Environmental Impact Assessment

Aurell Ann C. Toledo

Environmental Management Specialist II
Environmental, Social & Right-of-Way Section
Planning & Design Division
 Outline of Presentation
I. Legal Framework
II. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
a. Overview of EIA
b. EIA Process
III. Environmental Documents
IV. ECC Application
V. DENR – EMB Post ECC Requirements
VI. Fees, Fines and Violations
 LEGAL FRAMEWORK

PHILIPPINE CONSTITUTION OF 1987

Article II, Section 16 & 15
“The state shall protect and advance
the right of the people to a balanced
and healthful ecology in accord with
the rhythm and harmony of nature;
and to protect and promote the
people’s right to health”
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1151
Philippine Environmental Policy,1977
“All agencies and institutions of the
national government, including
government-owned and controlled
corporation as well as private corporations,
firms & entities to prepare an
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for
every action, project or undertaking which
significantly affects the quality of the
environment.”
environment
PRESIDENTIAL DECREE 1586, 1978
• Philippine Environmental Impact Statement
System (EIS) Declared Environmentally
Critical Projects (ECPs) and projects within or
located in Environmentally Critical Areas
(ECAs) as project which require the
submission of an Environmental Impact
Statement (EIS).

• Section 4: Provides that “no person,

partnership or corporation shall undertake or
operate any in part such declared ECP or
Project within an ECA without first securing
an Environmental Compliance Certificate
(ECC).”
(ECC)
DENR Administrative Order No
2003-30
• Promulgated the IRR for the Philippine
EIS System; IRR consistent with the
principles of sustainable development
to implement a systems-oriented and
integrated approach to the EIS System;
and

• The DAO 30 was enhanced and revised

with a new edition dated August 2007

• This can be downloaded at

www.emb.gov.ph/eia.htm
 DPWH DEPARTMENT ORDERS AND POLICIES

Department Order No. 220, 1999

• Institutionalized the Environmental Impact
Assessment Office (EIAPO) renamed to
Environmental and Social Service Office (ESSO),
under DO 56.

 Undertake environmental, social impact

assessment & resettlement action plan.
 Ensure that infrastructure projects have obtained
environmental clearance prior to implementation
 Provide guidance & trainings.
 Monitor compliance to ECC conditions and EMP.
Department Order No. 224, 2003

• Created the Regional EIA Unit as the

counterpart of ESSO in the regions.
Under the approved Rationalization Plan of 2013

• ESSO has been renamed to Environmental

and Social Safeguards Division (ESSD) now
under the Planning Service.
• With 18 regular position (with specialized
positions. e.g. environmental specialist,
sociologist)and headed by a Division Chief
 Social and Environmental Management Systems
Operations Manual, 2002

• SEMS Manual provides guidance for undertaking

social & environmental impact assessment,
streamline operations for offices involved in EIA &
SIA such as ESSD, PMO’s and ROs and DO
• Foster standardization and self sufficiency.

Updated Social and Environmental Management Systems

Operations Manual, October 2014

• Provides guidelines for DPWH projects and other

entitles in the implementation of their projects with
regards to the social and environmental
issues/safeguards
 Overview of EIA
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• 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

• The information, facts and other findings in EIA are presented in the
environmental impact statement (EIS)

• The basis for deciding whether to proceed with the project, abandon it,
revise it, or pursue a different alternative given the environmental and
social costs, issues and/or consequences that it has to contend with.
Why is EIA Important?

 As a management tool, it improves the long-term viability of projects;

 Avoid mistakes that can be expensive and damaging in environmental,
social and economic terms.
 It ensures project/program options are environmentally sound, socially
acceptable and sustainable.
 It is concerned with identifying, predicting and evaluating impacts, both
beneficial and adverse of public and private activities, alternative and
mitigating measures.
 It aims to avoid/minimize negative impacts and optimize positive
impacts.
Who are involved in the EIA process?
 Project Proponent – responsible for the EIA preparation with the assistance of
external consultants or institution
 In some cases, an independent commission is responsible for ensuring quality
control
 Multi-disciplinary team is required particularly where scoping exercises indicate the
existence of multiple or complex issues.
 A team manager coordinates the work of each EIA team
 Local people or their representatives are involved at all stages of the project cycle.
 The social, cultural, health aspects are integrated in the project design.
 Participatory approaches are now adopted by planners. EIA is as an accepted
mechanism for facilitating public involvement within the project cycle
EIA Process
 EIA process is a 2-phase system of environmental
investigation.

