Environmental impact assessment

An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impact that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects. The purpose of the assessment is to ensure that decision makers consider the ensuing environmental impacts when deciding whether to proceed with a project. The International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) defines an environmental impact assessment as "the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made." EIAs are unique in that they do not require adherence to a predetermined environmental outcome, but rather they require decision makers to account for environmental values in their decisions and to justify those decisions in light of detailed environmental studies and public comments on the potential environmental impacts of the proposal. EIAs began to be used in the 1960s as part of a rational decision making process. It involved a technical evaluation that would lead to objective decision making. EIA was made legislation in the US in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) 1969. It has since evolved as it has been used increasingly in many countries around the world. As per Stephen J (2006) , EIA as it is practiced today, is being used as a decision aiding tool rather than decision making tool. There is growing dissent on the use of EIA as its influence on development decisions is limited and there is a view it is falling short of its full potential. There is a need for stronger foundation of EIA practice through training for practitioners, guidance on EIA practice and continuing research The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) Standard 14011 covers EIA and includes key steps for carrying out the assessment. These steps include the scope of EIA. EIAs have often been criticized for having too narrow spatial and temporal scope. At present no procedure has been specified for determining a system boundary for the assessment. The system boundary refers to the spatial and temporal boundary of the proposals effects. This boundary is determined by the applicant and the lead assessor, but in practice, almost all EIAs address the direct, on-site effects alone However, as well as direct effects, developments cause a multitude of indirect effects through consumption of goods and services, production of building materials and machinery, additional land use for activities of various manufacturing and industrial services, mining of resources etc . The indirect effects of developments are often an order of magnitude higher than the direct effects assessed by EIA. Large proposals such as airports or ship yards cause wide ranging national as well as international environmental effects, which should be taken into consideration during the decision-making process Broadening the scope of EIA can also benefit threatened species conservation. Instead of concentrating on the direct effects of a proposed project on its local environment some EIAs used a landscape approach which focused on much broader relationships between the entire population of a species in question. As a result, an alternative that would cause least amount of negative effects to the population of that species as a whole, rather than the local subpopulation, can be identified and recommended by EIA There are various methods available to carry out EIAs, some are industry specific and some general methods:

Industrial products - Product environmental life cycle analysis (LCA) is used for identifying and measuring the impact on the environment of industrial products. These EIAs consider technological

activities used for various stages of the product: extraction of raw material for the product and for ancillary materials and equipment, through the production and use of the product, right up to the disposal of the product, the ancillary equipment and material

Genetically modified plants - There are specific methods available to perform EIAs of genetically modified plants. Some of the methods are GMP-RAM, INOVA etc. Fuzzy Arithmetic - EIA methods need specific parameters and variables to be measured to estimate values of impact indicators. However many of the environment impact properties cannot be measured on a scale eg landscape quality, lifestyle quality, social acceptance etc. and moreover these indicators are very subjective. Thus to assess the impacts we may need to take the help of information from similar EIAs, expert criteria, sensitivity of affected population etc. To treat this information, which is generally inaccurate, systematically, fuzzy arithmetic and approximate reasoning methods can be utilised. This is called as a fuzzy logic approach

At the end of the project, an EIA should be followed by an audit. An EIA audit evaluates the performance of an EIA by comparing actual impacts to those that were predicted. The main objective of these audits is to make future EIAs more valid and effective. The two main considerations are:

scientific - to check the accuracy of predictions and explain errors. management- to assess the success of mitigation in reducing impacts.

Some people believe that audits be performed as a rigorous scientific testing of the null hypotheses. While some believe in a simpler approach where you compare what actually occurred against the predictions in the EIA document After an EIA, the precautionary and polluter pays principles may be applied to prevent, limit, or require strict liability or insurance coverage to a project, based on its likely harms. Environmental impact assessments are sometimes controversial. India The Ministry of Environment and Forests of India have been in a great effort in Environmental Impact Assessment in India. The main laws in nation are Water Act(1974), The Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972), The Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (1981) and The Environment (Protection) Act (1986). The responsible body for this is Central Pollution Control Board. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies need a significant amount of primary and secondary environmental data. The primary data are those which need to be collected in the field to define the status of environment (like air quality data, water quality data etc.). The secondary data are those data which have been collected over the years and can be used to understand the existing environmental scenario of the study area. The environmental impact assessment (EIA) studies are conducted over a short period of time and therefore the understanding the environmental trends based on few months of primary data has its own limitations. Ideally, the primary data has to be considered along with the secondary data for complete understanding of the existing environmental status of the area. In many EIA studies, the secondary data needs could be as high as 80% of the total data requirement. EIC is the repository of one stop secondary data source for environmental impact assessment in India. The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) experience in India indicates that the lack of timely availability of reliable and authentic environmental data has been a major bottle neck in achieving the full

