information and data to be included in the EIA report;

• the timeframe for completion of the EIA process; and

• the means for making changes to the ToR if necessary
Case Study 1
You have been commissioned by a developer to undertake an EIA of a
proposed urban development project consisting of a mixture of commercial
complex, a residential complex, a hospital, and a school in a property with a
land area of 300,000 square meter. The site is currently used as a
vegetable farmland along a major highway of the province. There are about
5 farmer families that will be affected by the project. Negotiations are still
underway for the acquisition of the site by the developer.
1. Undertake screening and determine project categorization based on WB,
ADB, JBIC and DENR AO 2003-30.
2. Based on DAO 2003-30, what document should be prepared – EIS , IEE,
EPRMP or PD?
3. Outline the information and data that you would need from the developer
or project proponent for the EIA.
4. Prepare the Terms of Reference of the EIA