explain any case study of eia in detail

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USAID’s environmental safeguards and procedures implement the internationally recognized Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

Familiarity with the general EIA process thus makes USAID’s procedures much easier to understand—and is required to effectively simultaneously satisfy USAID and host country EIA procedures, something that USAID staff and implementing partners are increasingly required to do.

Effective compliance during USAID project design and implementation requires an understanding of key EIA terms and concepts and the effective application of core EIA skills.

This section summarizes the EIA process and introduces key EIA concepts and skills, providing links to more detailed resources in each case.

The EIA Process Defined

EIA is a formal process for identifying:

• likely effects of activities or actions on the environment, and on human health and welfare.
• means and measures to mitigate and monitor these impacts

The basic elements and outline of the EIA process are essentially standardized internationally. However, each donor and host country government has its own specific implementation of the process.

Key Terms and Concepts of the EIA Process

Environment:  The “environment” in EIA is not just the biophysical environment, but the social and cultural environment as well. EIA is concerned with the potential effects of activities on the biophysical environment, on societies and communities, and on human health and welfare.

Activity and Action:  In the vocabulary of USAID’s program cycle, an activity managed by USAID typically has multiple actions , which are discrete interventions or desired accomplishments: e.g. a road, seedling production, or river diversion to irrigate land.

Accomplishing an action itself entails a set of elements or tasks. (For example, “market access road rehabilitation” is an action. Entailed tasks or elements include surveying, grading, culvert construction, compaction, etc.) The EIA process needs to be cognizant of the entailed tasks or elements but establishes the findings at the action level.

Baseline situation:  The baseline situation are the existing environmental conditions (inclusive of human health and socio-cultural aspects) in the action area of influence in the absence of the proposed activity. Trends and variability are part of the baseline situation; it is not just a static snapshot in time. For example, this chart of groundwater levels shows both seasonal variability and a trend over time. BOTH are part of the groundwater baseline situation.

Impact : The change from the baseline situation caused by the action.

Mitigation:  The design and implementation of measures to eliminate, reduce or offset the undesirable effects of a proposed action on the environment.

Monitoring:  The essential complement of mitigation, monitoring is BOTH (1) determining whether mitigation is being implemented as required; and (2) determining whether mitigation is sufficient and effective.

Summary of the EIA Process

Note: more detailed overview available .

The EIA process consists of two main phases, as depicted in the diagram below.  

• Screening or Preliminary Assessment
• Detailed EIA Study

Most ---but not all – USAID activities have low or moderate risks. For these activities, the EIA process goes no further than a preliminary assessment ). Only activities with significant potential adverse impacts go a detailed EIA study.

(Note: In USAID terminology, a preliminary assessment is an “ Initial Environmental Examination ” (IEE). A detailed EIA study is an “ Environmental Assessment .” Host country EIA systems – with which USAID activities must also comply – will generally have different names for these documents.

Follow-through on the EIA process during activity implementation (not depicted in the diagram below) consists of IMPLEMENTING the mitigation measures identified by the EIA process and monitoring this implementation and its effectiveness.

Core EIA Skills

Life-of-project compliance for USAID-funded activities requires effective application of the following core EIA skills:

• Characterizing the baseline situation,  focusing on the aspects of the baseline situation likely to be affected by the proposed activity, or upon which the activity depends for its success.
• Identifying potential impacts of concern,  starting by researching the set of impacts typical of actions in the sector, and determining which of these “typical impacts” are actually of concern in the specific action context.
• Designing mitigation measures , with an emphasis wherever practical on choices of technique, site, and other design measures that prevent impacts
• Designing monitoring activities  to determine if mitigation is (1) implemented as specified; and (2) sufficient and effective.

