EIA Process Steps

Screening (does the project Impact assessment

require EIA?) (interpreting the impacts)

Scoping (what issues and Mitigation (what can be done to

impacts should the EIA address?) alleviate negative impacts?)

Baseline studies (establish EIS preparation/review

the environmental baseline) (document the EIA findings)

Alternatives (consider the Public consultation

different approaches) (consult general public and NGOs)

Impact prediction (forecast Monitoring (monitor impacts

the environmental impacts) of project)

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 1. Screening
• Is an EIA needed?
• Many projects may have no significant
environmental effects
• A screening mechanism seeks to
identify those projects with potentially
significant adverse environmental
effects

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 Screening
• Two principal approaches to screening:
the use of thresholds
case-by-case examination against criteria
• Under the EIA Directive:
EIA is mandatory for projects listed.
EIA is required subject to thresholds and
criteria for projects listed.

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2. Scoping
• The scope of an EIA is the issues and
impacts it addresses
• Scoping is the process of deciding
which of a project’s possible
alternatives and impacts should be
addressed in the EIA
• An EIA should focus only on the
significant issues and impacts
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Scoping
• Scoping is carried out in discussions between
the developer, the competent authority,
relevant agencies and, ideally, the public
• Effective scoping enables limited resources to
be allocated to best effect (i.e. through
investigation of only the most significant
impacts)
• Scoping is mandatory under the EIA Directive

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