EIA Methods
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This document discusses various methodologies used in environmental impact assessments (EIAs). It outlines key characteristics an EIA methodology should have, such as being appropriate to the task and free from bias. Common impact identification methods are described, including checklists, matrices, networks and overlays. The stages of impact prediction, evaluation and identification are explained. The document also discusses techniques for impact prediction, evaluation of significance, and designing environmental protection measures. Overall it provides an overview of conceptual approaches and analytical tools used in EIAs.
EIA Methods
- 1. SUBMITTED BY, S. INDRAKUMAR SINGH M.SC ENV.SCIENCE PANJAB UNIVERSITY, CHANDIGARH
- 2. Methodology means the structural approaches for doing one or more activities of EIA. There are some specific characteristic which an EIA methodology should depict. These are:-(1)It should be appropriate to the necessary task of EIA process such as impact identification/comparison of alternatives. (2)It should be significantly free from assessors bias (3)It should be economical in terms of costs, and its requirement of data ,investigating time , personnel, equipment and facilities.
- 3. This stage of EIA identifies and predicts the likely Environmental and social impact of the proposed project and evaluates the significance
- 4. 1. IMPACT IDENTIFICATION 2. IMPACT PREDICTION 3. IMPACT EVALUATION
- 5. *Public involvement typically occurs at these points. It may also occur at any other stage of the EIA Process Information from this process contributes to effective EIA in the future No EIA Initial environmental examination EIA required Approved Not approved Redesign Resubmit Proposal identification *Public involvement Screening Scoping Impact analysis Mitigation and impact management EIA report Review Decision-making Implementation and post-EIA monitoring
- 6. Impact Identification attempts to answer the question, “what will happen when a project enters its operational stage?” A List of important impacts such as changes in ambient air quality, changes in water and soil qualities, noise levels, wildlife habitats, species diversity, social and cultural systems, employment levels etc may be prepared. The important sources of impact like smoke emission, consumption of water, discharge of effluents etc are identified.
- 7. Ad hoc method Checklists Matrices Overlays Networks
- 8. Simple method based on subjective environment impacts on broad aspects. Ad hoc method is useful when time constraints and lack of information require that the EIA must rely exclusively on expert opinion. It provides minimal guidance for total impact assessment while suggesting the broad areas of possible impacts and the general nature of these possible impacts. When more scientific methods are available, it is not recommended.
- 9. Opinion polls. Experts opinion. Delphi methods etc.
- 10. ADVANTAGE Specialists on a particular area will provide guidance. DISADVANTAGE It require expert. Short/long term impact are merely examined on guess basis. Identification , prediction and interpretation of impacts are quite poor
- 11. Checklist means a listing of potential Environmental Impacts. This method is done to assess the nature of the impacts i.e. its type such as adverse /beneficial , short term or long term , no effect or significant impact , reversible or irreversible etc
- 12. Simple Lists. Descriptive Checklists. Scaling Checklists. Questionnaire Checklists.
- 13. ADVANTAGES Simple to understand and use. Good for site selection and priority setting. DISADVANTAGES Do not distinguish between direct and indirect impacts. Do not link action and impact. Sometime it is a cumbersome task.
- 14. Matrix and its variants provide us a framework of interaction of different actions /activities of a project with potential EI caused by them. A simple interaction matrix is formed where project actions are listed along one axis i.e. vertically and EI are listed along the other side i.e. horizontally. It was pioneer by Leopold et al(1971). It lists about 100 project actions and about 88 environmental characteristic and condition.
- 16. Ports and Harbours Airports Rapid Transit Highways Oil/Gas Pipelines Development Projects Valued Env. Component (VEC) Insignificant ImpactSignificant Impact Moderate - Significant Impact
- 17. ADVANTAGES Link action to impact Good method for displaying EIA results DISADVANTAGES Difficult to distinguish direct and indirect impacts Significant potential for double-counting of impacts Qualitative
- 18. It uses the matrix approach by extending it take into account primary as well the secondary impacts. Shown in the form of tree called as Relevance/Impact tree/Sequence diagram. Identification of direct ,indirect /short and long term environment impact is a crucial and intact basic step of making Impact tree. Used to identify cause-effect linkages Visual description of linkages
- 19. Salmonoid populations Fishing Spawning Temperature Flow Water Quality (Suspended Matter) Access Dredging Clearing
- 20. ADVANTAGES Link action to impact Useful in simplified form in checking for second order impacts Handles direct and indirect impacts DISADVANTAGES Can become overly complex if used beyond simplified version Qualitative
- 21. Rely on a set of maps of a project area’s environmental characteristics covering physical , social, ecological, aesthetic aspects. Separate mapping of critical environmental features at the same scale as project's site plan e.g. wetlands, steep slopes, soils, floodplains, bedrock outcrops, wildlife habitats, vegetative communities, and cultural resources... Older Technique: environmental features are mapped on transparent plastic in different colors. Newer Technique: Geographic Information Systems (GIS).
