4: Environment Impact Assessment
This topic contains a case study on how EIA (Environment Impact Assessment) is done for a Wind Farm project. It contains information on which aspects should be considered for the analysis and when should be the assessment performed.
EIA refers to the process of evaluating how proposed projects or development activities would affect the environment, including but not limited to flora, fauna, ecology, water, and air.
It can be further defined as a systematic procedure to identify, predict and evaluate the likely environmental, social or other impacts of a project or development, to define the mitigation actions for minimising the negative impacts and positively contribute to the natural environment and well-being[5].
EIA is a detailed evaluation of the possible environmental impacts of a proposed project (considering many factors). This helps predict any environmental impacts in the pre-planning stage, enabling early decisions to reduce disadvantageous impacts.
EIA is conducted for a number of industries, such as mining, thermal power plants, dams, and infrastructure (roads, highways, ports, harbours, and airports ). Such large scale projects have permanent negative impacts (on environment and human livelihood) due to significant deforestation, water usage, habitat destruction of habit and displacement.
The outcome of the assessment is to make the decision- makers aware about the project and reduce the project's footprint on the environment and people. Thus, the report must have precise and relevant information, accounting for various effects of the intended project’s life cycle. The decision makers, such as government officials, committees are the intended audience for the report, it helps them in approving, requesting changes or rejecting a project[6].
In India, EIA is regulated by the EIA Notification introduced in 2006. It was amended several times, the most recent being in 2020[7]. According to this, all the projects are categorised into 2 categories A and B (B1 and B2) based on their size and impact on natural and artificial resources. They are appraised by central or state authorities as mentioned in the notification.
Steps involved in EIA[8]
- Screening- When a project is being considered, screening is done to see if the potential environmental and social effects are significant enough to conduct an EIA.
- Scoping- Defining the EIA's general parameters, establishing the baseline for the analyses that will be performed at every stage, figuring out alternatives, and getting in touch with those who will be impacted.
- Impact Assessment and Mitigation- Analyse the ecological, social, and economic effects of the proposed project as well as any potential alternatives.
- Impact Management- Creation of a framework for addressing mitigation strategies as well as other risks that may be present, such as project failures and natural disasters.
- EIA report- All of the research and work completed during the aforementioned steps is compiled in a comprehensive report.
- Review and Licensing- Designated authorities examine the EIA report to decide whether to license the proposed project as is or whether it needs to be modified.
- Monitoring- Ensure that the contingency plans, mitigation strategies, and priorities outlined in the environment management plan are correctly carried out and adequately address the impacts of the project.