Environmental Impact Assessment

Before discussing the subject of Environmental Impact Assessment for Developmental projects in India, it is necessary to review the overall scenario of industrial growth and environmental management in the country, and the changes that have occurred from time to time.

The Environmental Assessment terminology used in the countries of Asia, Australia, N. America and Europe tends to vary both in the meaning of terms and scope of their application. The American system uses the terms EIA and EIS while the British system uses the terms EA and ES for Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Impact Statement respectively.

A proper description of environmental setting can provide baseline information necessary to predict impacts associated with the various alternatives under consideration. There is no single list of environmental items that is appropriate for every environmental assessment. A list of environmental items should be developed on a project-by-project basis or at least on a project type-by-project type basis. Four bases are available for listing the items to be included in environmental setting viz., knowledge of impacts, guidelines, other EISs and methodologies for EIA.

Prediction is a crucial element in the procedure of EIA. Prediction is the process of determining the nature and extent of the environmental changes that will result from a proposed activity. The predicted values for environmental variables form the objective basis for the assessment of the environmental feasibility of the proposed activity, for the judgment of alternatives and for the evaluation of the effectiveness of mitigating measures.

Assessment or interpretation of predicted environmental quality status is vital in an environmental impact study. Decisions based on interpretation include whether or not to approve a proposed project, whether or not to prepare an environmental impact statement, and the necessity for identification and inclusion of mitigation measures. Impact assessment requires the considerable exercise of professional judgment along with environmental standards or criteria and other scientific information.

Only the actual implementation of an activity will be able to give rise to an environmental effect or impact. The decision about the activity has to be based on the prediction of effects. Monitoring and evaluation of the actual impact of the implemented activity is therefore considered as the utmost importance.

Case Studies including:

• Pulp and Paper industry
• Siting of Energy Facilities (International)
   

Bibliography

Appendix I - Criteria for Environmental Components (Air Quality, Water Quality, Flora & Fauna & Soil Quality)

Appendix 2 - Leopold Interaction Matrix

Appendix 3 - Examples Of Water Quality Prediction

Appendix 4 - The Battelle Environmental Evaluation System

Appendix 5 - Institutional Mechanism

ANNEXURE 1 -  APPLICATION FOR OBTAINING EIA CLEARANCE

ANNEXURE 2 - LEGAL INSTRUMENTS

ANNEXURE 3 -  STANDARDS FOR DISCHARGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTANTS

ANNEXURE 4 - PRE-FEASIBILITY REPORT: POINTS FOR CONSIDERATION

ANNEXURE 5 -  DESIGN OF MONITORING NETWORKS