LESSON TWO
PRINCIPLES, OBJECTIVES OF EIA AND SCREENING FOR EIA STUDY
2.1 Introduction
Congratulations for successfully completing lesson one. In lesson one, we were
introduced to the concept of environment, impact assessment and
environmental impact assessment. We were also introduced to a diagrammatic
illustration of the logical steps in the EIA process. Environmental impact
assessment process is wide and it is due to this that this lesson and the
subsequent lesson (lesson three) will go deep into discussion the EIA process.
This lesson will particularly focus the principles and objectives of EIA. We will
also focus on screening for EIA study
2.2 Lesson learning outcomes
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to:
1. Describe the principles EIA.
2. Discus the role of EIA
3. Undertake screening of project activities.
2.3 Principles of EIA
You recall in lesson one we defined environmental impact assessment as "the
process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical,
social, and other effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being
taken and commitments made. It is a systematic analysis of projects to
determine their potential environmental impacts, the significance of such
impacts and to propose measures to mitigate the negative ones.
Take Note
EIA is both a planning and decision-making tool. As a
planning tool, EIA presents methodologies and techniques for
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identifying, predicting and evaluating potential
environmental impacts of proposed projects. The EIA process
presents decision-makers with the information necessary to
determine whether or not a project should be implemented.
After a brief introduction, now let us discuss principles of EIA
Question
What are the principles guiding EIA? Use a separate paper
to list down as many principles that come in your mind.
Good! I am sure you must have discussed the following;
The main principles of EIA are:
i. Integration of environmental exigencies into development planning and
management.
ii. Public participation in the development of projects, policies, plans and
programmes is very important
iii. Recognition of social and cultural principles traditionally used in the
management of the environment and natural resources.
iv. International cooperation in the use and wise management of shared
resources
v. Intra-generational and inter-generational equity
vi. Polluter-pays principle
vii. The precautionary principle
2.4 Specific Roles of EIA in the Project Circle
Now let us discus the specific role of EIA
The overall goal of EIA is to ensure that environmental concerns are integrated
in all development activities in order to contribute to sustainable development.
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This implies that for health related projects to be sustainable, they must
recognize and integrate environmental concerns in their designs
The specific roles of EIA are:
Ensures that decisions on proposed projects take the environment into
account.
Identify impacts of a project on the environment.
Predict likely changes on the environment as a result of development.
Evaluate the various alternatives (options) to the project.
Propose mitigation measures for the significant negative impacts.
Generate baseline data for monitoring, auditing and evaluation.
Highlight environmental issues with a view of guiding policy makers,
planners, stakeholders and government agencies to make sustainable
decisions.
2.5 Screening for EIA study
The third issue that we need to focus on in this lecture is screening for EIA by a
competent authority.
Screening involves determining whether or not an EIA study is required for a
particular development project. This depends on the significance of the project’s
environmental impacts. The significance itself depends on such factors as: the
sensitivity of the area likely to be affected; public health and safety; the
possibility of uncertain, unique or unknown risks; the possibility of having
individually insignificant but cumulatively significant impacts; whether the
proposed activity affects protected areas, endangered or threatened species and
habitats; size, working methods, project activities including their duration and
proposals for waste disposal etc. A hybrid of approaches involving lists and
thresholds, amongst others, are used to establish which activities should be
assessed for environmental impacts. This is the initial phase in the EIA process.
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Question
What are steps involved in screening for EIA study
The screening exercise usually involves the following steps:
a) Project and site description
b) Collection of baseline data
c) Data analysis
d) Evaluation of significance of environmental impacts
e) Evaluation of alternatives
f) Consultation and public participation;
g) Preparation of a project report;
h) Review of project report and
i) Approval process
Now let us see what each of the steps involves
a) Site and Project Description
Comprehensive site description includes the following aspects:
Location of the project
Soils and geology
Water resources,
Drainage
Climate,
Vegetation,
Land use,
Population characteristics,
Infrastructure, and
Justification for selecting the site
Also comprehensive information is required on:
Nature of the proposed project
Project activities
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Materials to be used in the project
Project outputs including waste
b) Collection of Baseline Data
Baseline data should be identified, collected and used to describe the status of
the project site before any activity related to project implementation commences.
