UNIT-1

🌿 Full 22 Topics of EIA Unit 1 (from your PDF)

1. Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment
2. Definition of EIA
3. Objectives of EIA
4. Need for EIA
5. Historical background of EIA
6. Benefits of EIA
7. Limitations of EIA
8. Process of EIA
9. Screening
10.Scoping
11.Impact analysis
12.Mitigation
13.Reporting
14.Review of EIA
15.Decision making
16.Public participation
17.Monitoring
18.Types of EIA
19.Rapid EIA vs Comprehensive EIA
20.Environmental Audit (EA)
21.Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
22.Legislation and Institutional Framework for EIA in India

🌿 EIA Unit 1 – Easy Notes for All 22 Topics

1. Introduction to EIA
A study done before starting any project to check how it might affect the
environment (air, water, land, people).
2. Definition of EIA---A formal process used to predict environmental
impacts, propose solutions, and help in decision-making.
3. Objectives of EIA
 Predict environmental problems early
  Reduce negative effects
 Aid in project approval
 Support sustainable development
4. Need for EIA
Projects like dams, roads, factories cause pollution and loss of biodiversity. EIA is
needed to protect nature before damage is done.
5. Historical Background
 Originated in the USA in 1969 (NEPA Act)
 Later adopted by many countries
 India: 1994 first notification; updated in 2006
6. Benefits of EIA
 Prevents environmental harm
 Saves costs by avoiding future problems
 Involves the public
 Promotes eco-friendly planning
7. Limitations of EIA
 Sometimes based on poor data
 Can be rushed or biased
 Not always implemented properly
8. Process of EIA
Step-by-step method:
1. Screening
2. Scoping
3. Impact analysis
4. Mitigation
5. Reporting
6. Review
7. Decision-making
8. Monitoring
9. Screening
Checks if EIA is needed based on project type and size.
10. Scoping
Finds out what environmental aspects (air, water, noise, etc.) should be
studied in the EIA.
11. Impact Analysis
Identifies positive and negative impacts of the project on environment,
health, and society.
12. Mitigation
Suggests ways to avoid, reduce, or control the negative impacts.
13. Reporting
All findings are written in an EIA report (EIS), which includes impacts,
mitigation, and action plans.
14. Review of EIA
Experts check the quality of the report and suggest improvements.
15. Decision-making
Based on the EIA report and public opinion, project is approved, modified, or
rejected.
16. Public Participation
Involving local people and NGOs to share their views before final decisions are
made
17. Monitoring
After approval, the environment is monitored regularly to ensure impacts are
controlled
18. Types of EIA
 Strategic EIA – For policies/plans
 Project EIA – For specific projects
 Regional EIA – For large areas
 Sectoral EIA – For similar industries
19. Rapid EIA vs Comprehensive EIA

Rapid Comprehensive
Aspect
EIA EIA

Time Short Long

Data Limited Detailed

Accuracy Less High

20. Environmental Audit (EA)
Checks if a project followed environmental rules after it started. Like a post-
project checkup.
21. Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
Part of the EIA report that includes:
 Mitigation steps
 Monitoring plan
 Cost estimates
22. Legislation in India

 EIA Notification by MoEFCC (2006) //Ministry of Environmental,

forest and Climate Change

 Projects classified as:

o Category A – Need Central Govt. approval

o Category B – Need State-level approval

 Involves EAC (Expert Appraisal Committee) SEAC (State Expert Appraisal

Committee), SEIAA (State Environmental Impact Assessment Authority),
PCB (Pollution Control Boards)

📝 One-Page Revision Sheet (Super Quick Recap)

EIA = Pre-study to check environmental effects of a project.
Process =
Screening → Scoping → Impact Analysis → Mitigation → Reporting → Review →
Decision → Monitoring
Benefits =
✔ Prevents damage
✔ Saves cost
✔ Public involvement
✔ Helps sustainable planning
Limitations =
❌ Poor data
❌ Political pressure
❌ Not followed properly
Rapid vs Comprehensive = Fast but less data vs Detailed and more accurate
Key Docs = EIA Report (EIS), EMP, EA
Indian Law = EIA Notification 2006 (MoEFCC)
Category A – Central
Category B – State

Unit 2
🌿 Full 15 Topics of EIA Unit 2 (from your PDF)
1.Environmental Attributes
2. Impact Identification
3. Impact Prediction
4. Impact Evaluation
5. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
6. Baseline Data Collection
7. Environmental Indices
8. Checklist Method
9. Matrix Method
10. Network Method
11. Overlay Method
12. Ad-hoc Method
13. Cross Impact Analysis
14. Cost-Benefit Analysis
15. Uncertainty in Impact Prediction

