Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is the process of identifying and evaluating the effects on the environment of impact factors arising from a proposed change in environmental quality. The purpose of an EIA is to determine the potential environmental, social, and health effects of a proposed development. During the process of EIA, various project alternatives are studied and potential adverse and beneficial environmental impacts of the project activities are singled out. Based on this, the project alternative is selected and mitigation measures are identified for the adverse impacts arising out of the activities of the project in order to mitigate the adverse impacts on air, water, soil, flora, and fauna. Thus, through Environment Impact Assessment studies, environmental issues can be identified in advance. 

As per the EIA Notification dated 14th September 2006 as amended from time to time, it is mandatory to have Environment Clearance for any new industry or the expansion of the industry from the Ministry of Environment Forest & Climate Change, Government of India, New Delhi. For this, EIA has to be prepared as per the guidelines given by MoEFCC. 

The purpose of this Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) study is to provide information on the surroundings and the extent of environmental impacts likely to arise due to this industry or mining project and also to define an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to minimize and mitigate the likely adverse environmental impacts.

The EIA report provides a coherent statement of the potential impacts of a proposal and the measures that will be taken to reduce and remedy them. It contains essential information for:  

• The proponent to implement the proposal in an environmentally and socially responsible way;  
• The responsible authority to make a decision on the proposal, including the terms and conditions that must be attached to approval or authorization; and  
• The public to understand the proposal and its likely impacts on people and the environment and nearby areas.

Understanding the Environmental Impact Assessment 

Before making decisions about developmental projects, it is important to assess their potential environmental impact. This process, known as environmental impact assessment, helps identify any negative effects early on in the project planning or design stages. By doing this, we can find ways to minimize harm to the environment and provide alternative options for decision-makers. In India, the Environmental Protection Act of 1986 outlines the methodology for conducting environmental impact assessments.

The Environmental Impact Assessment considers interrelated cultural, socioeconomic, and human health impacts, consisting of adverse impacts. EIA plays a significant role in ensuring that the development takes place in an eco-friendly manner. In this guide, we will closely examine the benefits as well as the procedure of the EIA showcasing the positive impact  the assessment  can have on the environment as well as the local communities.

By the end of this guide, you will be able to develop a comprehensive understanding of the environmental impact assessment process and its role in sustainable development practices. 

The EIA regulations define two schedules of developments. For Schedule 1 projects an EIA must always be carried out. For Schedule 2 projects an EIA must be carried out if the development is likely to have a significant impact on the environment by virtue of its nature, size, or location.

Schedule I projects

Schedule I projects always require an EIA. These comprise large-scale projects with obvious environmental effects, such as:

• Crude oil refineries
• Nuclear-generating stations and other nuclear reactors
• Larger-scale quarries and open-cast mines

Schedule II projects

Schedule II projects will only require EIA if it's decided that the project is likely to have 'significant' environmental effects. There will usually be a threshold to determine if a case-by-case screening decision is required.

Examples of Schedule II projects include:

• Industrial estate development projects (threshold - the area of the development exceeds 0.5 hectares)
• An electric line installed above ground (threshold - with a voltage of 132 kilovolts or more)

Before we look at the categorisation of the project or activities, we require an understanding of the projects that are listed as per the schedule divided into three categories, which are Category A, Category ‘B1’, and Category B2’ that all depend on the scope of the social, environmental impacts along with the spatial extent of these impacts. Now, let us have a closer look at these categories in detail-

• Category A-  All the projects under category A in the schedule talks about the expansion and modernization of the existing projects, which require EC from the Ministry. 
• Category B1- All the projects that fall under the category of B1 in the schedule, including the expansion as well as the modernisation of the existing projects, excluding those that cater to the General conditions highlighted under the sub-clause (30) mainly of clause 3 of this notification, requiring the prior-EC from the SEIAA or UTEIAA as the case may be. 
• Category B2- All the projects that fall under the category of B2 ( other than those specified under the sub-clause (5) above require prior EP from the SEIAA and UTEIAA, as the case may be. These projects will not be considered before the appraisal committee. All projects under Category ‘B2’ that must be placed before the Appraisal Committee as specified in the Schedule, shall require prior EC from the SEIAA or UTEIAA, as the case may be.
• It would undertake those projects that concern national defence as well as security involving any kind of strategic considerations, set by the Central Government, which shall require the prior ECC or prior- EP, as it reflects, from the Ministry without any specific change in the category of the project. Further, no information regarding these projects would be put forth in the public domain.

