ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT (EIA)
INTRODUCTION
 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is
mandatory (compulsory) in accordance with
the requirements of the SECTION 34A
ENVIRONMENTAL (AMENDMENT) ACT 1985
and the ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
(PRESCRIBED ACTIVITIES)
(ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT)
ORDER 1987
WHAT IS EIA?
 EIA is a study to identify, predict, evaluate and communicate
information about the impacts on the environment of a proposed
project and to detail out the mitigating measures prior to project
approval and implementation
 EIA addresses the constraints and opportunities that natural
environment brings to the success of development. Its objective is
to discover problems at an early stage and provide for their
solution so that the benefits of the development can be achieved
without an unacceptable damage to environmental values
 A formal document required by law and order
 A process that continuously generates reports, advisor opinions
and monitors information
 A scientific study ~ analyses, interprets and presents facts and
knowledge for the decision-makers
 EIA finds was to reduce unacceptable impacts and evaluates the
most cost effective mitigation measures
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF EIA

 To identify and incorporate into the

project plan appropriate abatement and
mitigating measures
 To predict significant residual
environmental impact
 To determine the significant residual
environment impacts predicted and
 To identify the environment costs and
benefits of the project to the community
WHY DO WE NEED EIA?
 EIA is essentially a planning tool for preventing environmental
problems due to an action
 It seeks to avoid costly mistakes in project implementation, costly
either because of environmental damage or because of
modifications that may need to be done
 In Malaysia, EIA is used as a tool to integrate environmental
considerations into the planning and decision-making phase,
provides additional information towards better decision-making
 All professionals and managers should know the consequences
of their actions ~ they are responsible for their effects on the
environment
 EIA does not make decisions, but it is essential for those who do
~ the balancing of environmental effects with other consequences
of development is a political process
 EIA is a constructive, pro-development tool for management that
improves the success of and lengthens the life of projects
 Even a simple EIA is useful. An elaborate, sophisticated EIA is
not necessary in order to be useful to management
ESSENTIAL STEPS
 To complete an EIA in an efficient manner and to
realize the objectives listed above, the assessor
should take the following steps in sequence
 Describe the proposal project as well as the options
 Describe the existing environment
 Select the impact indicator to be used
 Predict the nature and the extent of environmental effects
 Identify the relevant human concerns
 Assess the significance of the impact
 Incorporate appropriate mitigating and abatement measures
into the project plan
 Identify the environmental costs and benefits of the project to
the community
 Report to the assessment
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS OF EIA
 Establishing the need for a project
It is important to establish clearly the need for the project
It should also highlight the social, cultural, economic or other
benefits that will occur from the project
 Consideration of project options
An assessment of the environmental implications of each option
should be considered
 Selecting mitigating and abatement measures
Is to enable the planner to identify and incorporate into his plan
any design components or modifications which will mitigate or
abate potential adverse environmental impacts
 Environmental data collection
Environmental data is necessary during impact assessment in
order to determine the extent of environmental effect or to decide
how significant to the community a predicted impact is likely to be
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS OF EIA
 Public participation – Public participation in EIA enables
project initiator
Monitor community needs and ensure that the direction or
emphasis of his project continues to satisfy those needs
Identify both material and psychological impacts of the project on
the community
Measure and promote the social acceptance of the project in the
community and avoid costly modifications or abandonment of a
project at a later stage
Monitor changing environmental values in the society
Obtain additional environmental information known to the local
population
 Cost and Benefits
Decision makers must take into account implied environmental
values in their decision making
IMPORTANT CONCEPTS OF EIA
 Monitoring environmental impacts – During EIA, baseline
studies may be initiated, as part of the environmental data
collection program, where significant residual environmental
impacts are predicted, there would be a need for the project
initiator to continue these studies as part of a monitoring program.
Such programs perform two important functions:
They provide a check on the environment management of the
project and ensure that the project initiator meets the conditions
attached to the approval given
They provide feedback to improve the database for environment
impact prediction in future project planning
THE EIA PROCEDURE

