Environmental Impact Assessment Methodologies

Environmental Impact Assessment Methodologies Second Edition Y Anjaneyulu, Ph.D Visiting Professor in Environment and Chemistry & Director, TLGVRC, Jackson State University, Jackson, Mississippi-39217, USA Valli Manickam, Ph.D Centre for Atmospheric Sciences and, Weather Modification Technologies, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, India SSP B~ Pub~ications 4-4-309, Giriraj Lane, Sultan Bazar, Hyderabad - 500 095 - A.P Phone: 040-23445677,23445688 e-mail: contactus@bspubllcations.net www.bspublications.net Secol1d Edi!ol1 2007 I All rights reserved No part of this book or parts thereof may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any language or by any means electronic mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise without the prior written permission of the publishers Published by : BSP BS Publications 4-4-309, Giriraj Lane, Sultan Bazar, Hyderabad - 500 095 - A.P Phone: 040-23445677,23445688 e-mail: contactus@bspublications.net www.bspublications.net Prill ted at Adithya Art Printers Hyderabad ISBN : 978-81-7800-144-9 ISBN 81-7800-144-6 Contents Chapter ·1 Fundamental Approach to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) I.A Basic Concept of ElA I I.A.I Introduction I I.A.2 EIA Procedure l.B Systematic Approach for Using EIA as a Planning Tool for Major Project Activities 17 I.B.I Introduction 17 1.8.2 Preparation of Environmental Base Map IS 1.8.3 Identification of Study Area 19 I.BA Classification of Environmental Parameters 19 1.8.5 Formation of EIA Study Team 19 1.8.6 Preparation of Tenns of Reference 19 l.8.7 I.B.S Preparation of an EIA Report 20 l.B.9 Draft and Final Envionmentallmpact Statements 21 l.B.tO l.B.II Impact Analysis 22 Fonnat and Content of a I.B.12 OEIS Processing 23 l.B.13 Final Environmental Impact Statem.:nts (FEIS) 23 Environmental Monitoring and management Plan 21 Draft Environmental Impact Statements (OEIS) 23 Contents I.C Comparative Evaluation Alternatives from EIA Studies 24 I.C.I Selecting a Preferred Alternative 24 1.e.2 Conceptual Basis for Trade-OfT Analysis 25 1.e.3 Importance Weighting of Decision Factors 28 References 30 Questions 30 Chapter - EIA Methodologies 2.1 Introduction 32 2.2 Criteria for the Selection ofEIA Methodology 32 2.3 EIA Methods 34 2.4 Predictive Models for Impact Assessment 83 Re.ferences 90 Questions 94 Chapter - Prediction and Assessment of Impacts on Soil and Ground Water Environment 3.1 Introduction 95 3.2 Soils and Ground water 95 3.3 Methodology for the Prediction and Assessment of Impacts on Soil and Groundwater 95 References 122 Questions 122 Chapter - Prediction and Assessment of Impacts on Surface Water Environment 4.1 Introduction 124 4.2 Project Which Create Impact Concerns for the Surface-water Environment 125 4.3 Systematic Methods for Evaluation of Impacts of Various Developmental Activities on Surface Water Environment 125 References 157 Questions 158 (xiii) Contents Chapter - Prediction and Assessment of Impacts on Biological Environment 5.0 Introduction 160 5.1 General Methodology for the Assessment of Impacts on Btological Environment 161 5.2 Systematic Approach for Evaluating Biological Impacts 163 5.3 Typical Examples for Carrying out EIA 190 5.4 Typical Example Assessment of Impacts of Road Development on Flora and Fauna 196 References 20) Questions 206 Chapter - Prediction and Assessment of Impacts on the Air Environment 6.1 Introduction 207 6.2 A Generalized Approach for Assessment of Air Pollution Impact 211 References 229 Questions 230 Chapter -7 Prediction and Assessment of Impacts of Noise on the Environment 7.1 Introduction 231 7.2 Basic Information of Noise 233 7.3 Noise Measuretnent 236 7.4 7.5 Effects of Noise of People 236 Systematic Methodology for Assessing Environmental Impacts of Noise 241 References 254 Questions 255 Chapter - Prediction and Assessment of Impacts of Socio-Economic and Human Health Impacts 8.A Prediction and Assessment of Impacts on the Socio-Economic Environment 256 8.A.l Introduction 256 8.A.2 Social Assesstnent 256 8.A.3 Conceptual Frame Work for Socio Economic Assessment 257 Contents 8.B Prediction and Assessment of Impacts of Project Activities on Human Health 272 8.8.1 8.B.2 8.C Tasks of Health Impact Assessment 272 Methodology 273 Assessment if Impacts of