1-5 Key elements of the EIA process

EIA systems can be described by reference to three components: +

the legal and institutional framework of regulation, guidance and +procedure, which establishes the requirements for the conduct of EIA; +
the steps and activities of the EIA process, as applied to specific types of proposals; and +
the practice and performance of EIA, as evidenced by the quality of +EIA reports prepared, the decisions taken and the environmental benefits + delivered. +

Legal and institutional framework +

The provision for EIA may be made through legislation, administrative + order or policy directive. Many countries have now enacted some type of + EIA legislation, which generally can be classified into either a +comprehensive or enabling statute. Clear and specific legal provision is + internationally accepted as the most appropriate basis for EIA. In many + cases, regulations (mandatory rules) and procedural guidance (advisory +interpretation) elaborate how EIA legislation is to be implemented. +Further information of these arrangements can be found in Section 2 â€“ +Law, policy and institutional arrangements. In this Section, note is +made only of the main features of the EIA legal and institutional +frameworks. These also comprise points of reference for developing or +strengthening an EIA system: +

Basic responsibilities +

The proponent normally carries out the EIA in accordance with +directions given by the competent authority (usually the agency which +makes the final decision on the proposal but in certain cases an +independent commission or panel). An environment agency (or in some +cases a specialised EIA body) oversees the process and reviews the study + with inputs from other government departments. Usually, EIA studies are + carried out by an interdisciplinary team, which is appointed +specifically to the task and has an appropriate range of scientific, +economic and social expertise. +

Scope of application +

Some EIA systems are relatively narrow in coverage; e.g. limited to +projects of a specified type and size. Others have a broader remit, for +example encompassing all proposals that have potentially significant +adverse environmental impacts. In addition, the environment is defined +broadly; for example to include social, health and cumulative effects. +The inclusion of these broader aspects of EIA are now accepted as the +international standard of good practice and their coverage should be +mandatory. +

Consideration of alternatives +

Consideration of alternatives is mandatory in some EIA systems but +discretionary in others. Varied provision is made for including a range +of alternatives to a proposal, and there are different requirements for +the evaluation and comparison of alternatives as part of the EIA +process. At a minimum, explicit provision should be made for the +consideration of the main or â€˜reasonableâ€™ alternatives to a proposal + (including no action). This component is a critical determinant of +effective EIA. +

Public involvement +

This is a cornerstone of EIA and most systems include provision for +public involvement. However, there are marked differences in specific +requirements; e.g. regarding access to information, procedures for +notification and involvement of the public, the stage of the EIA process + at which these are applied and third party rights of appeal. At a +minimum, public involvement should take account of the concerns of those + directly affected by a proposal. +

Quality control and assurance +

Within EIA systems, the components described above provide a set of +legal and institutional controls on the quality and effectiveness of the + process. In addition, the main stages of the EIA process itself +constitute a further set of procedural checks and balances. The +respective functions of each stage are described below; however, they +should be applied iteratively as part of a â€˜whole processâ€™ approach +to provide EIA quality assurance. +

EIA process +

The particular components, stages and activities of an EIA process +will depend upon the requirements of the country or donor. However, most + EIA processes have a common structure (see flow chart below and watch +the video) and the application of the main stages is a basic standard of + good practice. Typically, the EIA process begins with screening to +ensure time and resources are directed at the proposals that matter +environmentally. It should end with some form of follow up on the +implementation of the decisions and actions taken as a result of an EIA +report. +

(click on the EIA Process Flowchart at the right) +

EIA practice and outcomes +

Marked variations occur in the quality of EIA practice and outcomes +among countries, reflecting the legal provisions, institutional +arrangements and procedures that are in force in different +jurisdictions. In addition, the quality of EIA practice varies on a +case-by-case basis within the same system, depending upon events, the +complexity of the proposal, the experience of those involved and the +time and money allocated. Strengths and weaknesses of EIA practice are +well documented in the literature, generally and with reference to the +experience of certain countries and types of projects. +

Widely recognised deficiencies of EIA practice include: +

Technical shortcomings, expressed by the poor quality of many EIA +reports. The accuracy of impact predictions, the utility of mitigation +and management measures, and the relevance of reports for +decision-making often fall short of internationally accepted standards. +
Procedural limitations, including inconsistencies in process +administration and guidance. Time delays and costs of applying EA remain + a serious concern for project proponents. Affected communities are more + concerned with the lack of quality control of EIA studies or +enforcement of mitigation measures. +
Structural issues, stemming from the application of EIA as a +separate process, unrelated to the project cycle or the larger context +of decisionmaking. +
In order to be effective, EIA requires a coherent policy-planning +framework and systematic follow up procedures. Often neither area is +well established. +

