ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

A SEMINAR REPORT

Submitted by

GREESHMA GEORGE

In partial fulfillment of the requirement for the degree

of

BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY IN CIVIL ENGINEERING

Guided by

Ms. MARY LISSY P. N.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING

TOC H INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
ERNAKULAM 682313
JULY 2010
 Toc H INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING
ARAKKUNNAM, ERNAKULAM – 682313

CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that the seminar titled ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT is the
bonafide work done by Ms. GREESHMA GEORGE under our supervision and guidance. This
seminar report is submitted to Toc H Institute of Science and Technology in partial fulfillment
of the requirements for the award of the degree of BACHELOR OF TECHNOLOGY in CIVIL
ENGINEERING.

Guided by: Head of Department:

Ms. MARY LISSY P N Prof. LATHI KARTHI

Lecturer Department of Civil Engineering
Department of Civil Engineering Toc H Institute of Science & Technology
Toc H Institute of Science & Technology Arakkunnam
Arakkunnam
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

First and foremost I would like to express my whole hearted gratitude to Almighty for
showering his blessings upon me in enabling to complete this seminar on time.

I would like to extend my heartiest thanks to the MANAGEMENT, TIST, Arakkunnam,

who provided us with necessities for the completion of the seminar.
I thank Dr. JOB V. KURUVILLA, Principal, TIST, Arakkunnam and other teachers for
their advice and guidance.
I express my sincere thanks to Prof. LATHI KARTHI, Head of Department,
Department of Civil Engineering, TIST, Arakkunnam, for the kind cooperation during the course
of the work.
I express my gratitude to my guide Ms. MARY LISSY P N, Lecturer, Department of
Civil Engineering, TIST, Arakkunnam, for the expert guidance and advice in presenting this
seminar.
I would like to extent my heartfelt thanks to all the teaching and non-teaching
faculties of Department of Civil Engineering, TIST, Arakkunnam.

I would also like to express my deep gratitude to my family and my friends for their
support in carrying out this work successfully.

GREESHMA GEORGE

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 ABSTRACT

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been one of the widely applied
management tools in the pass three decades for screening & assessment of developmental
project. The principle objective of understanding and conducting an EIA is to ensure that the
development takes place in an environmentally sound manner. For the past decade government
of India has been using EIA as requirement for clearances of select projects at the state as well as
at the national level.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a formal process used to examine the
environmental consequences of proposed development projects, plans and policies and suggest
relevant management actions. This involves study of probable changes in the various socio-
economic and biophysical characteristics of the environment, which may result to form a
proposed or impending action of a development project. EIA is potentially one of the most
valuable, interdisciplinary, objective decision making tools with respect to alternate routes for
development, process technologies and project sites.
It is often an opinion that an EIA should customarily examine or look into only the
possible negative consequences of the developmental project on the environment. Any positive
issues emerging from the development are taken as stated by the project proponent or the
developer. EIA is however not restricted or biased to the examination and mitigation of negative
impacts alone. It can also look into the possible positive issues due to the development and
explore or suggest ways of enhancing them further by carrying out modifications in the project.

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 CONTENTS
Title Page No.

CERTIFICATE II

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT III

ABSTRACT IV

CONTENTS V

LIST OF FIGURES VII

LIST OF TABLES VII

INTRODUCTION 1

1.1 Purpose of EIA 2

2. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT PROCESS 2

2.1 Screening 3
2.2 Scoping 3
2.3 Preparation of an EIA report 4
2.4 Review of EIA report 5
2.5 Approval of EIA report with terms and condition 5
2.6 Environmental management plan 6
3. ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF GROUP INVOLVED IN EIA SYSTEM 8
3.1 EIA Administrative agency 8
3.2 Project Proponent 8
3.3 The Public 8
3.4 International assistance agencies 8
3.5 Academic institutions 9
4. METHODS FOR ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT 9
4.1 Ad Hoc Method 9
4.2 Methods of organizing and presenting information 10
4.2.1 Checklists 10
4.2.2 Matrices 12
4.3 Sectoral guidelines 14
4.4 Geographic Information Systems 14
5. ECONOMIC ANALYSIS 16
5.1 Role of economics in EIA 16
5.2 Steps in economic valuation of environmental impact 16
6. REVIEWING AND EVALUATING AN EIA REPORT 17
6.1 Review criteria 17
7. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING PROGRAM 18
8. BENEFITS OF EIA 18
9. FLAWS OF EIA 19
10. CONCLUSION 20
11. REFERENCES 21

VI
 LIST OF FIGURES

Figure number Description of figures Page No.

1 Generalised EIA process flowchart 7

2 Systematic analysis 10

3 Satellite sensing datas 14

VII
 LIST OF TABLES

Table Number Description of tables Page No.

1 Simple checklist developed for the 11

Hussai-Thale Noi Road Project

2 Simple environmental impact matrix 13

for the Phoenix Pulp Mill

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