 Scope – This procedure applied to all

prescribed activities initiated within the public
and private sectors
 Preliminary Assessment of all Prescribed Activities
 Detailed Assessment of that Prescribed for which
significant residual environmental impact has been
predicted in Preliminary Assessment
 Review of Preliminary Assessment Report
THE EIA PROCEDURE
 Preliminary Assessment – should be normally initiated during
early stages of project planning
 One of the tools for assessment is the EIA Matrix
 Some form of public participation is mandatory
 Environmental data collection maybe necessary and close liaison
between the assessor and relevant environmental related
agencies is encouraged
 The results of Preliminary Assessment are reported formally for
examination and approval by authorities
 The objective of Preliminary Assessment for Prescribed Activities
are
 To examine and select from the project options available
 To identify and incorporate into the project appropriate
abatement and mitigating measures
 To identify significant residual environmental impacts
THE EIA PROCEDURE

 Detailed Assessment - should continue

during project planning until the project
plan is finalized
 The assessment might be conducted ‘in
house’ or by a consultant
WHICH ARE SUBJECTED TO
EIA?
 Activities subjected to EIA are prescribed under the
Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities)
(Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987.
 The schedules of activities which required EIA are as
follows (Refer to EIA PROCEDURE AND
REQUIREMENTS IN MALAYSIA);
Agriculture, Airport, Drainage and Irrigation, Land Reclamation,
Fisheries, Forestry, Housing, Industry, Infrastructure, Ports,
Mining, Petroleum, Power Generation and Transmission,
Quarries, Railways, Transportation, Resort and Recreational
Development, Waste Treatment and Disposal, Water Supply
FUNDAMENTAL METHODS

1. Systems Approach
2. Preliminary Site and Project Evaluation
3. Scoping
4. Baseline Studies
5. Formatting
6. Prediction Methods and Models
1. SYSTEMS APPROACH
 Study of nature
 A major task is to sort/differentiate the changes
caused by a project from those changes as part of
natural cycles
 Nature can be studied and understood as a system~
understanding allows prediction of the consequences
of development ~ which is the essence of EIA and the
desire of successful managers
 Any fragmentation of EIA of investigation or neglect of
a component will lead to inaccurate prediction, cause
relationship
1. SYSTEMS APPROACH
 Screening is the decision as to whether or not to
perform EIA
 Malaysia has established a list of prescribed activities
that are mandatory to carry out an EIA, otherwise
there are requirements to prepare Environmental
Impact Statement or Environmental Appraisal or
Environmental Monitoring
 The size and type of projects are the main factors in
considering whether EIA is necessary or not
 Results of previous EIAs can be applied to similar
projects ~ experienced counts
2. PRELIMINARY SITE AND
PROJECT EVALUATION
 Review report
 Criteria questions
 Site visits
 Interdisciplinary team discussion
 Professional judgment
3. SCOPING
 Geographic Scope
Boundary- not too rigid
 Time Horizon
Project schedule
Project phasing
Long term or short term
 Scoping Meeting
Call for presentation
Refer to past/previous EIA reports
 Ranking priorities and Alternatives
How significant
Relevancy
Quantitative not only qualitative
Compare with standards, etc
4. BASELINE STUDIES

 Baseline studies establish the existing state of

the environment and sometimes past
 These records are built up gradually and
continuously grow in detail through systematic
surveys and monitoring
 Sometimes data from a well studied site are
useful to another one of interest (i.e new
site)~this allows the EIA to proceed with a
reasonable degree of understanding
4. BASELINE STUDIES
 Description of the existing environment for baseline
studies would cover as follows : (typical)
 Topography and physical characteristics
 Soils and geology
 Meteorology and climatology
 Drainage system and hydrologic regime
 Land use
 Water quality
 Air quality
 Noise levels
 Traffic and transportation
 Socio economic
 Amenities and utilities
 Flora and fauna
 Etc etc…relevancy…emphasizing the relevant issues
5. FORMATTING

