Introduction

• The UK DoE (Department of Environment) defines EIA as a technique and a process by which information about the environmental effects of a project is collected, both by the developer and from other sources, and taken into account by the planning authority in forming their judgements on whether the development should go ahead.

• A more comprehensive and a direct definition of EIA was given by UNECE (United Nations Economic Commission for Europe) which defined it as an assessment of the impact of a planned activity on the environment.

EIA is a process rather than a technique

• Essentially, EIA is a systematic process rather than a technique which finds out what the impact of any developmental action on the environment is.

• The main focus of EIA is on prevention.

• The process involves various steps/stages which must be carried out in a cyclic manner with feedback being taken between them.

• The steps/stages in environment impact assessment are as follows: -

Stages of Environment Impact Assessment in India

1. Project screening: -

   Narrows the application of EIA- projects-significant environmental impact

2. Scoping: -

   Seeks to identify at an early stage the crucial and significant issues from all the possible impacts of a project and all the possible solutions that there can be.

3. Impact analysis: -

   Identifies & predicts the possible environmental & social impact- proposed project & evaluates its significance.

4. Mitigation: -

   Recommends actions- reduce & avoid- possible negative environmental effects-development activities

5. Reporting: -

   Presents results of EIA in the form of a report- decision making body & other interested parties

6. Review of EIA: -

   Examines the adequacy & effectiveness- EIA report & provides the information needed for decision-making.

7. Decision making: -

   Decides whether the project- rejected/approved/needs further change

8. Post-monitoring: -

   a) Comes into the equation once the project is commissioned.

   b) Checks- ensure- impacts- project don't exceed legal stds. & implementation- mitigation measures- in the manner as described in the EIA report

​References

• Glasson, John, Therivel, Riki and Chadwick, Andrew, 2012, Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment, Routledge, Taylor and Francis Group

• https://www.cseindia.org/understanding-eia-383