2020 ESIA Guideline Edited Aa

GENERAL
ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

GUIDELINE
3rd Revision done by Amhara National Regional State Environment, Forest and Wildlife
Protection and Development Authority
2020
Bahir Dar
Table of Contents
Table of Contents.....................................................................................................ii
Glossary of Terms.....................................................................................................v
Chapter One.............................................................................................................1
1. Introduction..........................................................................................................1
1.1. What is EIA?..................................................................................................................................1
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1.2. Legal and Policy Framework.........................................................................................................2
1.3. Guiding Principles of EIA..............................................................................................................4
1.4. Benefits of EIA..................................................................................................5

1.5. Responsible Bodies and Their Roles.............................................................................................5
1.5.1. Proponent...................................................................................................................................................5
1.5.2. Consultant..................................................................................................................................................6
1.5.3. Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs)....................................................................................................6
1.5.4. Competent Agency....................................................................................................................................6
1.6. Overall Goals and Objectives of EIA............................................................................................7
Chapter Two.............................................................................................................8
2. The Environmental Impact Assessment Process................................................8

2.1. Pre-Screening Consultation...........................................................................................................8
2.2. Screening.........................................................................................................................................8
2.3. Scoping..........................................................................................................................................11
2.4. Impact Analysis............................................................................................................................12

2.4.1 Characteristics of environmental impacts................................................................13
2.4.2 Cumulative Environmental Impacts.........................................................................14
2.4.3 Evaluation of impact significance..............................................................................14
2.4.4 Significance Criteria...................................................................................................15
2.5. Identification of mitigation Measures.........................................................................................17
2.6. Reporting......................................................................................................................................17
2.7. Reviewing......................................................................................................................................18
2.8 Planning public involvement...................................................................18

2.9. Record of Decision and Appeal...................................................................................................21
2.10. Condition of Approval...............................................................................................................22
2.11. EIA and the Project Cycle.........................................................................................................22
Chapter Three.........................................................................................................24
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3. Checklists of Possible Environmental Impacts and their Mitigation
Measures.................................................................................................................24
3.1. Introduction..................................................................................................................................24
3.2. Soil Resources...............................................................................................................................25
3.3. Water Resources...........................................................................................................................27
3.4. Air Quality....................................................................................................................................30
3.5. Flora, Fauna and Ecosystem........................................................................................................31
3.6. Socio-Economic Impact................................................................................................................34
3.7. Impacts on Cultural Heritages....................................................................................................37
3.8. Noise..............................................................................................................................................38
3.9. Impacts on Human Health and Safety........................................................................................40
Chapter Four..........................................................................................................42
4. Environmental Monitoring, Standards, and Auditing......................................42

4.1 Environmental monitoring............................................................................................................42
4.2 Environmental Standards.............................................................................................................44
4.3 Environmental Auditing................................................................................................................45
Chapter Five...........................................................................................................51
5. Guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment Report Writing.................51

5.1. Introduction................................................................................................................................51
5.2.1 Executive Summary.....................................................................................................52
5.2.2 Introduction.................................................................................................................52
5.2.3 Approach to the Study..................................................................................................53
5.2.4 Assumptions and/ or Gap in Knowledge’s...............................................................53
5.2.5 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework............................................................54
5.2.6 Description of the project and its alternatives............................................................54
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5.2.7 Baseline Information on Biophysical Environment and Socioeconomic situation
...............................................................................................................................................55
5.2.8 Assessment of Significant Environmental Impacts.................................................55
5.2.9 Mitigation Measures...................................................................................................56
5.2.10 Environmental Management Plan..........................................................................56
5.2.11 Environmental Monitoring/Auditing Programme................................................57
5.2.12 Nature of Public Participation.................................................................................58
5.2.13 Conclusions and Recommendations........................................................................58
5.2.14 Appendices.................................................................................................................59
References..............................................................................................................60
ANNEXES..............................................................................................................65
Annex I: Categories of Activities...........................................................................65
Annex II: EIS Review Criteria..............................................................................84
Acknowledgement
Acronyms and abbreviations

ESIA
ESMP
ESMoP
Glossary of Terms
Alternative A possible course of action that might be adopted in line of the proposal
or activity or in terms of site, design, input, process, including the "no
action" alternative.
Environmental and social Audit The process through which how well compliance with policy
objectives and regulatory requirements is met and the fidelity of the
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implementation of conditions attached to an approved environmental
impact assessment report is examined.
Environmental and social Monitoring: Environmental monitoring is the systematic observation
of the state of the environment and of the factors influencing it
Environmental and social Inspection: give def
Competent Authority (CA) Those which the states designate as responsible for performing the duties
arising from the Directive.
Cost-Benefit Analysis Objective, careful and explicit analyses of the costs and benefits of a
proposed action. Such an analysis should also determine social discount
rates for both costs and benefits.
Cumulative Impact An impact that may in itself not be significant but the combination of one
or more impacts that can have a greater effect than the sum of the
individual impacts.
Developer The applicant for authorization for a private Project or the public authority
which initiates a Project.
Development Consent The decision of the Competent Authority or Authorities which entitles
the Developer to proceed with the Project.
Effect/Impact Any change in the physical, natural or cultural environment brought
about by a development Project. Effect and Impact are used
interchangeably.
EIA Team The team which carries out the Environmental Studies and prepares the
environmental information for submission to the Competent Authority.
Environmental Consultant Individuals or firms that act in an independent and unbiased manner to
provide information for decision making.
Environment The physical, biological, social, economic, cultural, historical and
political factors that surround human beings. It includes both the natural
and built environments. It also includes human health and welfare.
Environmental Assessment The methodology of identifying and evaluating in advance, any impact
positive or negative, which results from the implementation of a
proposed action.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) A formal process used to predict the environmental
consequences of any development project. EIA thus ensures that the
potential problems are foreseen and addressed at an early stage in the
projects planning and design.
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Environmental Impact Assessment Report A report containing sufficient information to enable the
Environmental Agency to determine whether and under what
conditions a proposed action should proceed.
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) See Environmental Impact Assessment Report.
Environmental Information The information provided by a Developer to a Competent Authority the
Project and its environmental effects.
Environmental Management Plan: An action plan that addresses the how, when, who, where and what
of the environmental mitigation measure aimed at optimizing benefits
and avoiding or mitigating adverse potential impacts of proposed
operation or activity. It encompasses mitigation, monitoring,
rehabilitation and contingency plans.
Environmental and social management report: give defi
Environmental Management System Is the means of ensuring effective implementation of an

environmental management plan or procedures and compliance with
environmental policy, objectives and targets.
Environmental Policy of an Organization A statement by the organisation of its intentions and principles
in relation to its overall environmental performance that provides a
framework for action and for the setting of its environmental objectives
and targets.
Environmental Studies The surveys and investigations carried out by the Developer and the EIA Team in
order to prepare the Environmental Information for submission to the
Competent Authority.
Exclusion List A list of thresholds and criteria for specified categories of projects
defining those projects for which EIA is not required because they are
considered to be unlikely to have significant effects on the environment.
Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs) Individuals or groups concerned with or affected by an activity
and its consequences. These include local communities, work force,
customers, or consumers, environmental interested groups and the
general public.
Licensing Agency Any organ of government empowered by law to issue an investment
permit, trade or operating license or work permit or register business
organization as a case may be.
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Mandatory List A list of thresholds and criteria for specified categories of projects
defining those projects for which EIA is always required because they
are considered to be likely to have significant effects on the environment.
Mitigations Measures taken to reduce or rectify undesirable impacts of a particular activity
when an environmental evaluation process deems the impact is adversely
significant.
Monitoring The repetitive and continuing observations, measurements and evaluation
of changes that relate to the proposed activity.
Project The execution of construction works or of other installations or schemes
and other interventions in the natural surroundings and Landscape
including those involving the extraction of mineral resources.
Proponent/ Developer Any organ of government, if in the public sector or any person if in the
private sector that initiate a project or a public instrument.
Public Instrument Means a policy, a plan, a strategy, a program, a law or an international
agreement.
Regional Environmental Agency Any regional government organ entrusted by that Region, with a
responsibility of the protection or regulation of the environment and
natural resources.
Rehabilitation Restoration of an environmental component, social service or system that
has been affected by an activity to more or less its former states.
Review The process of establishing whether an EIS is adequate for the
Competent Authority to use it to inform the decision on Development
Consent.
Scoping an early and open activity to identify the impacts that are most likely to be
significant and require investigation during the EIA work. The results of
scoping are frequently used to prepare a Terms of Reference for the EIA.
Screening preliminary activity undertaken to classify proposals according to the

level of assessment that should occur.
Strategic Environmental Assessment The assessment used to identify the potential impacts of the
proposed public instruments and the design of their containment.
Risk: give def
Disaster: give defin
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Environmental audit is a process whereby an organization’s environmental performance is
tested against its environmental policies and objectives in order to review the effectiveness of
environmental management. Its objectives are to (i) determine whether a company complies with
all regulatory and environmental performance standards or other management requirements for
their operations; and (ii) ensure conformity with environmental assessment requirements, and
test the accuracy of the assessment. It entails a systematic, documented and periodic review of
either a company’s operation or project implementation. Therefore, its results could be very
useful to improve company or project management performance.
Environmental and social Monitoring: the continuous determination of the actual and
potential effects of any activity or phenomenon on the environment and society whether short-
term or long-term.it may be baseline, effect or compliance monitoring
Mitigation measures: Actions which reduce avoid or offset the potential adverse environmental
consequences of a project.
Participation is the Processes through which the stakeholders influence and share control over
development initiatives and decisions on resources those affect them.
Environment Impact Assessment: A systematic examination conducted to determine whether
or not a project will have any adverse impacts on the environment.
Environmental management plan is a document which sets out those practices which will be
implemented to prevent, control and mitigate significant negative environmental impacts arising
as consequences of a proposed socio-economic activity.
Project: a set of planned activities designed to achieve specific objectives within a given area
and time frame.
Standards” are the limits of pollution prescribed under the given Act
Significance is an expert evaluation/judgement of the magnitude of impact or the degree to
which a proposed activity or project may (potentially) impact on the environment if
implemented.
Inspection: is the checking of materials or products at various stages of manufacture or

construction of an object. It is done with respect to some pre-defined parameters and it tries to
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detect the faulty nature of the objects/ activities. When we inspect something, we try to see the
past history of construction and try to learn from our past experiences. Faulty objects are sorted
out and are rejected. Inspection should not be confused with quality control. Inspection is a way
or method of maintaining the quality of the object being constructed or produced. Controlling the
quality is what is termed as quality control. Quality control is a wide term which involves
inspections at various stages of construction or production.
Screening - is a preliminary assessment undertaken to decide whether the project proposal needs
an ESIA for clearance or not, and classify the level of assessment. It is a preliminary
determination of the expected impact of a proposal on the environment and of its relative
significance
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Chapter One
Introduction
.1 1.1 Historical Development of ESIA
.2 1.2. Policy and Legal Framework of ESIA
The Ethiopian National Legislations, Proclamations and policies require implementation

of Environmental Impact Assessment for projects, strategic environmental assessment for
policies, plans and programmes, and which have adverse impact on the society and
environment to bring sustainable development. Some of these are mentioned below. The Federal
Constitution approved on August 21, 1995 required current and future legislation and the
conduct of government to conform to a Bill of rights. The proclamation No1/1995 was
proclaimed to effect the constitution of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia. The
same legislation was issued in Amhara National Regional State in the Regional Constitution
Declared on Gazette No-2; 22, June 1995. These legislations have entrenched the
environmental rights and obligations of the peoples‟ of the region in line with
sustainable development.
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Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline, Revised
Article 41, 42, 43, 44 and 92 of the Federal Constitution states the following people‟s
Environmental concerns.
Article 41
Article 41
Article, 43: The Right to Development
 The peoples of Ethiopia as a whole and each Nation, Nationality and people in Ethiopia in
particular have the right to improved living standards and to sustainable development.
 Nations have the right to participate in national development and, in particular, to be consulted
with respect to policies and projects affecting their community.
 All international Agreements and relations concluded, established or conducted by
the state shall protect and ensure Ethiopia‟s right to sustainable development.
 The basic aim of development activities shall be to enhance the capacity of
citizens for development and to meet basic needs.
Article, 44: Environment Rights
 All persons have the right to live in a clean and healthy environment.
 All persons who have been displaced or whose livelihoods have been adversely
affected because of state programs have the right to commensurate monetary or alternative means
of compensation, including relocation with adequate state assistance.
Article, 92: Environmental Objective
 Government shall endeavor to ensure that all Ethiopians live in a clean and healthy
environment.
 The design and implementation of programs and projects of development shall
not damage or destroy the Environment.
 People have the right to full consultation and the expression of views in the planning
and implementation of environmental policies and projects that affect them directly.
 Government and citizens shall have the due to protect the environment.
The Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation (federal proc. No.
299/2002): has made it mandatory that all development projects should be subjected to
the environmental scrutiny. It means that EIA is a legal requirement.
The Environmental Policy and Strategy: National environmental policies, conservation
strategy as well as the Amhara Regional Conservation Strategy (RCS) provide a number of
guiding principles that indicate and require a strong adherence to sustainable development.
Concerning the needs of EIA, the following basic issues are indicated in these documents.
 An early consideration of environmental impacts in project and program
design
 Reorganization of public consultation, including mitigation plans and

contingency plans
 Provision of auditing and monitoring is a legally binding requirement and needs to be
institutionalized.
.3 1.3. Guiding Principles of EIAESIA
Some of the basic principles that underlie the objectives of EIAESIA are:
 Early Application: Proactive consideration and integration of environmental concerns at the

earliest stages of the conceptualization of the projects, programs or policies.
 Participation: Appropriate and timely access and opportunity to the process
for all interested and affected parties (IAPs)
 Issues Based: The focus of an EA is on the resolution of major issues of significant

impacts.
 Alternatives: All feasible options to a project, policy, program or their
components like site, processes, products, raw materials, designs etc should be considered.
 Accountability: Refers to responsibility of proponent, consultant and
environmental agencies for their respective roles and responsibilities.
 Credibility: Assessments and reviews are under taken with professionalism and objectivity.

