Environmental Assessment

Bhai Raja ManandharEnvironmental Engineer & Visiting Faculty, SchEMS

Environmental Assessment (EA)

“It is an amalgamation of art and science of identifying/predicting and evaluating the results of interactions between environmental variables and human activities in nature.”

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Environmental Assessment

EA as an art or a management tool reflects sensitivity towards naturecarries out environmental analysis

of actions ensures compliance with the policy

and legal provisions influences decision-making process

Environmental Assessment

EA as a science deals with methodologies and techniques for identifying, predicting and evaluating the environmental impacts associated with a particular proposal

Environmental Assessment

ensures public consultation and participation of affected community

helps to judge environmental performance of the proponent

provides inputs into decision-making

EASEAEIAIEECIASIAHIA

Comparison in terms of legal provisions

IEE EIA Screening criteria Schedule-1 of EPR, 1997 Schedule-2 of EPR, 1997 Scoping Not required Required Terms of Reference Required Required Public hearing Not required Required Recommendations of concerned VDC’s/Municipalities

Required Required

Open EIA/IEE report for public review/comments

Not required (However, publication of a 15 day public notice in a national-level daily newspaper and posting of the same in the project implementation area for soliciting suggestions/concerns of all stakeholders is a must before report finalization)

Required

Review by committee of experts Not required Required Approving agency Concerned agency MoE Deadline for approval Within 21 days of receipt of

the report in the concerned agency

Within 60 to 90 days of receipt of the report in the Ministry

EMP Not required Required

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Comparison on technical basis

IEE EIA Projects for which impacts & mitigations are known/proven

Projects for which impacts & mitigations are not known/proven

EA in Nepal

National ConcernsIncreasing sectoral outlook on

developmentDestruction of natural resource

baseRealization of the need for a tool

that helps to link development and the environment

EA in NepalBefore 1950

species conservation and forest use

1950-1980 natural resources conservation

and utilization1985 (from Seventh Plan)

onwards focus on EIA, EIA guidelines

EA in NepalInitiation of EA in Nepal

since 1980’s through policiesin 1990’s through laws use ramified along with development of guidelines and manuals

EA in NepalLegal measures

Forest Act,1993Water Resources Act,1993Electricity Act,1993 Environment Protection Act,1997 Environment Protection Rules,1997

EA in Nepal

Institutional effort Advisory bodies such as EPC Environment Divisions, Sections and

Units in sectoral agencies Ministry of Population and Environment

(MoPE) in September 1995 MoPE dissolved and Ministry of

Environment, Science and Technology (MoEST) established in February 2005

MoEnv in 2066 B. S. Announcement of Deptt. of Env. In

2069 B. S.

EA in NepalHuman Resources Development

Seminar, workshop, training, and EIA courses offered by academic institutions

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Need for a tool realized

A tool that is constructive and not

restrictive assesses environmental

impacts to minimise engineering biases

ensures integration of conservation and management of natural resources and reduction of pollution

Need for a tool realized

A tool thatuses environmental data/information into the project planning and decision-making

acts as a bridge between economic prosperity and environmental sustainability

Principle

Aim

Approach

Key elements

Identification of genuine & valid issuesDescription of the proposalBaseline information on existing environment of

proposal implementation site Identification/prediction of impacts and evaluation

of their significanceAdverse impact mitigation measures/Benefit

enhancement measuresEnvironment management planAnalysis of alternativesFeedbacks from public concerned/stakeholders

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Identification of Key Issues

Project Features/Parameters

Schedule – 4 of the EPR ‘97

EMP

Terms of Reference

Public Hearing/Consultations Project Features/Components

Alternatives

Information on Environmental Baseline of the Proposal Implementation Site

Public Notice

Projects for EIA

Scoping

Projects for IEE Schedule – 1 & 2 of the EPR ‘97

Screening

EIA Study/Report

Schematic of the EIA Method

Environmental Baseline Conditions of Proposal Implementation Site

Mitigation/Enhancement Measures Identification/Prediction & Assessment of Environmental Impacts

Public Consultations/Meetings

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ScopingAn early and open process for

determining the scope of issues to be addressed and for identifying the significant issues related to a proposed action/proposal

A two-way communication process between the proponent and the public prior to EIA study

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ScopingObjective:

To make EIA study focused & efficient

To ensure contextual relevance of EIA

To provide basis for preparation of ToR for EIA

To facilitate an early agreement on contentious issues, if any

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ScopingObjective:

To find out all the aspects likely to be affected by the proposal

To provide an opportunity for public involvement in determining factors to be assessed

To identify possible alternatives to the proposal

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ToR

Objective:To systematize the study procedureTo delineate major activities to be

implementedTo fit EIA with the existing policy, rules

and administrative proceduresTo accomplish the study within a

specified time limit

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ToRObjective:

To ensure involvement of appropriate and adequate professionals in the EIA study

To indicate the nature and extent of data/information to be collected

To specify the most relevant/pertinent study method/procedure, if any

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Environmental domains

Physical environmentSocio-economic environment

Biological environmentCultural environment

Description of the proposal

Relevancy & Objectives of the proposal

Salient features Maps Project components Construction/operation activities

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Review of relevant policies, legislation and conventions

