ENVIORNMENTAL IMPACT

ASSESSMENT

MODULE II
UNIT I
 Elements in EIA
1. Screening
2. Scoping
3. Identification of impacts
4. Prediction of impacts
5. Assessment an impact
6. Impact evaluation and analysis
 Important steps in EIA Cont…

6. Evaluation of least environmentally damaging

alternatives
7. Examination of project
8. Developing a preliminary range of alternatives
9. Critical assessment criteria
Generalized EIA
Process Flowchart
 EIA PROCEDURE

The entire EIA is divided into two

complimentary tasks or subjects.
1) Initial environmental examination
2) Full scale environmental impact assessment
 Initial environmental examination
It means the reviewing the environmental integrity of projects to
help to determine whether not EIA level studies can be
undertaken
IEE can be used for project screening to determine which project
requires EIA
IEE has several other uses for ensuring project based
environmental management as well as minimizing the effort
expense and delay in carrying out planning
IEE involves assessing the potential environmental effects of a
proposed project that can be carried within a very limited budget
and it completely depends on the available record data / just on a
professional judgment of an expert
Based on this IEE a full scale impact assessment is required
 Project Screening

Many projects are considered by the public and

private agencies every year.
Development projects have biophysical as well as
social and economic impacts.
Sufficient understanding of these factors are
necessary for the initial screening decision.
It is therefore, important to establish mechanisms
by identifying projects which requires EIA, and
this process of selection of project is referred to
as "Screening".
The project screening process
 Screening cont…

Screening process divides the project proposals

within the following three categories
• project clearly requiring an EIA
• project not requiring an EIA
• project still EIA is not clear
• Project require Initial Environmental
Examination (IEE)
 INITIAL ENVIRONMENTAL
EXAMINATION (IEE)
• IEE is an important tool for incorporating
environmental concerns at the project level.

• IEE should be carried out at planning stage of

a project as part of feasibility thus it can
assure that the project will be environmentally
feasible.
 The general objectives
(i) to provide information about the general environmental settings of the project
area as baseline data;

(ii) to provide information on potential impacts of the project and the

characteristic of the impacts, magnitude, distribution, who will be the affected
group, and their duration.

(iii) to provide information on potential mitigation measures to minimize the

impact including mitigation costs.

(iv) to assess the best alternative project at most benefits and least costs in terms
of financial, social, and environment. It is not always necessary to change
location of the project, but it can be changed in project design or project
management; and

(v) to provide basic information for formulating management and monitoring plan
 Key important activities
• Describing Environmental Condition of the
Project Area
• Assessing Potential Impact
• Formulating Mitigation Measures
• Preparing the Institutional Requirements and
Environmental Monitoring Plan
 Documenting IEE Report
A. Introduction
B. Description of the Project
C. Description of the Environment
D. Screening of Potential Environmental Impacts
and Mitigation Measures
E. Institutional Requirements and Environmental
Monitoring Plan
F. Public Consultation and Information Disclosure
G. Findings and Recommendation
H. Conclusions
Introduction
(I) Purpose of the report including
(a) identification of the project and project proponent;
(b) brief description of the nature, size, and location of
the project and of its importance to the country; and
(c) any other pertinent background information; and
(ii) Extent of the IEE study:
scope of study,
magnitude of effort,
person or agency performing the study, and
acknowledgement.
 Description of the Project
(i) type of project;
(ii) category of Project;
(iii) need for project;
(iii) location (use maps showing general location,
specific location, and project site);
(iv) size or magnitude of operation;
(v) proposed schedule for implementation; and
(vi) descriptions of the project, including drawings
showing project layout, and project components.
 Description of the Environment
Existing
(i) Physical Resources:
• atmosphere (e.g. air quality and climate)
• topography and soils,
• surface water
• groundwater
• geology/seismology.
(ii) Ecological Resources:
• fisheries
• aquatic biology
• wildlife
• forests
• rare or endangered species
• protected areas
• coastal resources
(iii) Economic Development:
• industries
• infrastructure facilities (e.g. water supply,
sewerage, flood control)
• transportation (roads, harbors, airports, and
navigation)
• land use (e.g. dedicated area uses)
• power sources and transmission
• agricultural development, mineral development,
and tourism facilities
(iv) Social and Cultural Resources:
• population and communities (e.g. numbers,
locations, composition, employment)
• health facilities
• education facilities
• socio-economic conditions (e.g. community
structure, family structure, social well being)
• physical or cultural heritage
• current use of lands and resources for traditional
purposes by Indigenous Peoples
• structures or sites that are of historical,
archaeological, paleontological, or architectural
significance.
 This section will identify "no significant impacts" from those
with significant adverse impacts and will discuss the
appropriate mitigation measures, where necessary.

• This section will describe the impacts to be mitigated, and

activities to implement the mitigation measures, including
how, when, and where they will be implemented. The
environmental monitoring plan will describe the impacts to
be monitored, and when and where monitoring activities will
be carried out, and who will carry them out.
• This section will describe the process undertaken to involve
the public in project design and recommended measures
for continuing public participation; summarize major
comments received from beneficiaries, local officials,
community leaders, NGOs, and others, and describe how
these comments were addressed; list milestones in public
involvement such as dates, attendance, and topics of public
meetings; list recipients of this document and other project
related documents; describe compliance with relevant
regulatory requirements for public participation; and
summarize other related materials or activities, such as
press releases and notifications. This section will provide of
summary of information disclosed to date and procedures
for future disclosure.
This section will include an evaluation of the screening process, and
recommendation will be provided whether significant
environmental impacts exist needing further detailed study or EIA.

