Environmental Impact Assessment Follow-up Research Articles

Evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment legislation in Pakistan

ABSTRACT Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was introduced in Pakistan in 1997 with the enactment of the Pakistan Environmental Protection Act followed by EIA regulations in 2000 both of which remained in use for over two decades. The legislation has recently been updated by two provinces which the study aimed to evaluate using the Next Generation Framework (NGF). NGF is based on good practice criteria which is used for the evaluation of legislation. Strengths of the legislation are that it has exclusive lists of projects requiring either a preliminary or a detailed EIA, clear timelines for review and decision-making, requirements for EIA follow-up, and penalties in case of non-compliance. However, the legislation has multiple shortcomings; for instance, there are no requirements to do scoping, consider alternatives, and make EIA reports public. The framework is helpful to evaluate the quality of legislation and explore reasons for weaknesses in EIA practice. The good practices in the framework may also be used to formulate guidance documents. The results hold importance not just for Pakistan, but the international policymakers may also learn from the strengths and weaknesses identified in this study and revise their respective legislation accordingly.

Environmental Impact Assessment Follow–Up in Central Uganda’s Processing and Manufacturing Industries: Implications for Achieving Sustainable Development

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) was introduced in Uganda by the National Environment Act 1995, now repealed by the National Environment Act 2019. EIA was made operational by the EIA Regulations, 1998, which is now replaced by the National Environment (Environmental and Social Assessment) Regulations 2020. It is generally agreed that the EIA follow-up is an essential part of the EIA process, without which EIA becomes a pro-forma exercise seeking plan or project approval. This paper assesses the legal and regulatory provisions for EIA follow-up and the actual practice in central Uganda’s processing and manufacturing industries for 24 years (1995-2019) of practice. Data was collected from key categories of EIA stakeholders, including the affected public, the interested public, the developers, and the regulator or its delegated entities. Data was collected between 2018 and 2019 using a review of related literature, documentary analysis, checklists, key informant interviews, and specifically designed questionnaires for the different categories of key EIA stakeholders. Data was analyzed using largely descriptive statistics and, to some extent, inferential statistics. Our finding was that there was a wide gap between law and the actual practice of EIA follow-up. Specifically, there was limited monitoring by the regulator, absent post-assessment environmental audit, low to moderate implementation of mitigation measures and poor communication between the developers and the affected public. This was mainly due to poor implementation of the pre-approval phases of the EIA process and other context factors. The paper made several recommendations to improve the design and implementation of the EIA follow-up program

Integration of the Standalone ‘Risk Assessment’ Section in Project Level Environmental Impact Assessment Reports for Value Addition: An Indian Case Analysis

Both environmental impact assessment (EIA) and risk assessment (RA) instituted some 50 years ago are interdisciplinary and decision-support tools and have analogies in their procedural steps. Environmental risk assessment could be employed as such or as complementary to EIA for environmental management. This study aims to examine how RA is dealt with in the EIA reports of greenfield projects. The investigation reveals that RA is treated as a standalone exercise and too inadequately in EIA studies. There is a lack of well-defined criteria and methodologies for RA in different contexts, evaluation of prediction uncertainties, residual risks, assimilating RA in EIA, regulatory framework to strengthen RA integration in EIA, objective review of RA by the competent authority, and EIA follow-up. Unambiguous terms of reference are proposed for RA in EIA under the prevailing regulation for immediate implementation. The duration and cost of preparing and reviewing EIA reports integrated with RA would increase but there would be more value addition to the EIA studies. Comprehensive EIA regulation, RA-related scoping, and institutional capacity building could help promote such integration that is crucial for assessing industrial and other anthropogenic calamities at the project development stage.