The baseline data are used to assess potential impacts on health, safety, the
environment and the community. Environmental data collection programmes
must be kept within manageable proportions taking into consideration the length
of time available for the study. It is also advisable to infer, extrapolate, or predict
environmental conditions and responses from baseline information or from other
similar cases where actual data is lacking.
c) Data Analysis and Evaluation of Alternatives
Data analysis and the evaluation of alternatives in an Environmental Impact
Assessment (EIA) involve generating feasible alternatives to a proposed project,
assessing the environmental and social impacts of each alternative using
transparent methodologies like multi-criteria analysis (checklist, matrix,
threshold limit, overlay, modelling) and comparing them against each other and
the "no-action" option to identify the most sustainable outcome. The goal is to
find a project that meets project objectives while minimizing negative
environmental and social impacts through a systematic and participative
process involving various stakeholders. In evaluating alternatives, emphasis
should be on the project, location, technology, scale, etc.
d) Evaluation of the Significance of the Impacts
Environmental impact significance is evaluated through a systematic
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, which identifies, predicts, and
evaluates potential impacts using methods like checklists, matrices, and
modeling. This process includes considering both technical data and qualitative
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factors like public and expert opinion, assessing a project's severity, extent, and
duration, culminating in the use of numerical data and modeling to predict
impacts and to determine if the impacts are acceptable or require mitigation to
prevent irreversible environmental damage and ensure sustainable
development.
e) Consultation and Public Participation
It is important that all persons likely to be affected by the project are consulted
for their concerns. Information regarding all project activities within the project
cycle (planning implementation, decommissioning), materials to be used,
products, waste and waste disposal, economic and social benefits should be
provided. The views of the public on all these activities should be incorporated
in the project report.
f) Preparation of the Project Report
An Environmental Impact Assessment Expert should prepare the project report.
In addition to these Guidelines, the EIA expert should familiarize himself/herself
with the Environmental (Impact Assessment and Audit) Regulations 2003.
Contents of the Project Report
A project report should include the following details:
(a) Name of the proponent, PIN number, address and contact person
(b) Title of the project
(c) Objectives and scope of the project
(d) Nature of the project;
(e) Location of the proposed project, including the physical area that may be
affected by the project’s activities;
(f) Types of activities that will be undertaken during the project construction,
operation and decommissioning phases;
(g) Design(s) of the project;
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(h) Materials to be used, products and by-products, including waste to be
generated by the project and the method(s) of their disposal;
(i) Potential environmental impacts of the project;
(j) Mitigation measures to be taken during and after implementation of the
project;
(k) An action plan for the prevention and management of foreseeable accidents
during the project cycle;
(l) A plan to ensure the health and safety of the workers, and neighboring
communities;
(m) Economic and social benefits to the local community and the nation in
general;
(n) Project budget;
(o) Views of the public about the project, indicating representativeness of the
potentially affected people; and
(p) An environmental management plan (EMP) for the entire project cycle.
g) Submission of the Project Report
On completion, the proponent shall submit the project report to the Authority
for review.
h) Review of Project Report
The aim of the review exercise is to ensure that the following major aspects have
been adequately addressed in the report:
Impact identification
Impact assessment
Adequacy of proposed mitigation measures
Adequate consideration of project alternatives
Evidence and adequacy of consultation and public participation
Implementation process and procedures
Comprehensiveness of the environmental management plan
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i) Decision-Making
Where the Authority is satisfied that the project will not have significant
environmental impacts or that the proposed mitigation measures are adequate
to address the identified impacts, the Authority may issue the EIA License with
conditions of approval, if any.
If the project will have significant environmental impacts and the project report
does not disclose adequate mitigation measures, the Authority shall require the
proponent to undertake an environmental impact assessment study, which will
assist in determining whether an EIA License can be issued.
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2.6 Summary
We have come to the end of Lesson two. In this lesson, we have
discussed the principles of EIA. Among the principles we said
are important in EIA includes environmental concerns must be
accounted for in all development activities. We also said that
public participation in the development of projects is very
important as far as EIA is concerned. We also discussed the
objectives of EIA. Among the seven specific objectives we said
that EIA am at identifying potential environmental impacts of
proposed projects. It also aims at assessing the significance of
these impacts. Lastly we discussed about screening for EIA
study and the steps involved in the screening. We said that
Screening involves determining whether or not an EIA study is
required for a particular development project. This depends on
the significance of the project’s environmental impacts. The
significance itself depends on such factors as: the sensitivity of
the area likely to be affected; public health and safety; the
possibility of uncertain, unique or unknown risks; the
possibility of having individually insignificant but cumulatively
significant impacts
2.7 Self – assessment questions
1. Discuss the principles of EIA
2. Explain the specific roles of EIA
3. Identify and discuss steps involved in screening for EIA
study
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2.8 Further reading
MacKinnon, A. J., Duinker, P. N., Walker, T. R. (2018). The
Application of Science in Environmental Impact
Assessment. Routledge.
Principle of Environmental Impact Assessment Best
Practice"(PDF). International Association for Impact
Assessment. 1999. Archived from the original(PDF) on 2012-
05-07.
Okidi, C.O; Kameri - Mbote,P. &MigaiAkech ( 2008):
Environmental Governance in Kenya- Implementing the
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA): EIA
and EA Guidelines. Published by NEMA-
[Link]
National Environment Management Authority (NEMA)
(2014): Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Review
Guide for Communities [Link]
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