The EIA process and key terms:

• Training presentation “ EIA: Concepts, Process and Skills ” PDF (1 MB)
• EIA Topic Briefing  PDF (1 MB)

How USAID’s procedures implement the general EIA process: Training presentation  EIA and USAID Environmental Procedures: the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Beyond  

Core EIA Skills: Characterizing the baseline situation and identifying impacts of concern:

• EIA: Concepts, Process and Skills  PDF (1 MB)

Core EIA Skills: Mitigation & Monitoring. Consult the Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting page .

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USAID’s environmental safeguards and procedures implement the internationally recognized Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process.

Familiarity with the general EIA process thus makes USAID’s procedures much easier to understand—and is required to effectively simultaneously satisfy USAID and host country EIA procedures, something that USAID staff and implementing partners are increasingly required to do.

Effective compliance during USAID project design and implementation requires an understanding of key EIA terms and concepts and the effective application of core EIA skills.

This section summarizes the EIA process and introduces key EIA concepts and skills, providing links to more detailed resources in each case.

The EIA Process Defined

EIA is a formal process for identifying:

• likely effects of activities or actions on the environment, and on human health and welfare.
• means and measures to mitigate and monitor these impacts

The basic elements and outline of the EIA process are essentially standardized internationally. However, each donor and host country government has its own specific implementation of the process.

Key Terms and Concepts of the EIA Process

Environment:  The “environment” in EIA is not just the biophysical environment, but the social and cultural environment as well. EIA is concerned with the potential effects of activities on the biophysical environment, on societies and communities, and on human health and welfare.

Activity and Action:  In the vocabulary of USAID’s program cycle, an activity managed by USAID typically has multiple actions , which are discrete interventions or desired accomplishments: e.g. a road, seedling production, or river diversion to irrigate land.

Accomplishing an action itself entails a set of elements or tasks. (For example, “market access road rehabilitation” is an action. Entailed tasks or elements include surveying, grading, culvert construction, compaction, etc.) The EIA process needs to be cognizant of the entailed tasks or elements but establishes the findings at the action level.

Baseline situation:  The baseline situation are the existing environmental conditions (inclusive of human health and socio-cultural aspects) in the action area of influence in the absence of the proposed activity. Trends and variability are part of the baseline situation; it is not just a static snapshot in time. For example, this chart of groundwater levels shows both seasonal variability and a trend over time. BOTH are part of the groundwater baseline situation.

Impact : The change from the baseline situation caused by the action.

Mitigation:  The design and implementation of measures to eliminate, reduce or offset the undesirable effects of a proposed action on the environment.

Monitoring:  The essential complement of mitigation, monitoring is BOTH (1) determining whether mitigation is being implemented as required; and (2) determining whether mitigation is sufficient and effective.

Summary of the EIA Process

Note: more detailed overview available .

The EIA process consists of two main phases, as depicted in the diagram below.  

• Screening or Preliminary Assessment
• Detailed EIA Study

Most ---but not all – USAID activities have low or moderate risks. For these activities, the EIA process goes no further than a preliminary assessment ). Only activities with significant potential adverse impacts go a detailed EIA study.

(Note: In USAID terminology, a preliminary assessment is an “ Initial Environmental Examination ” (IEE). A detailed EIA study is an “ Environmental Assessment .” Host country EIA systems – with which USAID activities must also comply – will generally have different names for these documents.

Follow-through on the EIA process during activity implementation (not depicted in the diagram below) consists of IMPLEMENTING the mitigation measures identified by the EIA process and monitoring this implementation and its effectiveness.

Core EIA Skills

Life-of-project compliance for USAID-funded activities requires effective application of the following core EIA skills:

• Characterizing the baseline situation,  focusing on the aspects of the baseline situation likely to be affected by the proposed activity, or upon which the activity depends for its success.
• Identifying potential impacts of concern,  starting by researching the set of impacts typical of actions in the sector, and determining which of these “typical impacts” are actually of concern in the specific action context.
• Designing mitigation measures , with an emphasis wherever practical on choices of technique, site, and other design measures that prevent impacts
• Designing monitoring activities  to determine if mitigation is (1) implemented as specified; and (2) sufficient and effective.

