Chapter- 1

Introduction of EIA

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a systematic process used to evaluate the potential
environmental impacts of a proposed project before its implementation. Its primary objective is to
identify negative impacts, propose mitigation measures, and enhance positive outcomes while
ensuring that environmental factors are considered in decision-making. EIA also plays a critical
role in determining whether a project should proceed, be modified, or be rejected based on its
overall sustainability and impact assessment.

Emergence of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Pre-1970s: Growing Environmental Concerns
 Rapid industrialization and urbanization led to pollution, habitat destruction, and resource
depletion.
 High-profile environmental disasters (e.g., oil spills, deforestation, and air pollution)
raised awareness of the need for environmental protection.
1970: Introduction of EIA in the United States
 The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969 was enacted in the United
States, making EIA a legal requirement for federal projects.
 NEPA established the foundation for EIA by requiring government agencies to assess
environmental impacts before project approval.
1970s–1980s: Global Adoption and Expansion
 Several developed countries, including Canada, Australia, and European nations,
adopted EIA legislation.
 United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) promoted EIA as a tool for
sustainable development.
1990s: Integration into International Policies
 The Rio Earth Summit (1992) emphasized EIA as a key mechanism for environmental
sustainability.
 The World Bank and other financial institutions made EIA mandatory for
development projects receiving international funding.
 Developing countries, including Nepal, India, and China, introduced EIA regulations
into their environmental policies.
2000s–Present: Strengthening and Modernization
 Many countries refined their EIA processes, incorporating Strategic Environmental
Assessment (SEA) for policies and programs.
 Digital tools, remote sensing, and GIS technologies enhanced impact assessments.
 Climate change considerations were integrated into EIAs to address global environmental
challenges
EIA in Nepal’s Development Plans (6th to 16th Plan)
 1. Sixth Plan (1980–1985):
o First mentioned the need for EIA in major infrastructure projects.
2. Seventh Plan (1985–1990):
o Introduced a national-level policy on environmental management, emphasizing.
3. Eighth Plan (1991–1995):
o Proposed a structured national EIA system and required EIA during the feasibility study
stage.
4. Ninth Plan (1997–2002):
o Enforced the Environment Protection Act (1997) and Environment Protection
Regulations (1997), making EIA legally binding.
5. Tenth Plan (2002–2007):
o Focused on institutionalizing EIA in developmental decision-making and strengthening
regulatory frameworks
6. Eleventh Plan (2007–2010):
o Enhanced public participation in the EIA process and integrated sustainable development
goals.
7. Twelfth Plan (2010–2013):
o Promoted the use of EIA to mitigate adverse environmental impacts in large-scale
projects.
8. Thirteenth Plan (2013–2016):
o Strengthened monitoring and enforcement mechanisms for EIA compliance.
9. Fourteenth Plan (2016–2019):
o Expanded EIA scope to include climate resilience and biodiversity conservation measures
10. Fifteenth Plan (2019–2022):
o Enforced the Environment Protection Act (2019) and Environment Protection
Regulations (2020).
o Also Province and Local level environmental rules are comes in effectives
11. Sixteenth Plan (2022–2025):
o Focused on aligning EIA with international best practices and enhancing capacity-
building initiatives.

Project Cycle Linkage with EIA

Types of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
1. Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA):
o Conducted at a policy, plan, or program level to assess the environmental impacts
of high-level decisions.
o Aims to integrate environmental considerations into the earliest stages of planning
and decision-making.
o Example: Assessing national transport policies or regional land-use plans.
2. Project-Level EIA:
o Focused on a specific project or development activity.
o Evaluates environmental impacts within the defined geographical and operational
scope of the project.
o Example: Construction of a hydropower dam or a highway.
3. Legislative EIA:
o Conducted for legislative proposals that may have significant environmental
impacts.
o Helps policymakers anticipate and mitigate potential environmental consequences
before enactment.
o Example: Assessing the environmental implications of a new hydropower or
drinking water policy.
4. Supplemental EIA:
o Performed when significant changes or new components are added to an already-
assessed project.
o Ensures that the cumulative impacts of amendments are fully understood and
mitigated.
o Example: Adding an irrigation system to an existing hydropower project.