1. Check list
 Serves as a reminder of all possibilities
relationships and impacts ~ out of
which the significant issues are
assessed /analyzed in detail
 Stimulates investigation
 The main thing is to look for significant
in EIA
5. FORMATTING
2. Matrix
 Leopold Matrix ~ by Dr Luna Leopold (1970s)
 X asis-all development activities
 Y axis-all relevant environmental components
 Each intersection can be used to indicate a possible impact ~
give ratings of magnitude and importance
 Significant environmental enhancement (benefits)
 Potentially significant adverse impact for which a design
solution has been identified
 Significant adverse/residual impact
 Filling out a matrix is not equivalent to performing an EIA ~ a
matrix can systematically identify potentially important impact
 Warranting more careful attention
5. FORMATTING

3. Sequence Diagram
 At the end of EIA report
4. Mapping
 Figures
PREDICTION METHODS AND
MODELS
 Extrapolation, interpolation and analogy
 Models
 Standards
 Capacity and threshold concept
METHODS FOR IMPACT
IDENTIFICATION
 Interaction-Matrix
 A simple Interaction-Matrix displays project action or activities
along one axis, with appropriate environmental factors listed
along the other axis
 When a given action or activity is expected to cause a change
in an environmental factor, this is noted at the intersection
point in the matrix and further described in terms of separate
or combined magnitude and importance considerations
 Impact rating in the matrix involves the use of predefined code
denoting the characteristics of the impacts as follows
 SB = Significant beneficial impact; represent highly desirable
outcome
METHODS FOR IMPACT
IDENTIFICATION
 Simple Checklists
 represent lists of environmental factors, which
should be addressed, however, no information is
provided on specific needs, methods for
measurement, or
 impact prediction or assessment
METHODS FOR IMPACT
IDENTIFICATION
 Description of Existing Environmental Setting
 Description of existing environment is an integral part of an EIA study
 Two major purposes for describing existing environment are;
 To assess existing environmental quality, as well as the
environmental impacts of the alternatives being studied, including
no-action or no-project alternative
 To identify environmentally significant factors or geographical areas
that could preclude the development of a given alternatives.
Examples include the presence of stream segment with poor water
quality, geographical areas with "marginal" air quality, habitat for
threatened or endangered plant or animal species, and significant
historical or archeological sites
LIST OF FACTORS TO BE
DESCRIBED
 Physical Environment
 Geology, mineral, soil
 Climate

 Water resources (surface water and

groundwater)
 Water quality

 Air quality and emission

 Noise

 Hazardous waste management

LIST OF FACTORS TO BE
DESCRIBED
 Biological Environment
 Terrestrial ecosystems

 Natural vegetation

 Natural Fauna

 Aquatic ecosystems

 Threatened and endangered species

LIST OF FACTORS TO BE
DESCRIBED
 Human resources
 Demography

 Development and economy

 Land use

 Infrastructure

 Housing

 Schools

 Healthcare

 Transportation

 Recreation

 Utilities
LIST OF FACTORS TO BE
DESCRIBED
Two categories of environmental
 Natural environment - Air quality and odor, water quantity and
quality, groundwater quantity and quality, saltwater intrusion,
water usage and water rights, meteorology and climatology,
catastrophic meteorological events, benthal deposits, noise, soils,
geology, seismicity, topography, aquatic and terrestrial biology,
threatened or endangered plant or animal species, visual
characteristics, and aesthetic features of recreational areas, open
spaces, and natural areas
 Man-made environment - Historical, archeological sites, land
use, population, recreational use of area, infrastructure, mining,
regulatory and planning frameworks for the area, including water
laws and regulations and planning group and agencies
 Sensitive environment - Prime agricultural land, floodplains,
groundwater recharge areas, wetlands, or shell fishing areas,
watershed protection areas, steeply sloping land, and recreational
open space
LIST OF FACTORS TO BE
DESCRIBED
 Selection Process
 Site visits
 Interdisciplinary team discussion