A number of studies have drawn attention to the particular +constraints on EIA practice in developing countries as compared to +developed ones. However, most developing countries have some experience +in EIA and some have a considerable track record, predating the +introduction of the EIA Directive in Europe. There are particular +limitations on domestic EIA practice in poorer countries, where +typically institutional arrangements are weak, and human, technical and +financial resources are lacking. In these circumstances, the development + banks and international aid agencies play a major role, both long-term +through capacity building for the environment and immediately through +their own EIA requirements. +

What constitute good outcomes for EIA practice? Where international +standards apply or can be approximated, the following targets should be +within the reach of EIA practice: +

screens out environmentally unsound projects; +
modifies the design of feasible proposals to reduce their environmental impact; +
identifies the best practicable environmental option; +
predicts the significant adverse effects of proposals with reasonable accuracy; +
identifies mitigation measures that work successfully to avoid, reduce and offset major impacts; +
influences decision making and approvals and the implementation of terms and conditions; and +
results in environmental gains and benefits relative to other options. +

July 26, 2006 Uncategorized — brendan @ 12:05 pm

+ Comments (14)

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14 Comments + » +

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This is such a very helpful sight for non-technical persons like me +who are in environmental work. The video clip enabled me to easily +understand the eia process.
+
Comment by vida gonzales — February 26, 2008 @ 4:56 pm
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I really got interest on this course module specially the videos are very explanatory and i like the way you present it
+ thank you very much. I am doing my masters study in hydro power +development in NTNU. I was reading for exam in environmental impacts of +hydro power and I found the website to be very helpful. Thank you.
+
Comment by YONAS — March 12, 2008 @ 7:27 am
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I would like to cite some of this work…how do I cite it?
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Comment by Louise du Preez — April 11, 2008 @ 10:20 pm
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United Nations University (2007) Open Educational Resource on +Environmental Impact Assessment, based on the UNEP EIA Training Manual, +access at http://eia.unu.edu
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Comment by brendan — April 14, 2008 @ 9:50 am
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I as unable to view the video on EIA process and would like the video to be emailed to me please.
+Thanks
+
Comment by Susan — March 6, 2009 @ 3:18 am
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Excellent…the language, the graphics, the pace. Very friendly. This +makes studying and preparing for exams so much easier and enjoyable.
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Comment by Andrea — July 5, 2009 @ 2:03 am
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This has been very useful in my understanding the process of +EIA.Relevant in my exam preperation.Am doing a module -Environmental +management in which EIA was treated for my MSC course in Industrial +Environmental Management. Thanks.
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Comment by BUKOLA BROWN — December 12, 2009 @ 10:34 am
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Thank you for having this web site in the internate.
+I am Msc. student in Environmental Science at Addis Ababa University. I +am interested to have your course module, because its acadamic +usefulness is unquestioable. Would you send it to me,please?
+I appreciate your hard work.
+
Comment by GETENET GEDLU — November 17, 2010 @ 2:03 am
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I as unable to view the video on EIA process and would like the video to be emailed to me please.
+ Thanks
+
Comment by Doyin — July 9, 2011 @ 8:03 pm
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This sight has really helped me by providing important information about EIA. Keep it up for the good work.
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Comment by Mark Mkutano — October 7, 2011 @ 7:06 pm
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Helped me a lot in my revision for my EIA Exam. Currently a 3rd Year + student reading for a B.A. (Hons.) Geography at the University of +Malta.
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Thanks :)
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Comment by Darren — January 30, 2012 @ 9:24 pm
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This has been very useful in my understanding the process of EIA
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Comment by irshad khan — April 26, 2012 @ 4:41 am
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I love this course. Can you please email me the video? The processes are so easy to remember when we look at the video.
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Comment by Jennie — January 9, 2013 @ 3:47 pm
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Thank you for the team for this wonderful work. I’ve read all the +chapters and the activities were effective. I’ve downloaded the video +and information from your files too. Cheers.
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Comment by Jennie — January 10, 2013 @ 12:28 pm
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1-5 Key elements of the EIA process

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