If there is no need for further study, the IEE itself, which at times
may need to be supplemented by a special study in view of some
small significant impacts, becomes the completed EIA for the
project and no follow-up EIA will be needed.

If further additional study is needed, then this section will include a

brief terms of reference (TOR) for the needed follow-up EIA,
including approximate descriptions of work tasks, professional skills
required, time required, and estimated costs. The Bank's
Environment Guidelines provides a guide for preparing the TOR for
different projects.
This section will discuss the result of the IEE
and justification if any of the need for
additional study or EIA.
If an IEE or an IEE supplemented by a special
study is sufficient for the project, then the IEE
with the recommended institutional
requirements and monitoring program
become the completed EIA.
Activists are calling the project illegal. “The land of adivasis
here is ceiling land. During the land reforms movement,
excess land that was acquired by the government was given
to adivasis for tilling in 1972. Land deed, locally called 7/12,
was also issued in their names. Such ceiling land can neither
be transferred nor sold. But the Maharashtra government has
issued special resolutions to ensure that the ceiling land can
be acquired for developing Lavasa,” says Rifat Mumtaz of
Pune-based ngo National Centre for Advocacy Studies (ncas).
Mumtaz adds that Lavasa has flouted rules because the
project has not taken any environmental impact assessment
(eia) clearance from the Union Ministry of Environment and
Forests.
The corporation has already constructed one private dam and there is
no water downstream of this dam. Farmers have neither drinking
water nor water for irrigation. The farmers downsteam recently
attacked mkvdc and it was forced to release water. Imagine what will
happen after all the four dams are constructed,” says Shedge of
Mugaon village. A petition in the Bombay High Court challenged
allocation of mkvdc’s land in 2006. The petition also said that mkvdc
was not meant for commercial use and Lavasa was a purely
commercial venture. The case is pending.

The company says it is building 12 mini dams in the area that will “add
to the current capacity of the Warasgaon lake”. “These dams will be
built at higher levels increasing the existing catchment capacity. We
will create an additional water catchment of 0.9 thousand million cubic
metres (tmc) of which 0.4 tmc will be used by Lavasa and 0.5 tmc will
be released into the lake,” the spokesperson said.
But experts warn that water scarcity will not remain limited to
downstream villages; it will also hit Pune city, as its water supply
goes from this valley, called the Mose valley. “On the one hand,
the government is destroying the present water source for Pune
and on the other, it is seeking funds from the Centre for
additional water supply,” says Pune corporator Bhapkar.
Meanwhile, protests against the project have gathered steam.
Villagers are demanding a Central Bureau of Investigation
enquiry.
ENVIORNMENTAL IMPACT
ASSESSMENT

MODULE III
UNIT I
 Scoping
Scoping is to determine what should be the
coverage or scope of the EIA study for a
project proposal as having potentially
significant environmental impacts.

It also helps in developing and selecting

alternatives to the proposed action and in
identifying the issues to be considered in an
EIA.
 Aims of scoping
• To identify concerns for consideration in an EIA
• To identify issues for consideration in an EIA
• To ensure a relevant EIA methodology
• To enable those responsible for an EIA study to
properly brief the study team on the alternatives
and on impacts to be considered at different
levels of analysis
• To determine the assessment methods to be
used
 Aims of scoping cont…

• To identify all affected interests

• To provide an opportunity for public
involvement in determining the factors to be
assessed.
• To save time and money
• To establish terms of reference (TOR) for EIA
study
 Types of scoping
 Closed scoping: wherein the content and
scope of an EIA Report is pre-determined
by law and modified through closed
consultations between a developer and
the competent authority

 Open or Public scoping: a transparent

process based on public consultations
 Elements of scoping
 define the parameters of the EIA study
 Identify and inform stakeholders
 identify stakeholder concerns
 agree on the means of public involvement
and methods of analysis
 identify the main issues and impacts to be
studied
 consider feasible and practical alternatives
 establish ‘Terms of Reference’ for the EIA
 Steps in the scoping process
 prepare a scope outline
 develop the outline through informal consultation with
environmental and health authorities
 make the outline available
 compile an extensive list of concerns
 evaluate relevant concerns to establish key issues
 organise key issues into impact categories (study list)
 amend the outline accordingly
 develop ‘Terms of reference’ (ToR)
 monitor progress against the ToR, revising as necessary
 Who should be involved in
scoping?
 proponent
 EIA consultant
 supervisory authority for EIA
 other responsible agencies
 affected public
 interested public
 Guiding principles for scoping
 Scoping is a process, not an activity or event.
 Design a scoping process for each proposal.
 Start early, or as soon as available information allows.
 Prepare an information package on what is expected.
 Specify the role of the public in the EIA process.
 Document the results to guide EIA preparation.
 Respond to new information and issues as necessary.
 Purpose of Scoping
Scoping is used to

• Define the proposed action

• Enlist the cooperation of agencies
• Identify what's important
• Identify what’s not important
• Set time limits on studies
 Purpose of Scoping Cont…