Stages of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

1. Screening:
o Determines whether a project requires an EIA and the level of assessment needed
based on its scale, type, and location.
2. Scoping:
o Identifies significant environmental issues, alternatives, and study boundaries.
o Forms the basis for the Terms of Reference (ToR) to guide the EIA process.
3. Project Description and Alternatives:
o Provides detailed information about the proposed project, including its design,
purpose, and alternatives considered.
4. Description of Environmental Baseline:
o Examines the current status of the project site and environmental trends.
o Includes physical, biological, and socio-economic aspects to establish the context.
5. Impact Prediction:
o Predicts potential environmental impacts in terms of magnitude, extent, and
duration.
o Engages stakeholders to identify possible concerns.
6. Evaluation of Impacts:
o Assesses the significance of predicted impacts to prioritize mitigation measures.
 o Distinguishes between direct, indirect, and cumulative impacts.
7. Mitigation Measures:
o Designs strategies to reduce, prevent, or compensate for adverse impacts.
o Focuses on enhancing beneficial impacts where feasible.
8. Monitoring and Auditing Measures:
o Identifies key impacts for monitoring during project implementation.
o Specifies auditing requirements to ensure compliance with environmental
commitments.
9. EIA Report Preparation:
o Documents the findings, mitigation plans, and monitoring proposals in a
comprehensive report.
10. Review:
o Involves scrutiny of the EIA report by authorities, experts, and stakeholders.
o Ensures the adequacy of the assessment and the acceptability of proposed
measures.
11. Decision-Making:
o Approves or rejects the project based on EIA findings.
o May impose conditions to ensure compliance with environmental standards.
12. Post-Decision Monitoring:
o Ensures implementation of mitigation measures and monitors environmental
performance.
o Provides feedback for future projects to improve the EIA process.

Project Types, Impacts, and Their Classification

Types of Projects
Projects can be classified into two main types:
Point-Type Projects – Projects that have a fixed location and impact a specific area, such as a dam or
factory.
Band-Type Projects – Projects that extend over a linear area, such as roads, pipelines, or power
transmission lines.

Types of Impacts
1. Based on the Nature of the Impact
 Direct Impacts: These occur as an immediate consequence of project activities, directly
altering existing environmental conditions. They are site-specific, such as deforestation due
to road construction.
 Indirect or Induced Impacts: These arise when the effect of a project on one
environmental component triggers changes in other components. For example, road
construction may cause landslides, which in turn damage cultivated land and reduce
agricultural productivity.
 Cumulative Impacts: These result from the combined effects of multiple projects or
activities within the same area. The overall environmental burden may be greater than the
sum of individual impacts.
  Reversible Impacts: These impacts can be minimized or restored naturally over time or
through mitigation measures.
 Irreversible Impacts: These are permanent environmental changes that cannot be undone
or require high-cost mitigation. For example, loss of rare biodiversity due to habitat
destruction.
 Beneficial Impacts: Positive effects of a project that improve environmental quality and
human well-being. For instance, road construction enhances transportation efficiency,
reducing costs and travel time.
 Adverse Impacts: Negative consequences of a project that may harm the environment or
communities. For example, deforestation for site clearance may increase the time required
for local communities to collect fuel and fodder.
2. Based on the Receiving Environment
 Biological and Physio-Chemical Impacts:
o Impacts on vegetation, wildlife, crops, and aquatic life.
o Chemical changes in air, water, or soil quality due to project activities.
o Disruptions to ecosystems and natural habitats.
 Social Impacts:
o Demographic Impacts: Changes in population distribution and migration
patterns.
o Socioeconomic Impacts: Effects on livelihoods, employment, and economic
opportunities.
o Institutional Impacts: Influence on local governance, policies, and
administrative structures.
o Gender Impacts: Changes in gender roles, responsibilities, and access to
resources.
 Cultural Impacts:
o Effects on historic sites, religious shrines, traditional practices, and cultural
heritage.
o Alteration of landscapes with aesthetic and cultural significance
 Chapter - 2
Screening and IEE
Screening in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
Introduction
Screening is the first stage of the EIA process which results in a key EIA decision, namely to either
conduct the assessment (based on the likely significant impacts) or not conduct it (in the anticipated
absence of such impacts).
Screening needs to follow specific procedures often described in the legislation so all the projects
follow the same process.
Key contributions of screening to a good EIA:
Facilitates informed decision making by providing clear, well-structured, factual analysis of the
effects and consequences of proposed actions.
Influences both project selection and policy design by screening out environmentally and/or
socially unsound proposals, as well as modifying feasible action.
Objectives of Screening
 Saves time and resources by determining the need for an EIA early.
 Identifies major environmental impacts that could arise from the project.
 Establishes the necessity for an EIA study when required.

Screening Procedure
All development projects are classified into three categories:
1. Projects requiring an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)
2. Projects requiring a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
3. Projects where the need for an EIA is unclear

Types of Screening Procedures

1. Threshold Criteria

 Establishes quantitative limits for key project features or environmental parameters.

 If a project exceeds these thresholds, an EIA is required.

2. Project Type Criteria

 In Nepal, projects are categorized based on environmental assessment requirements as

per Environmental Protection Regulations (EPR) 2077:
o Schedule 1: Projects requiring a Brief Environmental Study (BES).
o Schedule 2: Projects requiring an Initial Environmental Examination (IEE).
o Schedule 3: Projects requiring a full EIA.

