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Environmental Impact Assessment Principles and Process

Figure 1: EIA concept and eight guiding principles

The eight guiding principles...

There are eight guilding principles that govern the entire process of EIA and they
are as follows:

Participation: An appropriate and timely access to the process for all interested
parties.

Transparency: All assessment decisions and their basis should be open and
accessible.

Certainty: The process and timing of the assessment should be agreed in advanced
and followed by all participants.

Accountability: The decision-makers are responsible to all parties for their action
and decisions under the assessment process.

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Credibility: Assessment is undertaken with professionalism and objectivity.

Cost-effectiveness: The assessment process and its outcomes will ensure

environmental protection at the least cost to the society.

Flexibility: The assessment process should be able to adapt to deal efficiently with
any proposal and decision making situation.

Practicality: The information and outputs provided by the assessment process are
readily usable in decision making and planning.

Applying EIA...
EIA is considered as a project management tool for collecting and analyzing
information on the environmental effects of a project. As such, it is used to:

identify potential environmental impacts,

examine the significance of environmental implications,
assess whether impacts can be mitigated,
recommend preventive and corrective mitigating measures,
inform decision makers and concerned parties about the environmental
implications, and
advise whether development should go ahead.

EIA Process...
In EIA systems there are sequence of activities implemented in project in a logical
sequence and are termed as EIA process. They are given in Figure 2.

Figure 2: The EIA processes in sequences of application.

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Project screening
Not all development projects require EIA. Project screening will
help identify the ones that actually do. Here in this section
describes the various screening criteria.
Scoping
The process of scoping helps determine the coverage or 'scope'
of the EIA. The methods of scoping is elaborated in this section.
Baseline data collection
A brief explanation on the concept of baseline data collection
and its purposes.
Identification of environmental impacts
Described here are the various types of environmental impacts
of development projects both beneficial and adverse.
Impact prediction comparison of alternatives and determination
of significance
This sections covers the considerations for impact prediction,
uncertainties in impact prediction and comparison of
alternatives for impact prediction.
Mitigation measures
Described briefly under this section are the concept and
objectives, types and interesting points, of mitigation
measures.
Public consultation and participation
Public participation is a necessary component of the EIA. "Who
are the public?", "How to involve them?", and "What are the
benefits/disbenefits?" The answers can be found under this
section.
Environmental monitoring
As one of the most important aspects of EIA, "Environmental
Monitoring" is defined here along with explanations on
monitoring principles, types and institutional aspects.
Environmental auditing
You will find under this section, the various types of
Environmental Auditing and when it should be carried out
during the EIA.

EIA Benefits and Flaws

EIA generates huge benefits in selection of project location, process, design,
development actions, and decision-making, however, in the current practice of EIA
there are a number of flaws, shortcomings and deficiencies. The table below,
summarizes apparent benefits and flaws of the EIA.

Table 1: EIA benefits and flaws

Benefits Flaws

Provides systematic methods of Time-consuming

impact assessment

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Estimates the cost/benefit Costly

trade-off of alternative actions

Facilitates the public participation Little public participation in actual

implementation

Provides an effective mechanism Unavailability for reliable data

for (mostly in developing countries)

coordination
environmental integration
negotiations
feed back

Top-level decision making Too focused on scientific analysis

(sometimes)

Triggers an institutional building Poor presentation of EIA report

(bulky volumes, scientific
explanation, difficult to
understand)

Achieve a balance between the Compliance monitoring after EIA is

impact of developmental and seldom carried out
environmental concern

Education and training...

One significant factor that could help improve the EIA process is good education and
training. Currently, very few educational and training courses exist in developing
countries that properly consider various EIA methodologies available in depth.
Information on the legal and regulatory frameworks and institutional arrangements
are also necessary. Education and training process are important since the
fundamental factors behind all EIA predictions are still the best professional
judgment and/or experiences with similar projects implemented elsewhere.

Both short-term and long- term courses are necessary. These courses however,
must be multidisciplinary, and the focus should be on the practical and operational
aspects of EIA based on theoretical implications.

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1.0 The Need for EIA

Every anthropogenic activity has some impact on the environment. More often it is harmful to the
environment than benign. However, mankind as it is developed today cannot live without taking up these activities
for his food, security and other needs. Consequently, there is a need to harmonise developmental activities with
the environmental concerns. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is one of the tools available with the
planners to achieve the above-mentioned goal.

It is desirable to ensure that the development options under consideration are sustainable. In doing so,
environmental consequences must be characterised early in the project cycle and accounted for in the project
design.

The objective of EIA is to foresee the potential environmental problems that would arise out of a
proposed development and address them in the project's planning and design stage. The EIA process should
then allow for the communication of this information to:

(a) the project proponent;

(b) the regulatory agencies; and,
(c) all stakeholders and interest groups.

