Environment Impact Assassment

Construction Engineering & Project Management

Environment Impact Assessment (EIA / EIS)

Core Courses

Overview

The water, air, and land resources available to our forefathers were immeasurable vast. So vast, in fact, that they appeared to be infinite proportions, and their use and consumption were taken for granted. However, as the population grew it becomes clear that these resources, particularly a clean and abundant water supply, were not infinite and in some cases not even available………."Robert B. Jacko, Purdue University".

Content

· Introduction

· Water and Wastewater Planning

- Treatment Standards.

- Planning

- Design Flows and Loads

- Intakes and Wells

· Physical Water Treatment Processes

- Screens

- Biological and Chemical Reactors

- Mixers and Mixing

- Sedimentation

- Filtration

- Activated Carbon

- Aeration and Gas Exchange

· Chemical Water Treatment Processes

- Coagulation

- Softening, Stabilization, and Demineralization

- Disinfections

· Biological Water Treatment Processes

- Activated Sludge

- Trickling Filters

- Sludge Digestion

· Air Pollution

- Introduction

- Regulations

- Emissions Estimation

- Stack Sampling

- Emission Control

- Odor

- Air Pollution Meteorology

- Dispersion Modeling

· Incinerators

- Regulations and Regulatory Background

- Principles of Combustion and Incineration Thermodynamics

- Combustion Chemistry

- Incineration and Combustion Systems

- Air Pollution Control and Gas Conditioning Equipment for Incinerators

- Trial Burn and Compliance Test for Hazardous Waste Incinerators

· Solid Waste / Landfills

- Introduction

- Solid Waste

- Landfills

· Noise Pollution

The World Bank E.I.A. Process

Executive Summary:

The Executive Summary should consist of a concise discussion of significant findings of the EA and recommended actions in the project.

Project Description:

In this section, one should provide concise description of the project's geographic, ecological, social and temporal context, including any off-site investments that may be required by the project, such as dedicated pipelines, access roads, power plants, water supply, housing and raw material and product storage materials.

Baseline Data:

For EA purposes, baseline data includes an assessment of the study arEAs dimensions and a description of relevant physical, biological, and socio-economic conditions, including any changes anticipated before the project begins, and current and proposed development activities within the project area, even if not directly connected to the project.

Impact Assessment:

This section includes identification and assessment of the positive and negative impacts likely to result from the proposed project. Mitigation measures, and any residual negative impacts that cannot be mitigated, should be identified. Opportunities for environmental enhancement should be explored. The extent and quality of available data, key data gaps, and uncertainties associated with predictions should be identified/estimated. Topics that do not require further attention should be specified.

Analysis of Alternatives:

A key purpose of EA work is to assess investment alternatives from an environmental perspective. This is the more proactive side of EA - enhancing the design of a project through consideration of alternatives, as opposed to the more defensive task of reducing adverse impacts of a given design.

The Bank's EA 0D calls for the systematic comparison of the proposed investment design, site, technology, and operational alternatives in terms of their potential environmental impacts, capital and recurrent costs, suitability under local conditions, and institutional, training and monitoring requirements. For each alternative, the environmental costs and benefits should be quantified to the extent possible, economic values should be attached where feasible, and the basis for the selected alternative should be stated.

Mitigation or Management Plan:

A mitigation plan consists of the set of measures to be taken during implementation and operation to eliminate, offset, or reduce adverse environmental impacts to acceptable levels. The plan identifies feasible and cost-effective measures and estimates their potential environmental impacts, capital and recurrent costs and institutional, training and monitoring requirements. The plan should provide details on proposed work programs and schedules to help ensure that the proposed environmental actions are in phase with construction and other project activities throughout implementation. The plan should consider compensatory measures if mitigation measures are not feasible or cost-effective.

Environmental Monitoring Plan:

This plan specifies the type of monitoring, who will do it, how much it will cost, and what other inputs, such as training, are necessary.

Public Consultation:

Consultation with affected communities is recognized as key to identifying environmental impacts and designing mitigation measures. The Bank's policy requires consultation with affected groups and local NGO’s during at least two stages of the EA process:

(1) at the scoping stage, shortly after the EA category has been assigned, and

(2) once a draft EA report has been prepared.

Consultation throughout EA preparation is also generally encouraged, particularly for projects that affect peoples' livelihood and for community-based projects. In projects with major social components, such as those requiring involuntary resettlement or affecting indigenous people, the consultation process should involve active public participation in the EA and project development process and the social and environmental issues should be closely linked.

References

-W.F. Chen, ,(1995). "The Civil Engineering Handbook", CRC Press, New York, ISBN 0-8493-8953-4.

Software

Useful links

- American Society of Safety Engineers www.asse.org

- Canadian Society of Safety Engineering www.csse.org

- Occupational Safety and Health Administration, USA www.osha.gov

- Environment Protection Agency, USA www.epa.gov

- Environment Public Authority, Kuwait www.epa.gov.kw

- Intergovernmental Forum on Chemical Safety www.who.int/ifcs

- Canadian Center for Occupational Health and Safety www.ccohs.ca

- Health & Safety Executive UK www.hse.gov.uk