M.U.

K
C.E.D.A.T
ARCHITECTURE
 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT
ARC3205 ENVIRONMENTAL BUILDING SCIENCE
INTRODUCTION AND MEANING OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

ASSOC. PROF. S. Mukiibi

2023
DEFINITION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
This is an assessment of the
possible positive or negative
impacts that a proposed project
may have on the environment,
together consisting of the
environmental, social and
economic aspects.
“EIA may be defined as a
formal process used to predict
the environmental consequences
of any development project.
EIA thus ensures that the
potential problems are foreseen
and addressed at an early stage
in the projects planning and
design.”

Manu and Anshu, UEMRI-India

An EIA is a report prepared BEFORE a development project or large
change in the way an area of land is used.

 The scope is to evaluate policies, plans, programs and specific

projects.

 The result of an EIA is assembled in a document known as an

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which looks at all the
positive and negative effects of a particular project on the
environment.
 ORIGIN OF EIA
EIA began to be used in the
1960s as part of a rational
decision making process.
It involved a technical
evaluation that would lead to
objective decision making.
EIA was made legislation in the
US in the National
Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) 1969. It has since
evolved and it has been used
increasingly in many countries
around the world.
EIA as it is practiced today, is
being used as a decision
aiding tool rather than
decision making tool.
EIA has been developed as a result of the
failure of traditional project appraisal
techniques to account for environmental
impacts.
Many development projects in the past
were designed and constructed in
isolation from any consideration of their
impacts on the environment, resulting in:
 Higher costs,
 Failure of projects,
 Significant environmental change, and
 Negative social effects
 AIMS OF EIA
 To achieve better standards of development. THE EIA SHOULD BE
 To provide decision-makers with analysis of the
Purposive
total environment, so that decisions can be made Rigorous
based on as nearly complete and balanced Practical
information as possible; Relevant.
 To assess and present intangible/unquantifiable Effective
effects, that are not adequately addressed by Efficient.
cost/benefit analysis and other technical reports; Focused.
 To provide information to the public, on a
Adaptive.
proposal; Participative.
Interdisciplinary.
 To formalize the consideration of alternatives to a
Integrated
proposal, being considered, in order that the least
environmentally harmful means of achieving the Transparent
given objective can be chosen; Systematic
 To improve the design of new developments and
safeguard the environment through the application
of mitigation and avoidance measures
WHEN IS AN EIA REQUIRED?
The EIA regulations define two schedules of developments. If the
development exceeds threshold or is in a sensitive area i.e. national
park, then EIA is required. Schedule 2 projects, developments based on
thresholds to carry out EIAs.
Schedule 1 projects, EIAs must  Quarries and opencast
always be carried out.
 some intensive livestock rearing
 Major power plants  Overhead transmission lines
  Surface storage of fossil fuel
Chemical works
 Coke ovens
 Waste disposal
 Manufacture of dairy products
incineration
 Foundries and forges
 Major Roads Schemes
 Brewing
 Some textile operations
 Rubber production
 Wide range of infrastructure projects
 Waste water treatment plants
 Holiday villages
 Golf courses
SELECTION CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING THE REQUIRED EIA
FOR SCHEDULE 2 DEVELOPMENTS

Characteristics of the development

 the size of the development;
 the accumulation with other development;
 the use of natural resources;
 the production of waste;
 pollution and nuisances;
 the risk of accidents, having regard in particular
to substances or technologies used.
Location of the development
 The existing land use;
 The relative abundance, quality and regenerative capacity of natural
resources in the area;
 The absorption capacity of the natural environment, paying particular
attention to:
i. wetlands;
ii. coastal zones;
iii. mountain and forest areas;
iv. nature reserves and parks;
v. areas classified or protected
vi. areas in which the environmental quality standards laid down in Community
legislation have already been exceeded;
vii. densely populated areas;
viii. landscapes of historical, cultural or archaeological significance
Characteristics of the potential
impact

 The extent of the impact (geographical

area and size of the affected population);
 The trans frontier nature of the impact;
 The magnitude and complexity of the
impact;
 The probability of the impact;
 The duration, frequency and reversibility
of the impact.
PROCEDURES AND
STAGES OF EIA
1) Baseline study
2) Identification of projects requiring
EIA, sometimes known as
screening;
3) Identification of the key issues to
be addressed in an EIA, called
scoping;
4) Impact assessment and evaluation;
5) Impact mitigation and monitoring;
6) Review of the completed EIS and;
7) Public participation.
 Step 1. Baseline study
A baseline study consists of measurements before any
development takes place.