EIA integrates the environmental concerns in the developmental activities right at the time of initiating for
preparing the feasibility report. In doing so it can enable the integration of environmental concerns and mitigation
measures in project development. EIA can often prevent future liabilities or expensive alterations in project
design.

1.1 Indian Policies Requiring EIA

The environmental impact assessment in India was started in 1976-77 when the
Planning Commission asked the then Department of Science and Technology to examine the river-valley projects
from environmental angle. This was subsequently extended to cover those projects, which required approval of
the Public Investment Board. These were administrative decisions, and lacked the legislative support. The
Government of India enacted the Environment (Protection) Act on 23rd May 1986. To achieve the objectives of
the Act, one of the decisions that were taken is to make environmental impact assessment statutory. After
following the legal procedure, a notification was issued on 27th January 1994 and subsequently amended on
4th May 1994, 10th April 1997 and 27th January 2000 (Annex 1) making environmental impact assessment
statutory for 30 activities. This is the principal piece of legislation governing environmental impact
assessment.

Besides this the Government of India under Environment (Protection) Act 1986 issued a number of
other notifications, which are related to environmental impact assessment. These are limited to specific
geographical areas. These are listed in Box 1.1.

Box 1.1

Prohibiting location of industries except those related to Tourism in a belt of 1 km from high tide mark
from the Revdanda Creek up to Devgarh Point (near Shrivardhan) as well as in 1 km belt along the
banks of Rajpuri Creek in Murud Janjira area in the Raigarh district of Maharashtra (6th January 1989)
Restricting location of industries, mining operations and regulating other activities in Doon Valley (1st
February 1989)
Regulating activities in the coastal stretches of the country by classifying them as coastal regulation

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zone and prohibiting certain activities (19th February 1991)

Restricting location of industries and regulating other activities in Dahanu Taluka in Maharashtra (6th
June 91)
Restricting certain activities in specified areas of Aravalli Range in the Gurgaon district of Haryana
and Alwar district of Rajasthan (7th May 1992)
Regulating industrial and other activities, which could lead to pollution and congestion in an area north
west of Numaligarh in Assam (5th July 1996)

1.2 The EIA Cycle and Procedures

The EIA process in India is made up of the following phases:

Screening
Scoping and consideration of alternatives
Baseline data collection
Impact prediction
Assessment of alternatives, delineation of mitigation measures and environmental impact statement
Public hearing
Environment Management Plan
Decision making
Monitoring the clearance conditions

1.2.1 Screening

Screening is done to see whether a project requires environmental clearance as

per the statutory notifications. Screening Criteria are based upon:

Scales of investment;
Type of development; and,
Location of development.

A Project requires statutory environmental clearance only if the provisions of EIA notification and/or one
or more statutory notification mentioned in Box 1.1 cover it

1.2.2 Scoping

Scoping is a process of detailing the terms of reference of EIA. It has to be done by

the consultant in consultation with the project proponent and guidance, if need be, from Impact Assessment
Agency.
The Ministry of Environment and Forests has published guidelines for different sectors, which outline the
significant issues to be addressed in the EIA studies. Quantifiable impacts are to be assessed on the basis of
magnitude, prevalence, frequency and duration and non-quantifiable impacts (such as aesthetic or recreational
value), significance is commonly determined through the socio-economic criteria. After the areas, where the
project could have significant impact, are identified, the baseline status of these should be monitored and then the
likely changes in these on account of the construction and operation of the proposed project should be predicted.

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1.2.3 Baseline Data

Baseline data describes the existing environmental status of the identified study area.
The site-specific primary data should be monitored for the identified parameters and supplemented by secondary
data if available.
1.2.4 Impact Prediction

Impact prediction is a way of mapping the environmental consequences of the

significant aspects of the project and its alternatives. Environmental impact can never be predicted with
absolute certainty and this is all the more reason to consider all possible factors and take all possible precautions
for reducing the degree of uncertainty.

The following impacts of the project should be assessed:

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
availability to competing users
changes in quality
sediment transport
ingress of saline water

Land
changes in land use and 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

Socio-Economic
impact on the local community including demographic changes.
Impact on economic status
impact on human health.
impact of increased traffic

1.2.5 Assessment of Alternatives, Delineation of Mitigation Measures

and Environmental Impact

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Assessment Report

For every project, possible alternatives should be identified and environmental attributes compared.
Alternatives should cover both project location and process technologies. Alternatives should consider no
project option also. Alternatives should then be ranked for selection of the best environmental option for
optimum economic benefits to the community at large.

Once alternatives have been reviewed, a mitigation plan should be drawn up for the
selected option and is supplemented with an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to guide the proponent
towards environmental improvements. The EMP is a crucial input to monitoring the clearance conditions and
therefore details of monitoring should be included in the EMP.