benefits of EIA. The environment being a multi-disciplinary subject, a multitude of agencies is involved in collection of environmental data. However, there is no single organization in India which tracks the data available amongst these agencies and makes it available in one place, in a form and manner required by practitioners in the field of environmental impact assessment in India. Further, the environmental data is not available in value added forms that can enhance the quality of the EIA. This in turn adversely affects the time and efforts required for conducting the environmental impact assessments (EIAs) by project proponents and also timely environmental clearances by the regulators. With this background, Environmental Information Centre (EIC) has been set up to serve as a professionally managed clearing house of environmental information that can be used by MoEF, project proponents, consultants, NGOs and other stakeholders involved in the process of environmental impact assessment in India. EIC caters to the need of creating and disseminating of organized environmental data for various developmental initiatives all over the country. EIC stores data in GIS format and makes it available to all environmental impact assessment studies and to EIA stakeholders in a cost effective and timely manner. The Ministry of Environment & Forests (MoEF) is the nodal agency in the administrative structure of the Central Government for the planning, promotion, co-ordination and overseeing the implementation of India's environmental and forestry policies and programmes. The primary concerns of the Ministry are implementation of policies and programmes relating to conservation of the country's natural resources including its lakes and rivers, its biodiversity, forests and wildlife, ensuring the welfare of animals, and the prevention and abatement of pollution. While implementing these policies and programmes, the Ministry is guided by the principle of sustainable development and enhancement of human well-being. The Ministry also serves as the nodal agency in the country for the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), South Asia Co-operative Environment Programme (SACEP), International Centre for Integrated Mountain Development (ICIMOD) and for the follow-up of the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED). The Ministry is also entrusted with issues relating to multilateral bodies such as the Commission on Sustainable Development (CSD), Global Environment Facility (GEF) and of regional bodies like Economic and Social Council for Asia and Pacific (ESCAP) and South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation (SAARC) on matters pertaining to the environment. The broad objectives of the Ministry are:

Conservation and survey of flora, fauna, forests and wildlife Prevention and control of pollution Afforestation and regeneration of degraded areas Protection of the environment and Ensuring the welfare of animals

These objectives are well supported by a set of legislative and regulatory measures, aimed at the preservation, conservation and protection of the environment. Besides the legislative measures, the National Conservation Strategy and Policy Statement on Environment and Development, 1992; National Forest Policy, 1988; Policy Statement on Abatement of Pollution, 1992; and the National Environment Policy, 2006 also guide the Ministry's work. Environmental Information System

The aim of Environmental Information System (EIS) is to provide spatial environmental information in digital, graphical format using Geographical Information Systems (GIS). EIS aids in decisionmaking for City departments such as Environmental Resource Management, Town Planning and Housing. Provincial government departments and consultants in the field of planning and environmental management also benefit from the service. Further objectives of EIS are to provide residents with user driven and accurate GIS information so as to capacitate and raise awareness about environmental resources and to supply schools with environmental information so as to help complement the curriculum in the subjects of Geography, GIS and environmental studies. The Environmental Information System (EIS) was initiated for environmental information to serve as an important informant for strategic planning and land-use management in the City. In addition, the information facilitates compliance with environmental legislation as well as contributing towards the annual Sustainability Report for Cape Town. The EIS contains environmental layers such as coastal zone, biodiversity, environmental significance mapping and heritage resource layers. The layers can be superimposed on each other to provide the data necessary for a particular study.

Environmental management system (EMS) refers to the management of an organization's environmental programs in a comprehensive, systematic, planned and documented manner. It includes the organisational structure, planning and resources for developing, implementing and maintaining policy for environmental protection. An Environmental Management System (EMS):

Serves as a tool to improve environmental performance Provides a systematic way of managing an organizations environmental affairs Is the aspect of the organizations overall management structure that addresses immediate and longterm impacts of its products, services and processes on the environment Gives order and consistency for organizations to address environmental concerns through the allocation of resources, assignment of responsibility and ongoing evaluation of practices, procedures and processes Focuses on continual improvement of the system

What is the EMS Model?

An EMS follows a Plan-Do-Check-Act Cycle, or PDCA. The diagram shows the process of first developing an environmental policy, planning the EMS, and then implementing it. The process also includes checking the system and acting on it. The model is continuous because an EMS is a process of continual improvement in which an organization is constantly reviewing and revising the system.[1] This is a model that can be used by a wide range of organizations from manufacturing facilities to service industries to government agencies.

What are some key elements of an EMS?

Policy Statement - a statement of the organizations commitment to the environment Identification of Significant Environmental Impacts - environmental attributes of products, activities and services and their effects on the environment Development of Objectives and Targets - environmental goals for the organization Implementation - plans to meet objectives and targets Training - instruction to ensure employees are aware and capable of fulfilling their environmental responsibilities Management Review

Can existing environmental management activities be integrated into the EMS?

Yes. An EMS is flexible and does not require organizations to necessarily retool their existing activities. An EMS establishes a management framework by which an organizations impacts on the environment can be systematically identified and reduced. For example, many organizations, including counties and municipalities, have active and effective pollution prevention activities underway. These could be incorporated into the overall EMS.

What common mistakes do organisations make?