The EIA process and key terms:

• Training presentation “ EIA: Concepts, Process and Skills ” PDF (1 MB)
• EIA Topic Briefing  PDF (1 MB)

How USAID’s procedures implement the general EIA process: Training presentation EIA and USAID Environmental Procedures: the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) and Beyond  

Core EIA Skills: Characterizing the baseline situation and identifying impacts of concern:

• EIA: Concepts, Process and Skills  PDF (1 MB)
• EIA Topic Briefing  PDF (1 MB)

Core EIA Skills: Mitigation & Monitoring. Consult the Mitigation, Monitoring, and Reporting page .

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EIA: What? Why? When?

In this section you will learn about the most common definitions and objectives of EIAs, together with a brief history and examples to illustrate why EIAs are important. This will help you to gain a basic understanding of the purpose of EIAs to guide the next steps.

What is an EIA?

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is commonly described as an assessment of the impact of planned activities on the environment, including impacts on biodiversity, vegetation and ecology, water, and air.

An environmental impact assessment (EIA) is commonly described as an assessment of the impact of planned activities on the environment, including impacts on biodiversity, vegetation and ecology, water, and air. An EIA can be seen as a process of identifying, predicting, and evaluating the likely environmental, socioeconomic, cultural and other impacts of a proposed project or development to define mitigation actions—not only to reduce negative impacts but also provide positive contributions to the natural environment and well-being.

Essentially, an EIA is designed to identify the potential risks of a project (e.g., infrastructure development such as a dam) to environmental and human well-being and identify measures to eliminate and/or mitigate these risks. This can be done by replacing and/or modifying planned activities to reduce impacts. In this context, an EIA can be seen as an information-gathering activity by the project lead to outline (and if possible quantify) the risks, impacts and mitigation actions built into the project’s whole lifecycle from design to closure so that decision makers are fully informed when approving the project.

EIAs are carried out in a wide variety of sectors, including agriculture, manufacturing, tourism, mining and forestry. Projects requiring an EIA can be large, such as a hydroelectric dam, or small, such as a new hotel on a beach. However, the level of impact on human and environmental health—rather than the size of the project—is the most important aspect of decision-making on the need for an EIA.

Currently, over 100 countries have legislation mandating the implementation of an EIA when a development/project is deemed to potentially have considerable impacts on environmental and social contexts, including nearly every country in North, Central and South America. In some countries, there is also an indirect mandate for EIAs—e.g., if the project is supported by development banks such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, these organizations require EIAs as a condition for financing the proposed project.

Central America Definitions and EIA mandate in selected countries in Central America

Source: Tiffer-Sotomayor et al., 2015

Why conduct an EIA?

Human well-being is closely connected to environmental sustainability.

Human well-being is closely connected to environmental sustainability. As a result, all forms of human development, such as building infrastructure (i.e., roads and pipelines, mines, and tourism facilities etc.) have an impact on the surrounding natural environment and vice versa. This is evident when we consider the results of large-scale development like open-pit mines, hotels for thousands of people and large hydroelectric dams that often have irreversible impacts on the environment and the livelihoods of people because of large-scale deforestation, excessive water use, habitat destruction and resettlement.

Because of the complex relationship between the natural and human environments, it is very important to try to predict the environmental and social impacts of programs, projects and planned developments that may alter the quality of the environment and impact well-being. As the human population continues to increase and natural resources become more limited, the importance of improving the sustainability of development and identifying mitigation measures—and thus the importance of creating high-quality EIAs—becomes greater.

What is the outcome of an EIA?

The final product of an EIA is an Environmental Statement or Report.

The final product of an EIA is an Environmental Statement or Report. The EIA report provides information to decision makers prior to issuing an operating licence so they can properly assess the project’s impacts on both the environment and people. Therefore, the report needs to be based on accurate and relevant information that accounts for diverse impacts and cumulative effects of the planned project’s life cycle. The ultimate audience of the EIA report is the decision makers: it aims to help them decide whether to accept the project as it is, ask for revisions in the project or reject it.