• Determine requirements of the study team

• Collect background information

• Identify required permits

• Identify other regulatory requirements and

• Determine the range of alternatives

Impact Analysis
 Impact Analysis Cont…

• identifying the impacts more specifically

• predicting the characteristics of the main
impacts
• evaluating the significance of the residual
impact
 Impact characteristics
• nature (positive/negative, direct/indirect)
• magnitude (severe, moderate, low)
• extent/location (area/volume covered, distribution)
• timing (during construction, operation etc,
immediate, delayed)
• duration (short term/long term, intermittent /
continuous)
• reversibility/irreversibility
• likelihood (probability, uncertainty)
• significance (local, regional, global)
 Identification of impacts on the
environment
Sl.No Component Important considerations
1 Air Type of emissions released and the extent,
creation of excess noise,
Degradation.
2 Water Availability,
use and quality of water,
effects on the aesthetics and aquaculture
3 Vegetation Destruction of forest cover,
depletion of cultivable land,
changes in biological productivity,
changes in the species diversity and
hastening the disappearance of important species
4 Processes Floods
Droughts
Erosion
Earth quakes
Land slides
 Identification of impacts on the environment cont…

Sl.No Component Important considerations

5 Solid waste Excess generation of solid waste,
Effects on environment
6 Solis and Effects on physio-chemical characteristics of soils
geology Effects on stability/instability of soils

7 Cultural status Employment situation,

life style of people
Health services

8 Ecological Food chain

relationships Diseases
Spreading of virus

9 Man made Structures

facilities and Utility networks
activities Transportation
Waste disposal
Impact characteristic summary table
 Methods of impact prediction
• quantitative mathematical models
• experiments and physical models
• case studies as analogues or references
• ‘best estimate’ professional judgement
 Types of uncertainty in impact
prediction
• scientific uncertainty – limited understanding
of the ecosystem or community affected
• data uncertainty – incomplete information or
insufficient methodology
• policy uncertainty – unclear or disputed
objectives or standards
 Types of social impact
• demographic – changes to population
numbers, distribution
• cultural – changes to customs, traditions and
values
• community – changes to cohesion,
relationships etc.
• socio-psychological – changes to quality of
life and well being
Health impacts
MODULE IV
UNIT -I
 Ad hoc method
 Checklists
 Matrices
 Overlays
 Networks
 Simple method based on subjective environment
impacts on broad aspects.

 Ad hoc method is useful when time constraints and

lack of information require that the EIA must rely
exclusively on expert opinion.

 It provides minimal guidance for total impact

assessment while suggesting the broad areas of
possible impacts and the general nature of these
possible impacts.

 When more scientific methods are available, it is not

recommended.
 Opinion polls.

 Experts opinion.

 Delphi methods etc.

ADVANTAGE DISADVANTAGE

 Specialists on a  It require expert.

particular area will  Short/long term
provide guidance. impact are merely
examined on guess
basis.
 Identification ,
prediction and
interpretation of
impacts are quite
poor
 Checklist means a listing of potential
Environmental Impacts.

 This method is done to assess the nature of the

impacts i.e. its type such as adverse /beneficial
, short term or long term , no effect or
significant impact , reversible or irreversible etc
 Simple Lists.

 Descriptive Checklists.

 Scaling Checklists.

 Questionnaire Checklists.
 ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Simple to  Do not distinguish
understand and between direct and
use. indirect impacts.
 Good for site  Do not link action
selection and and impact.
priority setting.
 Sometime it is a
cumbersome task.
 Matrix and its variants provide us a
framework of interaction of different actions
/activities of a project with potential EI caused
by them.
 A simple interaction matrix is formed where
project actions are listed along one axis i.e.
vertically and EI are listed along the other side
i.e. horizontally.
 It was pioneer by Leopold et al(1971).
 It lists about 100 project actions and about 88
environmental characteristic and condition.
 Valued Env.
Component
(VEC)

Development
Projects

Ports and Harbours

Airports

Rapid Transit

Highways

Oil/Gas Pipelines

Significant Impact Moderate - Significant Impact Insignificant Impact

 ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Link action to  Difficult to
impact distinguish direct
and indirect
 Good method for impacts
displaying EIA
results  Significant
potential for
double-counting
of impacts
 Qualitative
 It uses the matrix approach by extending it
take into account primary as well the
secondary impacts.
 Shown in the form of tree called as
Relevance/Impact tree/Sequence diagram.
 Identification of direct ,indirect /short and long
term environment impact is a crucial and intact
basic step of making Impact tree.
 Used to identify cause-effect linkages
 Visual description of linkages
Fishing Spawning

Temperature Flow Water Quality

(Suspended Matter)

Access Dredging Clearing

 ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES
 Link action to  Can become
impact overly complex if
 Useful in used beyond
simplified form in simplified version
checking for  Qualitative
second order
impacts
 Handles direct
and indirect
impacts
 Rely on a set of maps of a project area’s
environmental characteristics covering physical ,
social, ecological, aesthetic aspects.
 Separate mapping of critical environmental features
at the same scale as project's site plan
e.g. wetlands, steep slopes, soils, floodplains, bedrock
outcrops, wildlife habitats, vegetative communities, and
cultural resources...
 Older Technique: environmental features are
mapped on transparent plastic in different colors.
 Newer Technique: Geographic Information Systems
(GIS).
OVERLAY

Rely on a set of
maps of a project
area’s
environmental
characteristics
covering physical ,
social, ecological,
aesthetic aspects.
 ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGE
 Easy to  Address only
understand and direct impacts
use  Do not address
 Good display impact duration
method or probability
 Good for site
selection setting
A. Biological and Physio -chemical impacts.