An EIA report should provide clear information to the decision-maker on the different environmental
scenarios without the project, with the project and with project alternatives. Uncertainties should be clearly
reflected in the EIA report.

1.2.6 Public Hearing

Law requires that the public must be informed and consulted on a proposed development after the
completion of EIA report.

Any one likely to be affected by the proposed project is entitled to have access to the Executive
Summary of the EIA. The affected persons may include:

bonafide local residents;

local associations;
environmental groups: active in the area
any other person located at the project site / sites of displacement

They are to be given an opportunity to make oral/written suggestions to the State Pollution Control Board
as per Schedule IV of Annex I.

1.2.7 Decision Making

Decision making process involve consultation between the project proponent (assisted
by a consultant) and the impact assessment authority (assisted by an expert group if necessary)

The decision on environmental clearance is arrived at through a number of steps including evaluation of
EIA and EMP.

1.2.8 Monitoring the Clearance Conditions

Monitoring should be done during both construction and operation phases of a

project. This is not only to ensure that the commitments made are complied with but also to observe whether
the predictions made in the EIA reports were correct or not. Where the impacts exceed the predicted levels,
corrective action should be taken. Monitoring will enable the regulatory agency to review the validity of
predictions and the conditions of implementation of the Environmental Management Plan (EMP).

1.3 Components of EIA

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The difference between Comprehensive EIA and Rapid EIA is in the time-scale of the data supplied.
Rapid EIA is for speedier appraisal process. While both types of EIA require inclusion/ coverage of all significant
environmental impacts and their mitigation, Rapid EIA achieves this through the collection of one season
(other than monsoon) data only to reduce the time required. This is acceptable if it does not compromise on
the quality of decision-making. The review of Rapid EIA submissions will show whether a comprehensive EIA is
warranted or not.

It is, therefore, clear that the submission of a professionally prepared Comprehensive

EIA in the first instance would generally be the more efficient approach. Depending on nature, location and
scale of the project EIA report should contain all or some of the following components.

Air Environment

Determination of impact zone (through a screening model) and developing a monitoring network

Monitoring the existing status of ambient air quality within the impacted region (7-10 km from the
periphery) of the proposed project site

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Monitoring the site-specific meteorological data, viz. wind speed and direction, humidity, ambient
temperature and environmental lapse rate

Estimation of quantities of air emissions including fugitive emissions from the proposed project

Identification, quantification and evaluation of other potential emissions (including those of vehicular
traffic) within the impact zone and estimation of cumulative of all the emissions/impacts

Prediction of changes in the ambient air quality due to point, line and areas source emissions through
appropriate air quality models

Evaluation of the adequacy of the proposed pollution control devices to meet gaseous emission and
ambient air quality standards

Delineation of mitigation measures at source, path ways and receptor

Noise Environment

Monitoring the present status of noise levels within the impact zone, and prediction of future noise
levels resulting from the proposed project and related activities including increase in vehicular movement

Identification of impacts due to any anticipated rise in noise levels on the surrounding environment

Recommendations on mitigation measures for noise pollution

Water Environment

Study of existing ground and surface water resources with respect to quantity and quality within the
impact zone of the proposed project

Prediction of impacts on water resources due to the proposed water use/pumping on account of the
project

Quantification and characterisation of waste water including toxic organic, from the proposed activity

Evaluation of the proposed pollution prevention and wastewater treatment system and suggestions on
modification, if required

Prediction of impacts of effluent discharge on the quality of the receiving water body using appropriate
mathematical/simulation models

Assessment of the feasibility of water recycling and reuse and delineation of detailed plan in this
regard

Biological Environment

- Survey of flora and fauna clearly delineating season and duration.

Assessment of flora and fauna present within the impact zone of the project

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Assessment of potential damage to terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna due to discharge of effluents
and gaseous emissions from the project

Assessment of damage to terrestrial flora and fauna due to air pollution, and land use and landscape
changes

Assessment of damage to aquatic and marine flora and fauna (including commercial fishing) due to
physical disturbances and alterations

Prediction of biological stresses within the impact zone of the proposed project

Delineation of mitigation measures to prevent and / or reduce the damage.

Land Environment

Studies on soil characteristics, existing land use and topography, landscape and drainage patterns
within the impact zone

Estimation of impacts of project on land use, landscape, topography, drainage and hydrology

Identification of potential utility of treated effluent in land application and subsequent impacts

Estimation and Characterisation of solid wastes and delineation of management options for
minimisation of waste and environmentally compatible disposal

Socio economic and Health Environment

Collection of demographic and related socio-economic data

Collection of epidemiological data, including studies on prominent endemic diseases (e.g. fluorosis,
malaria, fileria, malnutrition) and morbidity rates among the population within the impact zone

Projection of anticipated changes in the socio-economic and health due to the project and related
activities including traffic congestion and delineation of measures to minimise adverse impacts

Assessment of impact on significant historical, cultural and archaeological sites/places in the area

Assessment of economic benefits arising out of the project

Assessment of rehabilitation requirements with special emphasis on scheduled areas, if any.