 First phase is the main assessment process, which is the

responsibility of the project proponent (DPWH through the
appropriate Implementing Office).

This involves the following:

 Description of the project in the context of the site
 Screening and scoping of the project to determine the impact
areas, extent and level of detail of the assessment to be done,
and the type of report to be prepared;
 Assessment of the existing environmental and social
conditions of the project site and its surroundings (the impact
area) in order to establish the baseline;
EIA Process

The second phase is the review and approval process

 Responsibility of DENR through the Environmental
Management Bureau (EMB).
 Involves the evaluation of the EIS by a multi-disciplinary
review committee to clarify the environmental and social
issues concerning the project, and how the project will
address the impacts and issues.
 The committee submits its recommendations and
conditionalities for the issuance of the Environmental
Compliance Certificate (ECC) by the EMB.
 EIA Process

Define Proposal/Alternatives

Screening

Scoping
Environmental/Impact Assessment

Formulation of Mitigating Measures

EIA Report Preparation

Submission to DENR-EMB

Issuance or denial of ECC/CNC

Monitoring
EIA Process
1. Define Proposal/Alternatives
– Identify alternative sites for the project, alternative designs and
operating process, and environmental implications.

2. Screening
– Is the term used to describe the assessment of the potential
magnitude of project impacts and the depth of study required.

Environmental screening usually divides projects into three

categories:
1. Projects that will not clearly have significant impacts (should be
completely exempt from environmental assessment)
2. Projects that could have significant impacts
3. Projects that will definitely have significant impacts
ENVRONMENTAL SCREENING
is usually based on:

1 The scale and type of the project

2 The location and sensitivity of the site

3 The nature and magnitude of potential impacts

1. THE
1 SCALE
SCALEAND TYPE
AND TYPE OFPROJECT
OF THE PROJECT

Some projects are classified as

environmentally critical. They have or
are likely to have an adverse impact
that may be sensitive, irreversible and
diverse. “In other words, projects that
makes potential impacts significant.”
PRESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION NO. 2146,
(1981) and PROCLAMATION NO. 803, (1996)
Four (4) Major Categories of ECP’s
(Category A)
(Industrial Plants: Iron & Steel,
Heavy Industries Petroleum, Petrochemicals,
smelting)

Resource Extractive (Mining and Quarrying

Industries Cement,
Ceramic
e.g. Coal, Oil, Gas)

Infrastructure (Roads and Bridges, Dams,

Power Plants, Reclamation
Ports
and Harbors)
Golf Courses
(>=9 hole golf course)
 2.
2 SITE LOCATION
The location AND of
and sensitivity SENSITIVITY
the site

Location sensitivity is one main factor

in determining whether a full environmental
assessment is needed. There are a number
of locations with sensitive issues where in
the projects of the Department are
encroaching. These areas are called
Environmental Critical Areas (ECAs)
defined as an area that is considered
ecologically sensitive.
RESIDENTIAL PROCLAMATION NO.
2146, 1981
Twelve (12) Categories of
Environmentally Critical Areas
Areas declared as parks, watershed and wildlife
1. reserves, sanctuaries

Areas set aside as aesthetic, potential tourist spots.

2.

