Envt. Management Tools: EIA & Envt. Audit

Kantharajan GPh.D Scholar,

AEHM Division

ICAR - CIFE

Environment Development

Primitive humans used natural resources to satisfytheir basic needs

Resources were readily available in the biosphere, andthe residues produced were easily assimilated by theenvironment

Development - associated with more and moreexploitation of various natural resources

Sustainable development is development that meetsthe needs of the present without compromising theability of future generations to meet their own needs

Environmental Management Tools

Assist decision makers to improve the environmental outcomes of their management decisions.

Helps to control human impact on and interaction with the environment

EIA, Environmental Audit, Life Cycle Analysis, Environmental Economics etc.

Ensuring optimal use of natural resources for sustainable development

EIA – an Introduction

Management tool to minimize adverse impacts ofdevelopmental projects on the environment and toachieve sustainable development through timely,adequate, corrective and protective mitigation measures

Exercise to be carried out before any project isundertaken & any major activity or plan is executed

UNEP defines EIA as ‘a tool used to identify theenvironmental, social and economic impacts of a projectprior to decision-making’.

EIA - timeline EIA or EIS – term origin in USA after passing the National

Environmental Policy Act in 1970

In India, 1978-79 - initially for river valley project

Now mandatory for 30 categories of developmental activities

EPA, 1986 – Landmark legislation for EIA

MoEF&CC, GoI vide its notification of 27th January 1994 - listof developmental activities which will need EIA clearance

EIA notification on 1997, made public hearing mandatory

http://www.moef.nic.in/division/introduction-8

Amendments in the EIA Notification, 2006 dated 01.07.2006related to environmental clearance for minor minerals &environment clearance for leases in cluster

Objectives of EIA

• To predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design

• To find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts

• Shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers.

• Ensuring optimal use of natural resources for sustainabledevelopment

• Improve decision on development by increasing the quality &Scope of information

Purposes of EIA

To inform a consenting or licensing decision

To identify mitigation measures which will minimize anypossible environmental impacts

‘’Decisions are actually shaped not taken’’

To helps in achieving economic benefits: reduced cost andtime of project implementation and design, avoidedtreatment/clean-up costs

LIST OF PROJECTS REQUIRING ENVIRONMENTAL CLEARANCE

1. Nuclear Power & related projects such as Heavy Water Plants, nuclear fuel complex, Rare Earths.

2. River Valley projects including hydel power, major Irrigation & their combination including flood control.

3. Ports, Harbours, Airports (except minor ports and harbours)

4. Petroleum Refineries including crude and product pipelines.

5. Chemical Fertilizers (Nitrogenous and Phosphatic other than single superphosphate).

6. Pesticides (Technical).

7. Petrochemical complexes

8. Bulk drugs and pharmaceuticals.

9. Exploration for oil and gas and their production, transportation and storage.

10. Synthetic Rubber.

11. Asbestos and Asbestos products.

12. Hydrocyanic acid and its derivatives.

13. (a)Primary metallurgical industries (such as production of Iron and Steel, Aluminium, Copper, Zinc, Lead and Ferro Alloys). (b)Electric arc furnaces (Mini Steel Plants).

14. Chlor alkali industry.

15. Integrated paint complex including manufacture of resins and basic raw materials required in the manufacture of paints.

16. Viscose Staple fibre and filament yarn17. Storage batteries integrated with manufacture of oxides of lead and lead antimony alloys.18. All tourism projects between 200m�500 metres of High Water Line and at locations with an elevation of more than 1000 metres with investment of more than Rs.5 crores.19. Thermal Power Plants.20. Mining projects *(major minerals)* with leases more than 5 hectares.21. Highway Projects 22. Tarred Roads in the Himalayas and or Forest areas.23. Distilleries.24. Raw Skins and Hides25. Pulp, paper and newsprint.26. Dyes.27. Cement.28. Foundries (individual)29. Electroplating30. Meta amino phenol

Contd…

SOURCE: MoEF, NOTIFICATION, New Delhi, the 27th January, 1994(As amended on 04/05/1994, 10/04/1997, 27/1/2000 and 13/12/2000)

Types of EC based on Project category

Category ‘A’Activities shall require prior environmental clearance from the Central Government in the MoEF&CC

Category ‘B’ Require EC from State level the State Environment Impact Assessment Authority (SEIAA)

- based on the spatial extent of potential impacts and potential impacts on human health and natural and man made resources.