 Time and Cost Effectiveness: The assessment process, its outcomes and decision making
will ensure environmental protection at the least cost and within reasonable time.
 Transparency: All assessments, decisions & their basis should be open &
accessible to the public.
 Practicality: The information and out puts provided by the assessment process are
readily usable in the decision making and planning.
 Conservation Based: The EIAESIA process should strive to promote conservation
based development.
1.4 ESIA
1.5. Responsible Bodies and Their Roles
The major actors in an ESIA process are proponent, environmental consultants, Interested and
Affected Parties (IAPs), Competent Authority, licensing agencies; their role is shown as below:
1.5.1. Proponent
The proponent is the project applicant. The proponent is responsible for complying with the
requirements of the EIAESIA and for all associated costs incurred in the EIAESIA process.
The first responsibility of the proponent is to appoint an independent consultant who will act
on the proponent‟s behalf in the EIAESIA process. The proponent must ensure
adequate participation of the Competent authority and interested and affected parties and
the public in general in the EIAESIA process. Two hard copies and one electronic copy of
the EIAESIA study report should be submitted to the reviewing bureau. After the 12 days of
submission of the first draft copy of EIAESIA report the proponent should take comments from
the Competent authority and resubmit four hard copies and one electronic copy of the corrected
final documents to the Competent authority for approval. The proponent is responsible to declare
the document and implement his project based on the report.

1.5.2. Environmental Consultant
The independent environmental consultant acts on behalf of the proponent in preparing the
EIAESIA report complying with the EIAESIA process. The environmental consultant is
responsible for employing appropriate professional experts that best fit in preparing
readable and informative EIAESIA report in compliance with endorsed policies, legislations
and guideline. Furthermore, he/she should ensure that all of this information is made
available to the Competent authority via the proponent.
1.5.3. Interested and Affected Parties (IAPs)
IAPs are key actors of a successful EIAESIA and are responsible for providing input and
comments at various stages in the EIAESIA process. The input from interested and affected
parties should be sought in all EIAESIA process.
1.5.4. Competent Authority
The Competent authority is responsible for ensuring that the proponent/consultant complies
with the requirements of the EIAESIA process and the bureau through a regular and
effective communication between the bureau and the proponent to provide general
guidance on procedure, information and reports required by involving other responsible
authorities. The Competent authority must not conduct an EIAESIA in order to avoid
significant conflict of interest in the decision-making process. The Competent authority
should:
h Ensure that the evaluation/review and decisions provided are done efficiently and within
reasonable time, and that the proponent is informed of any delays that may be incurred
through the review process; and
d h sure that the proponent is informed of any shortfalls in the process as identified
through the reviews.
The legal bureau that monitor compliance, and apply enforcement action is the Amhara
National Regional State Environmental Protection, Land Administration and Use Bureau
(BoEPLAU) and its organizations at zonal and woreda level. This Regional Authority was
established by proclamation No. 47/2000 in response to the institutional demand for
implementing Regional Conservation Strategy.
Licensing Agencies are any organs of government empowered by law to issue an investment
permit or a trade or operation license or a work permit or to register a business organization. Prior
to issuing any business or operation license, licensing agencies should ensure whether or not the
proposed project ESIA was approved and a certificate of implementation permit was given from
the authority or the concerned environmental institutions at different levels.
1.6. General and Specific Objectives

The general objective of ESIA is to ensure sustainable development by implementing
environmentally sound, socially acceptable and economically feasible development activities.
The specific Objectives of ESIA are categorized in to long-term and short-term

The long-term objectives of ESIA are to:-

 Conserve and sustainably use of natural and valuable manmade resources;
 Protect and enhance the quality of all life forms; and
 Integrate environmental considerations in the development .planning processes
 Minimize the social risks as a result of development activities
The short-term objectives are to:-
 assess the nature, intensity and duration of influence, positive and/or negative, of
proposed development project;
 empower local community and promote public participation in the ESIA processes of a
project;
 integrate environmental, social-cultural and economic considerations in project design:

and
 design a methodology for prevention and mitigation of expected impacts due to the
presence of a project
 Provide information for decision making on the project implementation,

Chapter Two
The Environmental and social Impact Assessment Process

The ESIA Process has basically ….phase; these include pre-screening, screening, scoping, Impact
Analysis, Identification of mitigation Measures, Reporting, Reviewing, Planning public
involvement, Record of Decision and Appeal and condition of approval.
2.1. Pre-Screening Consultation
This stage is optional but the proponent is advisable to contact the competent authority and other
sectoral agencies, which may have an interest in the proposed project and establish an official
contact. The consultation may take the form of a formal meeting, a telephone conversation or
correspondence by means of electronic mail. Consultation at this stage should avoid delays caused
by requests from the authority requiring additional information occurring at a later stage.
2.2. Screening
Screening is a process to determine whether the proposed project requires a full, partial or no
ESIA. Prior to entering into the screening phase of the ESIA, it is recommended that the proponent
may appoint an independent consultant to assist in the process.
The proponent should submit to the Competent authority a screening report that contains the
following items if the proposed project is not listed in any of project categories (see annex).
Though there are 3 categories of Projects, the competent authority will review and give decision as
to what level of the ESIA study is required. Projects which are listed under category 3 (projects do
not require partial or full ESIA) require screening report and issuance of environmental clearance
certificate.
 The title of the proposed activity;
;of The name of the proponent and the consultant (s);
; ( The address of the proponent and the consultant(s);
;(n Location of the proposed development;
ent The extent of proposed activity

 Baseline information about the proposed project site using standardized checklist
 Project proposal
Description for uncategorized projects should include:-
 Capital
 Human resources
 Size of the Area and description

 Raw-materials and processes
 Type and amount of product
 Type and sources of utilities (energy and water)
 Type and amount of Waste
Duration of the project
The output of screening process is to either reject the project, grant project implementation, or to
go into other elaborated study (Initial Environmental Examination) or undertake full ESIA study
(see the following flow chart).

3rd Revision of General ESIA guideline of Amhara EFWPDA
Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline, Revised in 2010/11
Fig 1 Flow Chart for Environmental screening process
The activity will require full ESIA

Yes
Is the project
included in
Category 1?
Is the Activity Ye Is the project No further environmental study is
identified as a s included in required.
project? Category 3?
Yes
Does IEE identify significant
environmental effect by the project
No No activities?
The project
will require
IEE. Yes
Is the Activity
considered to be a No
Ye The activity
program, plan, or will require
policy? s
SEA.
No further environmental study is required.
No
No further environmental study is required.

.4 2.3 Scoping
Scoping is a critical, early step in the undertaking full ESIA study. The scoping process
identifies the issues that are likely to be of most importance during the ESIA and
eliminates those that are of little concern. Typically, this process concludes with the
establishment of Terms of Reference for the preparation of an ESIA. In this way, scoping
ensures that ESIA studies are focused on the significant effects and time and money are
not wasted on unnecessary investigations (UNEP, 2002). The level of an impact assessment
will depend on the nature and scale of the development proposal and its complexity, the
sensitivity of the environment and affected communities; and duration of the impact resulted
from the development activities. Scoping is done by independent consultant who has
competency certificate.
The scoping exercise should be documented in the form of a scoping report, which is submitted
to the authority for review and approval. The Competent authority shall make its decision on the
proposed project regarding amendment; exemption or correction on the scoping report, or
rejection1 of the proposed project and notify the proponent with formal letter. The scoping report
should contain the following:
 Cover page should have: Title, project name, project owner and address, consultant
name and address, city and date
 Introduction: describe briefly why the scoping process is initiated (objective of the
scoping report), what has been done so far, and purpose of the scoping report, objective
of the proposed project and the ESIA study major content of the scoping report.
 A brief description of the project:
o Name, Objective, Project owner, capital, size of project land, Number of

employees, and lifespan of the proposed project
o Imputes of the proposed project at different phases (type, quantity and source):
raw materials, utilities, manpower,
1
If location and or project alternative is not feasible, the competent authority may decide that the proposed
project can’t be implemented on the proposed site.
BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar 19 REVISED IN 2010/11

o Type of technology and machineries, equipment and tools to be used by the
proposed project
o Production process
o Type and quantity of products and by-products
o Type and quantity of wastes
o Identified alternatives and their description: comparison of the alternatives will

be done in the ESIA report preparation,
o Major project activities in different project phases
 Baseline information about the impact receiving environment:
o Project location and boundary: describe the location of the proposed project land
and its surrounding using maps, photos, or sketches. Include also the GPS
coordinates of the project land.
o Climatic conditions of the project area (precipitation, temperature, wind

direction, relative humidity and others)
o Soil type and geology
o Land use and land cover of the project land and its surroundings: provide
information about the incompatible projects or activities, if any.
o Water bodies that will be affected by the proposed project, Fauna and flora of the
project land and its surrounding including those which can be affected by the
project. Give information about important habitats and rare and endangered
species and their status,
o Culturally, ecologically, and historically, etc., important area or site,
o Socio-economic information:

 demography of the surrounding area, health, education, unemployment,
religion,
 if resettlement is required, give information about family member,

dependency, livelihood, etc.,
 Infrastructure and services: include road, telephone, energy, water

supply, schools, health institutions, etc.,
 Key issues and impacts identified during the scoping process:
o List and describe important positive, negative and cumulative impacts from the
proposed project.
o List and describe issues or impacts which require future investigation or analysis
o If there are critical issues which will halt the ESIA study describe them with
views of the consultant,
 Public consultation:
Public consultation and participation aims to assure that the views and concerns of all IAPs
are taken into consideration. Various techniques may be employed through the participation
exercise, including public meetings; telephone surveys; exhibits/displays; newspaper
advertisements; written information; surveys, interview and questionnaires; discussion with
established groups (e.g. NGO‟s, community organizations etc.,) and workshops and seminars.
During this stage the following should be documented:
o how and who participated during the scoping process
o list of interested and affected parties (IAPs) who were involved,
o Concerns, fears and views of IAPs; attach minutes, filled questioner or other
documents as annex.
 TOR for the preparation of ESIA

o Methods: Methods to be used during the ESIA study to gather information,
identify and evaluate impacts, and how to involve the affected and interested
parties.
o Related policies and legal frameworks to be studied in the ESIA
o Key issues and impacts to be studied in detail in ESIA
o Identified alternatives to be studied in the ESIA by comparing the environment,

socio economic feasibility
o Consulting firm and composition of ESIA team to undertake the ESIA study
o Time schedule to undertake ESIA study: indicate major activities and estimated
time to complete the study.
o Contents of the ESIA report
 Executive Summary
 Introduction/Background
 Objective of the ESIA study
 Scope of the study
 Methods of the ESIA study
 Assumptions and/ or Gap in Knowledge
 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework
 Description of the Proposed Project and its Alternatives
 Baseline Information on Bio-Physical and Socio-Economic Situation
 Impact analysis
o Identification of Environmental and social Impacts

o Prediction of Environmental and social impacts
o Evaluation of environmental and social impacts
 Mitigation Measures
 Environmental Management Plan
 Environmental Monitoring/Auditing Program
 Public Participation
 Conclusions and Recommendations
 List of References
 Appendices
 References
 Annexes
o CV and Competence certificate of ESIA study team members,
o Renewed business licence and competency certificate of the consulting firm
o Public consultation minutes, coloured photos, videos
o Any supportive document or letters from concerned institutions,
o Copy of agreement between the consultant and proponent
o Comments from competent authority on previously submitted scoping report, if

any.

Impact Analysis
An impact or effect can be described as the change in an environmental and social parameter,
which results from a particular activity or intervention. The change is the difference between
environmental and social parameters with and without the project. Impact analysis is a process of

impact identification, prediction and evaluation. Impact identification and prediction are
undertaken against an environmental and social baseline, often delineated by selected indices
and indicators (e.g. livelihood, health, air, water, noise, ecological sensitivity, biodiversity). The
baseline information regarding environmental and social conditions should be gathered from
primary and secondary sources.
Identification: is the listing down of all anticipated changes of the baseline due to the proposed
project. Impact identification can employ several methods such as:
 Checklists: are series of impact issues or questions that will help the consultant to
remind and list the impacts from the project. There could be various checklists from
simple to structure that assign significance by describing, scaling and weighing the
impacts.
 Matrix: is grid like table that is used to identify the interaction between project activities
and environmental characteristics. Signs or other marks related to the nature of the
impact can be used to highlight the severity of impacts in the cell
 Network or Impact tree: illustrates the cause and effect relationships of between project
activities and environmental characteristics, Networks are useful for showing primary,
secondary and tertiary impact relationships.
 Professional judgment: Knowledge and expertise gained in previous ESIA studies can
be used to identify impacts of the proposed project.
 Analogy: is method of adopting information (impacts) from existing projects which are
similar with the proposed one.
In addition to the above methods, consultants can use other methods in addition or as alternative
to identify impacts such as overlays or geographic information system, Expert system, Trend
extrapolation, mass balance calculation, and environmental cost benefit analysis
Impact prediction: is a technical exercise carried out to forecast the nature, magnitude, extent
and duration of the impacts; it utilizes physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural data to
estimate the likely characteristics and parameters of impacts (e.g. Magnitude, spatial
occurrence etc.). Environmental and social impact is predicted or measured over a specified
period and within a defined area. Typical parameters to be taken into account in impact
prediction and decision-making include:
 nature (positive, negative, direct, indirect, induced, natural, cumulative);
 magnitude (severe, moderate, low);
 extent/location (area/volume covered, distribution);

 timing (during construction, operation, decommissioning, immediate, delayed, rate of
change);
 duration (short term, long term, intermittent, continuous);
 reversibility/irreversibility; and
 Likelihood (probability, uncertainty or confidence in the prediction)
Evaluation of impact significance: is a systematic process involving the evaluation of

significance of predicted impacts to define the requirements for mitigation and other remedial
actions. Impact evaluation also done to determine the significance of residual impacts (impacts
left after mitigation measure are taken into account).
Impact significance is determined by the joint consideration of impact characteristics
(magnitude, extent, duration, etc.) and the importance (or value) that is attached to the resource
losses, environmental deterioration or alternative uses which are foregone.
Impact evaluation is a difficult and contestable exercise, which cuts across the fluid boundary
between ‘facts’ and values and between ESIA a n d decision-making. The attribution of
impact significance usually will influence final approval and condition setting; for example by
indicating whether or not the residual impact (impacts after mitigation) of a proposal is
acceptable or not.
Guiding principles for determining significance include:
 use procedure and guidance established by the jurisdiction;

 adapt relevant criteria or identify points of reference from comparable cases;
 assign significance in a rational, defensible way;
 be consistent in the comparison of alternatives; and
 Document the reasons for the judgments made.
Key reference points for evaluating significance include:
 environmental standards, guidelines and objectives;

 level of public concern, socio-economic and cultural values;
 scientific and professional evidences for:
 loss/disruption of valued resource stocks and ecological functions;
 negative impact on social values, quality of life and livelihood; and
 Foreclosure of land and resource use opportunities.