Risk Assessment

Hazard identification taking recourse to hazard indices, inventory analysis, dam break probability,
Natural Hazard Probability etc.

Maximum Credible Accident (MCA) analysis to identify potential hazardous scenarios

Consequence analysis of failures and accidents resulting in fire, explosion, hazardous releases and
dam breaks etc.

Hazard & Operability (HAZOP) studies

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Assessment of risk on the basis of the above evaluations

Preparation of an onsite and off site (project affected area) Disaster Management Plan

Environment Management Plan

Delineation of mitigation measures including prevention and control for each environmental component
and rehabilitation and resettlement plan.

Delineation of monitoring scheme for compliance of conditions

Delineation of implementation plan including scheduling and resource allocation

1.4 Roles in the EIA Process

EIA involves many parties, grouped by their role definition within the process. The
following section outlines the basic responsibilities of various bodies:

The Project Proponent

The Environmental Consultants
The State Pollution Control Board / Pollution Control Committees (PCCs)
The Public
The Impact Assessment Agency

The Role of the Project Proponent

The project proponent during the project planning stage decides the type of projects i.e. new establishment,
expansion or modernisation. Later the project proponent needs to prepare the Detailed Project Report/Feasibility
Report and submits the Executive Summary, which shall incorporate the project details, and findings of EIA study,
which is to be made available to concerned public.

The proponent has to approach the concerned SPCB for NOC and holding the public hearing. After the public
hearing the proponent submits application to IAA for environmental clearance.

Role of Environment Consultant

Environmental consultant should be conversant with the existing legal and procedural requirements of obtaining
environmental clearance for proposed project. The consultant should guide the proponent through initial screening
of the project and establish whether EIA studies are required to be conducted and if so finalise the scope of such
study. The consultant should also be fully equipped with required instruments and infrastructure for conducting EIA
studies. The environmental consultant is responsible for supplying all the environment-related information required
by the SPCB and IAA through the proponent. The consultant is also required to justify the findings in the EIA and
EMP during the meeting with the expert groups at IAA.

The Role of the State Pollution Control Board (PCB) /Pollution Control Committee (PCC)

The State PCBs/PCCs are responsible for assessing the compatibility of a proposed
development with current operational and prescribed standards. If the development is in compliance, the PCB will
then issue its NOC. They shall also hold the public hearing as per the provisions of EIA notification. The details of
public hearing shall be forwarded to IAA.

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The Role of the Public

The public also has an important role to play in EIA. The concerned persons will be invited through press
advertisement to review information and provide their views on the proposed development requiring
environmental clearance.

The Role of the Impact Assessment Agency (IAA)

Where a proponent is required to obtain environmental clearance, the IAA will evaluate and assess the
EIA report. In this process the project proponent will be given a chance to present his proposal. If a project is
accepted the IAA will also prepare a set of recommendations and conditions for its implementation based on this
assessment. Environmental clearance conditions and recommendations of IAA are made available to the public
on request through SPCB and through web site at http://envfor.nic.in. During the implementation and operation of
the project, the IAA will also be responsible for the environmental monitoring process.

1.5 How to use this Manual?

This Manual provides guidance for EIA appraisal and is mainly addressed to EIA
reviewer in the Impact Assessment Agency.

Subsequent chapters outline what should be done in an EIA and how the pathways
to conclusions are to be verified. The answer to the first question is provided in the form of sequence of
analytical steps within EIA and this is designed to help the reviewer in judging the completeness and adequacy
of EIA. The answer to the second question is provided in the form of good practices of EIA and its
presentation. It is hoped that good practices of measurement and analysis delineated in the manual would
help the reviewer in verifying the reliability of the results presented. The good practices of presentation
outlined in this manual should be insisted upon by the reviewer and this would aid the transparency of EIA and
ease of its verification. There could be many instances where the manual would not provide the desired
guidance to the reviewer and in such cases the reviewer may like to consult the expert group. However, the
manual would aid the reviewer in formulation of specific questions that the expert group needs to answer.

This manual also indirectly provides guidance to the project proponent in preparation
and presentation of an EIA. This manual can also be used for preparation of Terms of Reference for an EIA
and also to review an EIA prepared by a consultant / proponents team. The manual provides an answer to the
reviewer What to look for in an EIA? and to the proponent What would the reviewer be looking for in an
EIA? and thereby could improve the effectiveness of EIA process.

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