Areas which constitute habitat for any endangered or

threatened species of indigenous Philippine wildlife
3. (flora & fauna)

Areas of unique historic, archeological, geological or

4. scientific interest;
 Areas which are traditionally occupied by cultural
5.
communities or tribes;

6.
Areas frequently visited and or hard-hit by natural
calamities;

7. Areas with critical slope

8. Areas classified as prime agricultural lands;

9. Recharged areas of aquifers ;

10 Water bodies
.

11 Mangrove Areas
.

12 Coral Reefs
.
 Any one (1) confirmed ECA among the
12 categories renders a project location an
ECA. However, before a project location is
considered in a Non-ECA (NECA), all of the
relevant ECA categories have to be
confirmed by the Proponent through the
mandated agencies as “non ECA” based on
the technical descriptions.
 DENR can only certify ECAs within its
own mandate, as follows: water bodies to be
certified by DENR-EMB; NIPAS areas,
wildlife habitats and mangrove areas, by
PAWB/CENRO/PENRO; geologic hazard
areas and areas of critical slope, by DENR-
MGB.
Project Thresholds for Coverage Screening
and Categorization
3.3NATURE AND
The nature MAGNITUDE
and magnitude OF IMPACTS
of potential impacts

The nature of environmental impacts

can involve:
• Absence of effective mitigation or
compensatory measures

• Risk to human health and safety

• Destruction of natural habitat and loss of

biodiversity or environmental services
provided by the natural system
The nature of environmental impacts
can involve:

• Permanent conversion of potentially

productive or valuable resources such
as fishery, natural forests and wetlands.

• Cumulative effect of the proposed road

project and other planned or on-going
activities
The magnitude of impacts can be
measured by:

• Absolute amount of resources or

ecosystem affected
• Amount affected relative to the existing
stock of the resources or ecosystem
• The intensity of the impact (if it can be
quantified)
• Timing and duration of the impact
• Probability of occurrence for specific
impacts
 Refer to Revised
Guidelines for
Coverage Screening
and Standard
Requirements
EMB MC005
July 2014
EIA Process

3. Scoping
– Is the stage in the EIS System where information and assessment
requirements are established to provide the proponent with the scope of
work for the EIA.
– The most critical stage in the EIA process because it sets the tone of the EIA
Process

Levels of Scoping

1) First Level Scoping- Project Briefing Meeting with Review Team

2) Second Level Scoping- Public Scoping with Community
3) Third Level Scoping- Technical Scoping with Review Team
 IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION IN SCOPING

Public participation is
important for the success of
scoping wherein they will share
their views, ideas, perception
on the likely environmental
impacts and community issues
that could result from the project.
 IMPORTANCE OF PUBLIC
PARTICIPATION IN SCOPING

Affected communities should be

involved in scoping because it is their
right to be informed of changes
that will affect them as well as to
participate in decisions that will
affect their lives.
EIA process
4. Environmental Assessment/Impact Assessment
 It is the systematic identification, prediction and evaluation of environmental impacts likely
caused by a proposed project, action or undertaking.

 It involves three impact assessment methodologies:

a) Impact Identification
b) Impact Prediction
c) Impact Evaluation

 It also include baseline data collection

1.1 Physical – e.g. data on noise quality, air and water quality, natural drainage, hydrology,
climate, wildlife areas, location of parks, recreation, historical sites, etc.
1.2 Biological – list of data on flora and fauna, (plants and animals)
1.3 Socio-Economics as including Cultural- data on population income, people, health,
nutrition, etc.
 IDENTIFICATION
What are the probable changes from project implementation?
 It specifies the range of effects that may occur, including their spatial dimensions
and time frames and also determines which effects need detailed studies.

PREDICTION
What would be the extent of the changes?
 It is the most important part of the EIA. It involves the identification of potential
changes in indicators of environmental receptors.