 Scoping

 Criteria questions

 Professional judgment
TYPICAL CONTENTS OF EIA
(DOE GUIDELINES)
 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
 WHAT
 Proposed project development
 Development concept
 Provision of utilities, services
 WHERE
 Project location
 WHO
 Project initiator, proponents, consultant
 WHY
 Statement of need
 WHOM
 Public or communities who will benefit most
TYPICAL CONTENTS OF EIA
(DOE GUIDELINES)
 PROJECT DEVELOPMENT
 HOW
 Project activities ~ especially construction phase
 Land clearing and earthworks
 Construction of infrastructures and buildings
 Construction methods
 Disposal of construction wastes
 Dredging or excavation works
 Reclamation works etc
 WHEN
 Project schedule
 Duration
 Phasing
 Work schedule
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING
ENVIRONMENT (BASELINE STUDIES)

 PHYSICAL
 Topography and physical characteristics
 Geology and soils
 Drainage system and hydrologic regime
 Land use~within and surrounding
 Traffic and transportation
 Noise levels
 Meteorology
 River morphology etc
DESCRIPTION OF THE EXISTING
ENVIRONMENT (BASELINE STUDIES)

 CHEMICAL
 Air Quality
 Water Quality
 BIOLOGICAL
 Ecology
 Flora and fauna
 Habitat
 HUMAN
 Socio-economy
 Aesthethic and culture
 Health, safety, well being etc
IDENTIFICATION AND
ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS
 Only the relevant, critical, significant
impacts
 Qualitative and quantative assessment

 Duration, frequency, intensity

 Loss~tangible and intangible

 Adjustment, adaptability

 Cost-benefit analysis
IDENTIFICATION AND
ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS
Methods of assessment
 Models

 Standards, limits regulations

 Equations

 Theory

 Extrapolation, interpolation, analogy

MITIGATION MEASURES

 Propose measures to reduce significant

adverse impacts
 Abatement-diminish or become less
 Control-power of directing or restraining,
subject to guidance
 Prevention-stop
 Alleviate-lessen, less severe
 Mitigate-reduce severity, alleviate
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
PROGRAMME
 Monitoring programme
 Post-audit
 Compliance plan
PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTING
EIA
 Lateness in the development sequence~then EIA is
seen as causing delays, hinders development
 Lack of follow up during development~no post audit
or monitoring~e.g environmental concerns may be
forgotten
 Beneficial impacts are ignored~should reveal
opportunities and benefits
 Lack of considerations of alternative sites,
technologies and designs
 Bias in the tone and language of EIA ~ developer,
authority NGO (environmentalists)
PROBLEMS IN IMPLEMENTING
EIA
 Participation of all interested and affected parties~report should be
made public
 Mitigation measures are often unaffordable and unrealistic ~ do not
reflect appropriate standards for level of development
 EIA is viewed as anti-development~a nuisance imposed by the
Government ~ EIA is irrelevant when good engineering –economic
analysis has been prepared
 Contents of EIA findings is often awkward and unclear
 The ad-hoc, project by project EIA, ~ makes regional and national
environmental planning difficult
 EIA should be managed by strong environmental coordination units
within organization ~ do not rely on DOE etc
 Economic valuation of impacts is inadequate
 Modelling of ecosystems is inadequate for predictions ~ ecological
theory is still incomplete and principles are vague
 Uncertainties are not treated in detail
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF
IMPACTS ON THE AIR ENVIRONMENT

 Identification of the types and quantities of air

pollutants and of their impacts
 Sources of air pollution
 Types of air pollutants might be emitted during construction
 Dust emission from unpaved road may be quantified by the
following formula E=(0.18s)(S/30)[(365-w)/365]
 Where,
 E = emission factor, lb/vehicle-mile
 S = silt content of road surface material, %
 S = average vehicle speed, mi/hr
 w = mean annual rainfall number of days with 0.01 in (0.254 mm)
or more of rainfall
 *The equation is valid for vehicle speed of 30-50
miles/hr
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF
IMPACTS ON THE AIR ENVIRONMENT

