Screening

Screening is the process of determining

whether the proposed project has potential
adverse impacts on environment or community.
It determines whether the project is required to
undertake full EIA or requires undertaking of
Preliminary Impact Assessment (Initial
Environmental Examination) or does not
require EIA or should be rejected.

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 1

 The objectives of screening

 To ensure that all projects with potential

significant impacts are subjected to EIA

 To avoid unnecessary expenses of conducting full

EIA for projects that have no potential for
significant adverse impacts

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 2

 Outcomes of screening

 full or comprehensive EIA required

 more limited EIA required
 further study needed to determine EIA
requirement
 no further requirement for EIA

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 3

 Screening and scoping compared

Screening
 determines the requirement for EIA
 establishes the level of review necessary

Scoping
 identifies the key issues and impacts
 establishes the terms of reference

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 4

 Screening methods

 Use of legal/policy definition or EIA

regulation of the host country

Prepared Schedules are showing the project

which are mandatory for EIA and those
which may/may not require EIAs

(e.g EIA and Audit Regulation (Tanzania)

2005 (GN. 349), EA regulations (Northern
Ireland) 1995 (SR 357) etc )

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 5

 Screening methods cont..

 Use of pre-setting thresholds

Such as to the project characteristics ( e.g 20 ha

and over), to the anticipated project impact (e.g
production of 50,000 tonnes or more of waste per
annum, to project location (e.g a designated
landscape area).
 Use of case by case Approach

use of evaluation of characteristics of projects

against checklist of guidelines and criteria.

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 6

 Location and environmental criteria for
case-by-case screening

The following are important in determining

significant effects:

 assimilative capacity of the natural

environment
 environmental sensitivity, e.g. wetlands,
coastal and mountain zones
 environmental standards and objectives
 adjacent to protected or designated areas
 within landscapes of special heritage value
 existing land use(s) and commitments

 abundance and quality of natural resources

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 7

 An illustrative Hybrid Screening Approach

Mand atory EIA

‘Inclu sive’ thres hold

EIA mor e likely to be

requ ired; screen
border line pro posals for
sign ificant en vironme ntal
Case by case effects
Increasing impact of development

consi deration of
req uire ment for ‘Indic ative ’ thres hold
EIA
EIA less l ikely to be req uired
but still scr een for significance
where the location is s ensitive
or if the re is a p otent ial for
cumu l ative eff ect s

‘ Exclusive’ threshol d
EIA ruled out

UNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 8

 Extended screening methods

 initial environmental examination

– carried out in cases where the environmental

impacts of a proposal are uncertain or unknown
(e.g. new technologies);
 environmental overview

– carried out as a rapid assessment of the

environmental issues and impacts of a proposal;
and
 class screening

– carried out for a family of small projects or

repetitive activities, where the environmental
effects and means of mitigation are known but
there is potential for cumulative impacts (e.g.
road ).

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 9

 An Initial Environmental Examination
(IEE)

 describes the proposal

 considers alternatives
 addresses the concerns of the community
 identifies potential environmental effects
 establishes mitigation measures
 includes monitoring and follow up (as necessary)

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 10

 Extended screening – information
required by decision-makers

 description of the proposal

 conditions and characteristics of the
environment
 applicable policy, planning and regulatory
objectives
 identification of potential impacts
 degree of public concern and interest

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 11

 Typical proposals requiring a full EIA

 dams and reservoirs

 (re)settlement and urban development
 infrastructure (e.g. transport and sanitation)
 industrial facilities (e.g. manufacturing
plants)
 energy and minerals extraction (e.g. oil &
gas, coal)
 waste management and disposal of
hazardous and toxic materials
 energy development (power stations,
transmission lines, pipelines)

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 12

 Schematic presentation of screening process

Project Registration

Schedule 3 (May or may not require EIA) Schedule 2 Full EIA

(EIA is
Mandatory)

Located in
Information is not No Serious Environmentall
enough to determine Impacts y Sensitive Area
extent of Impacts

Contradicts laws or
serious adverse impacts
can not be managed
Undertake
Preliminary Impact
Assessment
Exempt from EIA
(rare cases) Reject the
project

Not Potential Potential Serious

Serious adverse Adverse Impacts
impacts Determined
determined

Provide Conditional
Environmental Permit

Combined SUA, NEMC andUNEP Training Resource Manual Topic 4 Slide 13