Undermining Assessment: EIA follow-up, stake-holder advisory groups, and extractive industries in Nunavut, Canada

ABSTRACT This paper contributes to the literature about environmental impact assessment follow-up, with case studies of stakeholder advisory groups associated with three mining projects in Nunavut, Canada. Based on an analysis of regulatory documents, we conclude that stakeholder advisory groups, as constituted and currently operating in Nunavut, are undermining aspects of the environmental assessment process. For example, potential impacts to wildlife that are invaluable to Inuit communities, as well as proposed measures to mitigate these impacts, have repeatedly been deferred to post-approval discussions in advisory groups. As a result, potential impacts and proposed mitigations are not adequately assessed during decision-making and permitting. Opportunities for public participation are curtailed, as advisory groups have no mechanism for public involvement and suffer from limited transparency. Moreover, these advisory groups have proven to be ineffective forums for guiding post-approval monitoring and addressing project effects. Other jurisdictions can learn from these experiences. A failure to implement best practice principles and stakeholder advice can lead to negative social and ecological outcomes.

Environmental impact assessment follow-up institutional and regulatory frameworks: lights and shadows of the Chilean experience

ABSTRACT During the past 40 years, Chile’s EIA system evolved from a fragmented procedural exercise, with limited technical input into decision-making, to an essential public policy tool. This article presents an overview of the EIA system evolution in Chile, its main characteristics, and procedures, and highlights new advances and practical results in the follow-up stage. The analysis revealed evidence that despite positive improvements in Chile’s EIA process, there remain significant weaknesses in almost all stages. In the follow-up specifically, some pivotal improvements were made in connection with inspection, enforcement, and monitoring practices. In this context, evidence indicates that those changes have impacted positively on the evaluation of obligations contained at the environmental licenses as well as the governance of the process. However, some challenges to be addressed remain mostly related to monitoring, communication, and citizens’ engagement.

Reflecting on, and revising, international best practice principles for EIA follow-up

Follow-up is a vital component of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), being essential for understanding assessment outcomes. Long-standing international best practice principles for EIA follow-up are reviewed, and revisions proposed, based on workshops with academics and practitioners, literature review and self-reflection. The proposed revision of EIA follow-up principles will feature an introduction with a simple definition and explanation of objectives for follow-up, and 15 principles. The revised principles address: objective; context; early establishment; project life-cycle; transparency; accessibility; accountability; performance criteria provision; enforcement; learning; adaptive environmental management; flexible or adaptive approach; tiering; cumulative effects and overall performance evaluation. Through publishing this proposal, it is hoped to simultaneously inform or inspire EIA practitioners to enhance their own follow-up knowledge and practices, and to seek input for further refinements that might lead to a revised set of international best practice principles for EIA follow-up.

Implementation of EMP in EIA Follow-Up of Oil and Gas Projects in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria: A Case of Bayelsa and Rivers States

The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is an off-shoot of environmental impact assessment (EIA) and is used during the implementation of a project to manage physical, socio-economic and health concerns identified during the assessment. Oil and gas production activities in Nigeria take place in a very delicate ecological region of the Niger Delta. Since the introduction of EMPs for projects in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria, the extent of their implementation according to best practices is still poorly understood. The apparent limited knowledge on the implementation of EMPs puts environmental sustainability at great risk. This study evaluated the implementation of the Environment Management Plan of oil and gas production projects in the Bayelsa and Rivers States in the Central Niger Delta sub-region. Twelve case studies were selected from the region using a multi-level selection method which involved both random and purposive sampling techniques. The two states were purposively selected since they have the highest number of EMPs and the oldest history of oil production in Nigeria. The implementation of the EMPs within cases was scored using a check list which included 18 indicators developed based on the best practice principles of EIA follow-up. Findings show that the implementation of the EMPs is inadequate with an average score of 46.3%. The study concludes that the implementation of EMP is poorly handled and does not adequately address the approval conditions. The study recommends that more analysis and similar studies should be undertaken in other sectors and jurisdictions in order to better understand the implementation of EMP.