 Description of Existing Air Quality

Conditions.
 Existing air quality conditions can be described in
terms of ambient air quality data, emission
inventories, and meteorological information, which
relates to atmospheric dispersion
 Procurement of Relevant Air Quality
Standards and Regulations.
 Sources of information of air quality standards,
criteria and policies will be the relevant local, state
and federal agencies
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF
IMPACTS ON THE AIR ENVIRONMENT

 Assessment of Impact Significance

 Significance assessment refers to interpretation of the significance of
anticipated changes related to the proposed projects
 Use of pertinent information from third step, along with professional
judgment and public input, to assess the significant of the anticipated
beneficial and detrimental impacts
 Identification and Incorporation of Mitigation Measures
 Mitigation measures refer to project-activity design or operational
features that can be used to minimize the magnitude of air quality
impacts
 Examples of mitigation measures are;
 Limitation on the practice of open burning of agricultural crop
residues
 Controlling erosion from open land by using three basic techniques
(watering, use of chemical fertilizers, and windbreaks) in addition to
vegetative cover
 Common techniques for controlling emission from unpaved road are
paving, surface treatment with penetration chemicals etc
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS
ON SURFACE-WATER ENVIRONMENT

 Examples of projects which create impact concerns for the surface water
environment include;
 Industrial plants or power plants withdrawing surface water for use as cooling
water
 Power plants discharging heated water from their cooling process
 Industries discharging process wastewaters from either routine operation or
as a result accidents and spills
 Municipal wastewater treatment plants discharging primary, secondary or
tertiary treated wastewaters
 Dredging projects in rivers, harbors, estuaries and coastal areas (increase
turbidity and releases of sediments may occur)
 Projects involving "'fill" or creation of "fast lands" along rivers, coastal areas
and estuaries
 Surface mining projects
 Construction of dams for water supply, flood control or hydroelectric power
 River channelization project for flow improvement
 Deforestation and agricultural development resulting in non-point source
pollution
 Commercial hazardous disposal sites
 Tourism projects adjacent to estuaries
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS
ON SURFACE-WATER ENVIRONMENT

 Basic Information on Surface Water Quantity and Quality

 Surface water hydrology
 Surface water quality parameters;
 Physical - odor, solids, color, temperature, turbidity, oil content
 Chemical - BOD, COD, TOC, TOD, organics, inorganics
 Biological - coliforms, fecal coliforms, pathogens, viruses
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS
ON SURFACE-WATER ENVIRONMENT

 Conceptual approach for addressing surface-water

environment impacts
 Identification of types and quantities of soil and/or groundwater
pollutants to be introduced or groundwater to be withdrawn as a
result of the project and other impact causing factors
 Description of existing soil and/or groundwater resources in
terms of soil types, characteristics, and quality; groundwater
flows and quality; hydro geological characteristics;
relationships to existing surface water resources; groundwater
classifications; existing point and non-point sources of
pollutions and pollution loadings and existing groundwater
withdrawals
 Procurement of relevant soil and/or groundwater
quantity-quality standards and criteria related to soil erosion
control, soil quality, and groundwater quality and/or
groundwater usage
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS
ON SURFACE-WATER ENVIRONMENT

 Conceptual approach for addressing surface-water

environment impacts
 Procurement of relevant laws, regulations, or criteria
related to water quality or/and water usage
 Conduction of impact prediction activities, including the
use of mass balances in terms of water quantity and/or
pollutant-loading changes, mathematical models for
relevant pollutant types, aquatic system models to
account for fauna and floral changes and
nutrient-pollutant cycling
 Use of pertinent information from third step, along with
professional judgment and public input, to assess the
significant of the anticipated beneficial and detrimental
impacts
 Identification, development and incorporation of
appropriate mitigation measures for the adverse impacts
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ON
THE SOIL AND GROUNDWATER ENVIRONMENTS