Project Activities on Traffic and Transportation Systems 282 References 283 Questions 283 Chapter - Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) and Risk Management in EIA 9.1 Introduction 284 9.2 Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) 284 9.3 Risk Assessment and Treatment of Uncertainty 285 9.4 9.5 Key Steps in Performing an Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA) 286 Advantages and Limitations of Environmental Risk Assessment 312 References 310 Questions 322 Chapter -10 Application ot Remote Sensing and GIS for EIA 10.1 Introduction 312 10.2 Concepts of Environmental Remote Sensing 313 10.3 Basic Principles of Remote Sensing 314 10.3 I Electromagnetic Energy 314 IC.3.2 Photography and Optical Data 315 lOA Airborne Light Detection and Ranging System (LIDAR) 317 10.5 Thennal Imagery 317 10.6 Radar 318 10.7 Satellite Orbits 319 10.8 Application of Environmental Remote Sensing for EIA 320 10.8.1 Linear Projects 320 10.8.2 10.8.3 Coastal Zone Studies 320 10.804 Land Use and Land Cover S 1tudies 321 10.8.5 Sources of Remote Sensing Applications 321 Estuaries 320 Contents 10.9 10.10 Application of GIS for EIA 322 10.9.1 What is a GIS? 322 10.9.2 GIS Concepts and Techniques 322 GIS for Environmental Impact Assessment 325 10.10.1 Possible Approaches 325 10.10.2 Resource iInplications 325 10.10.3 GIS in Screening, Scoping and Baseline Studies 327 10.11 Databases for GIS 330 10.12 Major Applications of GIS 332 References " 333 Questions 333 Chapter-11 EIA Case Studies 11.1 Introduction 335 11.2 Environmental Impact of Industrial Development 337 11.2.1 Physical Resources 337 11.2.2 Ecological Resources , 340 11.2.3 HUlnan use values 341 11.2.4 Quality-of-Iife values 341 11.2.5 Project Siting 342 11.3 Factors to be considered in Making Assessment Decisions 344 11.4 Guidelines for Preparations of TORS for Life of Industrial Development Projects for Initial Environmental Examination 345 11.5 Management Requirements for the Preparation of EIA for industrial projects 346 11.6 Preparation of EIA of Land Clearing Projects 365 11.7 Assessment of Impacts of Traffic and Transportation 373 11.8 Physiography and Drainage 410 11.9 Geology and Structure 411 11.10 Climate 411 11.11 Soil Series 411 11.12 Land use/ Land cover 412 11.13 Preparation of the Secondary Overlays 413 11.13.1 Slope , 413 Contents (xvi) 11.14 Generation of Final Overlays for Decision Making 413 11.14.1 Hydrogeomorphology and Groundwater 413 11.14.2 Land-Irrigability 414 11.14.3 Composite Erosion Intensity Units! Composite Land Development Sites 414 11.15 11.14.4 Land Capability 414 11.14.5 Sediment Yield Index 415 Treatlnent Plans 416 11.15.1 Development Plan for the command Area 416 11ldex 425 CHAPTER Fundamental Approach to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) 1.A BASIC CONCEPTS OF EIA 1.A.1 Introduction EIA is an activity designed to identify and predict the impact of a project on biogeophysicochemical environment and on human health so as to recommend appropriate legislative measures, programs, and operational procedures to minimize the impact EIA is an exercise to be carried out before any project or major activity is undertaken to ensure that it will not in any away harm the environment on a short-tenn or long-term basis Any developmental activity requires not only the analysis, the monetary costs and benefits involved and of the need of such a project but also most important, it requires a consideration and detailed assessment of the effect of a proposed development on the environment Often the results of manually-produced changes cause degradation in the surrounding environment Although the proposed project or plan has a good intent and addresses an identified problem, or solves it, the ramifications of the project may be serious For instance, it may result in degradation of the human environment offsetting the possible benefits of the proposed project or plan The aim of environmental impact assessment is to assess the over all impact of development project on the environment An impact can be defined as any change in the physical, chemical, biological, cultural or socio-economic environmental system as a result of activities relating to a project Major impacts of typical Land Clearing Activities (L.C.A) project on environment are shown in Fig 1.1 Salient Features