There are also wider outcomes associated with an EIA. It should lead to better standards of development, and in some cases, limit development completely in sensitive areas. Where developments do go ahead, environmental assessments should help propose proper mitigation measures. When done well, an EIA can help stimulate growth and production in the local economy while promoting sustainability.

What is essential in an EIA?

An EIA should allow decision makers to assess a project’s impacts in all its phases.

An EIA should allow decision makers to assess a project’s impacts in all its phases. It should also allow the public and other stakeholders to present their views and inputs on the planned development. Furthermore, to be truly effective, an EIA must contribute to and improve the project design, so that environmental as well as socioeconomic measures are core parts of it. Information used in the EIA needs to be based on good data, use accepted methodological approaches and be summarized in plain language that is understandable for decision makers.

Finally, the EIA does not end with the granting of a licence to operate. It is critical that that the approved practices and design are followed during the project operations and construction and that ongoing monitoring is in place during the lifetime of the project.

Essentials of EIA in Honduras

• Applicable to all actions expected to have a significant environmental impact.
• Presents two alternatives to compare to the proposed actions (including the possibility of not acting).
• Makes clear the significance of probable impacts to experts and laypeople.
• Includes broad public participation.
• Programmed toward providing information for decision makers.
• Includes monitoring and control procedures.

Source: UNEP, 2002; Friends of the Earth, 2005

What assessments are related to EIA?

Beyond EIAs, there are other types of environmental assessments that are used to identify and eliminate the harmful environmental impacts of projects, investments and other activities.

• Strategic Environmental Assessments (SEAs) (sometimes referred to as Environmental Assessments [EAs]): An SEA is a systematic decision-making process done to analyze the environmental and human health effects of a proposed development activity. This process is conducted prior to the environmental impact assessment and determines the EIA’s scope, depth of analysis and types of public participation and consultation to be integrated into the plan. Public participation and consultation are essential aspects of this process and should be integrated at every step of the EA process where possible (United Nations, 2012) .
• Integrated Environmental Assessments (IEAs): An IEA is a process of producing and communicating future-oriented, policy-relevant information on key interactions between the natural environment and specific human activities (IISD & UNEP, 2008) .

There is increasing recognition in EIAs of the importance of assessing the social impacts and consequences of development projects and alternatives. This has been formulated in a standardized procedure called a Social Impact Assessment.

A short history of EIA

Since its beginnings more than 50 years ago, EIA has evolved from assessing only impacts on the natural environment toward integrating social and health impacts as well.

Since its beginnings more than 50 years ago, EIA has evolved from assessing only impacts on the natural environment toward integrating social and health impacts as well. EIA was first introduced into U.S. environmental policy in the 1960s. This served as a catalyst for many other countries, which began to implement EIA policy throughout the 1970s and early 1980s. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union have been at the forefront of implementing EIAs internationally since the mid 1980s. The United Nations gave EIA a substantial push in 1992 through Principle 17 of the Rio Declaration, which emphasized the importance of EIAs as a “national instrument” to be used for all projects likely to have significant adverse environmental impacts and which are subject to the decision of national authority.

In Honduras, the principles of EIA were introduced in 1993 as the part of the the General Law of the Environment, adopted by Executive Decree No. 104-93. In 2009, legislation on the actualization and modernization of the EIA system was adopted as a Ministerial Agreement No. 189-2009 and published in the official newspaper. The 2009 EIA modernization legislation is currently applicable in Honduras. Sources: Gilpin, 1995; UN, 1992; UNEP, 2002; OECC, 2000 .

Learn more about EIA history – see the EIA Timeline if you have not done so already.

