ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS

Prof. S. Bala Prasad

Professor of Environmental Engineering
Andhra University
Visakhapatnam
India
“Environment comprises all entities, Natural
or manmade, external to oneself and their
interrelationships which provide value,
now or perhaps in the future, to
humankind. Environmental concerns relate
to their degradation through actions of
humans.”

(National Environment Policy, 2006)

 ENVIRONMENTAL SETTINGS

Locations or places where humans

interact with each other and nature
that give rise to the cultural goods
Societal needs and benefits that
people obtain from ecosystems.
 Setting?
Oxford dictionary:
1. The position or manner in which a
thing is set
2. The immediate surroundings
3. The surroundings of any object
regarded as its framework: the
environment of a thing
4. The place and time, scenery etc. of a
story, drama, etc (activity?)
 Why to describe settings?
Base line data / information
What is “Baseline”?
Spatial and temporal conditions used as the
reference point of comparison for determining
the significance of a proposed activity /
project’s environmental effects

What timeframe and conditions constitute the

appropriate baseline for evaluating a
activity / project?
 Environmental Settings

 Air Environment
 Water Environment
 Land Environment
 Biological Environment
 Socio-Economic Environment
Albedo: measure of the diffuse reflection of solar radiation out of the total solar
radiation (i.e., how much incoming sunlight is reflected back to space)
Physical Setting
 Climate

 Temperature

 Rainfall

 Solar Radiation

 Pan Evaporation

Geologic Setting
 Geologic Modification Processes

 Subsidence

 Weathering and Erosion

 Deposition

 Hydraulic Conductivity of the Rocks

Soils
Physical (Settings) environments are categorized
as
Natural environment
Built environment
Air Environment

Meteorological: Wind Speed, Wind direction, Dry

bulb temperature, wet bulb temperature, relative
humidity, rainfall etc.

Pollutants:
All as per NAAQ standards and other important one

Noise: Noise standards for various areas/zones

Air
 changes in ambient levels and ground level

concentrations due to total emissions from

point, line and area sources
 effects on soils, materials, vegetation, and

human health
Noise
 changes in ambient levels due to noise

generated from equipment and movement

of vehicles
 effect on fauna and human health
Water Environment
 Surface Water

 Drainage-Basin Characteristics

 Streamflow Characteristics

 Ground Water

 Freshwater-Lens Systems

 Dike-Impounded Systems

 Perched Systems

 Ground-Water Areas

 Interaction of Ground Water and Surface

Water
 Aquatic Biota
Water
 availability to competing users

 changes in quality

 sediment transport

 ingress of saline water

Water Use
 Ground Water

 Surface Water

 Recent Trends in Water Use

Effects of Natural and Human-Related
Factors on Water Quality and Aquatic
Biota

Rainfall

SurfaceWater
Natural Factors
Effects of Natural and Human-Related
Factors on Water Quality and Aquatic
Biota
 Urban-Related Factors

 Agriculture-Related Factors

 Ground Water

 Natural Factors

 Urban-Related Factors

 Agriculture-Related Factors

 Aquatic Biota
 Land Environment
 Soils: size distribution, texture, chemical properties,
permeability, water yielding capacity, porosity, storage
capacity, etc.

 Land use / Landscape : Location, project area,

topography, drainage, cultivable lands, forests,
plantations, water bodies, settlements, etc.

 Solid waste: domestic waste, characterisation

 Socio-economic: employment / training, housing,

education, utilities, amenities etc.
 Aesthetics / cultural: climate, religious places and
structures, historic / archeological places or structures
Land Use
 Mapped Land Use & Developed

(Nonagricultural) Land
 Zoned Land Districts
 Residential Areas
 Commercial and Industrial Areas
 Social Services
 Public Infrastructure
 Open Space
 Agriculture
 Horticulture and Shade Houses
 Livestock Operations
Land Use
 changes in land use & drainage pattern

 changes in land quality including

effects of waste disposal

 changes in shoreline/riverbank and

their stability
Biological
 deforestation/tree-cutting and shrinkage

of animal habitat.
 impact on fauna and flora (including

aquatic species if any) due to

contaminants/pollutants
 impact on rare and endangered species,

endemic species, and migratory

path/route of animals.
 Impact on breeding and nesting grounds
Biological
 Terrestrial ecosystem

 Natural vegetation
 Natural fauna
 Aquatic ecosystems
 rare and endangered species, endemic
(prevalent / widespread) species, and
migratory path/route of animals.
Human Resources
 Demography changes.
 Development and economic status
 Land use
 Infrastructure
 Housing
 Health care
 Schools
 Transportation
 Recreation
Socio-Economic
 impact on the local community

including demographic changes.

