M.U.

K
C.E.D.A.T
ARCHITECTURE
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
INTRODUCTION AND MEANING OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

ASSOC. PROF. S. Mukiibi

2023
DEFINITION OF
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (EIA)
This is an assessment of the
possible positive or negative
impacts that a proposed
project may have on the
environment, together
consisting of the
environmental, social and
economic aspects.
“EIA may be defined as a
formal process used to
predict the environmental
consequences of any
development project. EIA
thus ensures that the
potential problems are
foreseen and addressed at
an early stage in the
projects planning and
design.”
Manu and Anshu, UEMRI-India
An EIA is a report prepared BEFORE a development project
or large change in the way an area of land is used.

➢ The scope is to evaluate policies, plans, programs and

specific projects.

➢ The result of an EIA is assembled in a document known as

an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which looks at all
the positive and negative effects of a particular project on
the environment.
 ORIGIN OF EIA

EIA began to be used in the

1960s as part of a rational EIA has been developed as a result of the
decision making process. failure of traditional project appraisal
techniques to account for environmental
It involved a technical impacts.
evaluation that would lead to
objective decision making. Many development projects in the past
were designed and constructed in
EIA was made legislation in the isolation from any consideration of their
US in the National impacts on the environment, resulting in:
Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) 1969. It has since ▪ Higher costs,
evolved and it has been used ▪ Failure of projects,
increasingly in many countries
▪ Significant environmental change, and
around the world.
▪ Negative social effects
EIA as it is practiced today, is
being used as a decision
aiding tool rather than
decision making tool.
 AIMS OF EIA
❑ To achieve better standards of development. THE EIA SHOULD BE
❑ To provide decision-makers with analysis of Purposive
the total environment, so that decisions can Rigorous
be made based on as nearly complete and
balanced information as possible; Practical
❑ To assess and present Relevant
intangible/unquantifiable effects, that are Effective
not adequately addressed by cost/benefit
analysis and other technical reports; Efficient
❑ To provide information to the public, on a Focused
proposal; Adaptive
❑ To formalize the consideration of Participative
alternatives to a proposal, being Interdisciplinary
considered, in order that the least
environmentally harmful means of Integrated
achieving the given objective can be Transparent
chosen;
Systematic
❑ To improve the design of new
developments and safeguard the
environment through the application of
mitigation and avoidance measures
WHEN IS AN EIA REQUIRED?
The EIA regulations define two schedules of developments. If the
development exceeds threshold or is in a sensitive area i.e. national
park, then EIA is required. Schedule 2 projects, dev elopments based
on thresholds to carry out EIAs.
Schedule 1 projects, EIAs  Quarries and opencast
must always be carried out.
 some intensive livestock rearing
 Major power plants  Overhead transmission lines

 Chemical works  Surface storage of fossil fuel

 Coke ovens
 Waste disposal
incineration  Manufacture of dairy products
 Foundries and forges
 Major Roads Schemes
 Brewing
 Some textile operations
 Rubber production
 Wide range of infrastructure projects
 Waste water treatment plants
 Holiday villages
 Golf courses
SELECTION CRITERIA FOR CHOOSING THE REQUIRED EIA
FOR SCHEDULE 2 DEVELOPMENTS

Characteristics of the development

 the size of the development;
 the accumulation with other development;
 the use of natural resources;
 the production of waste;
 pollution and nuisances;
 the risk of accidents, particularly regarding
substances or technologies used.
Location of the development
 The existing land use;
 The relative abundance, quality and regenerative capacity of natural
resources in the area;
 The absorption capacity of the natural environment, paying particular
attention to:
i. wetlands;
ii. coastal zones;
iii. Mountain and forest areas;
iv. nature reserves and parks;
v. areas classified or protected
vi. areas in which the environmental quality standards laid down in
Community legislation have already been exceeded;
vii. densely populated areas;
viii. landscapes of historical, cultural or archaeological significance
Characteristics of the potential
impact

 The extent of the impact

(geographical area and size of the
affected population);
 The trans frontier nature of the impact;
 The magnitude and complexity of the
impact;
 The probability of the impact;
 The duration, frequency and
reversibility of the impact.
PROCEDURES AND
STAGES OF EIA
1) Baseline study
2) Identification of projects
requiring EIA, sometimes known
as screening;
3) Identification of the key issues to
be addressed in an EIA, called
scoping;
4) Impact assessment and
evaluation;
5) Impact mitigation and
monitoring;
6) Review of the completed EIS and;
7) Public participation.
 Step 1. Baseline study
A baseline study consists of measurements before
any development takes place.

