Environmental Impact Assessment Assessment and Environmental Audit

Environmental Impact Assessment

1Environmental Impact Assessment

2NEPA Process (National Environmental Policy Act)

3Need of EIA

4Ideal EIA SystemAn Ideal EIA system Would beApply to all project that are expected to have a significant environmental effects and address all impacts that are expected to occur due to that project.Compare alternatives to a proposed project, management techniques and mitigation measures.Result in a clear EIS (Environmental Impact Statement) which conveys the importance of the likely and their specific characteristics to non experts in the field.5Goals of Environment Impact AssessmentThe major aims of EIA are:Resources ConservationWaste minimizationRecovery of by-product.Efficient use of equipmentSustainable Development

6Methodology of Environment Impact AssessmentThe EIA methodology consists of four phases, namely:Organizing the JobPerforming the assessmentWriting the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)Review of the EIS.7Organizing the JobIn this step an inter disciplinary (ID) team is constituted to conduct analysis of the various impacts of the proposed programme on the environment. An ID team can be defined as a team which has been organised to address a common problem. It consists of a group of two or three persons trained in different fields with the knowledge of concepts, methods, data and terms related to that subject.

8Performance of the AssessmentThis Phase of EIA consists of the following steps.(a) Site Visit: The members of the interdisciplinary team visit the site to determine the possible environmental impacts of the proposed project and record of the description of the environment as it exists prior to the implementation of the proposed project.(b) Identification and Evaluation: The adverse and beneficial effects of the proposed projects on the environment are evaluated.(c) Discussion of Alternatives: Various possible alternatives are discussed i.e.

9Performance of the Assessment(d) Preparation of Checklist: A checklist is prepared to ensure complete coverage of all the possible consequences of the proposed project, so that it can be determined as to what administrative actions should be taken.(e) Measurement of Environment Impact, due to the project: For Identifying the impact of the project on the environment, a checklist of the environmental attributes reflects the impact on the environment resulting from a particular action.

10Preparation of EISEIS is the conclusion of EIA. It is a written statement which serves as a device to ensure that the policies and goals defined by NEPA (National Environment policy Act) are infused into the ongoing programmed. It must contain the following items.Description of the site of the project or environment where the proposed project is to take place.Description of the proposed project, purpose of action, its goals and objectives, area, extent, equipments, manpower and material requirement.The environmental impact of the proposed project.The unavoidable adverse effects resulting from the activity.11Review of EIS

12Limitations of EIAEIA suffers from following limitationsEIA should be undertaken at the policy and planning level rather than at the project level.Range of Possible alternatives in the project EIA is often small.There is no criteria to decide what type of project are to undergo EIA. A lot of unnecessary expense and delay in project clearance could be avoided as there are many projects that do not require an in-depth EIA.Lack of comprehensive environment information base, limitation of time, manpower and financial resources make EIA very complicated and time consuming.13Role of EIA in Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable development is essential for the overall socio-economic development. Sustainable development must meet the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs and aspirations.14Role of EIA in Sustainable DevelopmentIt is possible to have development without destroying the environment. This requires a gradual shift from uncontrolled exploitation to efficient management of natural resources. To ensure sustainable development the depletion of renewable resources should not take place at a rate faster than their rate of generation. Only those technological developments with minimum environmental hazards should be adopted in order to sustain the environment for future generations.

Role of EIA in Sustainable DevelopmentSustainable development is closely linked to the carrying Capacity of an ecosystem as the latter determines the limits to economic development. Carrying capacity of a specific ecosystem is the maximum rate of resource consumption that can be sustained definitely in that specific area and overexploitation of natural resources above this maximum will lead to depletion and ecological degradation.16Role of EIA in Sustainable DevelopmentCarrying capacity based planning ensures sustainable development, Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) could form a major instrument in decision making and for measurement of sustainability in the context of regional carrying capacity, provided the conceptual framework is extended to cumulative assessment of developmental policies, plans and projects on a regional basis.

Role of EIA in Sustainable Development

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