Appraising affected community perceptions of implementing programs listed in the environmental impact statement: A case study of Nickel smelter in Indonesia

The environmental impact assessment (EIA) follow-up program that involved an indigenous community can verify the effectiveness of a project's mitigation measure. This research is a case study of Indonesia's nickel smelter that examines community perceptions on executing programs listed in the environmental impact statement (EIS). We used bivariate regression models to explore the link between the perceived sustainable programs and subset socio-demographic variables at the individual level. The questionnaire survey (n = 370) indicated that community views underscored the implementation of programs on environmental dimensions; however, they were satisfied with the programs’ results on economic and social dimensions. The respondents’ job background was consistently a top-ranked and positively tied to the respondents’ opinions on the effectiveness of programs. Overall, the study provides insights into how the community's feedback for the EIA follow-up may lead to benefits regarding the project's corrective actions as well as provide inputs to the government to decide relevant permits, contracts, or other legally binding documents.

Distilling and Applying Criteria for Best Practice EIA Follow-Up

Follow-up is an essential component of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) if the success of EIA in improving the sustainability of a project once implemented is to be determined. This paper aims to establish universally-applicable criteria for EIA follow-up to evaluate project performance once assessed and underway. A suite of 24 criteria is derived from EIA follow-up best practice principles published by the International Association for Impact Assessment. The criteria are categorized according to the five dimensions of EIA follow-up: monitoring, evaluation, management, communication and governance. Posed as questions, the criteria support qualitative assessments of EIA follow-up performance for a project. Through application of the criteria to a case study currently under construction (the Shell Cove Marina project in eastern Australia), we found they provided an effective basis for a document review process delivering a short but informative account of the follow-up performance of the case study. The more robust evaluation of some of the criteria, particularly in the governance category, would require supplementary techniques such as interviews.

Environmental impact assessment follow-up for projects in China: Institution and practice

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is one of the important means of environmental management worldwide, and the EIA follow-up is one of the crucial measures to ensure the concrete implementation of the EIA. In this research, systematic reviews of EIA follow-up for projects in China were conducted to comprehensively appraise the implementation of the EIA follow-up and to identify the potential to improve the practice of an EIA follow-up. First, the EIA follow-up reports were collected through various sources. In total, there were 74 EIA follow-up reports that were identified and acquired. Second, a reviewing framework, containing 16 different indicators, was developed to systematically document and classify these EIA follow-up reports. Third, these EIA follow-up reports were grouped into several categories according to various indicators and then were analyzed to recognize their key features, including sources of data, analytic tools adopted, spatial-temporal distribution, industrial distribution, triggering causes, content, structure and effectiveness. The results showed that there were considerable disparities in the quality and the rigor of EIA follow-ups conducted. These features, along with some existing deficiencies of EIA follow-up, such as the lack of corresponding monitoring and management, can greatly limit the overall application and effectiveness of EIA follow-up in China. However, a number of good practices were identified. For example, a list of projects subject to mandatory EIA follow-up was promulgated, and the conditions for projects subject to EIA follow-up were explicitly stipulated in regulations. These good practices would be very helpful for the international EIA community to advance the practice of EIA follow-up, to reduce the disparities in the quality and the rigor of EIA follow-up, to improve the overall effectiveness of EIA follow-up and to promote the future implementation and development of EIA follow-up

환경영향평가 사후관리의 발전방향 설정과 실천전략 모색

환경영향평가 사후관리의 발전방향 설정과 실천전략 모색

Effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment follow-up as a tool for environmental management: lessons and insights from platinum mines along the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe

The concept of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) follow-up has received considerable attention in recent years. However, a number of EIA practitioners have pointed out that there is lack of EIA follow-up evidence on the effectiveness of implemented mitigation measures in practice. This study examined EIA follow-up evidence of implemented mitigation measures and their effectiveness in protecting the environment from platinum mining and processing plants operating along the Great Dyke of Zimbabwe. Using data from environmental impact statements; environmental management plans, environment monitoring reports; and views of environmental managers and selected local residents, and field observations, the study examined the utility of EIA follow-up as a tool for enhancing the effectiveness of implemented mitigation measures. The results show that EIA follow-ups are carried out with emphasis being given to procedures. The adverse impacts of sulphur dioxide; dust and noise on local residents’ health around the platinum smeltering plant put into question the sustainability of current mitigation measures. The paper overall argues that a lot more needs to be done to bridge the gap between the current state of EIA follow-up in Zimbabwe and international best practices regarding the substantive dimension of EIA effectiveness. Using results from the study, the paper highlights the limitations of the current approach to follow-up conceptualization and suggests ways to strengthen the overall effectiveness of EIA.

