Environmental Impact Assessment Format

CONTENT AND FORMAT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA) Introduction EIA is an important tool for incorporating environmental concerns at the project level. EIA should be carried out as early as the project planning stage as part of feasibility thus it can assure that the project will be environmentally feasible. The general objectives of the EIA study are to provide; (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) baseline information about the environmental, social, and economic conditions in the project area; information on potential impacts of the project and the characteristic of the impacts, magnitude, distribution, who will be the affected group, and their duration; information on potential mitigation measures to minimize the impact including mitigation costs; to assess the best alternative project at most benefits and least costs in terms of financial, social, and environment. In addition to alternative location of the project, project design or project management may also be considered; and basic information for formulating environmental management plan.

EIA requires an in-depth analysis because of the potential significance of environmental impacts from the project. EIAs demand: (i) comprehensive analysis of the potential impacts; (ii) works to be carried out to formulate practical mitigation measures; (iii) in-depth economic valuation of impact to screen and evaluate the best alternative; and (vi) in-depth analysis to prepare an adequate environmental management plan. The Process in Preparing EIA Scoping should be conducted to develop the terms of reference (TOR) for an EIA. The scoping procedure should at least produce the following outputs: (i) (ii) (iii) (iv) (v) identify the likely environmental impacts or other environmental concerns and consideration that need to be further investigated in EIA study, identify environmental components that need detailed further study, determine the general approach and methodology required to carry out the EIA study, identify in