Section 2

Steps involved in undertaking EIA,

EIA and Project Cycle
 Terminologies
• EA: identifies and predicts impacts on to the environment
due to human activities/projects. Two types of EA used at
project level:
1. Initial Environmental Examination (IEE): also called
Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA),
 Small scale and analytical,
 Identifies issues that are uncertain and need further
assessment

2. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

 Comprehensive and detailed
 Applicable for large scale projects,
 works on issues of uncertainty and does not recommend
for further investigation.
 Terminologies
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): a
process to ensure that significant environmental
effects arising from policies, plans and programs
are identified, assessed, mitigated, communicated
to decision-makers, monitored and that
opportunities for public involvement are provided
 Improves the evidence-base to take strategic
decisions
 Streamline EIAs of individual development
projects

In Nepal, 10th five-year developmental plan (2002-

07) has initiated to incorporate the concept of
SEA.
 Steps involved in EIA
1. Environmental screening
2. Consideration of alternatives
3. Environmental Scoping
4. TOR Preparation
5. EIA Report Preparation
a. Description of environmental baseline
b. Alternative analysis
c. Identification, prediction and evaluation of impacts
d. Selection of environmental management plan, monitoring,
auditing report
6. Public participation and consultation
7. Report review and decision-making
8. Incorporation of EA recommendations
9. Implementation of EMP including protection measures &
monitoring
10. Environmental auditing
 Diagram of EIA steps in Nepal

Environmental screening
Proposal identification
(EIA , IEE or no EA)

EIA Required

Scoping Public
Involvement
Feedback TOR

Detailed EIA Study

Submission of
final EIA Report Public hearing

Review Resubmit
Public review Expert Review

Approved Not approved Redesign

Project implementation

Environmental Monitoring & Evaluation

Auditing
 The Project Cycle
Site selection, Environmental Detailed assessment of significant
screening, initial assessment, impacts, identification of areas
scoping needing mitigation, cost/benefit analysis

Project
Concept
Mitigation measures in design
and engineering

Auditing and lessons

for future projects
Implementation of EPMs

Monitoring and Evaluation Construction & operation

The relevant EIA activities for each stage in the project cycle are:
• A. Project concept/identification At the initial stage of the
project, quick environmental overview or preliminary EIA can
indicate the environmental implications of any proposed
alternatives.
• B. Pre-feasibility stage This stage identifies issues and
impacts for investigation, which is equivalent to 'Scoping'
• C. Feasibility stage EIA study is carried out during this stage.
• D. Project appraisal and decision A decision on whether a
project is feasible or not will be made at this stage.
• E. Implementation of the project If the project is feasible, it
will be implemented. EIA report will be used as guideline during
this phase.
• F. Management of EIA study Conducting an EIA report that
can be understood by all the related stakeholders.
 EIA and the project cycle
• Integration of EIA in the project cycle
benefits the proponent and the authority in
following ways;
 Integrate feasibility studies with EIA/IEE
 Cost reduction
 Integration of environmental aspects in the
detail design and mitigate the impacts in
advance,
 Monitoring is more organized and efficient
 Auditing provides an opportunity to use the
results in future development works
 Misconceptions about EIA (EA)

• EA is too expensive
• EA delays the project (stops development)
• EA is too complex
• EA does not produce useful results
• We are too poor to afford EA process.