Linking Environmental Assessment and Management of Highway Construction in Southeastern Brazil

Effective delivery of mitigation remains a challenge in environmental impact assessment (EIA) practice. Actual environmental protection outcomes depend as much on an appropriate ex-ante assessment as on the capacity of project proponents of implementing preventative, corrective and compensatory programs, using environmental management tools to ensure demonstrable performance. The context question explored here is: How can the EIA follow-up phase take advantage of the features and resources of environmental management systems (EMS)? Evidence was obtained by studying two cases of highway construction affecting valued environments. The projects, intentionally selected, were built in the same area with an eight-year interval between them. Follow-up resulted in the identification of significant unforeseen geo-environmental impacts leading to the adoption of corrective action not required in the terms and conditions of approval. It was found that lessons learned by different actors involved in the first project led to stronger environmental management procedures incorporated in the latter.

A Review of the Environmental Authorization Followed During the Construction of Eskom’s Kusile and Medupi Power Stations, South Africa

Environmental impact assessment follow-up has been widely addressed by various researchers. However, there is still a gap in the actual implementation of this process. This study was aimed at addressing this gap by evaluating the effectiveness of implementing the environmental authorizations of South African Eskom’s Kusile and Medupi Power Stations during the construction phase. The main focus was to determine whether the environmental authorization conditions are effectively implemented by project developers and whether full compliance which could lead towards sustainable developments is at the forefront of Kusile and Medupi Power Stations construction developments. The survey data collection method was used whereby questionnaires were formulated and completed by 50 participants involved in the implementation of both power stations’ environmental authorizations. The results of the study showed that the power stations understand the importance of protecting the environment and complied with the overall projects’ environmental authorization conditions. The external audit results stretching for six years have shown over 90% compliance with the environmental authorization at both power stations. These results confirm that the environmental management through compliance with the environmental authorization is at the forefront of the Eskom’s developments and thus promotes sustainable development. The outcome of this study has a wide application that includes being applied to any new project that involves building infrastructure.

The rationale for and practice of EIA follow-up: an analysis of Finnish road projects

Follow-up is often considered to be a weak or even missing element in environmental impact assessment (EIA). Though it is recognized that follow-up practices could provide useful opportunities to learn from projects’ actual consequences, the practice is criticized for not achieving this goal. In this paper, we aim to clarify the relationship between the theoretical rationale for EIA follow-up and the actual practices carried out in a Finnish EIA context. An empirical analysis was performed with follow-up documents. The findings indicate that follow-ups focused on dealing with environmental impacts related to the physical environment, e.g., flora, fauna, and ground and surface waters. Social impacts were monitored less often, though in most of the cases, traffic noise impacts were given special attention. To some extent, various interest groups were involved with follow-up practices, especially by surveying the impacts experienced. The evidence also suggests that EIA predictions were usually successful, whether the actual impacts were negative or positive. It is concluded that more systematic approach to EIA follow-up would enhance the possibilities to protect the environment.

IMPACT ASSESSMENT RESEARCH IN PAKISTAN: ACHIEVEMENTS, GAPS AND FUTURE DIRECTIONS

Research on the theoretical aspects and practice of impact assessment (IA) is increasingly viewed as significant in enhancing its effectiveness. Several research articles have been published on various aspects of IA practice in Pakistan, but perhaps not well shared through a unified platform. This article presents an analysis of the areas well covered, identifies barriers and gaps in current research and what needs the most urgent attention in future endeavours. Most research to date has focused on the EIA process/system, public participation and the quality of EIA reports using evaluation criteria. There is a need to do more research on methods and techniques of assessment, environmental impact assessment follow-up, monitoring and possible application of strategic environmental assessment.