A test of significance can be applied by asking three questions:
 Are there residual environmental impacts?

 If yes, are these likely to be significant or not?
 If yes, are these significant effects likely to occur e.g. are the probability high, moderate
or low?
Significance Criteria
 Magnitude of the impact

 Spatial extent of the impact
 Duration of the impact
 Probability of occurrence of the impact
 Confidence in impact prediction
 The existence of “set values” (e.g. air or water quality standards)
 The controversy surrounding the development proposal
 Mitigatory potential
 Legal requirement
Criteria for determining significance
Extent / spatial scale of the impact
Examples of criteria for rating the extent / spatial scale of impacts.
Rating Definition Score
Very high [International] International level 5

High [National] Country level 4
Medium [Regional] Regional level 3
Low [Local] Beyond site boundary but not 2
far beyond district
Very Low [On–site] Site specific Within site boundary 1
[Activity/site specific]
Intensity / severity of the impact

Examples of criteria for rating the nature /intensity / severity of impacts.
Very High Natural, cultural and/or social functions and processes are 4
altered to the extent that it will permanently ceases:

High Natural, cultural and/or social functions and processes are 3
altered to the extent that it will temporarily ceases:
Medium Where the affected environment is altered but the natural, 2

cultural and/or social functions and processes are continue
albeit in a modified way:
Low Where the impact affects the environment in such a way that 1
natural, cultural and/or social functions and processes are not
affected:
Duration of the impact

Examples of criteria for rating the duration of impacts.

Permanent Where mitigation either by natural processes or human
/forever/ intervention will not occur in such a way or in such a time 4
span that the impact can be considered transient
Long–term Where the impact will cease after the operational life of the
activity, either because of natural processes or human
interventions. Long–term (More than 15 years, but 3
possible to cease afterwards)
Medium–term Reversible over time, Lifespan of the project (5 – 15

years) 2
Short–term Quickly reversible, Less than the project lifespan, (0 – 5

years)
1
The combined score of these three criteria corresponds to a consequence rating, as follows: it is
the sum of scores of the three impact characteristics, i.e. intensity (I), extent (E), and Duration
(D)
Consequence of Impact = I + E + D
Combined Score/I + E + R 3–4 5 6 7 8 – 13
Consequence rating Very Low Low Medium High Very High

Probability – the likelihood of the impact occurring
Examples of criteria for rating the degree of certainty of impacts.
Rating Definition of rating
Definite The impact will occur regardless of any
prevention measures. More than 90% sure of a
particular fact. Substantial supportive data exist to
verify the assessment.
Probable It is most likely that the impact will occur. Over
70% sure of a particular fact, or of the likelihood
of that impact occurring.
Possible There is a distinct possibility that the impact will

occur. 40 – 70% sure of a particular fact or of the
likelihood of an impact occurring.
Improbable Less than 40% sure of a particular fact or the
likelihood of an impact occurring
The overall significance of impacts will be determined by considering consequence and

probability
Consequence of Impact X Probability of the Impact =Impact Significance
Probability
X
Improbable Possible Probable Definite
Very Low Insignificant Insignificant Very Low Low
Low Insignificant Very Low Low Medium

Consequence
Medium Very Low Low Medium High
High Low Medium High Very High
Very High Medium High Very High Very High
Insignificant: The potential impact is negligible and will not have an influence on the
decision regarding the proposed activity.

Very low: The potential impact is very small and should not have any meaningful
influence on the decision regarding the proposed activity.
Low: The potential impact may not have any meaningful influence on the decision
regarding the proposed activity.
Medium: The potential impact should influence on the decision regarding the proposed
activity
High: The potential impact will affect the decision regarding the proposed activity.
Very High: The proposed activity should only be approved under special circumstances
Intensity / severity of the impact

Examples of criteria for rating the nature /intensity / severity of impacts.

Very High Natural, cultural and/or social functions and processes 4
are altered to the extent that it will permanently ceases:
High Natural, cultural and/or social functions and processes 3
are altered to the extent that it will temporarily ceases:
Medium Where the affected environment is altered but the 2
natural, cultural and/or social functions and processes
are continue albeit in a modified way:
Low Where the impact affects the environment in such a way 1
that natural, cultural and/or social functions and
processes are not affected:
Insert the notes and descriptions from slide or pdf of AGP
Criteria to evaluate whether or not adverse impacts are significant include:
 environmental degradation and pollution
 social impacts resulting directly or indirectly from environmental and socio-cultural
change;
 non-conformity with environmental standards, objectives and guidelines; or not and
 Likelihood and acceptability of risk.
Criteria to evaluate adverse impacts on natural resources, ecological functions or
designated areas include:

 reductions in species diversity;
 depletion or fragmentation of habitat;
 loss of threatened, rare or endangered species;
 impairment of ecological integrity, resilience or health e.g.
 disruption of food chains;
 decline in species population;
 Alterations in predator-prey relationships.
Criteria to evaluate the significance of adverse social impacts that result from
biophysical changes include:
 threats to human health and safety e.g. from release of persistent and/or toxic chemicals;
 decline in commercially valuable or locally important species or resources e.g. fish, forests
and farmland;
 loss of areas or environmental components that have cultural, recreational or aesthetic
value;
 displacement of people by proposed development projects e.g. by dams reservoirs; and
etc.,
 disruption of communities by influx of a workforce e.g. during project construction;
operation and
 Pressures on services, transportation and infrastructure.
Environmental standards, objectives and targets to evaluate significance include:
 prescribed limits on waste/emission discharges and/or concentrations;

 ambient air and water quality standards established by law or regulations;
 environmental objectives and targets contained in policy and strategy; and
 Approved or statutory plans that protect the areas or zone or regulate the use of land and
natural resources.
Generally speaking Impacts are likely to be significant if they:
 are extensive over space or time

 are intensive in concentration or in relation to assimilative capacity
 exceed environmental standards or thresholds
 do not comply with environmental policies and land use laws
 affect ecological sensitive areas and heritage resources
 affect community lifestyle, traditional land uses and values

2.5 Identification of mitigation Measures
Mitigation measures should aim at avoiding/preventing, reducing/minimizing, and/or
compensating negative significant impacts in descending order of priority; and enhancing the
significant positive impacts. Mitigation measures for issues that have been evaluated to be
significant should be clearly stated in the ESIA report.
The objective of mitigation are to:
 Find better alternatives and ways of doing thigs;
 Enhance the environmental and social benefits of a proposal,
 Avoid, minimize or remedy adverse impacts, and
 Ensure that residual adverse impacts are kept within acceptable levels.
The mitigative measure should contain detail description of mitigation measures and design to
maximize the benefits of the project; in other words, for each significant adverse impacts of a
proposed project activities, potential mitigation measures have to be clearly described.
2.6. Environmental and social management plan (ESMP)
Environmental and social management plan sets out those practices which will be implemented
to enhance significant positive impacts and mitigate (avoid, reduce and compensate) significant
negative environmental and social impacts arising from proposed project activities. The ESMP
should consist of the following key points (see details given in ESIA reporting section of this
guideline):
1. Phases of the project
2. impacts of the project at each phase
3. Activities planned to mitigate the impacts
4. Units of measurement
5. Quantity of planned activities
6. Implementation time
7. Cost to implement planned activities
8. Responsible body to implement the planned activities
2.7. Environmental and Social Monitoring plan (ESMoP)

It is the continuous determination of the actual and potential effects of any activity or
phenomenon on the environment and society whether short-term or long-term. The monitoring
plan should consist of the following key components
1. List of significant impacts
2. enhancement and mitigation activities to be monitored
3. Parameters/ indicators and standards to be used
4. Location of monitoring
5. Methods of monitoring/measurement
6. Frequency of monitoring
7. Responsible institution to implement the management activities
9. Time schedule for monitoring
ESIA Reporting
Once impacts have been interpreted and mitigation measures have been set, it is essential that the
information should be presented in a form that enables non-experts to comprehend.
The ESIA report or impact statement is a primary document for decision-making. It organizes
the information obtained and synthesizes the results of the studies and consultations undertaken.
A full yet concise account should be given of the likely environmental impacts of a proposal, the
recommended measures for mitigating and managing them and the significance of any residual
effects.
The users of the ESIA report includes the authorizing and implementing agencies, other
interested parties and the affected people. Because of its importance as a communication tool, the
ESIA report needs to be well organized and clearly written. An effective report will be written
both in plain language for non-experts but also appropriate technical standards. ESIA report will
have the following content and structure:
 Executive Summary
 Introduction/Background
 Objective of the ESIA study
 Scope of the study
 Methods of the ESIA study

 Assumptions and/ or Gap in Knowledge
 Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework
 Description of the Proposed Project and its Alternatives
 Baseline Information on Bio-Physical and Socio-Economic Situation
 Assessment of significant environmental and social impacts
o Identification of Environmental and social Impacts
o Prediction of Environmental and social impacts
o Evaluation of environmental and social impacts
 Mitigation Measures
 Environmental Management Plan
 Environmental Monitoring/Auditing Program
 Public Participation
 Conclusions and Recommendations
 List of References
 Appendices
 References
 Annexes
Each of the above contents are described hereunder:
5.2.1 Executive Summary

This section is an important part of the report that enables the reviewers to have very clear view
of the intended project. To this effect therefore, the summary should provide brief, accurate,
clear and concise information about the project, in particular highlighting the main findings and
recommendations that are relevant for decision-making. As a general guide, this section needs to
contain:
 title and location of the project;
 name of the proponent;
 name of the consultants and/or organization preparing the EIS report;
 a brief project description;
 project alternatives;
 the major impacts;

 recommendation for mitigation/compensation;
 Proposed monitoring activity, and implementation strategy.
5.2.2 Introduction
This section will have importance in providing background information about the proposal and
indicating how the report is structured. This needs to be outlined in one to two pages. It is
important that the 'context' of the study report should make clear especially the following:
 Background information that can be used for the project proposal or the study in context;
 An outline of the proposal (e.g. objectives, location; proposed alternatives in terms of
location, design, process, input, etc, input and resource requirement, life-span of
development);
 The structure of the report concerning the location of the TOR, summary, conclusions
and recommendations;
 Methodologies employed, by how many specialist and which disciplines.
Objective of the ESIA Study

The general and specific objective of the ESIA study have to be stated briefly in the report.
Specific objectives are those which are supposed to be answered by undertaking the ESIA study.
Scope of the Study

The depth and spatio-temporal boundaries of the ESIA study has to be indicated. In general, the
scope of the study depicts the following:
1. The depth and breadth of the project’s environmental and social impact study,
2. The impact zone of the proposed project,
3. The boundary of time period of data collection, analysis and impact prediction during
ESIA study, i.e., past, present and future time limits
4. List of names of study sites should be included.
5. Map depicting the areas of the study.
Methods of the ESIA study

Methods are techniques used to:
 Identify source, collect and analyze relevant data of the ESIA study,
 identify, predict, and evaluate environmental and social impacts
 Choose the feasible one from identified alternatives,
 engage different parts of the community

This section has to show the professional composition and number of experts participating in the
study along with their address and responsibility in the ESIA study,
5.2.4 Assumptions and/ or Gaps in Knowledge
Reliability and quality of data to be collected with regard to the proposed project from different
sources may involve some degrees of uncertainties due to absence of sufficient information As a
consequence of this, some of the assessment may be based on assumptions or there may be gaps
and uncertainties in impact prediction and valuation. In this regard therefore, the study preparer
is required to clearly state the level of assessment by considering the following.
 Identification of knowledge gaps, assumptions and unavailable information;

 Reasons for the incomplete nature and/or assumptions of information;
 The implications of those identified knowledge gap and assumptions for decision
making;
 Proposals and/or suggestions to avoid the identified constraints and limitations.
Policy, Legal and Administrative Framework
This section of the ESIA Report describes the policy and legal basis within which the project
may be implemented. Regulations and standards applicable to the project should be referred to.
The ESIA report should include policies, legal and administrative frameworks, and standards that
guide and help to execute the stated project. Additional relevant legal parts of related legislations
to the project will be attached in the appendix.
5.2.6 Description of the project and its alternatives

In the description of the project the following elements are required to be covered:
 Size and nature of development;
 Brief description of project alternatives;
 Sources, types, characteristics, and volume of raw materials;
 Time schedule for phases of project (i.e. construction, operation, maintenance,
decommissioning),
 Description of technological and production process;

 Output volume ( by products and products of the raw materials);
 Removal and disposal of waste;
 Human and Resource Materials costs
5.2.7 Baseline Information on Biophysical Environment and Socioeconomic situation

This section will give more emphasis on brief description of the physical, biological and
socioeconomic aspects of the environment that will be affected by the project. The elements to
be included in this section are the following:
 Area specific information about the location of the project (e.g. land tenure, surrounding
land, physical constraints, infrastructure services in and around the project),
 Boundaries of the project and its implication on the environment,
 Qualitative and quantitative biophysical environment data(e.g. climate, soil, geology,
hydrology, topography, flora and fauna),
 Qualitative and quantitative socio- economic data (e.g. demographic indices, standard of
living, infrastructure services, housing. energy and water supply)
 Cultural and historic environment (e.g. sites of national parks, sanctuaries, monuments,
statues, religious significant areas).
 Location map, figures, tables and other illustrative information.
 Physical, biological and socio-economic information of the impacted area. If the project
has trans-boundary impacts.
5.2.8 Assessment of Significant Environmental and Social Impacts