What is the environment like now?

The baseline study is used to try to forecast what

changes may be caused by the development.

The baseline study will include measurements of:

• Microclimate
• Biodiversity: Biotic components
• Scenery
• Abiotic components
• Human populations in the area
 Step 2. Screening

Identify the nature or category of the

project i.e. whether it falls under
schedule 1 or 2.
 Step 3. Scoping

Identify the key issues and concerns

of the interested parties

• Who is concerned?
• What are the concerns?
• What is the level of concern where
the development becomes
unacceptable?
Step 4. Impact Analysis
 Step 5. Impact Mitigation
• Carried out to reduce or minimize the
impact to the environment that the
proposed project may cause or may have
caused.
•
Purpose is to look for alternative and better
ways of implementing the proposed project
or associated activities so that the negative
impacts are substantially eliminated or
minimized while the benefits are enhanced.
 Reporting
It is a product of a team of consultants and
specialists.
The EIA report is a statement of the likely impacts
of a proposal and how these can be mitigated
and managed.
Different names of EIA reports
• Environmental Impact Assessment Report (EIA
Report)
• Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
• Environmental Statement (ES)
• Environmental Assessment Report (EA Report)
• Environmental Effects Statement (EES)
 Step 6: Review

• Review the quality of the EIA report

• Take public comments into
account
• Determine if the information is
sufficient and credible
• Identify any deficiencies to be
corrected
 Step 7: Decision Making
• On the basis of whether the proposed project is
exempt or appropriate mitigation measures have
been incorporated for the identified impacts, a
decision shall be made to either approve or
disapprove the environmental aspects of the
proposed project.

• If approved, the necessary action shall be

undertaken by the developer. The developer will be
permitted to implement the project in accordance
with the mitigation terms or conditions attached to the
approval
Step 7: Decision Making contd.

• In the decision given by the developer, he shall

give one alternative and cite reasons for rejecting
others. The alternatives rejected and their reasons
for being rejected should also be included in the
report
 Monitoring
Monitoring of projects after EIA has been conducted is
essential as this will ensure that the mitigation measures
and any other conditionalities set out by the developer in
the EIA are complied with.
The developer is required to ensure that all practicable
measures to minimize any predictions are as laid out in
the project brief or EIS and are complied with.
This is mainly done by;
• Carrying out periodic checks and audits.
• Environmental Audits are a monitoring mechanism, the
responsibility of carrying out an environmental audit lies
with NEMA and the Lead Agencies.
 Schematic
presentation
of EIA process
MISCONCEPTIONS
ABOUT EIA

✓ EIA is too expensive

✓ EIA is just an add-
on and occurs too
late to do any
good"
✓ EIA delays projects
✓ EIA is too complex"
✓ EIA doesn't
produce useful
results
✓ EIA will be misused
to stop
development
✓ We're too poor to
afford EIA"
 BENEFITS OF EIA
❑ Avoidance or minimization of adverse
environmental effects
❑ Opportunities for public participation
and Aboriginal consultation
❑ Increased protection of human health
❑ Reduced project costs and delays
❑ Reduced risks of environmental harm
or disasters
❑ Increased government accountability
and harmonization
❑ Lessened probability of trans
boundary environmental effects
❑ Informed decisions that contribute to
responsible development of natural
resources
 Conclusion:
EIA parts review
• Baseline study
• Screening
• Scoping (identifying impacts)
• Predicting the scale of the potential
impacts
• Mitigation of the impacts (Finding
ways to lower the impacts)
• A non-technical summary so that the
general public can understand the
issues.
Assignment: 3

Get a sample policy in Uganda and

assess it based on its various
components and on the stages of the
environmental impact assessment.

Submission Deadline: November 11, 2023