Typically organisations develop effective environmental management systems that help assist continuous improvement of their environmental performance. However, there are some key issues that need to be addressed as their effectiveness varies greatly from one organsiation to another. They are: management needs to be fully committed; plan the ems and make the system user-friendly; don't over complicate the aspects register; clearly identify the environmental compliance requirements as the evaluation will be easier to demonstrate; provide adequate financial, physical and human resources; set measurable objectives and targets that facilitate continuous improvement; and, work on the philosphy of continuous improvement (Burden, 2010).\

Can EMS be used to assist with maintaining compliance?

Yes. As an example, the Massachusetts DEP has opted to assist with the use of EMS in compliance cases. The EPA also produces a Guidance on the Use of EMS in Enforcement.

What are ISO, ISO 14000, and ISO 14001?

ISO stands for the International Organization for Standardization, located in Geneva, Switzerland. ISO 14000 refers to a family of voluntary standards and guidance documents to help organizations address environmental issues. Included in the family are standards for Environmental Management Systems, environmental and EMS auditing, environmental labeling, performance evaluation and life-cycle assessment. In September 1996, the International Organization for Standardization published the first edition of ISO 14001, the Environmental Management Systems standard. This is an international voluntary standard

describing specific requirements for an EMS. ISO 14001 is a specification standard to which an organization may receive certification or registration. ISO 14001 is considered the foundation document of the entire series. A second edition of ISO 14001 was published in 2004, updating the standard. Questions may arise when implementing an EMS following the ISO 14001 standard. The U.S. body that provides input into the standard's development is the U.S. TAG (Technical Advisory Group) to TC 207 (Technical Committee). This same body has established a formal process to respond to questions that may arise regarding clarification of the ISO 14001 ("the standard"). Responses will reflect the interpretation of the Standard as intended during the drafting of the Standard and may be found in the "Clarification of Intent of ISO 14001."

How are these standards developed?

All the ISO standards are developed through a voluntary, consensus-based approach. ISO has different member countries across the globe. Each member country develops its position on the standards and these positions are then negotiated with other member countries. Draft versions of the standards are sent out for formal written comment and each country casts its official vote on the drafts at the appropriate stage of the process. Within each country, various types of organizations can and do participate in the process. These organizations include industry, government (federal and state), and other interested parties, like various nongovernment organizations. For example, EPA and states participated in the development of the ISO 14001 standard and are now evaluating its usefulness through a variety of pilot projects.

What are the 17 requirements of the ISO 14001:2004 standard?

Environmental Policy - develop a statement of the organizations commitment to the environment Environmental Aspects and Impacts - identify environmental attributes of products, activities and services and their effects on the environment Legal and Other Requirements - identify and ensure access to relevant laws and regulations Objectives and Targets and Environmental Management Program - set environmental goals for the organization and plan actions to achieve objectives and targets Structure and Responsibility - establish roles and responsibilities within the organization Training, Awareness and Competence - ensure that employees are aware and capable of their environmental responsibilities Communication - develop processes for internal and external communication on environmental management issues EMS Documentation - maintain information about the EMS and related documents Document Control - ensure effective management of procedures and other documents Operational Control - identify, plan and manage the organizations operations and activities in line with the policy, objectives and targets, and significant aspects Emergency Preparedness and Response - develop procedures for preventing and responding to potential emergencies Monitoring and Measuring - monitor key activities and track performance including periodic compliance evaluation Evaluation of Compliance - develop procedure to periodically evaluate compliance with legal and other requirements Nonconformance and Corrective and Preventive Action - identify and correct problems and prevent recurrences Records - keep adequate records of EMS performance EMS Audit - periodically verify that the EMS is effective and achieving objectives and targets

Management Review - review the EMS

Legislation and standards

The Environmental Liability Directive [ELD] 2004/35/EC is one of the most important instruments that your business will need to comply with and must be included in you EMS. It came into force across Europe during 2009 and for example it became law on the 1st March 2009 converting the various national Pollution Prevention Guidelines (PPGs) such as the UK PPG11, PPG18 and PPG21 into requirements where failure to comply can result in fines and more significantly reformation / reinstatement costs which can run into many millions of Euro or Dollars. Within this Directive is a requirement to mitigate the effects of events such as spills and firewater, the latter is the runoff from fires. The Directive makes it clear that it is the site owners responsibility to contain spills and firewater on site using some form of containment apparatus such as sealing the drains. More information on the ELD can be obtained from the UK Environment Agency website . Within the European Union (EU) legislation was introduced to encourage businesses to voluntarily adopt ISO 14000. Regulation (EC) No 761/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 19 March 2001, allowed voluntary participation by organisations in a Community eco-management and audit scheme EcoManagement and Audit Scheme (EMAS). The implementation of a robust EMS, which may incorporate ISO 14001, should lead to improve environmental performance, including better and more consistent legal compliance. The ISO 14000 standards reflect different aspects of environmental management. The following list outlines the broad coverage of each:

Environmental Management Systems: o 14001-2004, 14002, 14004 Environmental Auditing: o 14011 Environmental Labeling: o 14020, 14021, 14022, 14023, 14024, 14025 Life Cycle Assessment: o 14040, 14041, 14042, 14043