Explain the chronology of the steps in environmental impacts assessment?

(1) Project screening
This narrows the application of EIA to those projects that may have significant environmental impacts.
Screening may be partly determined by the EIA regulations operating in a country at the time of assessment.

(2) Scoping
This seeks to identify at an early stage, from all of a project’s possible impacts and from all the alternatives that could be addressed, those that are the crucial, significant issues.

(3) The consideration of alternatives
In this step, we seek to ensure that the proponent has considered other feasible approaches
These include
alternative project locations, scales, processes, layouts, operating conditions and
the ‘no action’ option.

(4) The description of the project/development action
This includes a clarification of the purpose and rationale of the project
Also include an understanding of its various characteristics – including
stages of development,
location and
processes.

(5) The description of the environmental baseline
This includes the establishment of both the present and future state of the environment, in the absence of the project
Will take into account changes resulting from natural events and from other human activities.

(6) The identification of the main impacts
This brings together the previous steps with the aim of ensuring that all potentially significant environmental impacts (adverse and beneficial) are
(a) identified and
(b) taken into account in the process.


(7) The prediction of impacts
This aims to identify the magnitude and other dimensions of identified change in the environment with a project/action
This is done by comparison with the situation without that project/action.

(8) The evaluation and assessment of significance
In this step, we assess the relative significance of the predicted impacts to allow a focus on the main adverse impacts.

(9) Mitigation
This step involves the introduction of measures to
avoid, reduce, remedy or compensate for any significant adverse impacts.
In addition enhancement involves the development of beneficial impacts where possible.
Please read on the Mitigation Hierarchy.

(10) Public consultation and participation
This aims to ensure the quality, comprehensiveness and effectiveness of the EIA, and that the public’s views are adequately taken into consideration in the decision-making process.
(11) EIS presentation
It is a vital step in the process.
If done badly, much good work in the EIA may be negated.

(12) Review
It involves a systematic appraisal of the quality of the EIS, as a contribution to the decision-making process.

(13) Decision-making
Reaching a decision on the project involves a consideration by the relevant authority of the EIS (including consultation responses) together with other material considerations.
(14) Post-decision monitoring
This involves the recording of outcomes associated with development impacts, after a decision to proceed.
It can contribute to effective project management.

(15) Auditing follows from monitoring.
It can involve comparing actual outcomes with predicted outcomes, and can be used to assess the quality of predictions and the effectiveness of mitigation.
It provides a vital step in the EIA learning process.

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Frederick paul answered the question on January 30, 2020 at 08:26