 Impact on economic status

 impact on human health.

 impact of increased traffic

 Archeological and Historic

resources
ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES

 Air Pollution
 Water pollution
 Solids emissions
 Noise pollution
 Land use and Land subsidence
 Induced seismicity and landslides
 Water use
 Disturbance of natural resources
 Disturbance of wildlife habitat, vegetation, and
scenic vistas
 Catastrophic events
 Thermal pollution
 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Environmental Inventory: a complete
description of the environment as it exists in
an area where a particular proposed aciton is
being considered.
-consists of physical, chemical, biological,
cultural and socioeconomic environment
Environmental Assessment: a concise public
document that serves to briefly provide sufficient
evidence and analysis for determining whether to
prepare an EIS or finding no significant impact
(FONSI).
 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
An EIS is a detailed written statement which
serves as an action forcing device to
ensure that the policies and goals defined
in the NEPA are infused into the ongoing
programs and actions of the federal
government.
EIS is more than a disclosure document.
Types of EIS: Draft EIS
Final EIS
and Supplemental EIS
 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Draft EIS: is the document prepared by the
lead agency proposing an action; It is
circulated for review and comment to
other federal agencies, state, and local
agencies, and public and private interest
groups.

Final EIS: is the draft EIS modified to

include a discussion of problems and
objectives raised by the reviewers.
 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Supplemental EIS: is the document
prepared by the lead agency which
supplements to either draft or final EISs if
the agency makes substantial changes in
the proposed action that are relevant to
environmental concerns; or if there are
significant new circumstances or
information relevant to environmental
concerns and bearing on the proposed
action or its impacts.
 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Executive Summary
Policy, Legal and Administrative
Framework
Description of the environment
Description of the Proposed Project in detail
Significant Environmental Impacts
Socio-economic analysis of Project Impacts
Identification and Analysis of Alternatives
Mitigation Action/Mitigation Management
Plan
 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
Environmental Management Plan
Monitoring Program
Knowledge gaps
Public Involvement
List of References
Appendices including
o Reference documents, photographs, unpublished
data
o Terms of Reference
o Consulting team composition
o Notes of Public Consultation sessions
 EA or IEE

It may be necessary to conduct a

preliminary study as a part of
determining whether or not
comprehensive environmental impact
study is needed. This preliminary
study is termed as either “EA” (USA)
or “IEE” (Canada)
 Environmental setting framework

Outcome of Screening: one or more of the

following conclusions relative to the
potential impacts of the proposal can be
made
 There are insignificant adverse effects

 There are significant adverse effects which

are negligible
 There are significant adverse effects may or

may not be negligible

 Uncertainty exists relative to the

environmental effects
 Environmental setting framework
Outcome of Screening: one or more of the
following conclusions relative to the
potential impacts of the proposal can be
made
 The environmental effects are
unknown
 Significant adverse effects are
anticipated
 Significant public comments exists
Threshold of concern
 Maximum or minimum number, or other

value, for an environmental impact or

resource use which, if exceeded cause that
impact or use to take on new importance.
Conceptual framework for preparing
description of Environmental Settings
Identify one to several lists of Env. factors

Apply selection process

Selected list of env. factors

Procure data and / or plan and

conduct baseline studies

Prepare description

Non-selected list of Env. factors

 Initial List of Factors
Approaches that can be used to identify initial
list of environmental factors of potential
relevance to a proposed project / activity

1. Use of potential agency guidelines or

regulations

2. Use of professional knowledge regarding

the anticipated impacts of similar projects

(Source: EIA by Canter Larry W. 1996 )

 Initial List of Factors
3. Review of other recent EAs /EISs on
similar projects or project in the same
geographical areas as the proposed
project.