- 22. ADVANTAGES Easy to understand and use Good display method Good for site selection setting DISADVANTAGE Address only direct impacts Do not address impact duration or probability
- 23. A. Biological and Physio -chemical impacts. B. Social impacts. C. Health impacts. D. Economic impacts.
- 24. It relate to effects on biological resources such as vegetation ,wildlife , crops and aquatic life. Interaction with Physical elements like air ,water , soil, rocks and solar radiation. Chemical impacts like chemical change in air , water , soil quality etc.
- 25. Demographic – Displacement and relocation effects and changes in population characteristics. Cultural – Traditional patterns , family structure ,religious, archaeological features , social networks. Gender – implication of projects on roles of women in society , employment opportunity and equity Institutional – Housing , schools, Criminal justice , Health, welfare
- 26. Examples of health impacts by sector Communicable disease Non communicable disease Nutrition Injury Psychosocial disorder and loss of well- being Mining Tuberculosis Dust induced lung disease Crushing Labour migration Agriculture Parasitic infections Pesticide poisoning Loss of subsistence Industry Poisoning by pollutants Occupational injury Disempowerment Forestry Loss of food production Occupational injury Dams and irrigation schemes Water borne diseases Poisoning by pollutants Increased food production Drowning Involuntary displacement Transportation HIV/Aids Heart disease Traffic injury Noise and induced stress Energy Indoor air pollution Electromagnetic radiation Community displacement
- 27. Duration of construction and operation Workforce requirements for each period Skill requirements (local availability) Earning Raw material and other input purchases Capital investment Outputs The characteristics of the local economy
- 28. The accumulated knowledge of the findings of the environmental investigations form the basis for the prediction of impacts. Once a potential impact has been determined during scoping process ,it is necessary to identify which project activity will cause impact , and its magnitude and extent.
- 29. Best estimate professional judgement . Quantitative mathematical models . Experiments and physical models . Case studies as analogues or references .
- 30. 1. Baseline condition 2. Un certainty 3. Spatial limits 4. Temporary boundaries 5. Incremental condition 6. Quantitative and Qualitative methods
- 31. Its purpose is to assign relative significance to predicted impacts associated with the projects and to determine the order in which impacts are to be avoided , mitigated or compensated
- 32. Importance of affected resource Magnitude and extent of disturbance Duration and frequency Risk/likelihood of occurrence Reversibility Contribution to cumulative impacts
- 33. 33 Be considered effective if Information generated in the EIA contributed to decision making. Predictions were accurate Proposed mitigatory and compensatory measure achieved approved management objectives Efficiency criteria are satisfied if EIA decisions are timely relative to economic and other factors determine project decisions Costs of conducting EIA can be determined and are reasonable.
- 34. The area in which the effects of the proposed action will occur The impacts that are expected in that area from the proposed action Other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable actions that have or are expected to have impacts in the area The impacts or expected impacts from those other actions The overall impact that can be expected if the individual impacts are allowed to accumulate
- 35. Evaluate Environmental Impacts Design Environmental Protection Measures Review Applicable Standards
- 36. Develop Alternative Environmental Protection Measures Evaluate Implementation Costs Assess Environmental Effectiveness Select Final Environmental Protection Measures
- 37. The above simple techniques of EIA such as impact identification ,prediction ,evaluation are used for measuring environment variables and construction of a number of indices to describe the changes in environmental inventory.
- 38. http://www.unescap.org/drpad/vc/orientati on/M8_4.htm http://www.scopenvironment.org/download pubs/scope5/chapter04.html Class notes Wikipedia EIA Books
- 39. YOU