TYPES/CATEGORY TYPE A TYPE B

River Valley projects > 50 MW hydroelectricpower generation

< 50 MW hydroelectricpower generation

Atomic NPP const. All projects

WWTP const. All projects

General conditions in Project categorization

Any project or activity specified in Category ‘B’ will be treated as Category A, if

located in whole or in part within 10 km from the boundary of:

(i) Protected Areas notified under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972,

(ii) Critically Polluted areas as notified by the CPCB from time to time,

(iii) Notified Eco-sensitive areas,

(iv) inter-State boundaries and international boundaries.

Project management authority should get EC, before starting of any construction work, or preparation of land

IAA, New Delhi

For implementation of EIA notification at Central level

6 regional offices - Shillong, Bhubaneshwar, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Lucknow & Bhopal.

A view of online portal

http://environmentclearance.nic.in/

A view of online portal of SEIAA, Govt. of Maharashtra

https://ec.maharashtra.gov.in/

Time frame of EIA

• IAA team does a technical assessment and gives itsrecommendations within 90 days.

• Regulatory authority shall consider therecommendations and convey its decision to theapplicant within 45 days.

Environmental Appraisal Committees

Expert Committees have been constituted for the following sectors:

1. Mining Projects2. Industrial Projects3. Thermal Power Projects4. River Valley, Multipurpose,

Irrigation & H.E. Projects5. Infrastructure Development

& Miscellaneous Projects6. Nuclear Power Projects

http://www.moef.nic.in/division/introduction-8

Environmental Appraisal Committee

• i. Eco-system Management• ii. Air/Water Pollution Control• iii. Water Resource Management• iv. Flora/Fauna conservation and management• v. Land Use Planning• vi. Social Sciences/Rehabilitation• vii. Project Appraisal• viii. Ecology ix. Environmental Health• x. Subject Area Specialists• xi. Representatives of NGOs/persons concerned with• environmental issues.

The Membership of a Committee shall not exceed 15.

The Committees will consist of experts in the following disciplines:

1. Screening

Category ‘B’ projects

Scrutiny by SEAC based on the nature and location specificity of the project

Category ‘B1’ Category ‘B2’

(Requiring an Environmental ImpactAssessment report)

(Not required)

Scoping is a stage, usually involving the public and other interested parties, that identifies the key environmental issues that should be addressed in an EIA.

Preparing the Terms of Reference: Project description, Boundary for impact assessment, budget etc…

2. Scoping

3. Public Consultation

Refers to the process by which the concerns of local affectedpersons and others who have probable stake in the environmentalimpacts of the project or activity are consulted

Two components comprising of:-

(a) a public hearing at the site or in its close proximity

(b) obtain responses in writing from other concerned persons

4. Impact analysis

Rapid EIA – using the readily available data

Comprehensive EIA - also uses inputs from the rapid EIA. Other steps involved are: identification, prediction, evaluation of the possible environmental impacts.

5. Mitigative Measures It comprises of a strategy devised to prevent, reduce and

compensate the impacts of the project.

For example, The predicted impact of highways construction in the particular area nearby schools and hospitals can be mitigated by the development of Vegetative noise barriers.

6. Appraisal Appraisal means the detailed scrutiny of the Final EIA

report, outcome of the public consultations including publichearing proceedings, submitted by the applicant to theregulatory authority concerned for grant of environmentalclearance by the EAC.

The decision may be accompanied by certain conditions that must be fulfilled, such as posting a reclamation bond or filing an Environmental Management Plan

Environmental Management Plan (EMP)

This contains details of the management measures to be adopted.It narrates the key agencies/persons which would be responsible for theimplementation of the plan. It also includes Disaster Management Plan.

8. Monitoring

Monitoring is an important part of project implementation.

Monitoring serves three purposes:

(1) ensuring that required mitigation measures are being implemented; (2) evaluating whether mitigation measures are working effectively; and (3) validating the accuracy of models or projections that were used during the impact assessment process.

7. Project Implementation

Provided all regulatory requirements are met and permits are obtained

EIA in Indian Aquaculture

Coastal aquaculture units above 40 ha size – from planningstage onwards

For 10 ha and above a statement will be required to be given inthe detailed plans.

The District/ State Level Committees set up by the CAA shouldensure that such an EIA has been carried out by theaquaculture units before their proposal is recommended forapproval.

Source: http://caa.gov.in/uploaded/doc/Guidelines-Englishnew.pdf

monitoring and Environment management plans

Impact on the water courses in the vicinity;

Impact on ground water quality;

Impact on drinking water sources;

Impact on agricultural activity;

Impact on soil and soil salinisation;

Waste water treatment;

Green belt development (as per specifications of the local authorities) and

All farms of 10 ha and more but less than 40 ha shall furnish detailed information on

the aforesaid aspects.