B. Social impacts.

C. Health impacts.

D. Economic impacts.
 It relate to effects on biological resources such
as vegetation ,wildlife , crops and aquatic life.

 Interaction with Physical elements like air

,water , soil, rocks and solar radiation.

 Chemical impacts like chemical change in air ,

water , soil quality etc.
Demographic –Displacement and
relocation effects and changes in
population characteristics.
Cultural –Traditional patterns ,family
structure ,religious, archaeological
features , social networks.
Gender –implication of projects on
roles of women in society ,
employment opportunity and equity
Institutional
–Housing , schools,
Criminal justice , Health, welfare
Examples of health impacts by sector
Communicable Non Nutrition Injury Psychosocial
disease communicable disorder and
disease loss of well-
being
Mining Tuberculosis Dust induced Crushing Labour migration
lung disease
Agriculture Parasitic Pesticide Loss of
infections poisoning subsistence
Industry Poisoning by Occupational Disempowerment
pollutants injury
Forestry Loss of food Occupational
production injury
Dams and Water borne Poisoning by Increased food Drowning Involuntary
irrigation diseases pollutants production displacement
schemes
Transportation Heart disease Traffic injury Noise and
induced stress
Energy Indoor air Electromagnetic Community
pollution radiation displacement
 Duration of construction and operation
 Workforce requirements for each period
 Skill requirements (local availability)
 Earning
 Raw material and other input purchases
 Capital investment
 Outputs
 The characteristics of the local economy
 The accumulated knowledge of the findings of
the environmental investigations form the basis
for the prediction of impacts.
 Once a potential impact has been determined
during scoping process ,it is necessary to
identify which project activity will cause
impact , and its magnitude and extent.
Best estimate professional judgement .
Quantitative mathematical models .
Experiments and physical models.
Case studies as analogues or
references .
1. Baseline condition
2. Un certainty
3. Spatial limits
4. Temporary boundaries
5. Incremental condition
6. Quantitative and Qualitative methods
COST/BENEFIT
ANALYSIS
Methods of prediction and
assessment techniques of
IMPACTS on SOIL
SOIL
 Soils occupy a somewhat unique position in earth heritage environmental
assessment.

 Land development, resource extraction, and waste-disposal projects can cause

certain unde-sirable impacts on soil and/or groundwater resources.

 These impacts may be in the form of either quantity or quality changes. In

addition, activities that may result from development projects, such as urban
growth near a new water-supply reservoir, can cause soil and/or groundwater
effects as a result of urban-waste disposal leachates moving through the sub
surface system.
Soil Functions
For assessment purposes, soils can be considered to have six general
functions:

 Production of biomass

 Filtering, storage and transformation of substances

 Support of biodiversity

 Provision of a physical base – for plants, buildings and infrastructure

 Provision of raw materials

 Protection of heritage (i.e.. archaeological) sites.

These functions can be translated into either economic or ecological forms
of land use.
Importance of Soil
Considerations in Environmental
Assessment
 Soil considerations are an essential element of
the Environmental Assessment process and any
significant impacts on soils should be included in
an Environmental Statement.

 Where significant adverse effects are identified

the Environmental Statement must include a
description of mitigation measures.
Methodology for prediction and
assessment of impacts on soil
and ground water

To provide a basis for addressing soil

/ ground water environment
impacts, a model is suggested
which connects seven activities or
steps for planning and conducting
impact studies
In analyzing the environmental impacts, two
types of judgments are taken into
consideration

1.objective
2.subjective

objective judgments are those which involve

or use of facts that is observable

subjective judgments are those which are

made of beliefs, values and feelings
 Soil Heterogeneity
 Different soil types have their own characteristic properties, which affect the

significance and magnitude of impacts.

 Some soils are relatively robust and are able to support a wide range of
potential applications, whereas others can only be utilized in more limited

ways.

 Within any given area, there is likely to occur a variety of soils, which can pose

planning problems, often leading to some soils being exploited in ways for

which their properties are unsuited.

 Further complexities are introduced by the fact that, unlike geological

exposures or landforms, which occupy distinct areas of the landscape and are

generally fairly easy to assess, soils form a continuous pattern over the land

surface and are for the most part hidden from view. All of these factors

combine to create very specific requirements for environmental assessment of

soils.
Predicting Soil Impacts:
Projects Likely to Give Rise to
Impacts on Soils
Some of the main project types likely to give rise to impacts on

soils in environmental assessment and which can be directly

relevant to the functional capacity, sensitivity, vulnerability and

general condition of soils include:

 Location of developments (e.g. sewage works, hazardous

installations, landfill sites)

 Other industrial developments

 Urban and infrastructure development
 Reclamation of contaminated and derelict land
 Land instability
 Land drainage
 Mineral extraction

 Archaeological excavations

 Land restoration

 Recreation (e.g. footpaths, sports facilities)

 Land use changes associated with forestry

 Land use changes associated with agriculture.

 Predicting Soil Impacts:
Impacts on Soils
The impacts of these projects on soil properties and
processes can include:
 Erosion
 Pollution, e.g. from heavy metals, organic compounds,
industrial wastes, fertilisers, pesticides
 Changes in pH
 Loss of or reduction in biodiversity
 Loss of organic matter
 Compaction
 Structural deterioration
 Homogenisation and loss of characteristic horizons

 Physical and chemical changes associated with topsoil

stripping and storage

 Changes associated with land restoration

 Decline in fertility

 Destruction or modification of palaeosols

 Changes to soil water regime

 Removal or alteration of parent material

 Loss or burial of soil.

