UAP 3 EIA.ppt - EIA Concept Necessity Scope S Rizwana Hasan...

EIA
Concept, Necessity & Scope
S. Rizwana Hasan

EIA
EIA

EIA is a systematic process to identify , predict and
evaluate the environmental effects of proposed
actions and projects.

A broad definition of environment is adopted.
Whenever appropriate social, cultural and health
effects are also considered as an integral part of
EIA.

Finally, particular attention is given in EIA for
preventing, mitigating and offsetting the significant
adverse effects of proposed undertakings

Definition
Definition
It is a planning and management tool for
sustainable development that seeks to
identify the type, magnitude and probability
of environmental and social changes likely
to occur as direct or indirect result of a
project or policy and to design the possible
mitigation procedure (Vanclay and
Bronstein, 1995; Harvey 1998; Momtaz et
al., 1998; Thomas, 1998)

EIA is a tool that is applied…
•
Before major decisions are taken and
when all alternatives are still open;
•
To inform all stages of decision making,
including final approval and the
establishment of conditions for project
implementation;
•
With public participation and
implementation;
•
To integrate environmental considerations
and safeguards into all phases of project
design, construction and operation

Necessity of EIA

To examine the environmental consequences of proposed
development projects, programmes, policies & suggest
relevant management actions;

To establish the measures necessary to avoid, minimize or
offset predicted adverse impacts and, where appropriate, to
incorporate these into an environmental management plan
or system;

To ensure that environmental considerations are explicitly
addressed and incorporated into the development decision
making process;

Necessity…
•
To anticipate and avoid, minimize or offset the adverse
significant biophysical, social and other relevant
effects of development proposals;
•
To protect the productivity and capacity of natural
systems and the ecological processes which maintain
their functions; and
•
To promote development that is sustainable and
optimize resource use and management opportunities.

History

The National Environmental Policy Act 1969 of USA
is the legislative basis for EIA. The policy was the
result of wide spread recognition in the 1960s that
some major environmental problems were created
by the government’ s projects (power stations,
dams and reservoirs, industrial complexes).

The legislation made mandatory to assess the
environmental consequences of all projects by
federal agencies.

In 1990s, many developed and some developing
countries designed their EIA legislation. e.g. New
Zealand (1991), Canada (1995), Australia (1999),
Vietnam (1993), Uganda (1994), Ecuador (1997).

Today, EIA is firmly established in planning process
in many of these countries.

Global and national status on EIA
By 1996, more than 100 countries had EIA
systems
Now, at least 120 countries have EIA systems
Bangladesh also requires EIA for
industries/projects belonging to the ‘red’
category
Pertinent provisions: Sections 12 and 20 of
the ECA
The ECR (Rule 7)