This is an important and crucial section that will have importance in identifying, predicting and
evaluation of impacts (both negative and positive). With regard to each impact, the following key
information should be included.
 Criteria used for determining significance of impact (e.g. magnitude, geographic
extent, duration, frequency, reversible or irreversible, risk of uncertainty, size of group
affected);
 Brief description and analysis of each impact (e.g. nature, significance, and extent);
 Affected stakeholders in and around the project area;
 A comparison of proposed options (such as size, site, technology; layout, energy sources,
source of raw materials, technical, environmental and social constraints;

 Impacts on environment and community resulted from the proposed project.
 Potential accident or hazard scenarios assessed in the ESIA study.
 Degree of confidence in prediction:
 Weighing (judging) the collected information for selecting the best alternatives.
5.2.9 Mitigation Measures
In this section the following key information should be included:

 Lists of mitigative measures of each significant impacts and their implementation cost.
 Best alternative option among identified mitigation measures and the reason for selection of it for
significant impacts.
 Enhancement measure of positive impacts of the project.
5.2.10 Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP)

ESMP is required for all category 1 and 2 projects. This section should contain activities to be
executed during the first three years of implementation phases of the project (construction,
operational and decommissioning). In the ESMP, the mitigation activities should be specific,
measurable, achievable, reliable, and time bounded (SMART). This section should identify any
institutional needs for implementation of the recommended activities in the plan. The ESMP
should consist of the following key points
1. Phases of the project
2. impacts of the project at each phase
3. Activities planned to mitigate the impacts
4. Units of measurement
5. Quantity of planned activities
6. Implementation time
8. Responsible body to implement the planned activities
The following table shows ESMP templet:
Project Projec Signif Enhancement/Mitigati Imp Timeline for Implementation of Cost
Phase t icant on leme Mitigation Activities esti
Activit impac ntin mat
y ts g e
Activities unit 1st Year 2nd Year 3rd Year

qua Bodi 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4
ntit es
y
5.2.11 Environmental and Social Monitoring plan (ESMoP)

The ESMoP should consist of the following key components
1. List of significant impacts
2. enhancement and mitigation activities to be monitored
3. Parameters/ indicators and standards to be used
4. Location of monitoring
5. Methods of monitoring/measurement
6. Frequency of monitoring
7. Responsible institution to implement the management activities
9. Time schedule for monitoring
The following is a temple for ESMoP.
Significa Enhancement/Miti Parameters/ind Locatio Methods of Freque Responsi Time cost
nt gation icators to be n monitoring/mea ncy bility schedule
impacts activities Monitored surement
Public Participation
In this section description of public consultation methods, composition and list of participants,
agendas of consultation, when and where consultation is done, fears and concerns emphasized,
possible solutions suggested, etc., have to be stated in the report. It should be noted that the
concerns and fears identified from the public consultation have to be considered during impact
analysis and proposed enhancement/mitigation activities. If consultation is done using meeting,
the following should be recorded in the minutes:
 Date, time and venue of the meeting
 Participants (name, address, and signature)
 Agenda (brief description of the proposed project, anticipated impacts, mitigations, etc.,)

If public consultation is carried out using other techniques i.e., other than meeting, names and
address of consulted people, how, when and where they are consulted should be attached with
the ESIA report.
Though public consultation may occur throughout the ESIA process, consultation at the stage of
scoping and ESIA report review are mandatory.
5.2.13 Conclusions and Recommendations

This section is required to include:
 Brief discussion of key issues;
 Statement of adverse impacts and explanation of how adverse effects have been
mitigated;
 Explanation whether or not the project utilizes or destroys irreplaceable environmental
and social assets
 Net benefits, which justify the project by indicating both positive and negative impacts;
 Management and monitoring needs and additional recommendations;
References
Books, study reports, websites, etc., cited in the main body of the report should be listed in this
section in accordance with accepted standards.
Appendices
These are separate documents to be used as references for the reviewers. They enable reviewers
to reach at appropriate decision-making. Examples of documents that may be provided as
appendices are:
 A glossary of terms
 acronyms
 Safety or product quality certificate and Health and product quality assurance certificates
as the case may be;
 Detailed technical reports, flow charts, maps, supportive and endorsement letters from
licensing agencies, etc.
 Minutes of public involvement process;
 Curriculum vitae and competency certificate of the consulting team members
 Business and competency license of the consultancy firm

 Endorsement letter and comments from competent authority on previously submitted
reports,
 Declaration of the proponent and consultant on the ESIA report (format attached in the
annex of this guideline),
ESIA Reviewing
Scoping and screening report reviews
The ESIA reports should be presented to the Competent Authority for technical review and
decision making. Prior to decision making, the competent authority will review the ESIA
report by itself or may invite external reviewers. If the ESIA review is out sourced to
external reviewers, the competent authority has to determine their powers and
responsibilities in advance. The competent authority has to disclose the report for public
saying using any technique.
A comprehensive review of the adequacy and quality of an ESIA report would address
many or all of the following issues:
 Does the report address the Terms of Reference?

 Is the necessary information provided for each major component of the ESIA report?
 Is the information correct and technically sound?
 Have the views and concerns of affected and interested parties been taken into
account?
 Is the statement of the key findings complete and satisfactory, e.g. for significant
impacts, proposed mitigation measures, etc.?
 Is the information clearly presented and understandable by decision-makers and
the public?
 Is the information relevant and sufficient for the purpose of decision is the most
significant aspect for review conclusions, and will largely determine whether or not
an ESIA can be submitted as is or with minor revisions.

The ESIA reviewer should review the adequacy and quality of the submitted ESIA report by
giving scores using the following summarized criteria.+
No. Review Criteria Weight Assigned to Review Criteria

Relevance of the Adequately Sum
Description Described (100%)
(40%) (60%)
1 Proper Presentation of the Executive Summary 0.8 1.2 2

2 Proper Presentation of the Introduction 0.8 1.2 2
3 Description of the Project 4 6 10
3.1 Whether the purpose and significance of the project are 1.2 1.8 3
adequately described
3.2 How well the size, amount and physical characteristics of 1.2 1.8 3
the project area are defined
3.3 Are the production process, inputs utilized and products 1.6 2.4 4
itemized well?
4 Description of project alternatives 1.6 2.4 4
5 Description of the project area 4 6 10
5.1 Description of the condition of biological organisms 1.2 1.8 3
5.2 Description of the condition of physical components 1.2 1.8 3
5.3 Description of socio-economic conditions 1.6 2.4 4
6 Whether data collection and analysis methods are 3.2 4.8 8
properly stated
7 Whether legal, policy and institutional factors are 2.4 3.6 6
analysed
8 Whether significant environmental and social impacts 8 12 20
of the project are described
8.1 Whether significant impacts were identified and the level 6 9 15
of impacts were predicted
8.2 Whether assessment/analysis of significant impacts was 2 3 5
done
9 Analysis of environmental social impact mitigation 4 6 10
measures
10 Preparation of an environmental management plan 2 3 5
11 Preparation of an environmental monitoring plan 2 3 5
12 Presentation of the environmental impact assessment 1.6 2.4 4
report
13 Conducting a community discussion 3.2 4.8 8
14 Proper reference citation, addition of Appendices and 2.4 3.6 6
Attachments
15
Using the review criteria on the above table, the quality and adequacy of the ESIA report will be
evaluated and scored out of 100%. A weight of 40% is given for adequacy and 60% for
sufficiency of the information contained in the report.

If the score from the document reviewed is 70% or more, the ESIA report meets the minimum
requirements and will be accepted without amendment. If the score for the document is between
50% and 70%, reviewed comments will be given to the consulting firm or proponent for
amendment. However, if the reviewed ESIA report scored below 50% the report will be rejected
and the proponent will be ordered by official letter to hire another competent consulting firm to
undertake the ESIA study again. If the reviewers are more than one, the average score will be
taken as a final score
Depending on the nature of the project, the competent authority will organize jury or other
different techniques of public involvements in ESIA report reviewing process
2.9. Decision making and approval

The environmental competent authority gives decision on the implementation of proposed
project at screening or after the ESIA study is completed. If a scoping report is submitted without
screening report (for category 1 and 2), the competent authority may reject the proposed project
or gives consent to proceed into the ESIA study.
The following are decision criteria to which the competent authority relays to give decision
on the proposed project:
 Compatibility of the proposed project with other projects or existing activities,
 If the project is against laws or approved plans,
 If the proposed project site is in or around sensitive environment (religious, cultural, historical,
archeological and ecological, protected areas, etc.),
 If the affected and interested parties stand against the implementation of the project
 If the adverse impacts will not be mitigated to the extent of the carrying capacity of environment
(if residual impacts are still severe or significant)
 proposed mitigation measures are not thought to avoid or reduce the impacts (if residual impacts
are found to be significant and not tolerated by the receiving environment),
 If there is no proposed project site.
 If there is unresolved dispute on project’s landholding,

Based on the accepted ESIA report and above mentioned decision criteria, the competent
authority will either:
 Accept with or without conditions and give environmental clearance permit for project
implementation,
 Direct/order the proponent to redesign the project with recommended amendments and resubmit
the ESIA report,
 Reject implementation of the proposed project, if the project doesn’t comply with one or more
decision criteria listed above.
4. Environmental and Social Monitoring and Auditing
4.1 Environmental and Social Monitoring (ESM)
ESM refers to collection of relevant data on previously identified (in the ESMP) environmental
parameters through repetitive and systematic sampling (measurement) or observation. ESM is a
cornerstone of ESIA implementation and follow up. Other components are dependent on the
scope and type of monitoring information that is provided. The primary aim of monitoring is to
provide information that will aid impact management, and, secondarily, to achieve a better
understanding of cause and effect relationships and to improve ESIA prediction and mitigation
methods. Both the immediate and long-term benefits from undertaking monitoring as part of
ESIA are widely recognized, although not always realized.
The main objectives of environmental monitoring are:
 Identify short, medium, and long term trends in change of the environmental
characteristics of the project and surrounding areas;
 Distinguish the environmental changes as a result of the project development and

analyzing the causes of the changes;
 Measure the identified environmental impacts and make a comparative study with the
predicted impacts in the ESIA report; and
 Improve the effectiveness of the EMP by incorporating the findings of the monitoring
activities in modification of the ESIA report.

ESM is used to:
 establish baseline trends and conditions;
 measure the impacts that occur during project construction and operation;
 check their compliance with agreed conditions and standards;
 facilitate impact management, e.g. by warning of unanticipated impacts; and
 Determine the accuracy of impact predictions and the effectiveness of mitigation measures.
The most common types of ESM are presented in the followings:
 Baseline: Measurement of environmental parameters before project construction (pre-project

status).
 Effects: Measurement of environmental parameters at regular intervals during project
construction, implementation, and operation.
 Compliance: Periodic and unannounced monitoring and environmental sampling to ensure that
regulatory compliance are observed and environmental standards are met by the project
proponents.
Procedures of environmental and social monitoring (ESM)
 Set monitoring objective and scope

 monitoring team assignment
 Define roles, responsibilities and activities of:
o Leader and members of monitoring team
o proponent
 prepare terms of reference (field program)
 list and make ready working document, such as ESMP, ESMoP, laws, standards, etc
 conduct monitoring:
o opening meeting with the proponent to inform the purpose and schedule
o collecting necessary evidence such as:
 samples, measures, processes, facilities, examine any commodities,
 copies of documents, images and recorded audio visuals, etc.,
 take measurements and estimates and compare with standards,
 interview workers, nearby dwellers and other bodies in relation to impacts,

 Observe the project site, production process, waste management, personal
safety and security, and risk management to determine its compliance to the
ESMP, standards, and laws.
o closing meeting with the proponent to notify the findings
o Evaluate and analyze the data collected and summarize the findings,
 Prepare report: the ESM report is supposed to contain the following:
o Cover page: (name of monitored project, monitoring team members, city, date
completed)
o Introduction: status of previous monitoring, if any, and why the current monitoring is
required, back ground of the project monitored, structure and major content of the
report
o Objective
o scope
o Methods,
o Findings
 Compliances,
 Non compliances
o Conclusion and recommendation
o References
o Annexes
 Decision based on monitoring findings:
o If the project is complied, no action is needed but the report is archived for future
monitoring.
o If the project is not complied: feedback containing recommended measures will be sent
to the proponent, if necessary auditing or inspection may be scheduled to check
whether or not the project makes corrections to comply.
4.2. Environmental and Social Auditing (ESA)
ESA is a systematic process of periodically examining, documenting and validating that the
project’s impact on environment, the ESIA procedures adopted, and outcomes of the project do

not significantly differ from the original objectives and requirements of the environmental
standards, ESIA and ESMP.
ESA can also be done for non-certified projects to ensure the compliances of environmental
requirements as per environmental and social regulations and standards.
ESA can be done internally, by the project proponents, externally, by independent auditors, hired
by the project proponent, or by the competent authority on its discretion to determine whether the
facility/project is in compliance with the approved environmental protocols, mitigation measures
defined in the project ESMP, and the environmental standards.
The most common types of ESA are presented in the followings:
 Implementation: Process of verifying that ESIA implementation met the conditions set forth by
the competent authority for project approval.
 Impact: Determining project impact on environmental parameters and the accuracy of
predicted impacts in ESIA report.
 Compliance: The verification process whereby project or facility establishes the extent to which
it complies with environmental and social legislation, discharge, and emission limits and building
permit standards.
 Environmental and Social Risk: Process of conducting an assessment of environmental and
social risks to determine the potential risks in the process chain from project initiation through
implementation and operation
 Pre-acquisition: Process undertaken before transfer of ownership of a factory or development
project from one entity to the other.
 Management System: Process of checking the management system and/or procedures against
existing environmental and social policies, norms, standards, and procedures to ensure
continual improvement of environmental and social performance.
Procedures of environmental and social auditing (ESA)
 Set auditing objective and scope

 auditing team assignment
 Define roles, responsibilities and activities of:
o Leader and members of auditing team
o proponent

 prepare terms of reference (field program) and budget allocation
 Prepare auditing tools (checklists and others)
 list and make ready working document, such as ESMP, ESMoP, laws, standards, etc
 conduct auditing:
o opening meeting with the proponent to inform the purpose and schedule
o collecting necessary evidence such as:
 samples, measures, processes, facilities, examine any commodities,
 copies of documents, images and recorded audio visuals, etc.,
 take measurements and estimates and compare with standards,
 interview workers, nearby dwellers and other bodies in relation to impacts,
 Observe the project site, production process, waste management, personal
safety and security, and risk management to determine its compliance to the
ESMP, standards, and laws.
 Previous ESM reports
o closing meeting with the proponent to notify the findings
o Evaluate and analyze the data collected and summarize the findings,
 Prepare report: the ESA report is supposed to contain the following:
o Cover page: (name of audited project, auditing team members, city, date completed)
o Introduction: status of the project, why the current ESA is required, structure and major
content of the report
o Objective
o scope
o Methods,
o Findings
 Compliances,
 Non compliances
o Conclusion and recommendation
o References
o Annexes
 Decision based on auditing findings:

o If the project is complied, no action is needed but the report is archived for future
auditing.
o If the project is not complied: feedback containing recommended measures will be sent
to the proponent, if necessary inspection may be scheduled to check whether or not the
project makes corrections to comply.
Chapter Five
5. Guideline for Environmental and social Impact Assessment Report
Writing
5.1. Introduction
This section is intended to provide information about the contents of the ESIA report. The focus
of this guidance framework is to support informed decision making by enabling the reviewers to
make quick and detailed evaluation of EIS report.
5.2