 Examples of projects which create impact

concerns for the soil and groundwater
environment include:
 Land subsidence as a result of over pumping of
groundwater resources
 Increased soil erosion in construction area
 Usage of "borrow" construction materials for major
projects
 Landslides, caused by inappropriate slope stability
 Concerns associated with constructing and operating
nuclear power plants, chemical production plants,
hazardous waste facility, or large storage facility
(chemical, oil, petroleum).
 Strip-mining operation for coal extraction or other
mineral resources
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ON
THE SOIL AND GROUNDWATER ENVIRONMENTS

 Examples of projects which create impact

concerns for the soil and groundwater
environment include:
 Construction of jetties
 Project, which, may create acid rain that will
impact soil chemistry or subsurface groundwater
 Construction of landfill sites
 Construction of surface water reservoir
 Agricultural development projects
 Pipe laying projects for gas and crude oil over
long distances
 Projects involving land which, may have been
previously contaminated with hazardous waste
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ON
THE SOIL AND GROUNDWATER ENVIRONMENTS

 Conceptual approach for addressing soil and

groundwater environment impacts
 Identification of types and quantities of soil and/or
groundwater pollutants to be introduced or groundwater
to be withdrawn as a result of the project and other
impact causing factors
 Description of existing soil and/or groundwater resources
in terms of soil types, characteristics, and quality;
groundwater flows and quality; hydro geological
characteristics; relationships to existing surface water
resources; groundwater classifications; existing point
and non-point sources of pollutions and pollution
loadings and existing groundwater withdrawals
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ON
THE SOIL AND GROUNDWATER ENVIRONMENTS

 Conceptual approach for addressing soil and

groundwater environment impacts
 Procurement of relevant soil and/or groundwater
quantity-quality standards and criteria related to soil
erosion control, soil quality, and groundwater quality
and/or groundwater usage
 Conduction of impact prediction activities; including the
use of qualitative approaches based on analogue and
professional judgments
 Use of pertinent information from third step, along with
professional judgment and public input, to assess the
significant of the anticipated beneficial and detrimental
impacts.
 Identification and incorporation of mitigation measures
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF
IMPACTS ON THE NOISE ENVIRONMENT

 Noise impacts can be of concern during the

construction and the operational phase of
projects
 Examples of operational-phase impacts
include noise emission from compressor
stations for gas pipelines, pumping stations
water distribution and wastewater treatment
system, highways and freeways, industrial
plants, fossil fueled power plants and military
training activities
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF
IMPACTS ON THE NOISE ENVIRONMENT

 Two types of emission;

 Impulse noise - that is of short duration
and high density such as explosions, sonic
bombs and artillery fire.
 Continuous noise - that is of longer
duration and lower intensity noise such as
that from construction and traffic.
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF
IMPACTS ON THE NOISE ENVIRONMENT

 Conceptual approach for noise

environment impacts
 Identification of noise emissions and impacts
concerns related to the construction and operation
of a development projects
 Description of environmental setting in terms of
existing noise levels and noise sources, along with
land use information and unique receptors in the
project area
 Procurement of relevant standards and criteria
related to noise levels, land-use compatability, and
noise emission standards
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF
IMPACTS ON THE NOISE ENVIRONMENT

 Conceptual approach for noise

environment impacts
 Conduction of impact prediction activities; including
the use of simple noise-attenuation models, simple
noise-source-specific models, comprehensive
mathematical models, and/or qualitative-prediction
techniques based on examination of case studies
and the exercise of professional judgments
 Use of pertinent information from third step, along
with professional judgment and public input, to
assess the significant of the anticipated beneficial
and detrimental impacts
 Identification and incorporation of mitigation
measures
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ON
THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

 The following are important

fundamental terms and concepts in
biological impacts studies;
 Biogeochemical cycles (nutrient
cycles) - are the series biological pathways
by which the earth's organic elements are;
 made available for use by living organisms
 find their ways into the food chain

 later broken down to begin the cycle again

PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ON
THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