EIA Process Involves the Following Steps:-

• Screening: The project plan is scrutinized to determine the amount of investment, the location and type of development, and whether statutory approval is required.
• Scoping: the project's possible effects, impact zone, an opportunity for mitigation, and requirement for monitoring
• Collection of baseline data: The environmental condition of the research area is the baseline data.
• Impact prediction: Predicting both positive and negative, reversible and irreversible, and temporary and permanent outcomes necessitates that the assessment agency has a thorough grasp of the project.
• Mitigation measures: The activities and steps for preventing, limiting, or bypassing the impacts, or else the level of compensation for likely environmental harm or loss, should be included in the EIA report.
• Public hearing: Public and environmental organizations located close to the project site may be notified and consulted when the EIA report is finished.
• Decision making: To make the final decision, the project manager and consultant are consulted by the Impact Assessment Authority and specialists while keeping EIA and EMP in mind (Environment Management Plan).
• Monitoring and implementation of environmental management plan: The various phases of implementation of the project are monitored.
• Assessment of Alternatives: Delineation of the Environmental Impact Assessment Report and the Mitigation Measures. Environmental attributes for each project's potential alternatives should be compared. Both project site and process technologies should be considered as alternatives.
• Environment Management Plan: After the alternatives have been examined, the chosen option should have a mitigation plan created for it, along with an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) to direct the proponent toward environmental enhancements.
• Risk assessment: EIA methods include hazard probability and index calculations and inventory analyses.

MoEF has categorized 40 sectors that require Environmental Clearance before commencing any of the project activities and for which EIA is to be done. These are categorized on the basis of activities and the area of the project.

Requirements for Prior Environmental Clearance Or Prior Environmental Permission

Requirements of prior environmental clearance or environmental permission are as follows-

• It talks about the new projects or activities including the expansion or the modernization of the project or the activities, as listed in the schedule under Category ‘A’; Category ‘B1’, along with Category ‘B2’, that has to be placed before the Appraisal committee as per the specified schedule requiring prior environment Clearance from the concerned Regulatory Authority before the beginning of the construction work or installation or establishment or excavation or modernization, whichever is required on-site or much before the production expanded/ or project area beyond the desirable limit in the prior-EC or prior-EP as the case may be granted earlier.  
• New projects or activities that include the idea of modernization or expansion of the project as listed in the schedule or category ‘A’; Category B1’; as well as Category ‘B2’ need to be placed before the appraisal committee as of the criteria’s issued in the schedule that enable the issuance of prior environment clearance from the regulatory authority, before you begin to initiate the construction work or regarding the excavation, whichever seems earlier or on-site that is before expanding the production/ or within the project area exceeding beyond the limit as specified in the prior-EC or prior EP, as it may permit or grant,
• It is even brought to the attention that the ‘Construction Work’ for this very purpose of notification need not secure the land, either by fencing or the compound wall; with a temporary shed for the security guard (s) along with the levelling of the land, without any tree-felling; geotechnical investigations if it were required for the project. 

Preparation of environmental management plan is required for the formulation, implementation, and monitoring of environmental protection measures during and after the commissioning of projects. The plans should indicate the details as to how various measures have been or are proposed to be taken including cost components as may be required. The cost of measures for environmental safeguards should be treated as an integral component of the project cost and environmental aspects should be taken into account at various stages of the project:

• Conceptualization: preliminary environmental assessment
• Planning: detailed studies of environmental impacts and design of safeguards
• Execution: implementation of environmental safety measures
• Operation: monitoring the effectiveness of built-in safeguards

The management plans should be necessarily based on considerations of resource conservation and pollution abatement, some of which are:

• Liquid Effluents
• Air Pollution
• Noise and Vibration
• Solid Wastes
• House-Keeping
• Occupational Safety and Health
• Prevention, operation, and maintenance of Environment Control Systems
• Vegetal Cover
• Human Settlements
• Transport Systems
• Recovery - reuse of waste products
• Environment Management Cell
• Disaster Planning

Environmental Impact Notification Released on September 2006

• The Environment (Protection) Act of 1986's Environmental Impact Notification S.O.1533 (E), published in September 2006, made it clear that all planned development projects must get environmental clearance. 
• The aforementioned notification divided projects into two main categories, "A" and "B." The MoEF must approve category A projects (including the modernization and expansion of ongoing projects), and the GOI-established SEIAA, the Environmental Impact Assessment Authority, must approve category B projects.

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