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ANNEXES
Annex I: Categories of Activities
There are three major classes of action (Categories) that prescribe the level of documentation required in
the environmental assessment process.
1. Category 1 (Inclusion/Mandatory List). Actions that are perceived to have potentially significant
environmental effect on the environment require full ESIA report or environmental impact
statement (EIS). Projects that fall into this category (inclusion list) must forego a detailed
environmental study, including primary and secondary data collection, public participation and

disclosure, with a final output presented to the competent authority for review and approval in the
form of a full ESIA report (EIS).
2. Category 2. Actions in which the significance of the environmental impact is either not clearly
established or potential environmental impacts are not widespread, considered to be less complex,
or are relatively easy to mitigate. All development actions included in this category require the
preparation of a preliminary environmental impact study report or an initial environmental
examination (IEE).
3. Category 3 (Exclusion List). Actions that do not individually or cumulatively have a significant
environmental effect or are considered to be environmental improvement are included in this
category (exclusion list) and do not require to prepare an IEE or EIS. A specific list of categorical
exclusions is presented below. Such projects normally do not require environmental
documentation and will receive an environmental clearance letter from the competent authority
and licensing authority as per the requirements set forth in the ANRS environmental
Proclamation. When appropriately documented and approved by the competent authority,
additional projects may also qualify to be included in Category 3 (categorical exclusion list).
In the following sections, the details of project types that will fall in each Category are presented. It is
important to note that the provided Categories are not exhaustive or fixed. The competent authority,
at its discretion and based on provided information in the environmental screening report or public
consultation results, can change the categorization of the proposed development projects or activities.
The following flow chart provides a schematic presentation of the proposed process for determining
how to categorize different projects.

Category 1 Activities (List of projects requiring full ESIA (Inclusion
List)
1. Agriculture
 Land development schemes covering an area of 500 hectares or more to change land
use for agricultural production.
 Large scale (more than 500 hectares) monoculture of cash and food crops.
 Establishment of large scale floriculture farms or processing plant for a cropped area of
larger than 30 hectares.
 Any size agricultural projects, including floriculture that is located in environmentally
sensitive areas or within 30 meters of wetlands and other water bodies.
 Agricultural programs necessitating the resettlement of 100 families or more.
 Development of agricultural estates covering an area of 500 hectares or more involving
a change in type of agricultural use.
 Agricultural Mechanization of projects covering an area of larger than 500 ha.
 Pest control activities involving the use of new pesticides that have not been included
in the WHO categories II and III (See annex 2).
 Projects involving manufacture, transport or storage of agrochemicals.
 Introduction of new (exotic) animal breeds, crops, or seeds.
 Introduction of genetically modified organisms (GMOs).
 Land based aquaculture projects accompanied by clearing of swamp forests or
wetlands covering an area of 5 hectares or more.
 Introduction of exotic or new aquatic species in water bodies.
 Large scale (over 1 ton per day) commercial fishery.
 River Basin Development (all sizes).
2. Airports
 Construction of airports having an airstrip of 2,000 meters or more.

 Airstrip development in Regional and national parks or any other environmentally
sensitive areas.
3. Defense activities and military services

 Designing of large military range or training grounds, or significant changes in the uses
of such areas.
 Shooting range, artillery range, or any other related installations.
 Temporary military campsites, designed for more than one year.
 Planning the use of low-level flying military fixed-wing jet aircraft as part of a training
program at an altitude below 330 m above ground level for more than 25 hours per
calendar year in populated areas, in areas designated as major wildlife habitat, and/or
in known staging areas of migratory birds.
4. Forestry
 Conversion of hill forest land to other land use covering an area of 50 hectares or more.
 Logging or conversion of forest land to other land use within the catchment area of
reservoirs used for municipal water supply, irrigation or hydro power generation or in
areas adjacent to Regional and national parks (all sizes).
 Introduction of new/exotic tree species for development of forest plantations.
 Timber logging covering an area of over 200 hectares.
 Logging of areas that are known to include threatened or endangered plant species or
within ecologically sensitive areas (all sizes).
 Aforestation or reforestation (monoculture forest plantation) projects with 200 hectares
or more coverage.
 Resettlement programs in natural forests or nature reserves.
 Construction of roads inside forest or nature reserves.
5. Housing/Urban Development
 Development of any structure including residential areas, shopping centers, complexes,

hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and learning centers with a foot print of larger than 5,000
m2.
 Establishment of bus and rail terminals with a foot print of more than 5,000 m2.

 Construction of any structure with a foot print of more than 500 m 2 in close proximity
of significant wetlands or water bodies (less than 30 meters)
 Township development with a foot print of 30 hectares or more.
 Subdivisions of 10 or more lots and housing projects of 10 houses or more.
 Conversion of swamps/wetlands of significant value for industrial, housing or
agricultural use covering an area of more than one hectare.
 Conversion of any other swamps and/or wetlands for industrial, housing or agricultural
use covering an area of more than 10 hectares.
6. Industry2
 Chemical production where production capacity of each product or of combined

products is greater than 100 tons/day or any mechanized plant employing more than 10
people.
 Petrochemical plants (All sizes).
 Manufacturing, transport and use of pesticides and other hazardous substances (all
sizes).
 Non-ferrous primary smelting producing 50 tons/day and above of product and
refining, drawing, rolling and surface treatment.
 Non-metallic
 Cement - for clinker throughput of 30 tons/hour and above
 Lime - 100 tons/day and above burnt lime rotary kiln or 50 tons/day and above
vertical kiln.
 Asbestos (all sizes).
 Glass and glass products manufacturing with a total of value of 500,000 Birr or
more or plants employing more than 10 employees, using mechanization.
 Manufacturing of tiles and ceramics with a total value of 500,000 or more or plants
employing more than 10 employees, using mechanization.
 Iron and steel
 Require iron ore as raw materials for production greater than 100 tons per day;
 Using scrap iron as raw materials for production greater than 200 tons per day; or
2
Source: Central Statistical Agency, Addis Ababa

 Plants employing more than 10 people, using mechanization.
 Wood, pulp and paper industry with a production capacity of greater than 50 tons per
day, or industries employing more than 10 people, using mechanization.
 Fiber and particle board manufacturing with a production capacity of greater than 30
tons per day, or industries employing more than 10 peoples and using mechanization.
 Textile industries including cotton and synthetic fibers, cloth dying, etc. with a total
value of 500,000 Birr or more or industries employing more than 10 people, using
mechanization.
 Food and beverage industries including manufacturing of animal oil and fats, vegetable
oil refinery, manufacturing of dairy products, brewing, distilling, and malting, fish
meal factories, soft drinks, canned fruits, sugar factories, and other agro-processing
industries with a total cost of total cost of 500,000 Birr or more, or industries
employing more than 49 people3.
 Rubber and plastic products manufacturing employing more than 10 people and using
mechanization or with a value of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr.
 Wood and wood product manufacturing with a total cost of 500,000 Birr or more, or
industries employing 10 people or more and using mechanization.
 Leather industries including tanneries, and dressing factories. (All sizes)
 Electrical machinery apparatus, appliance, and supplies employing over 10 people
using mechanization or with a total value of 500,000 Birr or more.
7. Infrastructure
 Construction of hospitals with outfall into lakes and major water bodies used for,
recreational purposes.
 Industrial estate development for medium and heavy industry covering an area of 10
hectares or more.
8. Irrigation, Drainage, and Flood Control4
3
Source: Ministry of Trade and Industry, Addis Ababa.
The costs of the project are based on 2009 currency values provided by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the
Bureau of export promotion and can be changed with out notice as per inflation rate and or changes in definition of
the project sizes by the Federal / Regional state.

 Construction of dams and man-made lakes and artificial enlargement of lakes with
surface areas of 100 hectares or more.
 Construction of dams for use in irrigation or flood control purposes with either or both
of the following:
 Dam height of more than 15 meters,

 Reservoir surface area larger than 30% of command area.
 Drainage of wetland, wild-life habitat or of virgin forest covering an area of 10

hectares or more.
 Modern surface Irrigation schemes covering an area of 200 hectares or more.
 Groundwater based irrigation schemes covering an area of 100 hectares or more.
 River diversions and water transfers between two watersheds.
9. Land Reclamation
 Land reclamation activities involving an area of 5,000 hectares or more.
10. Livestock and Range Management
 Introduction of new breeds including genetically modified breeds.

 Intensive livestock rearing areas with more than 50 cattle/equines, more than 10 dairy
cows, or more than 200 shoats.
 Introduction of new or exotic species.
 Large-scale livestock production in urban areas (more than 5 cattle/equine or 25
shoats).
 Large-scale slaughter houses (more than 25 cattle and/or 200 shoats per day).
 Large-scale extensive grazing of cattle, equines, shoats, etc (more than 500 ha).
11. Mining
4
Source: Ministry of Water Resources, Addis Ababa.
The costs of the project are based on 2009 currency values provided by the Ministry of Trade and Industry and the
Bureau of export promotion and can be changed with out notice as per inflation rate and or changes in definition of
the project sizes by the Federal / Regional state.

 Mining of materials in new areas where the mining lease covers a total area in excess
of 100 hectares or any size mining activity within environmentally sensitive, nature
reserves or protected areas.
 Ore processing, including concentrating for metallic material.
 Sand dredging involving an area of 50 hectares or more.
12. Petroleum Industry
 Development of oil and gas fields (oil and gas field exploration).
 Construction of oil and gas separation, processing, handling, and storage facilities.
 Construction of oil refineries.
 Construction of product depots for the storage of petrol, gas or diesel (excluding
service stations) which are located within 3 kilometers of any commercial, industrial or
residential areas and which have a combined storage capacity of 50,000 barrels or
more.
14. Ports
 Construction of ports on lakes such as Tana Lake.

 Port expansion involving an increase of 50 percent or more in handling capacity per
annum.
15. Power Generation and Transmission
 Construction of steam generated (thermal) power stations burning fossil fuels and
having a capacity of more than 50 MW.
 Construction of dams and hydroelectric power schemes with either or both of the
following.
 dams over 15 meters high and ancillary structures covering a total area in excess of
20 hectares;
 reservoirs with a surface area in excess of 250 hectares;
 Hydroelectric power generation more than 100 MW.
 Construction of combined cycle power stations.

 Construction of nuclear-fueled power stations.
 Construction of high voltage (more than 11 KV) transmission lines.

 Construction transmission lines and substation 115 KV or greater.
 Construction of oil and gas pipelines with a pipe diameter of over 60 cm.
 Large scale windmill farms and solar power generating plants with a foot print of over
10 and 1 hectare, respectively.
 Production and distribution of electricity, gas, steam, and geothermal energy.
16. Quarries
 Proposed quarrying of aggregate, limestone, silica, quartzite, sandstone marble and,

decorative building stone within 3 kilometers of any existing residential, commercial
or industrial areas, or any area for which a license, permit or approval has been granted
for residential, commercial or industrial development.
17. Railways
 Construction of new routes.

 Construction of branch lines.
18. Tourism and Recreational Development
 Construction of resource facilities or hotels along the shorelines of Lake Tana, Abay
River, and in Lake Tana Islands.
 Hilltop resort or hotel development in nature reserve or environmentally sensitive

areas.
 Construction of lake front resort-facilities or hotels with more than 30 rooms.
 Hilltop resort or hotel development covering an area of 5 hectares or more.
 Development of tourist or recreational facilities in national/Regional parks.
 Development of tourist or recreational facilities, on islands within the lakes that have a
potential to be declared as national parks.
 Development of tourism or recreational facilities in protected and adjacent areas

(national parks, forest reserves, Lake Tana islands, etc).
 The removal of natural resources/objects for construction purposes within a national
park, nature reserve, or national/regional historic site, if the removal involves the
establishment of a new borrow site, the expansion of an existing borrow site, the

reopening of an inactive borrow site, an increase in the amount of extraction, new
extraction or the extraction of materials from aquatic locations.
 The establishment, expansion or relocation of a trail, campsite or day-use area within a
national park, nature reserve, or national/regional historic site.
 Physical activities carried out in national parks, nature reserves, or national/regional
historic sites for management or scientific purposes that involve intent to:
 Manipulate ecosystem function;
 Remove from a national park, nature reserve, or national/regional historic site,

damage or destroy a member of a species that has been identified as endangered or
threatened wildlife in Ethiopia or as a species of special concern;
 Damage or destroy fossils or in-situ archaeological resources; or
 Threaten the continued existence of a biological population within a national park,

or nature reserve.
 Major construction works for sport complexes.
19. Transportation
 A new controlled access freeway.

 Construction of new national trunk roads.
 Major urban roads (four lane highways).
 Upgrading and/or rehabilitation/paving of major rural roadways.
 New construction or extension of fixed rail transit facilities and/or branch lines.
20. Rural and Urban Water Supply
 Construction of dams or impounding reservoir for water supply with a surface area of
200 hectares or more or a height of over 15 meters.
 Groundwater development for industrial, agricultural or urban water supply of greater
than 2,000 m3 per day.
 Canalization of water courses (water course training).
 Water transfer schemes (between two catchments).
 Water treatment plants.