of EIA (a) The EIA procedure identifies the possible positive and negative impacts to the environment resulting from a proposed project These impacts are identified over both "short-tenn" and "long-term" time frame; (b) The EIA provides for a plan, which upon implementation, will reduce or offset the negative impacts of a project resulting in a minimum level of environmental degradation.' This minimization may ~ a result of implementation of a project alternative or project modifications or environmental protection measures, which 414 Environmental Impact Assessment Methodologies In the catchment area, the plateau tops have slopes of 0-3% and the steep hillsides are above 8% The piedmonts comprise of slopes mainly between - 8% In the river bed and the valley fills, the slope remains below 5% The command area, comprising mainly of the alluvial plain and the flood plain, has a slope ranging between 0-3% In the surrounding dissected plateau and piedmont, the slope varies between - 8% 11.14 Generation of Final Overlays for Decision Making 11.14.1 Hydrogeomorphology and Groundwater The hydrogeomorphological map is prepared by overlaying geomorphology, lithostratigraphy, structure and land use The hydro geomorphologic conditions for each landform type are identified based on the above layers Groundwater prospects are assigned to each unit (Fig 11.17) A total of five classes of groundwater prospect areas have been identified in the catchment area The groundwater status in most of the area varies between poor to moderate, especially in the dissected plateaus and dyke ridges Good groundwater prospect exists in few places in the flood plain near the Sidhumber reservoir area, along the lineaments and in the weathered zones Fig 11.17 Groundwater prospect 11.14.2 Land-Irrigability In the command area, based on the texture, structure, permeability, of the soil, soilirrigability classes are assigned and each type of soil irrigability class is given a unique code (Fig 11.18) This soil-irrigability layer is unionized with the slope layer to derive the landirrigability classes Based on the percent slope and soil irrigability classes, four landirrigability classes have been identified EIA Case Studies CJ r:-:-l L ; J 415 Land that have moderate limitations for sustained use under agriculture Land that have severe limnations for sustained use under agriculture Land that are marginal for sustained use under irrigation Land not sUMble for sustained use under irrigation River Fig 11.18 Land irrigability 11.14.3 Composite Erosion Intensity Units/Composite Land Development Sites Overlaying of the slope, soil and land use, in ArclInfo for both the catchment and command areas, has generated the Composite Erosion Intensity Units (CEIU)/Composite Land Development Units (CLDU) respectively Total 47 unique CEIU and 42 unique CLDU have been generated for the catchment and the command areas respectively The area of each unique CEIU is estimated for each sub-watershed These CEIU/CLDU have been used for decision making 11.14.4 Land Capability Overlaying the slope, soil, land use and environmental factors of each CEIU/CLDU, land capability classes are generated Each land capability class is identified by a unique characteristic, having similar hazards of the soil to various factors, which causes soil damage, decreases soil fertility, and its potential for agriculture (Fig 11.19) In the command area the land-capability has been assigned for the development of the area In the catchment area land capability has been assigned for future treatment 416 Environmental Impact Assessment Methodologies Fig 11.19 Land capability 11.14.5 Sediment Yield Index Based on the characteristics of the 47 units of CEIU, each CEIU are assigned weightage and delivery ratio The Sediment Yield Index is assigned to each CEIU The sub-watersheds have been identified based on the area eroding more in time and space and have been prioritized based on the Sediment Yield for future treatment (Fig 11.20) High Low Medium Very high Very low River Fig 11.20 Priority sub-watershed EIA Case Studies 11.15 417 Treatment Plans The treatment plans have been customized based on the composite 1111al overlays for the Sidhumber Dam on the Man River 11.15.1 Development Plan for the command Area Based on the land irrigability of the command area it ha