 Within the total biosphere, as within each

ecosystem, organisms are categorized by their
roles in these cycles - that is, by how they get their
energy, as follows;
 Primary producers - are organisms, mostly green plants, that
draw on sun as energy to make the fuel for others to use
 Consumers - are those beings who eat the food produced by
plants, starting with plant-eating (herbivores) organisms and
extending into a chain of larger, animal eating (carnivores)
organisms
 Decomposers - are micro-organisms that break down the
remains of dead plants and animals for eventual recycling
within the biosphere
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ON
THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

 Biological diversity - refers to the variety and

variability of living organisms and the biological
communities in which they live
 Carrying capacity - is the total number of plants
and animals that can be supported by a particular
ecosystem, without reducing the environment's
long-term ability to sustain life at the desired level
and quality
 Eco-system - is a stable interacting gathering of
living organisms in their non-living environment,
which is unified by a circular flow of energy and
nutrients
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ON
THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

 Edge effect - is the influence transitional

zones on the plant community on either
side of it, such as it would be exhibited by
hedge or scrubby border between forest
and pasture; also, the attraction of such an
area for animals
 Habitat - is the natural home of an
individual or species of plant or animal;
also it is the necessary combination of
food, water, cover and other resources the
individual or species require for life
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ON
THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

 Conceptual approach for addressing

biological impacts
 Identification of potential biological impacts of the
construction and/or operation of the proposed project
or activity, including habitat changes or loss, chemical
cycling and toxic events, and disruption to ecological
events
 Description of environmental setting in terms of
habitat types, selected floral and fauna species
management practices, endangered or threatened
species and special features (such as wetlands)
 Procurement of relevant laws, regulations, or criteria
related to biological resources and protection of
habitat or species
PREDICTION AND ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS ON
THE BIOLOGICAL ENVIRONMENT

 Conceptual approach for addressing

biological impacts
 Conduction of impact prediction activities; including
the use analogies (case studies), physical modeling,
and/or mathematical modeling and the exercise of
professional judgments
 Use of pertinent information from third step, along
with professional judgment and public input, to
assess the significant of the anticipated beneficial and
detrimental impacts
 Identification and incorporation of mitigation
measures
DECISION METHODS FOR
EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES
 Environmental impact studies typically address a
minimum of two alternatives, and they could include
upwards to fifty alternatives. Typical studies focus from
three to five alternatives
 The alternatives be addressed encompass wide range
of considerations.
 For example, alternatives for dams and hydroelectric
projects may include project construction and
operation at different sites; differences in design and
operational procedures; including the incorporation of
various mitigation measures; and timing options for the
construction and operational phases
DECISION METHODS FOR
EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES
 Categories for alternatives may include;
 Site location alternatives
 Design alternatives for a site
 Construction, operation and decommissioning
alternatives for a design
 Project size alternatives
 Phasing alternatives for size groupings
 No-project or no-action alternatives
 Timing alternatives relative to project construction,
operation and decommissioning
DECISION METHODS FOR
EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES
 Weighting-scaling (or -ranking or -rating) checklists
can be used in such comparisons and evaluations
 "Scaling" refers to the assignment of algebraic scales
or letter scales to the impact of each alternative being
evaluated on each evaluated environmental factor;
functional relationship, typically serve as the basis for
these assignment
 "Ranking" checklists are where alternatives are
ranked from best to worst in terms of their potential
impacts on identified environmental factors
 "Rating" involves the use of a predefined rating
scheme
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN
ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION MAKING

 Public participation can be defined as a continuous,

two-way communication process which involves
promoting full public understanding of the processes
and mechanisms through which environmental
problems and needs are investigated and solved by
the responsible agency; keeping the public fully
informed about the status and progress of studies and
implications of project, plan, program, or policy
formulation and evaluation activities; and actively
soliciting from all concerned citizens their opinion and
perceptions of objectives and needs and their
preferences regarding resource use and alternative
development or management strategies and any other
information and assistance relative to the decision
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN
ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION MAKING