21. Waste Treatment and Disposal
 Toxic and Hazardous Waste.
 Construction of incineration plant.

 Construction of recovery plant (off-site).
 Construction of waste water treatment plant (off-site).
 Construction of secure landfill facility.
 Construction of storage facility (off-site).
 Municipal Solid Waste
 Construction of incineration plant.

 Establishment, expansion, relocation or closure of a site for the disposal of solid
waste within national parks, nature reserve, or national/regional historic sites.
 Construction of composting plant.
 Construction of recovery/recycling plant.
 Construction of municipal solid waste landfill facility.
 Municipal Sewage
 Construction of waste water treatment plant and sewerage systems.

 Construction of Lake Outfall.
 Night soil collection, transportation and treatment.
 Construction of sewage systems.
22. Watersheds Development
 Watershed development project that comprise other infrastructure construction

in addition to management or rehabilitation activities.

Category 2 Activities (List of projects requiring Preliminary ESIA (Initial
Environmental Examination (IEE)
The project may have adverse environmental impacts that are less significant than Category 1
impacts. Few if any of these impacts are irreversible. The impacts are not as sensitive, numerous,
major, or diverse as Category 1 impacts; remedial measures can be more easily designed.
Preparation of a mitigation plan suffices for many Category 2 projects. Category 2 projects
generally will require the preparation of a preliminary environmental assessment or initial
environmental evaluation (IEE) report by the project proponent. Typical examples of project types
that will require IEE include:
1. Agro-industries (Agriculture, Livestock, and Fishery);
 Land development schemes covering an area of less than 500 hectares to bring
forest/grazing land into agricultural production.
 Medium and small scale monoculture of cash and food crops (smaller than 500
hectares).
 Establishment of small and medium scale floriculture farms or processing plant for
cropped area of smaller than 30 hectares.
 Agricultural projects located within 30 to 200 meters of environmentally sensitive
areas.
 Agricultural programs necessitating the resettlement of up to 100 families.
 Development of agricultural estates covering an area of less than 500 hectares
involving changes in type of agricultural use.
 Agricultural mechanization of projects covering an area of smaller than 200 ha.
 Pest control programs involving the use of new pesticides that are assigned as less
toxic categories II and III, according to the WHO nomenclature.
 Land based aquaculture projects covering an area of less than 5 hectares.
 Small and medium scale (less than 1 ton per day) commercial fisheries.
 Projects involving repackaging, formulation, or warehousing of agricultural products.

2. Airports
 Construction of airports having an airstrip of less than 2,000 meters.
3. Forestry
 Conversion of hill forest land to other land use, covering an area of less than 50
hectares.
 Timber logging covering an area of less than 200 hectares.
 Aforestation and reforestation (monoculture forest plantation) projects smaller than

200 hectares in coverage.
4. Housing/Urban Development
 Development of any structure including residential areas, shopping centers, complexes,

hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and learning centers with a foot print of between 500 m 2
and 5,000 m2.
 Establishment of bus and rail terminals with a foot prints of between 500 m 2 and 5,000
m2.
 Construction of any structure with a foot prints of between 100 m 2 and 500 m2 within
30 meters of significant wetlands or water bodies.
 Township development with a foot print of less than 30 hectares.
 Conversion of any swamps/wetlands that is not designated as significant for industrial,
housing or agricultural use covering an area of one to 30 hectares.
5. Industry
 Chemical production where production capacity of each product or of combined

products is less than 100 tons/day or any mechanized plant employing between 3 and
10 people.
 Non-ferrous primary smelting producing less than 50 tons/day of product and refining,
drawing, rolling and surface treatment.
 Non-metallic
 Cement - for clinker throughput of less than 30 tons/hour.
 Lime – less than 100 tons/day burnt lime rotary kiln or less than 50 tons/day of
vertical kiln.

 Glass and glass products manufacturing with total cost of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr or
any manufacturing that employs between 3 and 10 people.
 Manufacturing of tiles and ceramics with total cost of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr or any
mechanized plant that employs between 3 and 10 people.
 Iron and steel
 Require iron ore as raw materials for production of 100 tons per day or less; or
 Using scrap iron as raw materials for production of 200 tons per day or less.
 Wood, pulp and paper industry with a production capacity of 50 tons per day or less, or
mechanized industries that employ between 3 and 10 people.
 Fiber and particle board manufacturing with a production capacity of 30 tons per day
or less or mechanized industries that employ between 3 and 10 people.
 Textile industries including cotton and synthetic fibers, cloth dying, etc. with
production of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr or mechanized industries that employ between 3
and 10 people.
 Food and beverage industries including manufacturing of animal oil and fats, vegetable
oil refinery, manufacturing of dairy products, brewing, distilling, and malting, fish
meal factories, soft drinks, canned fruits, sugar factories, and other agro-processing
industries with a total cost of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr or mechanized industries that
employ between 5 and 49 people.
 Rubber and plastic products manufacturing employing between 3 and 10 person, or
with a total value of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr.
 Wood and wood product manufacturing with total cost of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr, or
mechanized industries that employ between 3 and 10 people.
 Electrical machinery apparatus, appliance, and supplies employing between 3 and 10

persons using mechanization, or with a total value of 20,000 to 500,000 Birr.
6. Infrastructure
 Industrial estate development for medium and heavy industry covering an area of less
than 10 hectares.
7. Irrigation, drainage, and Flood Control (small-scale);

 Construction of dams and man-made lakes and artificial enlargement of lakes with
surface area of less than 100 hectares.
 Construction of dams for use in irrigation or flood control purposes with a dam height
of less than 15 meters.
 Drainage of wetlands, wildlife habitats or virgin forest for the purpose of using for
irrigation, covering an area of less than 10 hectares.
 Surface area modern irrigation schemes (diversions, dams) covering an area of less
than 200 hectares.
 Groundwater based irrigation schemes covering an area of less than 100 hectares.
8. Land Reclamation
 Land reclamation activities involving an area of less than 5,000 hectares.
9. Livestock and Range Management
 Intensive livestock rearing areas with less than 50 cattle/equines, or less than 10 dairy
cows, or less than 200 shoats.
 Small-scale livestock production in urban areas (between 2 and 5 cattle/equines or 5 to
50 shoats).
 Small-scale slaughter houses (less than 25 cattle and/or 200 shoats per day).
 Small-scale (less than 500 hectares) extensive grazing of cattle, equines, shoats, etc.
10. Mining
 Mining of materials in new areas where the mining lease covers a total area of 100
hectares or less.
 Sand dredging involving an area of less than 50 hectares.
11. Petroleum Industry
 Construction of product depots for the storage of petrol, gas or diesel (excluding
service stations) which are located within 3 kilometers of any commercial, industrial or
residential areas and which have a combined storage capacity of 5,000 to 50,000
barrels.

12. Power Generation and Transmission
 Construction of thermal power stations burning fossil fuels and having a capacity of 50
MW or less.
 Construction of dams and hydroelectric power schemes with either or both of the
following.
 Dams less than 15 meters high and ancillary structures covering a total area of 20
hectares or less;
 Reservoirs with a surface area of 250 hectares or less.
 Hydroelectric power generation of 100 MW or less.
 Transmission lines less than 11 KV, and large distribution projects.

 Construction of transmission lines and substations of smaller than 115KV.
 Construction of oil and gas pipeline with a ipe diameter of less than 60 cm.
 Small scale windmill farms and solar power generating plants with foot prints of less
than 10 and 1 hectares, respectively.
 Power generation projects involving waste-to-energy conversion.
13. Quarries
 Proposed quarrying of aggregate, limestone, silica, quartzite, sandstone marble and,

decorative building stone within 3 to 10 kilometers of any existing residential,
commercial or industrial areas, or any area for which a license, permit or approval has
been granted for residential, commercial or industrial development.
14. Resort and Recreational Development
 Construction of lake front resort-facilities or hotels with less than 80 rooms.

 Hill station resort or hotel development covering an area of less than 50 hectares.
15. Rural and Urban Water Supply
 Construction of dams, impounding reservoir with a surface area of less than 200
hectares.
 Groundwater development for industrial, agricultural or urban water supply of 500
cubic meters per day or less.

16. Tourism
 Tourism development that does not include construction and are outside nature
reserves and national parks.
 Hilltop resort or hotel development covering an area of less than 5 hectares.
18. Transportation
 Construction of rural/feeder roads.
19. Rural water supply and sanitation
 Construction of rural water supply and sanitation infrastructure that is farther than 30
meters from water bodies or other environmentally sensitive areas.
 Construction of dams or impounding reservoir for water supply with a surface area of
less than 25 hectares or height of 15 meters or less
 Groundwater development for industrial, agricultural or urban water supply of 2000 m 3

per day or less.
20. Watershed projects
 Watershed development project that only comprise of management or rehabilitation

activities.
21. Rehabilitation, maintenance, and upgrading projects
 Rehabilitation, maintenance and upgrading of small scale projects that do not include
major construction activities.
22. Promulgation of rules, regulations, and directives.

Category 3 Activities (List of projects that normally will not require any environmental
studies (Exclusion List)
Categorical exclusions (Category 3) are actions which, based on past experience with similar
actions, do not involve significant environmental impacts. They are actions which: (i) do not
induce significant impacts to planned growth or land use for the area; (ii) do not require the
relocation of significant numbers of people; (iii) do not have a significant impact on any
natural, cultural, recreational, historic or other resource; (iv) do not involve significant air,
noise, or water quality impacts; (v) do not have significant impacts on travel patterns; and/or
(vi) do not otherwise, either individually or cumulatively, have any significant environmental
impacts. Projects that fall in this category typically will not require further environmental
studies because the Competent Authority, based on past experience, has determined that such
projects are unlikely to have adverse environmental impacts. Professional judgement finds
such projects to have negligible, insignificant, or minimal environmental impacts.
1. Any action which normally would be classified as a Category 3, but could involve unusual
circumstances, say being in close proximity of an environmentally sensitive area, might
require additional review by the competent authority, in cooperation with the proponent, to
determine if the Category 3 classification is proper. Such unusual circumstances include:
 Potential impact on significant environmentally sensitive areas;
 Substantial controversy on environmental grounds;
 Significant impact on surrounding prime agricultural land, areas of significant

cultural/heritage value, nature reserves, and/or any other environmentally sensitive
areas (wetlands, major wildlife habitats, significant riverine/riparian vegetation,
etc); or
 Inconsistencies with any Federal, Provincial, or local law, requirement or

administrative determination relating to the environmental aspects of the action.
2. The following actions meet the criteria to be included in Category 3 of this guideline and
normally do not require any further approvals by the Competent Authority:
 Activities that do not involve or lead directly to construction, such as:
i. Education and training projects;

ii. Family planning projects;
iii. Health education awareness raising projects;
iv. Grants for training and research programs;
v. Nutrition improvement projects;
vi. Institutional development/capacity building projects;
vii. Research activities not covered in category 1 or 2;
viii. Technical assistance;
ix. Most human resource projects;
x. Approval of a unified work program and any findings required in the

planning process pursuant;
xi. Approval of project concepts; and
xii. Engineering to define the elements of a proposed action or alternatives so

that social, economic, and environmental effects can be assessed.
 Approval of utility installations along or across a transportation facility.
 Landscaping, implementation of soil conservation practices on farmer level,

improvement of health posts or other structures with a small foot prints (less than
500 m2).
 Installation of fencing, signs, pavement markings, small passenger shelters, traffic

signals, and railroad warning devices where no substantial land acquisition or traffic
disruption will occur (less than 100 m2).
 Development of any structure including residential areas, shopping centers,

complexes, hotels, restaurants, hospitals, and learning centers with a foot print of
less than 500 m2.
 Establishment of bus and rail terminals with a foot prints of less than 500 m2.
 Construction of any structure with a foot print of less than 100 m 2 in close
proximity of significant wetlands or water bodies (more than 30 meters).

 Program administration, technical assistance and capacity building activities, and
operating assistance to allow for continuation/improvement of existing service or
increase service to meet routine changes in demand.
3. Any development activity that is not included in Category 1 and 2 projects.
4. Additional actions that meet the criteria may be included in Category 3 of this section, only
if the competent authority approves the inclusion of the said action in the exclusion list
(Category 3). The applicant shall submit documentation which demonstrates that the
specific conditions or criteria for inclusion of activity in the exclusion list are satisfied and
that significant environmental effects will not result.
Where a pattern emerges of granting Category 3 status for a particular type of action, the
Competent Authority will initiate rulemaking proposing to add this type of action to the list of
categorical exclusions in paragraph (c) or (d) of this section, as appropriate.
Annex II: EIS Review Criteria
ESIA Report (EIS) Review Process

The completed draft/final ESIA reports (EIS) should be presented to the Competent
Authority (CA) for technical review to ensure that all significant issues are considered by the
project proponent before an Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC) can be issued. The
CA should decide, based on a preliminary review of the submitted EIS, whether specific
technical expertise from outside agencies will be required in assisting the authority with the
review of the EIS. The main objective of review is to critically examine, whether the following
criteria are met:
 Full response to the requirement of environmental assessment ToR - if the ToR was
amended during the course of the ESIA work, an explanation of the reasons for change
should be presented in the introduction and Executive Summary sections of the EIS;
 An executive or non-technical summary should be included in the EIS;
 The 'no-project' baseline situation should be adequately described in the report;

 Significant adverse and beneficial impacts should be identified and described. The
decision on significance of positive and negative effects of the project should clearly
be justified in the EIS report;
 Alternatives, including the “no project” scenario should be clearly assessed and a
comparative study of the alternatives, giving equal weighting to all alternatives should
be presented in the EIS;
 Based on the findings of analysis of alternatives, the environmentally preferred

alternative should be identified with justifiable reasoning for the selection;
 There should be a section in the EIS to clearly demonstrate that the stakeholders and
potentially affected and interested parties were involved in the ESIA process;
 Data sources used in the preparation of EIS should be properly identified and
referenced;
 The specific methodologies and techniques used to predict and evaluate potential
impacts and proposed mitigation measure should be clearly described and data
limitations should be identified; and
 A well documented section on proposed environmental management and monitoring

plan (EMMP) should be included with proper and detail costing and identification of
all responsible parties for implementation of the plan to be included as a condition of
environmental approval of the proposed project.
If the review determines that the ESIA report does not provide adequate information and
found technically unacceptable by the EIS review team, the CA should require additional
work before the EIS can be accepted for decision-making purposes. The authority should find
the EIS non-compliant or significant deficiencies and inform the project proponent to revise
the report based on the matters that are clearly specified by the EIS review team. The revised
report should then be further reviewed by the CA until it is considered to be acceptable so
that the ECC can be issued.
Need for a Systematic Review