Examples of Types of Projects &
associated Impacts
 1. Land subsidence which can occur as a result of over- pumping
of ground-water resources or oil gas resources in a given
geographical area or which can occur as a result of surface or
sub-surface mining activities associated with mineral extraction.

 2. The impacts associated with the identification and usage of

construction material for major projects, with such material coming
from identified burrow areas. (There may be changes in local
surface water hydraulics and erosional patterns as a result of
construction material.).
 3. Construction practices in general can create some
concerns related to the potential for increased soil erosion in
the construction area. This increase in soil erosion could lead
to specific mitigation requirements, such as, the creation of
sediment retention basins or the planting of rapidly growing
vegetation.

 4. Landslides, caused by inappropriate slope stability, which

can occur as a result of over development on particular soil
types within the areas having certain topographic features.
Soil Properties: Mitigating
Measures
Environmental assessment involves the consideration of key
soil properties and characteristics in relation to the proposed
development or change of land use. Some of the more
important soil properties that should be considered in
mitigation measures are:

 Texture

 Structure

 Organic matter content

 PH
 Nutrient status
 Depth – both total and of individual horizons
 Parent material characteristics
 Horizontation (i.e. nature and arrangement of
individual horizons)

 Salinity
 Stoniness
 Soil water regime.
 Collection of data
 On a local scale, existing spatial soil data tend to be patchy, of

variable quality through being obtained by a range of methods, and

difficult to access, often being unpublished and held by a number of

different organisations and individuals.

 There is a particular scarcity of data in urban and semi-urban areas, as

soil surveys have traditionally been carried out almost solely for

agricultural purposes. As most environmental assessments are made

at the more site specific level, it is essential that the authorities

involved seek appropriate advice where it is evident that soil factors

will be integral to the assessment. The scoping stage of particular

importance here, as the opportunity to raise the issue of effects on

soils at an early stage.

Software for soil assessment
Internet Geographical Exposure
Modeling System (IGEMS)
 By US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Pollution Prevention and

Toxics (OPPT).

 IGEMS is a modernization of OPPT's older Graphical Exposure Modeling

System and PCGEMS tools.

 IGEMS brings together in one system several EPA environmental fate and
transport models and some of the environmental data needed to run them.

 IGEMS includes models and data for ambient air, surface water, soil, and

ground water, and makes the models much easier to use than their stand-

alone counterparts.

 IGEMS will have graphics and Geographical Information System (GIS)

capabilities for displaying environmental modeling results.

Soil and Water Assessment Tool
(SWAT)
 By US Department of Agriculture, Natural
Resources Conservation Service. A river basin
scale model developed to quantify the impact
of land management practices in large,
complex watersheds
MMSOILS (for DOS)
•By US Environmental Protection Agency, Center for Exposure Assessment
Modeling (CEAM).

• The Multimedia Contaminant Fate, Transport, and Exposure Model

(MMSOILS) estimates the human exposure and health risk associated with
releases of contamination from hazardous waste sites.
•The methodology consists of a multimedia model that addresses the
transport of a chemical in groundwater, surface water, soil erosion, the
atmosphere, and accumulation in the foodchain.

•The human exposure pathways considered in the methodology include:

soil ingestion, air inhalation of volatiles and particulates, dermal contact,
ingestion of drinking water, consumption of fish, consumption of plants
grown in contaminated soil, and consumption of animals grazing on
contaminated pasture.
CalTOX

 By California Department of Toxic Substances

Control.
 A spreadsheet model that relates the concentration
of a chemical in soil to the risk of an adverse health
effect for a person living or working on or near the
contaminated soil. CalTOX computes site-specific
health-based soil clean-up concentrations given
target risk levels or human health risks given soil
concentrations at the site.
Case Studies
 A site in Wales was recently notified as a RIGS (Regionally Important Geodiversity Site) on
the basis of its soils, but this is currently the only example of its kind in Britain.
 Local volunteer RIGS groups help to identify the most important places for geology,
geomorphology and soils outside the nationally recognised network of Sites of Special
Scientific Interest (SSSIs). The local authority then registers these sites which helps to
protect these special landscape features for future generations to study and enjoy.
 Many UK RIGS groups operate under the umbrella of the UKRIGS organisation. In Wales,
groups in North East Wales (NEWRIGS) Gwynedd & Môn RIGS and Central Wales RIGS
group operate under a national body called the Association of Welsh RIGS Groups (AWRG)
 How do groups choose RIGS?
 RIGS need to embrace one or more of the following values:
 Scientific sites are important for ongoing research in the Earth sciences.
 Educational sites provide an outdoor geological classroom for all ages and abilities.
 Historical sites show the importance of geology in archaeological and historical
constructions
(e.g. cromlechs), the development of geology as a science (e.g. sites where certain theories
were first developed) and commemorate the outstanding contributions of important
geologists (e.g. graves and monuments).
 Aesthetic sites demonstrate the importance of geology to understanding and appreciating
some of our most cherished landscapes and scenery.
Site Description
 The proposed project is located adjacent
to Jaggaihpeta - HuzlIrnagar road. The site
is located at a distance of 8 km from
Jaggaihpeta. The site falls under
Jaggaihpeta mandai of Krishna district. It is
located on the border areas of Krishna and
Nalgonda District.
Soil Quality
 The soil in the study area is slightly reddish to brown and black with
loamy texture, because presence of this soil water quickly
percolates into the ground without causing any marshy conditions.