Appraising the value of independent EIA follow-up verifiers

Independent Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) follow-up verifiers such as monitoring agencies, checkers, supervisors and control officers are active on various construction sites across the world. There are, however, differing views on the value that these verifiers add and very limited learning in EIA has been drawn from independent verifiers. This paper aims to appraise how and to what extent independent EIA follow-up verifiers add value in major construction projects in the developing country context of South Africa. A framework for appraising the role of independent verifiers was established and four South African case studies were examined through a mixture of site visits, project document analysis, and interviews. Appraisal results were documented in the performance areas of: planning, doing, checking, acting, public participating and integration with other programs. The results indicate that independent verifiers add most value to major construction projects when involved with screening EIA requirements of new projects, allocation of financial and human resources, checking legal compliance, influencing implementation, reporting conformance results, community and stakeholder engagement, integration with self-responsibility programs such as environmental management systems (EMS), and controlling records. It was apparent that verifiers could be more creatively utilized in pre-construction preparation, providing feedback of knowledge into assessment of new projects, giving input to the planning and design phase of projects, and performance evaluation. The study confirms the benefits of proponent and regulator follow-up, specifically in having independent verifiers that disclose information, facilitate discussion among stakeholders, are adaptable and proactive, aid in the integration of EIA with other programs, and instill trust in EIA enforcement by conformance evaluation. Overall, the study provides insight on how to harness the learning opportunities arising from EIA follow-up through the appointment of independent verifiers.

Factors that influence the independence of EIA follow-up verifiers: a developing country perspective

Independent verification is an important aspect of practice for ensuring the credibility of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). However, the independence of verifiers such as checkers, auditors, and Environmental Control Officers, may be influenced by various factors that may lead to a conflict of interest between role-players in EIA and EIA follow-up. Identifying these factors is, therefore, important. A total of 18 factors were identified by analysing literature from established verification professions and data derived within the South African context by means of interviews and workshops dedicated to clarifying independence of verifiers. The factors were divided into five categories: financial; commercial; professional; personal; and other. By shedding light on factors that influence the independence of EIA follow-up verifiers, this research aids in anticipating and avoiding potential conflicts of interest.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT FOLLOW-UP IN INDIA: EXPLORING REGIONAL VARIATION

The aim of this paper is to explore regional variation in the implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment follow-up in India and to identify causes of such variations. In doing so, forty-three semi-structured interviews were carried out across the Indian mining and environment sector. The findings from the interviews confirm that regional variation in follow-up implementation is a result of social, environmental, economical and political factors. To further explore these factors, three case studies of open cast coal mining were conducted. The findings of the case studies offer insight as to how the factors identified during the interviews influence follow-up outcomes. Furthermore, it reflects how the nature of such variation is not always true to what is perceived about them. Subsequently, the findings from the interviews and case studies help in contributing to the existing best practice of EIA follow-up and developing recommendations for achieving better follow-up outcomes in India.

Reviewing design stage of environmental impact assessment follow-up: looking at the open cast coal mines in India

Since the introduction of the environmental impact assessment notification of 1994, there has been considerable research related to EIA procedures in India. Research has emphasized predominantly ‘developing appropriate regulations’ and ‘institutional procedures necessary to implement them’. As follow-up is usually associated with post-decision stages in EIA, a sound design stage is crucial for laying down its foundations. This paper explores follow-up considerations during the pre-decision stage of open cast coal mines in India and demonstrates the challenges posed within the Indian context. In doing so, the outcome of EIA reviews undertaken by the expert committee and the EIA reports are reviewed. It even goes a step further by relating the follow-up design stage in India to international principles of best practices of EIA follow-up.