In order to ensure transparency of environmental review process, it is proposed by many
environmental experts (Petts, 1999, Sandler, 1996) that a systematic approach should be used in
EIS review to enhance its benefits. The proposed “good practice” approach, recommended by
Sandler (1996) follows the process presented below:
 Set the boundaries of the EIS review based on the (i) time available, (b) funds available,
and (c) the established deadline;
 Select the EIS review team, deciding whether the in-house staff will be able to effectively
review the EIS or the involvement of outside experts would also be required;
 Identify the public concerns presented in EIS;
 Identify review criteria such as scoping guidelines, general review criteria, and experience
of the review team with similar projects;
 Undertake the review by (i) identifying the good points of the EIS and its deficiencies
(effective use of the provided checklist), (ii) determining whether deficiencies are
significant and crucial to the decision of adequacy of the EIS, and (iii) determine how the
significant shortcomings of the EIS can be remedied by the project proponent; and
 Based on the findings of the EIS review checklist, publish the review report and provide
the project proponent with the final decisions of the CA.
Adoption of a systematic environmental review process will assists the CA to:
 Establish a set of actions that should be followed by all reviewers, irrespective of their
affiliations or technical expertise;
 Can improve the transparency of the EIS review process by allowing the review process to
be made public;
 Can make the review process more defensible through establishment of well defined and
readily available review process; and
 Help EIS review team to become conversant with the process and clarify the expectations
from the team members, especially when resources are limited.
Potential Limitations of EIS Review
The systematic review of EIS is believed to be a significant and useful quality control mechanism,
but it could also have limitations that should be recognized by the review team, the CA, and the
project proponents. An EIS review is generally relies on the information provided in the EIS by the

project proponent, supplemented with the knowledge of other consultees, the interviewed public,
and general knowledge of the review team members about similar projects. However, it is well
understood by all parties involved that the role of the review is not to repeat the ESIA to verify
whether the information provided by the project proponent in the EIS. Therefore, if some
information is omitted deliberately or by an oversight, such as, the presence of rare or endangered
species of significant conservation value, especially if its presence is not known to other members
of the EIS review team, the result will be that the review will not address the problem. Therefore, it
is critical to have confidence on professionalism of those who prepare the ESIA report. One
method to increase the possibility of receiving more realistic and professionally prepared ESIA
reports is to develop a certification or registration mechanism for environmental professionals who
are allowed to perform ESIA studies. To produce reliable and quality ESIA studies, the ESIA
consultants must possess substantial analytical capabilities for field work, laboratory testing,
research, data processing and predictive modeling. To this end, training and/or certification of
ESIA consultants should be made a requirement. In addition, developing code of conduct and code
of ethics for the consultants is also critical.
EIS review is normally conducted by the CA staff without input from other outside professionals.
Rarely technical staffs of other relevant disciplines, not represented at the authority such as process
engineers or irrigation/geotechnical experts, are partaking in the EIS review process. Many of the
potential environmental impacts may rely on the reliability of the technology, but only
technological experts may be able to identify such issues, limiting the completeness of the EIS
review.
It should be understood that although EIS review is probably the most important control
mechanism in the ESIA process, the review might not be able to resolve all uncertainties
associated with the environmental impact of a project proposal and at best, it can point out the
potentially significant issues that might have not been addressed adequately. However, the EIS
review probably is the best tool available, in conjunction with other tools that are available to the
CA experts during screening, and scoping to ensure that sufficient information is provided to use
as a basis for decision-making on environmental impact of the project.
ESIA Report (EIS) Review Checklist:

The following checklist is prepared for use by the CA staff and external reviewers, if deemed
necessary due to complexity of the project, who are assigned to critically review the quality of EIS,
the environmental information provided by the project proponents and/or developers, to determine
whether the information is adequate for decision making and consultation and, if not, what more
information is needed.
The checklist is organized in seven sections:
 Description of the project
 Alternatives
 Description of the environment likely to be affected by the project
 Description of the likely significant effects of the project
 Description of Mitigating Measures
 Executive (non-technical) summary
 Quality of presentation
Within each section there are numbered Review Questions. For some questions notes are provided
to assist the reviewer.
A. Criteria for Reviewing ESIA Reports (EIS)
Step 1:
Briefly review the EIS to better understand the report’s organizations to assist you on determining
where to find required information within it.
Step2:
Decide for each Review Question, whether the question is relevant to the specific project.
If so enter “Yes” in Column 2. At the end of each section of the checklist there is an opportunity to
include relevant issues or features of the project that have not been included or considered in the
Checklist.
Step 3:

If a Review Question is identified as relevant, review the EIS in more detail and decide whether
the particular information identified in the question is provided and whether the provided
information in the EIS is sufficient for decision-making. If it is complete enter “Yes” in Column 3.
If it is not complete, enter “No”. In considering whether the information is sufficient for decision-
making the reviewer should consider whether any information is omitted and if the omissions are
critical to the decision-making process. If they are not, then it should not be necessary to request
further information from the project proponents. This will avoid unnecessary delay to the review
process and increases the efficiency of the CA in issuance of ECC. The main factors that have
been considered in developing the checklist include:
 The legal provisions applying and the factors that the decision maker is required to take
into account at this stage in the project approval process.
 Whether the approval process at the ESIA stage is about the principle of the project or the
detailed design.
 The scale and complexity of the project and the sensitivity of the receiving environment.
 Whether the environmental issues raised by the project are high profile.
 The views of the public and project affected people about the project and the degree of
controversy.
Step 4:
If the answer to a review Question is “No”, consider what further information is required and note
this in Column 4. The reviewer may also wish to make suggestions on where or how the
information could be obtained.
The appraisal can be completed with a final step to provide an overall grade for the EIS.
A: Full provision of information with no gaps or weaknesses (Fully satisfactory).
B: Good provision of information with only minor weaknesses which are not of importance to the
decision (Generally Satisfactory).
C: Adequate provision of information with any gaps or weaknesses in information not being vital
to the decision process (Just satisfactory).

D: Weak provision of information with gaps and weaknesses which will hinder the decision
process but require only minor work to complete (Significant Omissions, need revisions).
F: Very Poor provision of information with major gaps or weaknesses which would prevent the
decision process proceeding and require major work to complete (Unsatisfactory).
A final section is provided in the checklist for this purpose. The reviewer grades the quality of
information in each section of the checklist by aggregating the grades for the individual Review
Questions and aggregates these to provide an overall grading.
Aggregation will require judgment; so for example if one section has ten Review Questions and
nine are graded B and one A, then a B grade overall is probably reasonable. If nine are graded B
and one E, then an overall D grade is probably appropriate as overall the information is still
inadequate.

The Review Checklist5:
EIS title, date and number: ______________________________
Project Name: ________________________________________
Reviewer Name: ______________________________________
No Review Question What Further
Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
SECTION 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT
The objectives and Physical Characteristics of the Project
1.1 Are the needs and objectives of the project adequately

explained?
1.2 Is the program for project implementation adequately
described? Are the details of project activities such as
start and finish dates for construction, operation and
decommissioning and length of project activities
described?
1.3 Are all the major components of the project described?
1.4 Is the location of each Project component identified,
through the use of maps, plans and/or diagrams, as
necessary?
1.5 Is the layout of the site (or sites) occupied by the project
described? (This section might include ground levels, buildings,
other physical structures, underground works, storage facilities, water
features, planting, access corridors, boundaries, etc.)
1.6 For linear projects such as transmission lines, pipelines,
or roads are the route corridor, the vertical and horizontal
alignment and any tunneling and earthworks described?
1.7 Are all the activities involved in construction of the
project described?
1.8 Are all the activities involved in operation of the project
described?
1.9 Are all the activities involved in decommissioning the
5
Adapted from the EU (2001), and the UNEP (2002) environmental guidelines.

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
project described? (Such as closure, dismantling, demolition,
clearance, site restoration, etc.)
1.10 Are all additional services that will be required for the
project described? (Such as. transport access, water, sewerage,
waste disposal, electricity) or developments (roads, power lines,
pipelines, etc.)
1.11 Are any developments that are likely to occur as a
consequence of the Project development identified? (Such
as new housing, roads, water or sewerage infrastructure, borrow sites,
aggregate extraction, etc.)
1.12 Are any existing activities that will alter or cease as a
consequence of the project identified?
1.13 Are any other existing or planned development activities
with which the Project could potentially have cumulative
or interactive effects identified and the effects described?
The size of the project
1.14 Is the area of land, planned to be occupied by the
permanent project components quantified and shown on
a scaled map?
1.15 Is the area of land required for temporary occupation
during construction quantified and mapped?
1.16 Is a plan for rehabilitation of land that has been occupied
temporarily for operation of the Project described? (Such
as land used as borrow site, staging area, quarrying, etc.)
1.17 Is the size and location of proposed structures or other
construction works to be developed as part of the Project
identified? (Such as floor area and height of buildings, excavations
or borrow sites area, height of structures such as embankments,
bridges, the flow or water depth, etc.)
1.18 Is the form and appearance of any structures or other
works developed as part of the Project described? (Such as
the type and materials to be used, the architectural design of buildings
and structures, plant species, etc.)
1.19 For urban or similar development projects, are the
numbers and other characteristics of new populations or
business communities described?
1.20 For projects involving the displacement of people or
businesses, are the numbers and other characteristics of
those displaced described?

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
1.21 For new transport infrastructure or projects generating
significant change in traffic flows, is the type, volume,
temporal pattern and geographical distribution of new
traffic generated or diverted as a consequence of the
Project described?
Production Processes and Resources Used
1.22 Are all the processes involved in operating the Project
described? (Such as manufacturing or engineering processes,
primary raw material production, agricultural or forestry production
methods, extraction processes, etc.)
1.23 Are the types and quantities of outputs produced by the
Project described?
1.24 Are the types and quantities of raw materials and energy
needed for construction and operation discussed?
1.25 Are the environmental implications of the sourcing of
raw materials discussed?
1.26 Is efficiency in use of energy and raw materials
discussed?
1.27 Are any hazardous materials used, stored, handled or
produced by the Project identified and quantified?
 During construction
 During operation
 During decommissioning
1.28 Are the transport of raw materials to the Project and the
number of traffic movements involved discussed?
1.29 Is employment created or lost as a result of the Project
discussed?
1.30 Are the access arrangements and the number of traffic
movements involved in bringing workers and visitors to
the Project estimated?

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
1.32 Is the housing and provision of services for any
temporary or permanent employees for the Project
discussed?
Residues and Emissions (if applicable to the proposed project)
1.33 Are the types and quantities of solid waste generated by
the Project identified? (including construction or demolition
wastes, surplus spoil, process wastes, by-products, surplus or reject
products, hazardous wastes, household or commercial wastes,
agricultural or forestry wastes, site clean-up wastes, mining wastes,
decommissioning wastes)
1.34 Are the composition and toxicity or other
hazards of all solid wastes produced by the
Project discussed?
1.35 Are the methods for collecting, storing, treating,
transporting and finally disposing of these solid wastes
described?
1.36 Are the locations for final disposal of all solid wastes
discussed?
1.37 Are the types and quantities of liquid effluents generated
by the Project identified? (Including site drainage and run-off,
process wastes, cooling water, treated effluents, sewage, etc.)
1.38 Are the composition and toxicity or other
hazards of all liquid effluents produced by the
Project discussed?
1.39 Are the methods for collecting, storing, treating,
transporting and finally disposing of these liquid
effluents described?
1.40 Are the locations for final disposal of all liquid effluents
discussed/ identified?