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Baseline information(of the site of construction/operation of the project)

Typical methods used in the study Walkover survey Household survey/Census FGD/Farm-level interviews/Key informant

interview Literature review Sampling and lab testing Interpretation of maps/satellite images

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Baseline information

Physical environmentTopographyLand-useGeologyClimateWater resourcesAmbient air

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Baseline information

Socio-economic environmentDemographyEconomic activities/General indication of

level of affluenceKey local productsAccess to market & credit facilitiesLiteracy levelGeneral price level of key commoditiesWomen/childrenVulnerable segment of local populace

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Baseline information

Biological environmentForest resourcesRare/endangered species of plantsPlant species of

religious/medicinal/commercial valuesWild animals & their habitatRare/endangered species of animalsCommunity forestsLocal dependence on forest resources

(Timber/Non-timber) for livelihood33

Baseline information

Cultural environmentTemples/Gumbas/MosquesPlaces of historic/cultural significance

Local significanceRegional significanceNational significance

Cemetery/GhatsHistoric/cultural monuments

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Impact Identification/prediction

and

Evaluation

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Impact Identification/Prediction

Beneficial or Adverse4 environmental domainsIdentified/Predicted3 stages of project life

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Impact Identification/Prediction

IdentificationSure to occur/related to land acquisition

and site clearance

PredictionMost likely to occur/related to other project

activities during construction & operationWithin RoW of a road/canal e. g.

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Methods for Impacts Identification/Prediction

Simple checklistsLeopold MatrixNetworkMap overlay/GISPollutant Dispersion Model (for Air

Pollution)Streeter-Phelps Model (for Water

Pollution)38

Impact Evaluation

MagnitudeHigh/MajorModerateMinor

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Impact Evaluation

Extent of impacts/spatialSite specificLocal (within watershed)Regional (beyond watershed)

National/Transboundary40

Impact Evaluation

Duration of impacts/temporalShort term ( upto 3 years)Medium term (>3 – <20 years)Long term (>20 years)

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Impact Mitigation

& Enhancement Measures

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Enhancement Measures w/ Cost Indications

Providing relevant training/skills to local people

Priority to local people for employment in project construction/operation works

Construction/rehabilitation of some public facilities such as taps, schools, health care centers, temples etc.

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Mitigation Measures

Impact-wise MM’s with indicative costs

Avoidance, Corrective or Compensatory

Cost incurring & Non-cost incurring

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Alternative Analysis

DesignProject siteTechnology, procedure of operation, time-

schedule and raw materials to be usedEnvironment management systemWhether or not the risks resulting from the

proposal can be accepted

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Environmental Management Plan

“A plan to ensure systematic integration of all proposed mitigation measures with the project construction/operation activities”

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ObjectivesFormulate project management activities

in particular the implementation of EPM’sFormulate a monitoring programme for

baseline, impact and compliance monitoring

Formulate an environmental auditing programme to be implemented after project constructionEPM’s: Environment Protection Measures

Environmental Management Plan

Project Management for EPM Implementation

Monitoring PlanAuditing plan

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Types of Environmental Monitoring

Baseline Monitoring Compliance Monitoring

Impact Monitoring49

Baseline Monitoring

If anticipated time lapse between EIA approval and project execution is significantly long

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Baseline Monitoring

Specific objective: to update the baseline

information on the overall environmental conditions of the project site prior to project implementation

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Compliance Monitoring

Specific objectives:To ensure fulfillment of all

conditions set forth and commitments made in the approved EIA report

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Compliance Monitoring

Specific objectives:To ensure that other regulatory

requirements/standards are well integrated with subsequent project documents (e. g. DED and tender documents etc.)

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Impact Monitoring

Specific objectives: To ensure that the actual

impacts in the field are well within the manageable limit of the designed mitigation measures and set standards

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Impact Monitoring

Specific objectives: To detect any unexpected damages To provide early warning to the

responsible agencies for undertaking required corrective/additional measures to avert/minimize such unanticipated impacts

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Reporting Requirement

An EMP should prescribe a practical reporting mechanism along with necessary formats to collect data to document the findings of monitoring

activitiesTo document the proofs of compliance

and/or non-compliance

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Institutional Arrangement

An EMP should also suggest an institutional set-up such as an Environmental Monitoring Unit assigned with the overall responsibility of environmental monitoring and reporting

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Environmental Audit

Post project assessment of: o actual environmental impacts o the accuracy of impact prediction o effectiveness of impact

mitigation/benefit enhancement measures

o functioning of monitoring mechanism

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Environmental Audit

When and how many times?Once for each project after two

years of commencement of project operation

Who’s responsibility?MoSTE

(As per EPR, 1997)

Other legal requirementsPublic hearing

Once in the area of project implementation/operation (as per EPA, 2053)

Proceeding of public hearing Signatures of all attendees

Recommendations from Concerned V. D. C.’s/Municipalities

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Thank You !!