 EVALUATION
What is the significance of the changes?
 The main goal of impact evaluation is to identify the relative significance of the
potential impacts identified.
 Baseline Information
• Serves as a basis for indentifying
possible environmental and socio-
economic effects of the project
 Purpose of Baseline Information
• To form a basis for assessment of the environmental
impact of the proposed action and alternatives
• To provide sufficient information / environmental
characteristics on the general location of the project.
• To identify any environmentally significant items prior
to initiation of the proposed project, as well as to
enumerate any potential critical changes should the
project be implemented.
Baseline Information should describe the
following-

Physical Condition

• Climate
• Terrain
• Hydrology
• Oceanography
• Atmosphere
Baseline Information should describe the
following-

Biological Condition

• Fish and Wildlife

• Vegetation
• Land and Resource Use
• Sonic and Visual Conditions
Baseline Information should describe the
following-

Socio-Economic Aspects

• Existing lifestyles
• Demography
• Employment
• Facilities
• Income
• Transportation and communication
facilities
Types of Impacts
1. Positive impacts – that which gives/or beneficial; improve
access, travel, time and cost.

Negative – that which gives adverse effects.

2. Direct impacts – caused by road itself; location of activity has

directly affect on the location.

Indirect impacts – affects larger geographical areas and

difficult to measure are usually linked closely with project effects
are farther e.g. degradation of H2O surface quality by erosion.
3. Temporary impact – are those whose occurrence is not lasting and
which eventually reverse themselves, the affected system having
returned to its previous statement. No change from original state.
e.g trampling of road side vegetation during resurfacing, it recovers after
a few weeks to the point that there is no change from its original state.
Permanent impact – are those which are irreversible – the affected
system will not return to its previous state.
4. Short term impact – are those which appear or shortly after
construction
Long term impact – may arise during construction, and may last long
 Environmental Impacts of Infrastructure
Projects
 Land use – highways occupy land, thus propagating a
host of effects directly and indirectly on the surrounding
environment;

 Habitat destruction – highway projects take their toll on

natural amenities, landscape and wildlife, without regard
for conservation;

 Air emissions and noise – construction activities and the

subsequent traffic generated by road projects cause noise
and give rise to atmospheric pollutants like dust, gas
fumes, carbon monoxide, etc.;
 Environmental Impacts of Infrastructure
Projects
 Water discharges – project activities also cause the
discharge of sediments and contaminated water to the
groundwater and surface water bodies;

 Waste generation – project construction activities

generate wastes from construction demolition
activities, land grading, and from the waste related to
quarrying;

 Quarrying – road construction relies heavily on using

natural stone and aggregates which are quarried, thus
resulting in damage to the environment;
 Environmental Impacts of Infrastructure
Projects
 Health and safety – construction activities can pose
some levels of danger to both construction workers, in
the work place or areas of construction, and the general
public; and

 Noise, dust, nuisance, etc.- construction activities also

result in comfort disturbances to construction workers
and the public in general, in the form of dust, noise,
vibration, etc.
Baseline Data Gathering

PRIMARY DATA SECONDARY

DATA GATHERING/ DATA
BASELINE DATA

ACTUAL EXISTING DATA

SAMPLING OTHER RESEARCH
TESTING WORKS OTHER
PERCEPTION SOURCES –
SURVEY DIFFERENT
OFFICES
 DATA INFORMATION SOURCES

GEOGRAPHY NAMRIA,HLURB,MGB,DENR,NEDA

GEOLOGY AND MORPOLOGY MGB,PHILVOCS,Dept of Geology UP

Diliman, NAMRIA, BSWM, NIGS
TOPOGRAPHY, SLOPE (SURVEY DENR
REPORT)
WATERSHED IMPOUNDMENTS NAMRIA, NWRB, BSWM, UPLB

FLOOD RISK/FLOOD PRONE BSWB, NWRB, DPWH, ICLARM,

PAGASA
LAND CLASSIFICATION AND UPLB, other universities and colleges,
REGULATORY STATUS BSWM, FMB, NAMRIA, HLURB
LAND USE/COVER BAS, DENR, BSWM