What is the environment like now?

The baseline study is used to try to forecast what changes

may be caused by the development.

The baseline study will include measurements of:

• Microclimate
• Biodiversity: Biotic components
• Scenery
• Abiotic components
• Human populations in the area
 Step 2. Screening

Identify the nature or category of the project

i.e. whether it falls under schedule 1 or 2.
 Step 3. Scoping

Identify the key issues and concerns of the

interested parties

• Who is concerned?
• What are the concerns?
• What is the level of concern where the
development becomes unacceptable?
Step 4. Impact Analysis
 Step 5. Impact Mitigation
• Carried out to reduce or minimize the
impact to the environment that the proposed project
may cause or may have caused.
•
Purpose is to look for alternative and better ways of
implementing the proposed project or associated
activities so that the negative impacts are
substantially eliminated or minimized while the
benefits are enhanced.
 Reporting

It is a product of a team of consultants and specialists.

The EIA report is a statement of the likely impacts of a
proposal and how these can be mitigated and managed.
Different names of EIA reports
• Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA
Report)
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
• Environmental Statement (ES)
• Environmental Assessment Report (EA Report)
• Environmental Effects Statement (EES)
 Step 6: Review

• Review the quality of the EIA report

• Take public comments into account
• Determine if the information is sufficient
and credible
• Identify any deficiencies to be corrected
 Step 7: Decision Making
• On the basis of whether the proposed project is exempt or
appropriate mitigation measures have been incorporated for the
identified impacts, a decision shall be made to either approve or
disapprove the environmental aspects of the proposed project.

• If approved, the necessary action shall be undertaken by the

developer. The developer will be permitted to implement the
project in accordance with the mitigation terms or conditions
attached to the approval
 Step 7: Decision Making contd.

• In the decision given by the developer, he shall give one

alternative and cite reasons for rejecting others. The
alternatives rejected and their reasons for being rejected
should also be included in the report
 Monitoring
Monitoring of projects after EIA has been conducted is essential as
this will ensure that the mitigation measures and any other
conditionalities set out by the developer in the EIA are complied
with.
The developer is required to ensure that all practicable measures to
minimize any predictions are as laid out in the project brief or EIS
and are complied with.
This is mainly done by;
• Carrying out periodic checks and audits.
• Environmental Audits are a monitoring mechanism, the
responsibility of carrying out an environmental audit lies with
NEMA and the Lead Agencies.
 Schematic
presentation
of EIA process
MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT EIA

 EIA is too expensive

 EIA is just an add-
on and occurs too
late to do any
good"
 EIA delays projects
 EIA is too complex"
 EIA doesn't
produce useful
results
 EIA will be misused
to stop
development
 We're too poor to
afford EIA"
 BENEFITS OF EIA
 Avoidance or minimization of adverse
environmental effects
 Opportunities for public participation
and Aboriginal consultation
 Increased protection of human health
 Reduced project costs and delays
 Reduced risks of environmental harm
or disasters
 Increased government accountability
and harmonization
 Lessened probability of trans
boundary environmental effects
 Informed decisions that contribute to
responsible development of natural
resources
 Conclusion:
EIA parts review
• Baseline study
• Screening
• Scoping (identifying impacts)
• Predicting the scale of the potential impacts
• Mitigation of the impacts (Finding ways to
lower the impacts)
• A non-technical summary so that the general
public can understand the issues.
Assignment:

Get a sample EIA report and identify and

assess it based on its various components and
on the stages of the environmental impact
assessment.

Submission Deadline: April 26, 2023