environmental impact assessment
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), a tool used to iden7fy the environmental, social
and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making.
Aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design,
find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local
environment and present the predic7ons and op7ons to decision-makers.
Ø By using EIA both environmental and economic benefits can be achieved, such as reduced
cost and 7me of project implementa7on and design, avoided treatment/clean-up costs
and impacts of laws and regula7ons.
EIA steps
Ø Screening: to determine which projects or developments require a full or par7al impact assessment study
Ø Scoping: to iden7fy which poten7al impacts are relevant to assess
Ø Assessment and evaluaDon of impacts and development of alternaDves, to predict and iden7fy the likely
environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, including the detailed elabora7on of
alterna7ves
Ø ReporDng the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) or EIA report, including an environmental
management plan (EMP), and a non-technical summary for the general audience.
Ø Decision-making on whether to approve the project or not, and under what condi7ons
Ø Monitoring, compliance, enforcement and environmental audiDng. Monitor whether the predicted impacts
and proposed mi7ga7on measures
The Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
Tools used in EIA
Ø Research projects to collect ground data
Ø Survey data
Ø Remote sensing
Ø Sta7s7cal tools to build environment models
Ø Geographic Informa7on System, GIS