 Objectives of public participation are;

 Information dissemination, education and
liaison
 Identification of problems, needs, and
important values
 Idea generation and problem solving
 Reaction and feedback on proposals
 Evaluation of alternatives
 Conflict resolution by consensus
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN
ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION MAKING

 Techniques of public participation;

 Public hearing
 Public meetings
 Informal, small group meetings
 Information and coordination seminars
 Forum of other agencies or groups
 Operating field offices
 Local planning visits
 Field trips and site visits
 Public displays and model demonstrations
 Workshops
 Special committee
 Interviews
 Hot line
 Surveys
 Participatory television
 Simulation games
PREPARATION OF WRITTEN DOCUMENT

 EIA documentation shall be written in plain

language and may use appropriate graphics
so that decision makers and public can readily
understand them. Agencies should employ
writers of clear prose or editors to write,
review, or edit statements, which will be based
upon the analysis and supporting data from
the natural and social sciences and the
environmental design arts
PREPARATION OF WRITTEN DOCUMENT

 Five important principles (Mills and Walter,

1978)
 Always have in mind a specific reader, and always
assume that this reader is intelligent, but uninformed
 Before starting to write, always decide what the exact
purpose of your report is; and make sure that every
paragraph, every sentence and every word makes a clear
contribution to that purpose, and makes it at the right time
 Use language that is simple, concrete and familiar
 At the beginning and end of every section, check your
writing according to this principle; "First, you tell your
readers what you are going to tell them; then you tell them,
and then you tell them what you have told them"
 Make your report visually attractive
 QUIZ

1. List the steps in the EMS audit process

2. List types of EA
3. What is an Environmental Audit
4. List the Effective elements of audits program
PREPARATION OF WRITTEN DOCUMENT

 Generic Topical Outline for an Environmental Impact Report

 Abstract or Executive Summary
 Chapter I : Introduction
 Chapter 2 : Delineation of need for project
 Chapter 3 : Description of proposed project
 What it is and how it will function
 When will it occur (timing for construction and operation)
 Extent of effectiveness in meeting need
 Chapter 4: Description of Affected Environment
 Components of baseline conditions and study area boundaries
 Interpretation of existing quality for components
 Chapter 5 : Impacts of proposed project
 Identification and description and/or quantification of impacts on
environmental components
 Interpretation of significance of impacts
 Mitigation measures for adverse impacts
 Chapter 6: Evaluation of alternatives
 Description of alternatives
 Selection method and results leading to proposed action
PREPARATION OF WRITTEN DOCUMENT

 Chapter 7: Planned environmental monitoring

 Need for monitoring
 Description of monitoring program
 Outputs and decision points
 Selected references
 Glossary of terms
 List of abbreviations
 Index
 Appendices
 Pertinent laws, regulation, executive orders, and policies
 Species lists
 Impact calculations
 Technical description of project
 Construction specifications to mitigate negative impacts
 Description of scooping program
 Description of public participation program
 Environmental factors considered and deemed not relevant
ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING
 Purposes of environmental monitoring
 Provides information that can be used for documentation of the impacts
that result form a proposed federal action; this information enables more
accurate prediction of impacts associated with similar federal actions
 The monitoring system could warn agencies of unanticipated adverse
impacts or sudden changes in impact trends
 The monitoring system could provide an immediate warning whenever a
pre-selected impact indicator approaches a pre-determined critical level
 Provides information that could be used by agencies to control the
timing, location and level of impact of project. Control measures would
involve preliminary planning as well as the possible implementation of
regulation and enforcement measures
 Provides information that could be used for evaluating the effectiveness
of implemented mitigation measures
 Provides information that could be used to verify predicted impacts and
thus validate impact-prediction techniques. Based on these findings, the
techniques, mathematical models could be modified or adjusted as
appropriate