🌿 EIA – Unit 2 Simplified Notes

(All 15 Topics in Easy Format)
1. Environmental Attributes
These are the key areas of the environment studied in EIA:
 Air, water, soil
 Flora & fauna
 Noise, land use, human health
2. Impact Identification
It’s the step where we identify what kind of environmental impacts will
occur due to the project.
Example:
Road construction → deforestation → air pollution.
3. Impact Prediction
This step predicts how severe the impacts will be.
Example:
How much noise will increase?
How much land will be used?
4. Impact Evaluation
Here, the predicted impacts are compared to environmental standards to judge
whether they are acceptable or harmful.
5. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
A document/report that contains:
 Project details
 Predicted impacts
 Mitigation measures
 Monitoring plan
This is the final result of the EIA process.
6. Baseline Data Collection
Before the project starts, we collect present condition data (air quality, water,
noise, etc.) to compare with post-project data.
7. Environmental Indices
These are numerical values or scores that represent the quality of the
environment.
Example: Air Quality Index (AQI)
8. Checklist Method
A simple list of environmental factors is made. Each factor is checked for
impact.
✅ Easy to use
❌ Doesn’t show relationships between impacts
9. Matrix Method
It shows interaction between project activities and environmental
components in a table form.
Famous one: Leopold Matrix
(Rows = activities, Columns = impacts)
10. Network Method
Draws flow diagrams to show cause-effect relationships.
Example:
Road → dust → poor air → health issues
11. Overlay Method
Uses maps of different environmental features (forests, rivers, soil) to see which
areas are most sensitive.
Useful in site selection.
12. Ad-hoc Method
Quick and general method with no structure. Just lists out major impacts.
✅ Fast
❌ Not detailed
13. Cross Impact Analysis
It checks how one impact can cause another.
Example: Water pollution → health issues → economic loss
14. Cost-Benefit Analysis
Compares project benefits vs environmental damage in terms of money.
Used to decide: "Is the project worth it?"
15. Uncertainty in Impact Prediction
Prediction is not always 100% correct. Reasons:
 Incomplete data
 Wrong assumptions
 Natural changes

🌿 EIA – UNIT 2 | ONE-PAGE SUPER QUICK RECAP

🔹 1. Environmental Attributes---Key elements studied:
 Air, Water, Soil, Noise, Flora, Fauna, Land use, Health
🔹 2. Impact Identification
 Find out what impacts the project will cause
Example: Road → dust → air pollution
🔹 3. Impact Prediction
 Predict how much impact (e.g., increase in noise, deforestation level)
🔹 4. Impact Evaluation
 Compare predicted impact with legal/environmental limits
→ Is it acceptable?
🔹 5. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
 Final EIA report
Includes: impacts, mitigation, EMP, public opinion
🔹 6. Baseline Data Collection
 Gather present environmental condition before project
→ For future comparison
🔹 7. Environmental Indices
 Numerical values showing environmental quality
Ex: AQI (Air Quality Index)
🔹 8. Checklist Method
 Simple list ✔️
 Easy, – No relationships shown
🔹 9. Matrix Method
 Table format (Leopold Matrix)
Rows = project activities
Columns = environmental factors
🔹 10. Network Method
 Cause-effect diagrams (chains of impact)
🔹 11. Overlay Method
 Maps + layers to find best site with least impact
🔹 12. Ad-hoc Method
 Informal + general list
 Fast, – Not detailed
🔹 13. Cross Impact Analysis
 One impact leads to another
Ex: Pollution → Health → Economy
🔹 14. Cost-Benefit Analysis
 Compare economic gain vs environmental cost
🔹 15. Uncertainty in Prediction
 Due to lack of data or natural variation, EIA predictions may not be 100%
accurate.
 Unit-3
✅ Full List of Topics in EIA Unit 3
1. Life cycle assessment (LCA)
2. Introduction to LCA
3. Need for LCA
4. Scope of LCA
5. Methodology of LCA
6. Goals and objectives of LCA
7. Components of LCA
8. Inventory analysis
9. Impact assessment in LCA
10.Interpretation of LCA results
11.Advantages of LCA
12.Limitations of LCA
13.Risk Assessment (RA)
14.Objectives of RA
15.Methodology of RA
16.Types of risks
17.Hazard identification
18.Exposure assessment
19.Dose-response assessment
20.Risk characterization
21.Uncertainty analysis
22.Risk management
23.Advantages of RA
24.Limitations of RA