 The pH values of the soil is an important property, plants cannot

grow in low and high pH value soils.

 Most of the essential nutrients like N, P. K, Ca. Mg are available for

plant at the neutral pH except for Fe. Mn. and AI which are
available at low pH value.

 The pH values in the study area are varying from 6.0 I to 7.63
showing neutral to slightly acidic pH in the entire area.
 The other important macro nutrients for
characterization of soil for irrigation are N,P and K. The
nitrogen value is varying from 0.10 to 0.13% and
phosphorus is varying from 0.54 to 0.059% where as
potassium in ranging from 0.013 to 0.055%. The organic
matter is vat)'ing from 0.04% to 0.93%.

 The other macro and micro nutrients like Ca. Mg. Fe,
Mn, Zn etc. are adequate and all sources of soil
samples are suitable for irrigation.
Methods of prediction and
assessment techniques of
IMPACTS on SOIL
SOIL
 Soils occupy a somewhat unique position in earth heritage environmental
assessment.

 Land development, resource extraction, and waste-disposal projects can cause

certain unde-sirable impacts on soil and/or groundwater resources.

 These impacts may be in the form of either quantity or quality changes. In

addition, activities that may result from development projects, such as urban
growth near a new water-supply reservoir, can cause soil and/or groundwater
effects as a result of urban-waste disposal leachates moving through the sub
surface system.
Soil Functions
For assessment purposes, soils can be considered to have six general
functions:

 Production of biomass

 Filtering, storage and transformation of substances

 Support of biodiversity

 Provision of a physical base – for plants, buildings and infrastructure

 Provision of raw materials

 Protection of heritage (i.e.. archaeological) sites.

These functions can be translated into either economic or ecological forms
of land use.
 Importance of Soil
Considerations in
Environmental Assessment
 Soil considerations are an essential element of
the Environmental Assessment process and any
significant impacts on soils should be included in
an Environmental Statement.

 Where significant adverse effects are identified

the Environmental Statement must include a
description of mitigation measures.
 Soil Heterogeneity
 Different soil types have their own characteristic properties, which affect the

significance and magnitude of impacts.

 Some soils are relatively robust and are able to support a wide range of
potential applications, whereas others can only be utilized in more limited

ways.

 Within any given area, there is likely to occur a variety of soils, which can pose

planning problems, often leading to some soils being exploited in ways for

which their properties are unsuited.

 Further complexities are introduced by the fact that, unlike geological

exposures or landforms, which occupy distinct areas of the landscape and are

generally fairly easy to assess, soils form a continuous pattern over the land

surface and are for the most part hidden from view. All of these factors

combine to create very specific requirements for environmental assessment of

soils.
 Predicting Soil Impacts:
Projects Likely to Give
Rise to Impacts on Soils
Some of the main project types likely to give rise to impacts on

soils in environmental assessment and which can be directly

relevant to the functional capacity, sensitivity, vulnerability and

general condition of soils include:

 Location of developments (e.g. sewage works, hazardous

installations, landfill sites)

 Other industrial developments

 Urban and infrastructure development
 Reclamation of contaminated and derelict land
 Land instability
 Land drainage
 Mineral extraction

 Archaeological excavations

 Land restoration

 Recreation (e.g. footpaths, sports facilities)

 Land use changes associated with forestry

 Land use changes associated with agriculture.

 Predicting Soil
Impacts: Impacts on
Soils
The impacts of these projects on soil properties and
processes can include:
 Erosion
 Pollution, e.g. from heavy metals, organic compounds,
industrial wastes, fertilisers, pesticides
 Changes in pH
 Loss of or reduction in biodiversity
 Loss of organic matter
 Compaction
 Structural deterioration
 Homogenisation and loss of characteristic horizons

 Physical and chemical changes associated with topsoil

stripping and storage

 Changes associated with land restoration

 Decline in fertility

 Destruction or modification of palaeosols

 Changes to soil water regime

 Removal or alteration of parent material

 Loss or burial of soil.

 Examples of Types of Projects &
associated Impacts
 1. Land subsidence which can occur as a result of over- pumping
of ground-water resources or oil gas resources in a given
geographical area or which can occur as a result of surface or
sub-surface mining activities associated with mineral extraction.

 2. The impacts associated with the identification and usage of

construction material for major projects, with such material coming
from identified burrow areas. (There may be changes in local
surface water hydraulics and erosional patterns as a result of
construction material.).
 3. Construction practices in general can create some
concerns related to the potential for increased soil erosion in
the construction area. This increase in soil erosion could lead
to specific mitigation requirements, such as, the creation of
sediment retention basins or the planting of rapidly growing
vegetation.

 4. Landslides, caused by inappropriate slope stability, which

can occur as a result of over development on particular soil
types within the areas having certain topographic features.
 Soil Properties: Mitigating
Measures
•Environmental assessment involves the
consideration of key soil properties and
characteristics in relation to the proposed
development or change of land use. Some of
the more important soil properties that should
be considered in mitigation measures are:

 Texture
 Nutrient status
 Depth – both total and of individual horizons
 Parent material characteristics
 Horizontation (i.e. nature and arrangement of
individual horizons)

 Salinity
 Stoniness
 Soil water regime.
 Collection of data
 On a local scale, existing spatial soil data tend to be patchy, of

variable quality through being obtained by a range of methods, and

difficult to access, often being unpublished and held by a number of

different organisations and individuals.

