ENVIRONMENTAL

IMPACT ASSESSMENT

- E I A -

Prof. S.ChiengCivil EngineeringUBC

Suggested references

• B. F. Noble (2006). Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment. Oxford University Press.

• K.S. Hanna (2005) Environmental Impact Assessment: practice and participation. Oxford University Press.

• Wood, C. (2002). Environmental Impact Assessment: a Comparative Review (2nd Edition). Harlow, Prentice Hall.

What is E I A ?

An important procedure for ensuring that the likely effects of new development on the environment are fully understood and taken into account before the development is allowed to go ahead.

The International

The International Association for Impact Assessment (lAIA) defines ElA as:

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.

What is it really ?

Environmental Impact Assessment is an activity (or a tool) which identifies, predicts, interprets and communicates information, and proposes ameliorative measures, about impacts of a proposed action or development proposal on human health and the well-being of the ecosystem upon which human survival depends.

• environmentally sound and sustainable design• better compliance with standards• savings in capital and operating costs• reduced time and costs for approvals• increased project acceptance• better protection of the environment and

human health

Benefits of EIA include :

Generalized

E I A Process

Flowchart

Engineering/Economic/Social PlanningProject + Mitigation

Environmental Planning

Engineering/Economics/Social Planning

Environmental Impact Assessment

Project + Mitigation

Sequential

Parallel

Engineering/Economic/Social Planning/Environment ProjectIntegrated

Engineering/Economic/Social PlanningProject + Mitigation

Environmental Planning

Parallel

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

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

• Scoping is carried out in discussions between the developer, the competent authority, relevant agencies and, ideally, the public

Baseline studies

• Following the scoping phase, it is essential to assemble all the relevant information on the current status of the environment

• The baseline study should anticipate the future state of the environment assuming the project is not undertaken - the ‘no action alternative’

• This provides the ‘baseline’ against which future impacts can be assessed

Predictions

• How any project component may give rise to an impact

• Probability of impacts occurring• Magnitude of each impact• Spatial and temporal of each impact

Impact assessment (Evaluation)• Impact assessment involves evaluating the

significance of the impacts identified• Significance can be determined through

professional judgement, reference to regulations etc.

• Potential for bias in determining what is significant

• The conclusions of the impact assessment can ultimately be used by decision-makers when determining the fate of the project application

Mitigation

• Negative impacts on the environment identified during the EIA can be alleviated through mitigation measures

• The mitigation hierarchy: Avoid - Reduce - Remedy - Compensate - Enhance

• Impacts remaining after mitigation are known as residual impacts

In EIA, an Environmental Impact Statement should include details on

• any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented

• alternatives to the proposed action

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

EIS preparation / review

EIS is a formal document which includes information on the development and information relating to screening, scoping, baseline studies, predictions, etc.

EIS preparation / review

• Once complete, the EIS is submitted to the competent authority (along with the planning application)

• The EIS is often reviewed (either formally or informally)

• The review enables the competent authority to decide whether the EIA is adequate, accurate and unbiased

The EIS should include the following information, although not necessarily in this order:

• Executive summary;

• Statement of project objectives;

• Identification and description of project alternatives;

• Rationale for selection of the preferred option;

• Detailed project description of the preferred option;

• Description of the existing environment;

• Description and evaluation of the predicted impacts;

• Identification of, and commitment to mitigation and enhancement measures and appropriate post-Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies (Compliance Schedule); and

• Documentation of the public participation program.

Sec. 1502.10 (US NEPA) Recommended format of EIS.

Agencies shall use a format for environmental impact statements which will encourage good analysis and clear presentation of the alternatives including the proposed action. The following standard format for environmental impact statements should be followed unless the agency determines that there is a compelling reason to do otherwise:

(a) Cover sheet.(b) Summary.(c) Table of contents.(d) Purpose of and need for action.(e) Alternatives, including proposed action(f) Affected environment.(g) Environmental consequences(h) List of preparers.(i) List of Agencies, Organizations, etc. to which EIS copies are sent.(j) Index.(k) Appendices (if any), including supporting data

(a) Cover sheet

• title of proposed action • list of responsible agencies • contact person at agencies• designation of EIS as draft, final or supplement• date by which comments must be received

(b) Summary

• major conclusions• areas of controversy• issues to be resolved

(c) Table of contents.(d) Purpose of and need for action.(e) Alternatives, including proposed action(f) Affected environment.

(g) Environmental consequences

• environmental impacts of alternatives, including proposed action• adverse environ. effects which cannot be avoided if proposal is implemented• mitigation measures to be used & residual effects of mitigation• relation between short-term uses of the environ. & maintenance &

enhancement of long-term productivity• irreversible or irretrievable commitments of resources if proposal is

implemented, discussion of :- direct and indirect effects and their significance- possible conflicts between actions and objectives of land use

plans, policies, controls....etc.- natural resource requirements and conservation strategy- effects on historic and cultural resources, built environment, and

quality of life- means to mitigate adverse impacts

(h) List of preparers.(i) List of Agencies, Organizations, etc. to which EIS copies are sent.(j) Index.(k) Appendices (if any), including supporting data

Public consultation

• EIA requires that, as much as possible, both technical (scientific) and philosophical (value) issues be dealt with.

• public consultation is an integral part of EIA –different view points are brought forward, concerns aroused are identified, potential conflict areas are pinpoints, and the comfort level of decision makers is raised.

Monitoring

Monitoring should determine:• the accuracy of the original predictions• the degree of deviation from the

predictions• the possible reasons for any deviations• the extent to which mitigation measures

have achieved their objectives

EIA tools

1. Ah hoc methodsthese are perhaps the oldest and crudest approaches to EIA. These methods focus on broad areas of possible impacts rather than specifying specific parameters to be investigated. There are often based on objectivity and intuition.

2. ChecklistsChecklists are a variant of the Ah Hoc method. A prescribed list of parameters is considered in the assessment process. While the list of environmental parameters are investigated for possible impacts, the explicit establishment of direct cause-effect links to the project activities are not required.

EIA tools – cont’d

Sample checklist - for a bridge construction projectProposed project activities Yes No

•dredging •blasting •pier construction •traffic diversion

Affected physical components•water quantity•water quality•soil quality•soil stability•air quality

Affected biological components•fish populations•spawning habitat•bird habitat•wildlife habitat

Affected socio-economic components•employment•noise•health

3. MatricesTwo-dimensional tables used to identify impacts arising from the interaction between project activities and specific environmental components.

• Leopold matrix• Peterson matrix• Component interaction matrix• …etc…

EIA tools – cont’d

Ex. Leopold matrix

-93-82B

-82A

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1

2 8 1 7

5

Project actionsch

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teri

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s & c

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tions

Example of a section of the Leopold Matrix

Sample of anImpact AssessmentMatrix

Sample of an Three-Dimensional Impact Matrix

EIA tools – cont’d

4. Map overlay

A series of maps (transparencies) is used to identify, predict, assign relative significance to, and communicate impacts of the project. It is geographically reference. GIS system is normally used these days.

EIA tools – cont’d

5. The Battelle environmental evaluation system

Designed by Battelle Columbus Laboratories, USA to assess the impacts of water resource developments, water quality management plans, highways, nuclear power plants and other projects. The system is essentially a very sophisticated checklist.

Sample : Checklist for Huasai-Thale Noi Road Project, Thailand

Note:Provide detailed explanationon each of the “check” inthe Checklist.