📝 One-Page Super Quick Recap – EIA Unit 3

🔹 Life Cycle Assessment (LCA)
 Studies environmental impacts of a product from raw material to
disposal (cradle to grave).
🔹 Need for LCA
  To identify and reduce pollution at every stage of a product's life.
🔹 Scope of LCA
 Decides what processes to include, how deep the study will go.
🔹 Methodology of LCA
1. Goal & scope definition
2. Inventory analysis
3. Impact assessment
4. Interpretation
🔹 Components of LCA
 Inputs (energy, materials)
 Outputs (emissions, waste)
🔹 Inventory Analysis
 Data collection step
 Measures energy, material use, emissions
🔹 Impact Assessment
 Translates data into environmental impacts (global warming, acid rain,
etc.)
🔹 Interpretation
 Final step: analyze results, make decisions
🔹 Advantages of LCA
 Identifies eco-friendly options
 Helps policy and decision-making
🔹 Limitations of LCA
 Data-intensive
 Time-consuming
 Involves assumptions
🔹 Risk Assessment (RA)
 Evaluates the potential health/environmental risks from hazards
(chemicals, processes, etc.)

🔹 Objectives of RA
 Identify, evaluate and manage risk to humans or nature
🔹 Methodology of RA
 1. Hazard Identification
2. Exposure Assessment
3. Dose-response Assessment
4. Risk Characterization
🔹 Types of Risks
 Health, Environmental, Chemical, Industrial, Natural
🔹 Hazard Identification
 Find out what is dangerous (chemicals, processes, etc.)
🔹 Exposure Assessment
 Who is exposed? How long? At what level?
🔹 Dose-Response Assessment
 Relationship between amount of exposure and effect
🔹 Risk Characterization
 Final step → combines all to estimate risk level
🔹 Uncertainty Analysis
 Deals with data gaps, assumptions, variability
🔹 Risk Management
 Using RA results to make safe decisions, like changing process, PPE, or
policies
🔹 Advantages of RA
 Prevents disasters
 Protects health/environment
 Aids better planning
🔹 Limitations of RA
 Relies on data accuracy
 Future risks are hard to predict

UNIT-4
✅ Full List of Topics in EIA Unit 4
1. Environmental Clearance (EC)
2. Clearance Process
3. Public Hearing
4. Procedure for Conducting a Public Hearing
5. Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R)
6. Objectives of R&R
7. Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
8. Contents of EMP
9. Post Project Monitoring (PPM)
10. Environmental Audit
11. Objectives of Environmental Audit
12. Types of Environmental Audit
13. Environmental Legislation in India
14. MoEFCC
15. Pollution Control Boards (CPCB & SPCBs)

✅ EIA Unit 4 – All Topics (Concepts + Explanation)

1. Environmental Clearance (EC)
 Official permission given to start a project after ensuring it won’t harm
the environment.
2. Clearance Process
Steps:
1. Application submission
2. Screening
3. Scoping
4. Public consultation
5. Appraisal
6. Granting or rejecting EC
3. Public Hearing
 Local people share opinions/objections about a project.
 Helps in making transparent decisions.
4. Procedure for Conducting a Public Hearing
 Notification to public
 Display of EIA report
 Collect opinions via written/oral methods
  Conduct public meeting
 Submit final report to concerned authority
5. Rehabilitation and Resettlement (R&R)
 Done when people are displaced due to big projects (like dams).
 Includes providing:
o New homes

o Jobs

o Compensation

6. Objectives of R&R
 Protect rights of displaced
 Minimize negative effects
 Ensure better living conditions
7. Environmental Management Plan (EMP)
 A part of the EIA report
 Describes:
o Mitigation measures

o Monitoring plans

o Emergency response plans

8. Contents of EMP
 Summary of potential impacts
 Steps to control impacts
 Roles & responsibilities
 Budget for implementation
9. Post Project Monitoring (PPM)
 Checks the environmental performance after project starts.
 Ensures:
o Pollution limits are followed

o Mitigation measures are working

10. Environmental Audit

 A systematic check on whether the project is following environmental
rules.
11. Objectives of Environmental Audit
  Improve environmental performance
 Identify non-compliance
 Suggest corrective actions
12. Types of Environmental Audit
 Internal Audit – Done by project staff
 External Audit – Done by independent agencies
 Compliance Audit – Checks legal obligations
 Functional Audit – Focuses on specific environmental function
13. Environmental Legislation in India
 EPA, 1986
 Water Act, 1974
 Air Act, 1981
 Forest Conservation Act, 1980
 Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
 Biodiversity Act, 2002
14. MoEFCC
 Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change
 Main body for:
o Environmental clearance

o Policy formation

o Monitoring projects

15. Pollution Control Boards (CPCB & SPCBs)

 Ensure industries follow environmental laws
 Check pollution levels
 Grant consents to operate