 There is a particular scarcity of data in urban and semi-urban areas, as

soil surveys have traditionally been carried out almost solely for

agricultural purposes. As most environmental assessments are made

at the more site specific level, it is essential that the authorities

involved seek appropriate advice where it is evident that soil factors

will be integral to the assessment. The scoping stage of particular

importance here, as the opportunity to raise the issue of effects on

soils at an early stage.

EIA ON SURFACE WATER

MODULE II
The two main sources of water pollutants to be considered are
1.Non Point
2.Point sources
Non Point Sources are referred to as area sources/diffuse sources
Non Point Pollutants are from urban area and rural run off
ex: sediments, pesticides or nutrients entering a surface water
because of runoff
Point Pollutants are from specific discharges from municipalities
or industrial complexes
ex: organic or metals entering a surface water as a result of waste
water discharge from manufacturing plant
In a given body of water it is difficult to assess the non point
source pollutants
Identifying potential impacts

Materials which are disposed of during the project may

contaminate surface water if not properly managed
materials which result in surface water contamination
include fuels, oils, preservatives, bituminous products
pesticides, solid and liquid wastes etc.,
“Raw Water-water” is defined as a effluent from the oil
separator which is an integral part of refinery process
operations.
Quality characteristics of industrial wastes vary
considerably depending upon the type of industry
A Useful parameter in describing industrial waste is
population equivalent
PE=(A)(B)(8.34)/(0.17)
PE= Population equivalent based on organic constituents
A=Industrial Waste Flow
B= Industrial Waste ,BOD , mg/L
8.34=lb/gal
0.17=lb BOD per person/day
For fixing criteria to protect water ‘s quality of
recovered water bodies , the following factors are
considered for quantative understanding
1.Load Allocation (portion of receiving water loading capacity)
2.waste load allocation (type of water quality based
on effluent)
3.total maximum daily load(WLA+LA) expressed in
mass/time
4.water quality limited management (does not meet
the standards even after the application of
technology)
5.water quality management plan (developed in
accordance with water act)
6.best management practices (BMP)
DESCRIPTION OF EXISTING SURFACE
WATER QUANTITY-QUALITY
This particular step gives information about the existing
background information about the surface water
resources potentially impacted by the project

It includes the following information and it’s relation

1.Water quality n quantity

2.Identifying unique pollution problems
3.Key climatologically information
4.Base line monitoring
5.Summarizing information on point n non point sources
 COMPLIATION(ASSEMBING) OF WATER QUAITY
Information should be assembled on both quantity and quality of surface
water in a river which is potentially affected by the project
1. Water Quantity
Runoff over land
Mathematical models are available for predicting runoff for
• Permeable/impermeable surfaces
• Sewered/ unsewered surfaces
• Short term and long term predictions
• Quantity or quality
The balance between these hydrological inputs and outputs to surface
runoff are described by mathematical equations based on small principles
of
runoff
Extensive calibration and verification for use in
specific areas and high level of expert assistance
are required for the application of models
further information includes rainfall. Air
temperature, drainage, network ,soil
types,ground cover, land use etc are also the
essential inputs
The following are the applications when
runoff model is used

1.The accumulated load is assumed to

be washed off when first heavy rainfall
and enter surface waters
2.Prediction of run off when
conservative pollutant applied with in
the catchment area (uniform dilution)
Flow models

For several type of fresh water systems ,

hydrological and hydro dynamic models have
been developed for use in environment
assessment for which information on water flow
will be highly essential.

For estimating the flow rates in rivers and lakes

and manmade reservoirs many hydrological
models are prepared based on the historical data
collected from the hydrometric monitoring
stations
Water quality
The quality emphasis should be on those water
pollutants expected to be emitted during the
construction and operational phases of the
project
1. Oxygen Sag Curve – streeter phelps euation
2.Mass balance concept of water quality
3.Soil erosion and sedimentation
Oxygen sag curve –streeter phelps equation

The changes in dissolved oxygen resulting

from increased demands for oxygen from
bacteria during decomposition and supply
of oxygen from natural reareation are
considered in various models accounting in
organic loading
Streeter-phelps equation represents oxygen sag curve depicts
how the oxygen concentration c changes with time and distance
downstream of a discharge point. The dissolved oxygen deficit
(Cs-C) as a function of demand of oxygen and natural aeration
,Cs is the oxygen saturation
Streeter phelps euation
Mass balance concept of water quality
Most of the water quality models are based
on the mass /material balance
The following equation
I+D+F+J=X+R+T
I=inflow into the compartment
D=discharge into the compartment
F=formation due to biochemical activity
J= transfer from other compartments
X=outflow from the compartment
R= degradtion reaction
T=transfer to other compartments (all units are mass/time)
Mass balance equation
 Soil Erosion and Sedimentation
Underlying features of the project area
determine the prices of soil erosion, which has
been used as a basis for the Universal Soil Loss
Equation(USLE)
The simplest representation of the universal soil
loss equation is
A=88.27xRxKxLSxCxP
A=88.27xRxKxLSxCxP

A= avaerage annual soil loss(tonnes/km2 per year)