The shrimp culture units with a net water area of 40 ha or more shall incorporate an EMMP covering,

BENEFITS OF EIA Helps in planning the efficient use of human and

natural resources (mass and material) Reduce costs and time taken to reach a decision by

ensuring that subjectivity and duplication of efforts areminimized

Identifies the primary and secondary consequences,which might require the introduction of expensivepollution control measures

If a forecast of likely impacts is available, allowancescan be made to minimize the negative impacts.

Identify the areas most susceptible to adverse impactsand so guide site selection.

EIA can aid the most suitable site in terms of benefitmaximization and reduction of harmful effects.

LIMITATIONS OF EIA

Poor availability and reliability of data Insufficient training/education in EIA methodologies and in

the establishment of appropriate legal and regulatoryframeworks and institutional arrangement

Negligence of beneficial effects in EIA reports Lack of consideration of alternative sites, technologies,

designs and strategies Insufficient involvement and participation of all interested

and affected parties Insufficient emphasis on required cost effectiveness of EIA Lack of follow up monitoring and evaluation Inappropriate recommendations – mitigation/adaptation

measures which are not affordable or feasible in terms ofmaintenance.

Poor presentation of EIA results

Environmental Auditing

‘’A Management tool for evaluation of the performance of organization, management systems etc.’’

Conducted in a systematic ,documented, periodic & in a objective evaluation manner.

Used to determine past, present, and future environmental impacts of a site.

Assessing an organization's activities and services .

History of EA

Origin in US (1970)

Introduced to UK later.

Developed for industries.

Extended to commercial establishments, office complexes etc.

The concept of environmental auditing in industrial units in India was formally introduced in March 1992

Objectives

Overall objective is to minimize the consumption of resources and promoting use of clean technologies in industrial production to

minimize generation of wastes

Identify site contamination

Reduce potential environmental liability

Basis for further investigation

Initial step to site remediation

Meet regulatory requirements

Forms of Auditing

INTERNAL AUDITING- company or firm

Policy impact assessment.

Management audit.

EXTERNAL AUDITING

External auditing agency

Environment report

Types of EA

1. Compliance auditenvt laws, stds & guidelines

2. Envt. mgt. auditsinternal mgt systems,corporate policies, & risks

3. Supplier auditsPerformance of partners

4. Procurement auditsRaw material procurements etc.

5. Waste Minimization audit

6. Energy/Water conservation audit

Phases of Environmental Audit

Pre audit activities

Develop an audit plan

Make necessary preparations & arrangements

On site activities

Achieve the audit objectives.

Post audit activities

1. Produce audit report with findings & recommendations.

2. Contribute towards formulations of an action plan for performance improvements.

Step 1: Schedule the Audit

An Environmental Management Representative (EMR) should schedule audits at an appropriate risk-based frequency.

Environmental managers can determine how frequently the audit should be performed through consultation with relevant Government Agencies and/or a review of specific project requirements.

When scheduling the audit, EMRs should coordinate the timing to minimize disruptions to project operations.

They also need to record the audit in each Environmental Management Plan (EMP) using the appropriate template from their Environmental Management Systems (EMS) manual.

Step 2: Plan the Audit

• To plan the audit, the EMR needs to establish anddocument the Area/Contractor to be audited, thereason and scope of the audit, and the contactnames for the Area/Contractor.

• The EMR must also appoint and notify a qualifiedLead Auditor or audit members, if required. Ifwarranted, the EMR can appoint his or herself asthe Lead Auditor.

Step 3: Conduct the Audit

All relevant personnel in the Audit Team shouldmeet to discuss the scope of the audit, theproposed audit agenda, the audit objectives, anyproject personnel that need to be contacted orinterviewed, and a tentative time to hold the exitmeeting.

Step 4: Follw-up

• The audit team needs to prepare a report based on allthe objective evidence that was collected during theaudit.

• This report must be forwarded to the Contractorwithin 2 days of completion of the audit. The finalreport must be distributed to the Auditor, Contractor,Independent Reviewer and Environmental Auditor,the State, and all other relevant personnel.

Step 4: Develop an Audit Report/Action Plan

Benefits of EA

I. Development of EMS

II. Improvement of environmental performance

III. Increase management & employee awareness of envt. issues.

IV. Increases sharing of information

V. Cost saving & improved efficiency

Demerits

I. Disrupts operations of company

II. Negative consequences for company’s corporate image.

III. Cost involved beared by company or shareholders ???....

THANK YOU