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
1.41 Are the types and quantities of gaseous and particulate
emissions generated by the Project identified? (Including
process emissions, fugitive emissions, emissions from combustion of
fossil fuels in stationary and mobile plant, emissions from traffic, dust
from materials handling, odours, etc.)
1.42 Are the compositions and toxicity or other hazards of all
emissions to air produce by the Project discussed?
1.43 Are the methods for collecting, treating and finally
discharging these emissions to air described?
1.44 If applicable, are the locations for discharge of all
emissions to air identified and the characteristics of the
discharges identified? (Such as height of stack, velocity and
temperature of release, etc.)
1.45 If project produces wastes, is the potential for resource
recovery from wastes and residues discussed? (including
re-use, recycling or energy recovery from solid waste and liquid
effluents)
1.46 If project causes increase in noise, heat, light or
electromagnetic radiation, are the sources identified and
quantified?
1.47 If the project produces residues and emissions, are the
methods for estimating the quantities and composition of
all residues and emissions identified and any difficulties
discussed?
1.48 If the project produces residues and emissions, is the
uncertainty attached to estimates of residues and
emissions discussed?
Risks of Accidents and Hazards
1.49 Are any risks associated with the Project discussed?
 Risks from handling of hazardous materials
 Risks from spills fire, explosion
 Risks of traffic accidents
 Risks from breakdown or failure of processes or
facilities

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
 Risks from exposure of the Project to natural
disasters (earthquake, flood, landslip, etc)
1.50 Are measures to prevent and respond to accidents and
abnormal events described? (preventive measures, training,
contingency plans, emergency plans, etc )
Other questions on Description of the Project
SECTION 2 CONSIDERATION OF ALTERNATIVES

2.1 Is the process by which the project was developed
described?
2.2 Are alternatives considered during this process
described?
2.3 Is the baseline situation in the “No Project” situation
described?
2.4 Are the alternatives realistic and genuine alternatives to
the project?
2.5 Are the main reasons for choice of the proposed project
explained, including any environmental reasons for the
choice?
2.6 Are the main environmental effects of the alternatives
compared with those of the proposed project?
Other Questions on Consideration of Alternatives
SECTION 3 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT LIKELY TO BE AFFECTED

BY THE PROJECT
Aspects of the Environment
3.1 Are the existing land uses of the area to be occupied by
the Project and the surrounding area described and are
all people living on or using the land identified? (Including
residential, commercial, industrial, agricultural, recreational, etc.)
3.2 Are the topography, geology and soils of the area to be
occupied by the Project and the surrounding area
described?
3.3 Are significant features of the topography or geology of
the area as well as the conditions and use of soils
described? (including soil quality, stability and erosion, agricultural
use, and agricultural land quality)

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
3.4 Are the flora and fauna and the natural habitats of the
land to be occupied by the project and the surrounding
area described and illustrated on appropriate maps?
3.5 If present, are species populations and characteristics of
habitats that may be affected by the Project described
and are any designated or protected species or areas
defined?
3.6 If project impacts water bodies. is the water environment
of the area described? (Including running and static surface
waters, groundwater, lakes, wetlands, and including run off and
drainage)
3.7 Are the hydrology, water quality and use of any water
resources that may be affected by the Project described?
(Including use for water supply, fisheries, angling, bathing, amenity,
navigation, effluent disposal, etc.)
3.8 If the atmospheric environment will be affected by the
project, are local climatic and meteorological conditions
and existing air quality in the area described?
3.9 If acoustic environment will potentially be affected by
the project, is the existing noise levels described?
3.10 If light, heat and electromagnetic radiation condition
might be affected by the project, is the existing situation
described?
3.11 Are any material assets in the area that may be affected
by the project described? (Including buildings, other structures,
mineral resources, water resources, etc.)
3.12 If present, are the locations or features of archaeological,
historic, architectural or other community or cultural
importance in the area that may be crossed by the project
activities described, including any designated or
protected sites?
3.13 Is the landscape of the area that may be affected by the
Project described, including any designated or protected
landscapes?
3.14 Are demographic, social and socio-economic conditions
(e.g. employment) in the area described?
3.15 Are any future changes in any of the above aspects of the
environment that may occur in the absence of the project

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
described? ( No Project situation)
Data Collection and Survey Method
3.16 Has the defined study area covers large enough an area
to include all areas likely to be significantly affected by
the project?
3.17 Have all relevant national and local agencies been
contacted to collect information on the baseline
environment?
3.18 Have sources of data and information on the existing
environment been adequately referenced?
3.19 Where surveys have been undertaken as part of the
Environmental Studies to characterize the baseline
environment, are the methods used, any difficulties
encountered and any uncertainties in the data described?
3.20 Were the methods used appropriate for the purpose?
3.21 Are any important gaps in the data on the existing
environment identified and the means used to deal with
these gaps during the assessment explained?
3.22 If surveys would be required to adequately characterize
the baseline environment but for some reason have not
been performed, are the reasons explained and proposals
set out for the surveys to be undertaken at a later stage?
Other Questions on the Description of the Environment
SECTION 4 DESCRIPTION OF THE LIKELY SIGNIFICANT EFFECTS OF THE

PROJECT
Scoping of Effects
4.1 Is the process by which the scope of the
Environmental Studies was defined described?
4.2 Is it evident that a systematic approach to scoping was
adopted?
4.3 Are evidences provided to demonstrate that full public
consultation was carried out during scoping?
4.4 Are the comments and views of consulted communities
presented in the EIS?
Prediction of Direct Effects
4.5 Are direct, primary effects of project on land use, people

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
and property described and whenever possible,
quantified?
4.6 Are direct, primary effects on geological features and
soil characteristics described and whenever possible,
quantified?
4.7 Are direct, primary effects on flora, fauna and natural
habitats described and where appropriate quantified?
4.8 Are direct, primary effects on the hydrology and water
quality of water features described and where
appropriate quantified?
4.9 Are direct, primary effects on uses of the water
environment described and where appropriate
quantified?
4.10 Are direct, primary effects on air quality and climatic
conditions described and where appropriate quantified?
4.11 Are direct, primary effects on the acoustic environment
(noise or vibration) described and where appropriate
quantified?
4.12 Are direct, primary effects on heat, light or
electromagnetic radiation described and where
appropriate quantified?
4.13 Are direct, primary effects on material assets and
depletion of non-renewable natural resources described?
4.14 Are direct, primary effects on locations or features of
cultural importance described?
4.15 Are direct, primary effects on the quality of the
landscape described and where appropriate illustrated?
4.16 Are direct, primary effects on demography, social and
socio-economic condition in the area described and
where appropriate quantified?
Prediction of Secondary, Temporary, Short Term, Permanent, Long Term, Accidental,
Indirect, Cumulative, Interactive Effects
4.17 Are secondary effects of any of the above aspects of the
environment caused by primary effects on other aspects
described and where appropriate quantified? (Such as
effects on flora, fauna, or natural habitats caused by soil, air or water
pollution or noise; effects on uses of water caused by changes in
hydrology or water quality; effects on archaeological remains caused

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
by desiccation of soils)
4.18 Are temporary, short term effects caused during
construction or during time limited phases of project
operation or decommissioning described?
4.19 Are permanent effects on the environment caused by
construction, implementation, and operation or
decommissioning of the project described?
4.20 If relevant, are long term effects on the environment
caused over the lifetime of project operations or caused
by build up of pollutants in the environment described?
4.21 Are effects which could result from accidents, abnormal
events or exposure of the project to natural or man-made
disasters described and where appropriate quantified?
4.22 Are effects on the environment caused by activities
ancillary to the main project described? (Ancillary activities
are part of the project but usually take place distant from the main
project location such as construction of access routes and
infrastructure, sourcing of aggregates, borrow sites, generation and
supply of power, disposal of wastes, etc.)
4.23 Are indirect effects on the environment caused by
consequential development described? (Consequential
development is other projects, not part of the main project, encouraged
to take place by implementation of the project such as provision of new
goods & services needed for the project, or housing new populations or
businesses to support project).
4.24 Are cumulative and interactive effects of the project on
the environment in combination with other existing or
planned developments in the locality described?
4.25 Are the geographic extent, duration, frequency,
reversibility and probability of occurrence of each effect
identified as appropriate?
Prediction of Effects on Human Health and Sustainable development Issues
4.26 Are primary and secondary effects on human health and
welfare described and where appropriate quantified?
(Such as health effects caused by release of toxic substances to the
environment, health risks arising from major hazards associated with
the project, effects caused by changes in disease vectors caused by the
project, effects on vulnerable groups, changes in living conditions, etc.)
4.27 Are impacts on issues such as biodiversity, global

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
climate change and sustainable development discussed
where appropriate?
Evaluation of the Significance of Effects
4.28 Is the significance or importance of each predicted effect
discussed in terms of its compliance with legal
requirement?
4.29 Are appropriate, regional, federal or international
standards used and relevant guidance followed in
evaluation of project effects on environment?
4.30 Are positive effects on the environment described as
well as negative effects?
4.31 Is the significance of each effect clearly explained?
Impact Assessment Method
4.32 Are methods used to predict effects described and are the
reasons for their choice, any difficulties encountered and
uncertainties in the results discussed?
4.33 Where there is uncertainty about the precise details of
the Project and its impact on the environment are worst
case predictions described?
4.34 Are difficulties acknowledged where there have been
difficulties in compiling the data needed to predict or
evaluate environmental effects? Are their implications
for the results discussed?
4.35 Is the basis for evaluating the significance or importance
of impacts clearly described?
4.36 Are impacts described on the basis that proposed
mitigations have been implemented? Are residual
impacts described?
4.37 Is the level of treatment of each effect appropriate to its
importance for the development consent decision? Does
the discussion focus on the key issues and avoid
irrelevant or unnecessary information?
4.38 Is appropriate emphasis given to the most severe,
adverse effects of the Project with lesser emphasis given
to less significant effects?
Other Questions Relevant to Description of Effects

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
SECTION 5 DESCRIPTION OF MITIGATION

5.1 Where there are significant adverse effects on any aspect
of the environment is the potential for mitigation of these
effects discussed?
5.2 Are measures which the project proponent proposes to
implement to mitigate effects clearly described and their
effect on the magnitude and significance of impacts
clearly explained?
5.3 If the effect of mitigation measures on the magnitude
and significance of impacts is uncertain is this
explained?
5.4 Is it clear whether the project proponent has made a
binding commitment to implement the proposed
mitigation or that the mitigation measures are just
suggestions or recommendations?
5.5 Are the project proponent’s reasons for choosing the
proposed mitigation explained?
5.6 Are responsibilities for implementation of mitigation
including funding clearly defined?
5.7 Where mitigation of significant adverse effects is not
practicable or the project proponent has chosen not to
propose any mitigation are the reasons for this clearly
explained?
5.8 Is it evident that the ESIA Team and the project
proponent have considered the full range of possible
approaches to mitigation including measures to reduce or
avoid impacts by alternative strategies or locations,
changes to the project design and layout, changes to
methods and processes, changes to implementation plans
and management practices, measures to repair or remedy
impacts and measures to compensate impacts?
5.9 Are arrangements proposed to monitor and manage
residual impacts?
5.10 Are any negative effects of the proposed mitigation
described?
Other Questions on Mitigation

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
SECTION 6 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

6.1 Does the Environmental information include an
Executive Summary?
6.2 Does the Executive Summary provide a concise but
comprehensive description of the Project, its
environment, the effects of the Project on the
environment and the proposed mitigation?
6.3 Does the Executive Summary highlight any significant
uncertainties about the Project and its environmental
effects?
6.4 Does the Executive Summary explain the development
approval process for the Project and the role of ESIA in
this process?
6.5 Does the Executive Summary provide an overview of the
approach to the assessment?
6.6 Is the Executive Summary written in such language to
avoid excessive use of technical terms, detailed data and
scientific discussion?
6.7 Would it be comprehensible to the members of affected
and interested public?
Other Questions on Executive Summary
7.1 Is the Environmental Information available in one or
more clearly defined documents?
7.2 Is there a table of contents at the beginning of the
document(s)
7.3 Is there a clear description of the process which has been
followed?
7.4 Is the presentation comprehensive but concise, avoiding
irrelevant data and information?
7.5 Does the presentation make effective use of tables,
figures, maps, photographs and other graphics?
7.6 Are all analyses and conclusions adequately supported
with data and evidence?
7.7 Does the presentation make effective use of annexes or
appendices to present detailed data not essential to
understanding the main text?
7.8 Is the document(s) logically organized and clearly

Addressed?
Adequately
Relevant?
. Information is
Needed?
structured so that the reader can locate information
easily?
7.9 Are all sources of data properly referenced?
7.10 Is consistent terminology used throughout the
document(s)?
7.11 Does it read as a single document with cross referencing
between sections used to help the reader navigate
through the document(s)?
7.12 Is the presentation demonstrably fair and as far as
possible impartial and objective?
Other Questions on Quality of Presentation
OVERALL APPRAISAL OF THE EIS

If the reviewer wishes to use the Review Checklist to make an overall appraisal of the quality of Environmental
Information, this can be done using the table below.
No Review Topic Grade Comment
.
1 Characteristics of the Project
2 Alternatives Considered
3 Location of the Project
4 Mitigation
5 Characteristics of the Potential Impacts
6 Presentational Issues
Overall Assessment
Comments:

Annex III: World Health Organization Pesticide Classification


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GENERAL

ENVIRONMENTAL SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar i REVISED IN 2010/11

1.3. Guiding Principles of EIA..............................................................................................................4

1.4. Benefits of EIA..................................................................................................5

1.6. Overall Goals and Objectives of EIA............................................................................................7

2. The Environmental Impact Assessment Process................................................8

2.4. Impact Analysis............................................................................................................................12

2.5. Identification of mitigation Measures.........................................................................................17

2.8 Planning public involvement...................................................................18

2.10. Condition of Approval...............................................................................................................22

2.11. EIA and the Project Cycle.........................................................................................................22

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar ii REVISED IN 2010/11

3.2. Soil Resources...............................................................................................................................25

3.3. Water Resources...........................................................................................................................27

3.4. Air Quality....................................................................................................................................30

3.5. Flora, Fauna and Ecosystem........................................................................................................31

3.6. Socio-Economic Impact................................................................................................................34

3.7. Impacts on Cultural Heritages....................................................................................................37

3.9. Impacts on Human Health and Safety........................................................................................40

4. Environmental Monitoring, Standards, and Auditing......................................42

4.2 Environmental Standards.............................................................................................................44

4.3 Environmental Auditing................................................................................................................45

5. Guideline for Environmental Impact Assessment Report Writing.................51

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar iii REVISED IN 2010/11

Annex I: Categories of Activities...........................................................................65

Annex II: EIS Review Criteria..............................................................................84

Acronyms and abbreviations

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar iv REVISED IN 2010/11

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar v REVISED IN 2010/11

Environmental Management System Is the means of ensuring effective implementation of an

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar vi REVISED IN 2010/11

Screening preliminary activity undertaken to classify proposals according to the

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar vii REVISED IN 2010/11

Inspection: is the checking of materials or products at various stages of manufacture or

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar viii REVISED IN 2010/11

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar ix REVISED IN 2010/11

.1 1.1 Historical Development of ESIA

.2 1.2. Policy and Legal Framework of ESIA

The Ethiopian National Legislations, Proclamations and policies require implementation

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar REVISED IN 2010/11

Article, 43: The Right to Development

citizens for development and to meet basic needs.

Article, 44: Environment Rights

not damage or destroy the Environment.

The Environmental Impact Assessment Proclamation (federal proc. No.

 Reorganization of public consultation, including mitigation plans and

.3 1.3. Guiding Principles of EIAESIA

 Early Application: Proactive consideration and integration of environmental concerns at the

for all interested and affected parties (IAPs)

 Issues Based: The focus of an EA is on the resolution of major issues of significant

environmental agencies for their respective roles and responsibilities.

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar REVISED IN 2010/11

accessible to the public.

1.5. Responsible Bodies and Their Roles

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar REVISED IN 2010/11

1.6. General and Specific Objectives

The specific Objectives of ESIA are categorized in to long-term and short-term

BoEPLAU, Bahir Dar REVISED IN 2010/11