WATER USE AND REGULATION LMB, HLURB, NAMRIA, FMB, BSWM

SURFACE WATER/STREAM HLURB, EMB, DOH, NWRB, NAMRIA,

CONDITIONS NIA, BCGS, LWUA
 DATA INFORMATION SOURCES

NATURAL DISASTERS NDCCM, PHILVOCS, PAGASA,

NAMRIA, BSWM, DPWH

MINERAL RESOURCES AND MGB, mining companies, NAMRIA,

RESERVES HLURB

CLIMATE PAGASA, universities and colleges,

NAMRIA, BSWM

AIR QUALITY DENR regional office, LLDA, EMB,

private industries, HLURB

VEGETATION/FLORA PAWB, NM, FMB, UPLB, PCARRD,

NAMRIA, DENR, BSWB, DA

FAUNA PAWB, academic and research

institutions, BFAR, NM, NAMRIA,
DENR, PCARRD, UPLB
EIA process
5. Mitigation (formulation of Environmental Management Plan)
– is defined as measures envisaged in order to avoid, reduce and, if possible remedy
significant adverse effects.

– In the EIA process, the most important part is the formulation of the Environmental
Management Plan (EMP). The EMP is a summary matrix or list of proposed
mitigation/enhancement measures and monitoring actions, set to a timeline with
specific responsibility assigned and follow-up actions defined;
1. With brief discussion of mitigation and
enhancement measures
2. Monitoring plan
3. Institutional responsibilities and agreements
4. Cost of Mitigating Measures
What is EMP
A framework through which
 Environmental commitments outlined in EIA/SIA
Report,
 Environmental mitigation measures, standards and
plans, and
 Monitoring requirements are implemented throughout
the project.
A dynamic document that is updated annually during the
operational life of the mine to reflect changes to the
project configuration, company commitments,
legislative/financing requirements, etc.
EMP SAMPLE
Objectives of EMP
 To provide a detailed action plan for the
implementation of the recommendations made in the
impact assessment report;
 To provide goals and targets for environmental
control that are measurable and auditable;
 To provide a basis on which the prospective contractor
can accurately price for environmental management
in his tender document;
 To specify particular roles, responsibilities and time
scales;
 To provide a basis for monitoring compliance; and
 To provide a site management tool.
 MITIGATION MEASURES
PROJECT
EIA Avoidance (-) DEVELOPMENT CYCLE
PROCESS Prevention (-)

Preservation (+)

IMPACTS Minimization (-)

Rehabilitation(-)

Restoration (+)

IMPACT PREDICTION/
ASSESSMENT EMP MONITORING PROGRAM

EIA REPORT IMPLEMENTATION AND

OPERATIONAL ACTIVITIES

EMP LINKING EIA REPORT TO PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

 Checklist Biodiversity- related issues which
may require management
 Indigenous vegetation clearance
and protection
 Invasive plant species removal
and control
 Topsoil removal, handling and
storage
 Spoil removal, transport and
disposal
 Erosion control and slope
stabilization
 Rehabilitation of disturbed areas
 Rehabilitation of disturbed areas
 Vibration and blasting
management
 Traffic management
 Noise management
 Air quality, particularly dust and
gas
 Surface water runoff and quality
 Groundwater runoff and quality
 Storm water runoff and control
 Effluent management
 Hazardous waste management
(transportation, storage,
handling and disposal)
 Non-hazardous solid waste
management (transportation,
storage, handling and disposal)
 Land management
 Checklist of project aspects which may affect
biodiversity for which environmental management
may be required
 Site establishment  Concrete batch plants
 Fencing and security  Civil works (earthworks, foundations, piling,
 Contractor’s camp concrete works etc)
 Lay down areas  Workshops and wash bays
 Temporary and permanent access roads  Spray booths
and bridges  Chemical and raw material storage areas
 Fuel depots  Waste disposal sites for hazardous and non-
 Hydrocarbon storage areas hazardous material (permanent and temporary)
 Temporary and permanent water supply  Sewerage systems and sewage treatment
systems plants (permanent and temporary)
 Temporary and permanent electricity  Effluent evaporation ponds and other
supply structures containment and treatment facilities for liquid
 Tailings and slimes dams effluent
 Waste rock dumps  Worker transportation
 Borrow pits and quarries for construction  Receiving and Dispatch areas
materials
 Air emission sources e.g. chimneys, stacks
 Factory area
  Scrap yard
Dredging and construction of berms,
caissons, fill embankments, etc., in marine  River crossings
and freshwater environments
6. ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENTS PREPARATION

I. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

The document(s) of studies of the environmental

impacts of a project including the discussions on direct
and indirect consequences upon human welfare and
ecological and environment integrity.
The EIS may vary from project to project but shall
contain in every case all relevant information and details
about the proposed project or undertaking, including the
environmental impacts of the project and the appropriate
mitigating and enhancement measures.
II Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
Checklist Report Form
A short and simplified checklist version of an EIS prescribed by the
DENR and required to be filled up by proponents for describing the
project’s environmental impact corresponding mitigation and
enhancement measures for non-environmentally critical projects
located in an ECA. The DENR prescribes appropriate
corresponding IEE Checklists for different projects with minimal and
manageable impacts (refer to the IEE checklist appropriate to the
type of the proposed project-posted in the EMB Website)

III. Project Description (PD)

A standard documentation of the description necessary to confirm
non-coverage of Category D and Category C Projects as well as
projects operating prior to 1982. (refer to Annex C for the
format/contents)
 EIA: Process Flowchart
Define Proposal / Alternatives

Is An EIA Required? Screening

What are the Key Issues? Scoping

Public Participation Impact Assessment

 Baseline Data Collection EIA
 Impact Identification Preparation
 Impact Prediction (Identify/Collect
And Analyze
 Identification/Formulation of Information)
Mitigation and Monitoring
Program

EIS Preparation Present Result

EIS Review Review

Decision-Making

Post Decision-Making and Auditing

EIA PROCESS
 ECC APPLICATION

 The ECC is the document issued by DENR certifying

that the proponent has complied with all the
requirements of EIS System and has committed to
implement its approved EMP.

 The ECC contains specific measures and conditions that

the project proponent has to undertake before and
during the operation of a project.
ECC SAMPLE
DENR (Post ECC)
Requirements
1. Monitoring Requirement – as required by
DAO 2003 – 30, to monitor compliance to the Phil.
EIS System.

Modes of Compliance Monitoring:

1. Compliance Monitoring by DENR – EMB
2. Self Monitoring by the Proponent
3. Third Party Auditors
4. MMT – Multipartite Monitoring Team
2. Fund Requirements

a. EMF – Environmental Monitoring Fund

– is a fund that a proponent shall commit
to establish in support of the activities of
the MMT for the compliance monitoring.
The EMF will be established as agreed
upon and specified in the MOA.
 Checklist of aspects which may affect
biodiversity
and which require monitoring
 Soil  Noise
 Surface water  Vegetation
 Ground water  Animal indicator
 Dust species
 Gas  Problem animals
 Erosion  Aquatic biota (marine
 Rehabilitation works and freshwater)
 Radiation
 Fees, Penalties and Fines
A. Project which are established and/or
operating without an ECC

 If found operating without valid ECC, shall be

ordered closed through a CDO (cease and
desist order). Such issuance of a CDO comes
after the issuance of a Notice of Violation
(NOV) and the conduct of a technical reading.
However, for projects that pose danger to life
and property, a CDO shall be immediately
issued.
B. Project violating ECC conditions, EMP, Rules and
Regulations

Project violating any of the conditions in the

ECC, EMP or rules and regulations pertaining
to the EIS system shall be subjected to
suspension or cancellation of its ECC/or a fine
in an amount not to exceed P50,000 for every
violations of an ECC condition, or the EMP,
or the EIS System rules and regulation.
The Environmental Assessment in the Project Cycle

EIA DOCUMENTATION
A TIO
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ANALYSIS APPLY MITIGATION
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MEASURES
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PRE-FS
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DESIGN
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SCREENING &
SCOPING CONCEPT CONTRACTING
ENVIRONMENTAL
CONTRACT SPECS
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EFFECTS
MONITORING COMPLIANCE MONITORING
AND AND REPORTING
REPORTING CONSULTATION
Thank you!