7.4.1Environmental Screening -
Environmental screening is essential to gather information on existing baseline status and to assess potential environmental impacts of the CEIP project interventions. Environmental screening identifies the consequence of the proposed projects in broader sense based on similar project experiences, stakeholder’s perceptions and expert judgment, without having very much detailed investigation. Critical issues are also identified through the screening which needs detailed investigation. Based on the extent of environmental impact obtained from the environmental screening, the decision for further environment impact assessment will be taken.
-
Environmental screening is usually carried out with the help of simple matrix that includes a set of check list to identify the baseline status and proposed potential impacts of the project intervention. Based on an extensive literature review and expert consultation, a screening matrix has been developed for sub-projects under CEIP (Appendix – 6 for Rehabilitation of Coastal Polders and Appendix -7 for Afforestation). Members of environmental assessment team will use this matrix for collecting information through site visit, interview/ consultation with stakeholders, focus group discussion in the project site.
-
The screening matrix will help to decide whether the project can be implemented or not, and whether the project need only IEE study or detail EIA study. During environmental screening, if it is found that the sub-project may create major irreversible environmental damage or may violate an existing environmental rule or regulation, the sub-project will be rejected. For instance, any sub-project that may encroach into an ecologically critical area or a national/ global heritage site will be rejected. BWBD must confirm the findings of the environmental screening carried out by the field staffs or consultants. Moreover, alternative project designs and/or operation will be considered and the environmental impact will be assessed to make the project more environment friendly.
-
Initial Environmental Examination
-
The IEE study should be conducted for each sub-project under CEIP following the 'Guideline for Environmental Assessment of Water Management Projects (WARPO, 2005) and the Environmental Assessment requirements of World Bank (WB). The purpose of the IEE is three fold:
-
to obtain for Site Clearance from DoE;
-
provide the ToR for the EIA study; and
-
continue consultations with project stakeholders.
The Process of IEE is briefly outlined below
-
Analysis of the Project Components: All the components of the CEIP, like construction works and resettlements, will be examined thoroughly which will in fact guide the development of checklist for reconnaissance survey.
-
Preparation of Checklist: A comprehensive checklist of potential environmental components likely to be impacted need to be prepared based on the guidelines of different agencies such as DOE, World Bank, WARPO, and ADB.
-
Initial Screening/ Survey: Not all the parameters selected in previous step may be significant for the project; hence the first activity will be to shorten this list to concentrate on significant effects. Data should be collected from all possible secondary sources, if available, and conduct an environmental reconnaissance with the relevant checklist in hand to identify and delineate the significant effects of the project and eliminate the others from further considerations. Public consultation will play an important role in initial screening.
-
Analysis of alternatives: Alternative site and technological design should be analyzed for the proposed project interventions considering environmental, social, and technological criteria.
-
Identification and Scaling of Impacts: All the potential short and long term environmental impacts should be identified. The impacts can be graded qualitatively (e.g. high, medium, low) in order to identify major impacts and relevant components. In addition, cumulative and residual impacts of the project interventions need to be clearly addressed.
-
Identification of Enhancement and Mitigating Measures: From literature survey and applying expert judgment and based on assessed impacts, a list of possible enhancement and mitigating measures for beneficial and adverse effects respectively should be prepared.
-
Preparation Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan: Environmental management plan for the proposed project should be prepared mentioning the impact mitigation/ enhancement measures with institutional responsibilities. Also, environmental monitoring plan should be prepared that will include monitoring parameters, frequency, method and responsible agencies.
-
Recommendations on the need of EIA study: The IEE study should recommend as to whether a full-scale EIA study is needed or not.
-
Preparation of ToR for EIA: Based on the IEE findings, a detailed ToR for subsequent EIA study should be prepared. The ToR will specially focus on the adverse impacts of high magnitude. Attention should also be given to cumulative and residual impacts.
All the findings of the IEE study should be presented in a report, as per outline given in Appendix – 8. ToR for conducting IEE study is given in Appendix – 8.
-
Environmental Impact Assessment is a planning tool now generally accepted as an integral component of sound decision making. The purpose of EIA is to give the environment its due importance in the decision making process by clearly evaluating the environmental consequences of the proposed study before action is taken. Early identification and characterization of critical environmental impacts allows the public and the government to form a view about the environmental acceptability of a proposed development project and what conditions should apply to mitigate or minimize those risks and impacts.
In the preparation phase, the EIA shall achieve the following objectives:
-
To establish the environmental baseline in the study area, and to identify any significant environmental issue;
-
To assess these impacts and provide for measures to address the adverse impacts by the provision of the requisite avoidance, mitigation and compensation measures;
-
To integrate the environmental issues in the project planning and design;
-
To develop appropriate management plans for implementing, monitoring and reporting of the environmental mitigation and enhancement measures suggested.
|
Yüklə 7.67 Mb.