Environmental Impact Assessment History, Meaning and Process

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is described by UNEP as a method for decision-making that can be used to determine the environmental, economic, and social effects of a project. UPSC Keynotes PDF

Table of Contents

Environmental Impact Assessment

The purpose of an environmental impact assessment is to evaluate the environmental effects of a proposed project or development in relation to their interconnected socioeconomic, cultural, and health effects. EIA is a process that is used to assess the environmental effects of a planned development, to put it simply. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a crucial management tool for making sure that natural resources are used as effectively as possible for sustainable development. Early project planning cycle consideration of environmental effects and their mitigation provides various advantages, including environmental protection, optimal resource utilization, and time and cost savings.

Read about: National Parks in India

Environmental Impact Assessment History

When the Planning Commission asked the Department of Science and Technology to investigate the river-valley projects from an environmental perspective, EIA was first conducted in 1976–1977. Environmental approval from the central government was an administrative choice made without statutory backing until 1994. According to the Environmental (Protection) Act of 1986, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF) issued an EIA notification in 1994 that made obtaining Environmental Clearance (EC) necessary for any activity’s extension or modernization as well as for the establishment of new projects.

What is Environmental Impact Assessment?

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is described by UNEP as a method for decision-making that can be used to determine the environmental, economic, and social effects of a project. EIA’s main goal is to assess environmental consequences early in project design, find strategies to lessen negative effects, adapt projects to the local environment, and present projections and options to decision-makers.

The use of environmental impact assessments can have positive effects on the environment as well as the economy, such as reducing the cost and duration of project implementation and design, avoiding treatment and cleanup expenses, and minimizing the effects of laws and regulations. The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio officially acknowledged the EIA process’s importance.

Environmental Impact Assessment in India

When the Planning Commission instructed the Department of Science & Technology to evaluate the river valley projects from an environmental point of view, EIA was first conducted in India in 1976–1977. This was extended to cover all projects that needed the Public Investment Board’s permission.

The Environment (Protection) Act, which was passed by the government in 1986, made EIA a legal requirement. The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972), the Water Act (1974), the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (1981), and the Biological Diversity Act are the other major laws in this area (2002).

The Environmental Information System (ENVIS) was established by the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change in 1982 to gather, compile, store, retrieve, and disseminate data pertaining to the environmental sector. This functions as a subject-specific database distributed web network. The main goal of ENVIS is to coordinate all national initiatives to gather, store, share, and use environmental information for more effective management of environmental assessment operations.

Environmental Impact Assessment Process

The first stage of an EIA evaluates whether the project under consideration requires one, and if so, what level of assessment is necessary.

This phase identifies the main problems and effects that require additional research. This step also establishes the scope and duration of the research.

Impact Analysis

In this phase of the EIA, the project’s potential effects on the environment and society are identified, projected, and their importance is assessed.

This EIA stage makes recommendations for mitigating and avoiding any potential negative environmental effects of development operations.

The decision-making body and other interested parties are presented with the EIA’s findings at this stage in the form of a report.

Review of EIA

It evaluates the EIA report’s sufficiency and efficacy and offers the data required for making decisions.

Decision-Making

Consultations are held between the impact assessment authority and the project proponent, who is assisted by a consultant (assisted by an expert group if necessary). The project’s final choice is made with EIA and EMP in mind (Environment Management Plan).

Post Monitoring

Once the project is commissioned, this stage is activated. It verifies that the project’s effects do not go above the legal limits and that the mitigation measures are implemented as specified in the EIA report.

Environmental Impact Assessment Significance

Facilitates sustainable development.

The natural environment is under tremendous pressure now as a result of manmade activities including rapid industrialization, mass industry, and forest destruction. EIA tools assist in striking a balance between the necessity of economic growth and the equally crucial concept of sustainability.

Mitigating Negative Impacts & Informed Decision-Making

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) aids in reducing the detrimental effects of different development projects. It permits the establishment of monitoring programs to evaluate potential effects and supply information on which managers may make wise decisions to prevent environmental harm.

Aids Cost-Effectiveness

Cost effectiveness is improved because EIA aids in the selection and design of projects, programmes, or plans with long-term viability. Advance assessments also assist in preventing potential future damages that might be incurred if the project is later determined to be ecologically unsuitable. When a project is already underway, the cost of adaption is typically higher.