3. Sensitive Area Criteria

Projects proposed in or near environmentally sensitive areas must undergo an EIA. These areas
include:

 Historical, cultural, and archaeological sites.

 Ecologically fragile zones such as wetlands and weak geological areas.
  National parks, wildlife sanctuaries, and conservation areas.
 Semi-arid, mountainous, and Himalayan regions.
 Flood-prone and hazardous zones.
 Residential, school, and hospital areas.
 Locations with primary public water supply sources.

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)

An Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) is conducted to assess whether a project's potential
adverse environmental effects are significant or if they can be mitigated through appropriate
measures. It is primarily applicable to small-scale projects with relatively short implementation
periods and more predictable impacts.
IEE evaluates the existing environmental conditions of a project area, identifies potential impacts,
formulates mitigation strategies, and outlines institutional and environmental monitoring
requirements. The assessment focuses on identifying key impacts and determining feasible
mitigation measures through baseline studies and secondary data collection.
Objectives of IEE
 Establish the physical, biological, socioeconomic, and cultural baseline conditions of the
project area.
 Identify beneficial and adverse environmental impacts during the construction and
operation phases.
 Analyze impacts based on their magnitude, extent, and duration.
 Recommend mitigation measures for adverse impacts and enhancement strategies for
positive impacts.
 Develop an environmental management plan.
 Ensure public participation in environmental decision-making.
 Provide relevant information to decision-makers regarding environmental implications
and necessary actions for the proposed project.

Methods of Initial Environmental Examination (IEE)

1. Baseline Data Collection – Gather physical, biological, and socio-economic information
through field surveys and secondary sources.
2. Impact Identification – Use checklists, matrices, and expert judgment to assess potential
environmental effects.
3. Impact Prediction – Estimate the magnitude, extent, and duration of impacts using
qualitative or quantitative methods.
4. Mitigation Planning – Propose measures to minimize negative impacts and enhance
positive outcomes.
5. Public Consultation – Engage stakeholders to incorporate local concerns and
suggestions.
6. Environmental Management Plan (EMP) – Develop monitoring and management
strategies for impact mitigation.
7. Reporting – Document findings in an IEE report for review and decision-making.
 Legal Process of IEE
1. Screening – If the proposed project falls under Schedule 2 of EPR 2077 BS, an IEE is
required.
2. Preparation and Approval of Terms of Reference (ToR) – As per Rule 5 of EPR, the ToR
is developed and approved by the relevant authority.
3. Public Hearing – A public notice is published in local newspapers and displayed in relevant
offices (e.g., ward office, health ministry, schools). Additionally, a deed of public inquiry is
posted on office notice boards, and a public hearing is conducted to gather stakeholder opinions
as per Rule 6 of EPR.
4. Draft IEE Report Preparation – The initial report is compiled based on assessments and
public feedback.
5. Public Notice Publication – A 7-day public notice is published in local newspapers and
posted on notice boards of concerned offices to collect recommendations from stakeholders.
6. Revised Draft Submission – After incorporating public and stakeholder recommendations,
the revised draft is submitted to the concerned authority or ministry.
7. Review of Draft Report – A review committee evaluates the report. According to Rule 9(8)
of EPR, the concerned authority must approve the report within 15 days of submission.
8. Finalization of IEE Report – Necessary corrections suggested by the review committee are
incorporated, and the final IEE report is prepared.
9. Decision on Project Implementation – Based on the final review of the IEE report, a
decision is made on whether the project will proceed.

Difference between IEE and EIA

IEE EIA

If the environmental impacts of the projects are If the potential impacts appear to be more significant
not very significant then the Project Proponent the Project Proponent may be asked to do an
may be asked to do an Initial Environmental Environmental Impact Assessment, which is a more
Examination, which is a relatively short and detailed and comprehensive study of environmental
simple study. impacts.
Conducted for small scale projects Conducted for large scale projects

Deals with generally known and easily Also deals with unknown impacts
predictable impacts

Scoping not required Scoping required

TOR is needed TOR is needed
Public input at different stages of report Public inputs also during the approval process
preparation
IEE to be approved by Concerned Body within 15 EIA to be reviewed by concerned Body and approved
days by MoFe with 35 days

Public Hearing is mandatory after the preparation Public Hearing is mandatory after the preparation of
of draft EIA report draft EIA report

7 days public notice to be published in Local 7 days public notice to be published in National Daily
news paper and notice to be affixed in the project news paper and notice to be affixed in the project area
area after the preparation of the draft IEE report after the preparation of the draft EIA report
EPR 2077 BS ,Schedule – 2: Mention Proposals EPR 2077, Schedule – 3 : Mention Proposals
Requiring IEE Requiring EIA

May recommend for further assessment In general does not recommend for further assessment