Chapter 6: Executing the EIA Process

ENVS402 – Environmental Impact Assessment

Chapter 6: Executing the EIA Process

6.3 Methods of Identifying Impacts

9/16/2011ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma

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Methods of identifying impactsMethods of identifying impacts(Ref. Lary W Canter, 1996, Environmental Impact Assessment. Mc Graw Hill international Editions, Civil Engineering Series, page. 56-101)101)

Matrices Networks Checklists Overlay M iMapping

Simple Network Simple Map

Stepped Descriptive

Others Scaling

Questionnaire

9/16/2011ENVS402 EIA by Dr. Subodh Sharma2

Methods of identifying impactsMethods of identifying impacts1.1 Simple Matrices

Th i t ti t i th d d l d b• The interaction‐matrix method developed by Leopold et al. (1971) will be used as an example.

• The matrix lists approx. 100 specified actions and 90 environmental items.

Actions causing impacts

MIEnvironmental Items IEnvironmental Items


Figure: Leopold Matrix, M= Magnitude; I= Importance

Methods of identifying impactsMethods of identifying impacts

1.1 Simple Matrices• Example of Actions and Environmental items in Leopold Interaction Matrix.

Actions causing impacts (category):

Environmental Factors (Category):

1. Modification of regime2. Land transformation

and construction3 Resource extraction

(Category):A. Physical and chemical

characteristics (Earth, Water, Atmosphere, Processes)

B Bi l i l diti

MI

3. Resource extraction4. Processing5. Land alteration6. Resource renewal7. Changes in traffic8 W t l t

B. Biological conditions (Flora, Faun)

C. Cultural factors (Land use, Recreation, Aesthetics and human

8. Waste emplacement and treatment

9. Chemical treatment10. Accidents11. Others

interests, Cultural interests, Manufactured facilities and activities)

D. Ecological relationshipsE Others Leopold Matrix M= Magnitude; I= Importance


E. Others Leopold Matrix, M= Magnitude; I= Importance

Methods of identifying impactsMethods of identifying impacts1.2 Concept of Stepped Matrices:1 A d i i l ll d “ i1. A stepped matrix is also called “cross‐impact

matrix” can be used to address secondary and tertiary impacts of initiating actionstertiary impacts of initiating actions.

2. A “stepped matrix” is one in which environmental factors are displaced against p gother environmental factors.

3. The consequences of initial changes in some factors on other factors can be displayed.


Methods of identifying impacts

Concept of Stepped Matrix

ACTIONS

1 2 3 4 5

A

A B F G H

FACT

ORS

A

B

C

F

D

E

F

A

B

H


I

J

Leopold matrix showing Magnitude and Intensity on scale of 1 to 10

A ti itiA ti iti AdverseAdverse NoNo BeneficialBeneficial

Simple matrixActivitiesActivities Adverse Adverse

effecteffectNo No EffectEffect

Beneficial Beneficial EffectEffect

Land transformation & CompactionLand transformation & Compaction

Land UseLand Use

Water ResourcesWater Resources

Air qualityAir quality

Noise & VibrationNoise & Vibration

Transportation systemsTransportation systems

O h T f M iO h T f M iOther Type of MatricesOther Type of Matrices

1. Modified Graded matrix (Lohani and Than)

2. Environmental Compatibility matrix

3. Impact Summary matrix

Environmental Compatibility

Matrix for Upper BhotekoshiBhotekoshi Hydropower

projectproject

Decision Matrix forMatrix for

Upper Bhotekosi

Environmental Impact Matrix of Arun – III Hydro Project – A Part of Impact Summary Matrix

Methods of identifying impactsMethods of identifying impacts2. NETWORKS

“Networks” are those methodologies which integrate impact causes and consequencesintegrate impact causes and consequences through identifying interrelationships between casual actions and the impacted penvironmental factors, including those representing secondary and tertiary effects.

- Larry W. Canter, 1996, page 81


Methods of identifying impactsMethods of identifying impacts2. NETWORKS


Use of Networks method in road sector example

Rural road project

Land and soil

Forests Air and water

Conversion of Loss of forest Emission of airConversion of arable land due to road construction

Loss of forest area/species

habitat

Emission of air pollutants discharge

Decline in Soil erosion

and Flooding and siltation,

change in river crops

production downstream

sedimentation

ghydrology changes

Loss of endemic or protected or endangered

Change in microclimate, decline in

aquatic or terrestrial p gspecies

qproductivity

Migration

Change in productivity of

terrestrial, ti d

Change in employment t iti d lit

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aquatic and manmade

system

opportunities and quality of life


Simple listsSimple lists1.1. Simple listsSimple lists

2.2. Descriptive checklistsDescriptive checklists

3.3. Scaling checklistsScaling checklists

Questionnaire checklistQuestionnaire checklist4.4. Questionnaire checklistQuestionnaire checklist


Methods of identifying impactsMethods of identifying impactsS.N Environmental Component Sub‐component

1. Physical LandlandscapeLand use

1 Simple

Water resourcesAir and noise

2. Biological and agricultureWildlifeAquatic life1. Simple

ChecklistBirdsBiodiversityHabitat

3. Human, social, Goods and servicesIrrigation and agriculture production

economic, and cultural and religious (including

Drinking water, health and sanitationHuman capitalSocial capitalAccidents and occupational safetyPrivate properties/infrastructure and public

gender, ethnicity, ) utility structuresLivelihoodsEmploymentIncomeArchaeologicalh / d


Chautara, pati/pauwaa, monument graveyard;temple, shrine


2. Descriptive Checklistp


Methods of identifying impactsMethods of identifying impacts3. Scaling Checklist

F IFactors Impact Beneficial impact

1 2 3 Adverse impact

1 2 3 Habitat quality

SpeciesSpecies

Size/abundance

Duration

Reversibility

Magnitude

1= low; 2=medium; and 3=high


4. Questionnaire Checklist

1. Might the project affects any protected area? -------------NO --------------------YESIf YES specify which area in what ways (direct indirect) nature of the impact (short or long-If YES specify which area, in what ways (direct, indirect), nature of the impact (short or long-term, reversible or irreversible, cumulative, synergistic), and severity. ………………..…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

2. Will the project site locate near the valuable forests? -------------------No ----------------YESIf YES, identify the forests, their value and describe possible direct and indirectconsequences of project…………………………………………………………………………………………………………

1. Will the project locate existing landslides or landslides and erosion prone areas, and henceincrease the slope instability, landslides and erosion? -----------------NO -------------YESp y,If YES specify the sites, and explain how. ……………………. ………………….……………………..

2. Might the project disrupt natural drainage pattern? …………….NO ……………YESIf YES specify the location and potential consequencesIf YES specify the location and potential consequences.

Overlay MappingOverlay Mapping

• Overlay mapping is a• Overlay mapping is a simple technique for displaying the impact areas

• The resources likely are to be impacted and pintensity of impacts can be presented through color shadingcolor shading

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ConclusionConclusion

In the history of EIA, an enormous variety of methods have been devised to help undertake EIAs and prepare EIA reports.

These EIA methods are structured which allow impact to be identified, manipulated and presented.

Some methods are suited to one of these tasks, whereas other methods for all of them.

These EIA methods are tools used to assist EIA implementation.They should be modified, adapted, extended or simplified to meet the needs of a particular EIA.


Chapter 6: Executing the EIA Process

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