📝 One-Page Super Quick Recap – EIA Unit 4

🔹 Environmental Clearance (EC) – Official approval to begin project safely.
🔹 Clearance Process – Apply → Screen → Scope → Public Hear → Appraise →
Approve/Reject
🔹 Public Hearing – Locals give views; makes process democratic.
🔹 Rehabilitation & Resettlement (R&R) – Relocation + compensation for
displaced people.
🔹 Environmental Management Plan (EMP) – Includes mitigation, monitoring,
cost, responsibility.
🔹 Post Project Monitoring (PPM) – Ensures environment rules are followed
during/after construction.
🔹 Environmental Audit – Review if environmental norms are followed.
🔹 Audit Types – Internal, External, Compliance, Functional.
🔹 Key Laws – EPA 1986, Water Act 1974, Air Act 1981, etc.
🔹 MoEFCC – Central body for policies & clearance.
🔹 CPCB/SPCB – Pollution control authorities at central/state level.

✅ Unit 5 – Topics Covered (from your PDF)

1. Environmental policies in India
2. Policy framework
3. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
4. State Department of Environment and Forest
5. Environmental information sources
6. ENVIS (Environmental Information System)
7. Environmental education
8. Role of NGOs
9. Role of public in EIA
10.Concept of sustainability
11.Dimensions of sustainability
12.Challenges to sustainable development
13.Environmental priorities in India
14.Future of EIA

UNIT-5
✅ Unit 5 – Topics Covered (from your PDF)
1. Environmental policies in India
2. Policy framework
3. Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
4. State Department of Environment and Forest
 5. Environmental information sources
6. ENVIS (Environmental Information System)
7. Environmental education
8. Role of NGOs
9. Role of public in EIA
10. Concept of sustainability
11. Dimensions of sustainability
12. Challenges to sustainable development
13. Environmental priorities in India
14. Future of EIA

📚 Unit 5 – Concepts & Explanations (Easy to Learn)

1. Environmental Policies in India
 Set of rules and strategies made by the govt. to protect the
environment.
 Focus areas: pollution control, biodiversity, forests, water, climate.
2. Policy Framework
 Legal & institutional setup for implementation of environmental laws.
 Includes:
o EPA 1986

o National Forest Policy

o Wildlife Act

o Water & Air Acts

3. MoEFCC
 Main central ministry for formulating and supervising environmental
policies and EIA.
4. State Department of Environment & Forest
 Works at state level under MoEFCC to implement rules, monitor, and
manage forests & wildlife.
5. Environmental Information Sources
 Places to get environmental data:
 o Reports

o Websites

o Databases

o Monitoring networks

6. ENVIS (Environmental Information System)

 Govt. network to collect and share reliable environmental data.
 Managed by MoEFCC.
7. Environmental Education
 Teaching people (especially students) about:
o Nature, pollution, conservation, climate change

o Aim: awareness + action

8. Role of NGOs
 NGOs help in:
o Creating awareness

o Fighting legal cases

o Supporting victims of environmental violations

o Participating in EIA processes

9. Role of Public in EIA

 People give feedback in public hearings.
 Can object, support, or suggest changes to a project.
10. Concept of Sustainability
 Using resources without harming future generations.
 Balanced approach to economy + society + environment.

11. Dimensions of Sustainability

 Environmental – conserve nature
 Social – equality, health, education
 Economic – growth with eco-responsibility
12. Challenges to Sustainable Development
 Overpopulation
 Poverty
 Pollution
  Resource overuse
 Lack of awareness
13. Environmental Priorities in India
 Water conservation
 Pollution control
 Waste management
 Forestry & biodiversity
 Climate action
14. Future of EIA
 Moving towards:
o Digital EIA

o Better public participation

o Climate-sensitive planning

o Sustainable decision-making

📝 One-Page Super Quick Recap – EIA Unit 5

🔹 Policies & Framework – Govt. rules to protect environment (EPA 1986,
Forest, Wildlife, Water Acts)
🔹 MoEFCC & State Depts. – Central & state level bodies for environment
monitoring and policy
🔹 ENVIS – Environmental data system by govt for reliable info
🔹 Education & NGOs – Spread awareness, support people, participate in
environmental cases
🔹 Public Role in EIA – Give views in public hearing; vital for transparency
🔹 Sustainability – Balance between environment, economy, society
🔹 Challenges – Population, pollution, poverty, poor awareness
🔹 India’s Priorities – Focus on water, pollution, forests, waste, and climate
🔹 Future of EIA – Tech-based, transparent, and eco-focused approach