4. Use of lists of factors in EIA

methodologies.

List should be comprehensive, but may not

be exhaustive
(Source: EIA by Canter Larry W. 1996 )
 EIA or Environmental Assessment (EA),
 recognized in a large number of international
conventions, protocols and agreements,
including:
 Convention on Transboundary
Environmental Impact Assessment;
 Convention on Wetlands of International
Importance;
 United Nations Convention on the Law of
the Sea;

Source: EIA: the state of the art (Morganm, R.K., 2012)

 EIA or Environmental Assessment (EA),
 Convention on Access to Information, Public
Participation in Decision-making and Access
to Justice in Environmental Matters;

 United Nations Framework Convention on

Climate Change;

 Protocol on Environmental Protection to the

Antarctic Treaty.

Source: EIA: the state of the art (Morganm, R.K., 2012)

Three broad themes (areas of concern echoed
by Retief, 2010 based on a review of the
iinternational littérature on EA):

 Theoretical grounding: do we have a clear

sense of the purpose of EA, and what it
comprises?
 Quality : what is good practice, how do we
judge quality, what guidance do we provide?
 Effectiveness: what are we achieving through
this process?
Source: EIA: the state of the art (Morganm, R.K., 2012)
 Theory and EIA
Lawrence (2000) examined 5 planning theories:

 Rationalism,
 Pragmatism,
 Socio-ecological idealism,
 Political-economic mobilization, and
 Communications and Collaboration

Source: EIA: the state of the art (Morganm, R.K., 2012)

 Theory and EIA
Bartlett and Kurian (1999) adopt a political science
perspective and identify 6 models
 Information processing model – essentially the
rationalist, decision-support model
 Symbolic politics model – EIA used to suggest
accordance with certain values, but not necessarily
holding to those values;
 Political economy model – EIA used by the private
sector to reduce financial risk, and if possible increase
financial opportunities, by internalizing environmental
externalities;
 Organizational politics model – changes occur in the
internal politics of organizations required to use EIA;
Source: EIA: the state of the art (Morganm, R.K., 2012)
 Theory and EIA
Bartlett and Kurian (1999) adopt a political
science perspective and identify 6 models
 Pluralist politics model – EIA process used to

open opportunities for negotiation and

compromise among different interest groups;
 Institutionalist politics model – political

institutions are changed significantly by the

effect of EIA on values, actions and
perspectives in their policy-making
processes.
Source: EIA: the state of the art (Morganm, R.K., 2012)
Conceptual framework for screening and scoping

Plan and conduct comprehensive impact study

Source: EMAP: Ecological Indicators (Hunsaker and Carpenter, 1990). EPA/600/3-90/060
 Decentralized clearance mechanism
 Projects in Schedule classified based on
potential impacts in ‘Category A’ and
‘Category B1 & B2’
 Category A cleared at Central level (MoEF)
 Category B1, B2 at State Level (SEIAA/
SEAC)
 Check-list information in Form-1/Form-1A
+ feasibility report to determine TORs
 • Scoping stage incorporate site clearance –
No separate site clearance is required.
Category „A‟ [Sole Central List]
•Offshore & onshore oil & gas exploration and
production
•Nuclear power projects and processing of nuclear fuel
•Petroleum refining industry
•Asbestos milling and asbestos based products
•Soda ash industry
•Chemical fertilizers
•Pesticide and pesticide specific intermediates
(excluding formulations) – All units producing
technical grade pesticides
•Petrochemical complexes (industries based on
processing of petroleum fractions & natural gas and/or
reforming to aromatics
 Oil & gas transportation pipeline (crude and
refinery/ petrochemical products), passing
through national parks/sanctuaries/coral
reefs/ecologically sensitive areas including LNG
terminal
 Airports
 All ship breaking yards including ship breaking
units
 Asbestos mining
 Primary metallurgical industry
 All molasses based distilleries
 Pulp manufacturing and pulp & paper
 New national highways