Environment Impact Assessment (EIA) Shortcomings

Applicability.

The notifications are not required for a number of initiatives that have an impact on the environment as in small-scale sand mining.

Inadequate Capacity of EIA Approval Authorities

Due to crony capitalism, a connection between corporate interests and politicians, and a lack of technical and environmental experts, anthropologists, and social scientists among the members, poor decisions are made and projects that seriously hurt the environment may even be allowed.

Deficiencies in Screening, Scoping and Impact Analysis

Project evaluation does not use any independent organizations or established formats. Impact prediction becomes arbitrary in the absence of standardized baseline data. It is purportedly carried out by persons who work for the corporation, posing a conflict of interest. During the scoping process, they purposefully ignore adverse effects on forests, the environment, and impacts on tribes.

Poor Quality EIA Reports

EIA is currently utilized more as a tool for project justification than for project planning, which hinders efforts to achieve sustainable development. Along with the project’s justification, consideration should also be given to future activity planning. EIA is a tool that can be used to determine if a project is a good idea or not, but it can also be used to determine how any environmental harm can be reduced in order to make a project pollution-free and environmentally sustainable.

Initiated at a Later Stage

The fact that the EIA process is started considerably later in India, especially after the project has been designed, approved, and is practically ready for construction, is another fault in the system. Therefore, by the time EIA begins, enormous expenses have been paid and the project has grown too large to fail.

Inadequate Public Participation

Public participation is required at various points of the EIA process (such as screening, scoping, report writing, and decision making) in several nations, such as Nepal, Argentina, and Australia, although it only happens once in India throughout the entire process. The EIA notification from 2006 states that there are two approaches to conduct this public consultation. First, stakeholders are requested to submit written comments on the draught EIA report. Second, a public hearing is held at or close to the location of the potential project.

Environment Impact Assessment FAQs

Q) What is the environmental impact assessment?

Ans. An instrument used to evaluate the significant environmental impacts of a project or development proposal is the environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIAs ensure that decision-makers for projects consider the anticipated effects on the environment as soon as feasible and work to avoid, mitigate, or counteract those consequences.

Q) What are the types of environmental impact assessment?

Ans. A public environmental report (PER), an environment impact statement (EIS), or a development report are the three categories of evaluation that are permissible under the Act (DR).

Q) Who is responsible for EIA in India?

Ans. Under the Environmental (Protection) Act of 1986, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF), Government of India, published an EIA notification requiring environmental clearance (EC) before expanding or modernising any activity or starting new projects. It was decided to do this on January 27, 1994.

Q) What is the main aim of EIA?

Ans. EIA’s primary objective is to protect the environment and identify the optimal trade-offs between economic and environmental costs and benefits.

Q) Is EIA only for developed countries?

Ans. The EIA was initially used by affluent countries, but it was gradually adopted by developing countries, including India.

Other Indian Geography Topics

Other fundamental geography topics.

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What is the environmental impact assessment?

An instrument used to evaluate the significant environmental impacts of a project or development proposal is the environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIAs ensure that decision-makers for projects consider the anticipated effects on the environment as soon as feasible and work to avoid, mitigate, or counteract those consequences.

What are the types of environmental impact assessment?

A public environmental report (PER), an environment impact statement (EIS), or a development report are the three categories of evaluation that are permissible under the Act (DR).

Who is responsible for EIA in India?

Under the Environmental (Protection) Act of 1986, the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests (MEF), Government of India, published an EIA notification requiring environmental clearance (EC) before expanding or modernising any activity or starting new projects. It was decided to do this on January 27, 1994.

What is the main aim of EIA?

EIA's primary objective is to protect the environment and identify the optimal trade-offs between economic and environmental costs and benefits.

Is EIA only for developed countries?

The EIA was initially used by affluent countries, but it was gradually adopted by developing countries, including India.

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