R= measure of rainfall intensity ;index value related to max 30
min rainfall intensity per storm (cm/hr)average on all storms
K=soil erodibility factor ;an index 0.001 non erodible,1 erodible
LS= slope length factor (ratio of slope of 9%and length of 22m)
C=vegetative cover and management factor (0.001-
1.0;woodlandto no cover)
P=erosion control (0.001-1.0;effective contouring-absence of
erosion control)
88.27 =conversion factor of A into (tons/acre/year)to metric
units tonnes/km2 per year
Environmental Audit
 Definition

• Environmental auditing is a process whereby an organisation’s

environmental performance is tested against its
environmental policies and objectives. These policies and
objectives need to be clearly defined and documented.
 International Chamber of Commerce (ICC, 1991)
defines environmental auditing as:

• A management tool comprising a systematic, documented,

periodic and objective evaluation of how well environmental
organisation, management and equipment are performing
with the aim of contributing to safeguarding the environment
by:
• facilitating management control of environmental
practices; and
• assessing compliance with company policies which
would include meeting regulatory requirements
 Audit procedure
or
audit protocol
The tests carried out includes:
• questioning;
• studying,
• documentation;
• policies; procedures; work instructions; manuals and other
materials that form a part of management systems;
• and the observation of scenes, processes and events.

Evidence which supports the tests carried out is also assembled. When
questions are answered verbally, the answers must be supported by
evidence in the form of references to work instructions,
procedures, manuals, sampling and monitoring results.
Pre-audit stage
– full management commitment;
– setting overall goals, objectives, scope and priorities;
– selecting a team to ensure objectivity and professional competence;

Activities at site (Audit stage)

– on-site audit, well defined and systematic using protocols or checklists;
– review of documents and records;
– review of policies;
– interviews;
– site inspection;

Post- audit stage

– evaluation of findings;
– reporting with recommendations;
– preparation of an action plan; and
– follow-up.
 Characteristics of Environmental audit

• Management Tool
• An environmental audit is but one of many environmental management tools which are used to assess, evaluate and manage
environmental and sustainability issues.

• Systematic
• The environmental audit is a systematic process that must be carefully planned, structured and organized.

• Documented
• The base of any environmental audit is that its findings are supported by documents and verifiable information.

• Periodic
• the real value of environmental audits is the fact that they are carried out, at defined intervals, and their results can illustrate
improvement or change over time.
• Objective Evaluation
• environmental audits are carried out using policies, procedures, documented
systems and objectives as a test, there is always an element of subjectivity in
an audit.

• Environmental Performance
• The essence of any environmental audit is to find out how well the
environmental organisation, environmental management and environmental
equipment are performing.

• Facilitating management control of environmental practices

• Environmental practices can happen with or without direct or specific
instructions. The key to good environmental performance is to ensure that
these practices happen according to procedure, guidelines, training and
systems requirements.

• Compliance with company policies and regulatory

requirements
• Compliance is traditionally thought of as meaning compliance with the law.
However, compliance with corporate policies is the primary base, which will
include legal compliance as a part of any organisation’s governance policies.
 Aim of the environmental audit

1. Waste prevention and reduction.

2. Assessing compliance with regulatory requirements.

3. Facilitating control of environmental practices by a

company's management.

4. Placing environmental information in the public domain.

 Objectives of Environmental Audit

• To determine the mass balance of various materials used and

the performance of different process equipments so as to
identify usage of materials used in excess, to review the
conversion efficiencies of process equipment and accordingly
fix up norms for equipment/operation performance and
minimization of the wastes.
• To identify the areas of water usage, used waste water, and
determine the characteristics of waste water.

• To determine the emissions, and their sources, quantities and

characteristics.

• To determine the solid wastes and hazardous wastes

generated by their sources, quantities and characteristics.
• To determine the performance of the existing waste
treatment/control systems so as to modify or install additional
or alternative control equipment.

• To determine the impact on the surrounding environment like

groundwater, stream, residential area, and agricultural area
due to the disposal of wastewater emissions and solid wastes
from the industry and accordingly identify suitable preventive
measures, if necessary.
• To verify compliance with the standards and conditions
prescribed by the regulatory bodies under the Water Act, the
Air Act and the Environmental (Protection) Act and the
Hazardous Wastes (Management and Handling) Rules.
 Advantages of Environmental Audit

• Determines how well the process systems and pollution

control systems are performing and identify the operations of
poor performance.

• Identifies potential cost savings which can be accrued through

reduction in raw material consumption by way of waste
minimization, and adoption of recycle/recovery/reduction in
pollution load.
• Increases awareness of environmental requirements, policies
and responsibilities.

• Helps in understanding the technical capabilities and attitude

of the environmental organization in a company.

• Provides up- to- date environmental database for use in plant

modification, emergencies, and other situations.
• Unravel surpluses and hidden liabilities which can reduce
regulatory risk and exposure to litigation.

• Ensures independent verification, identifies matters

needing attention and provides timely warning to
management on potential future problems.

• Helps to safeguard environment and assists in complying

with local, regional andnational laws and regulations
without compromising on the company's policy and the
environmental standards.

• Helps to improve public image.

 Stages of Environmental Audit

1. Audit program planning (including pre-visit data collection)

2. On - site activities

3. Evaluation of audit data and preparation of

reports.
 Program Planning
• A compliance audit program consists of many elements including a visit to
the plant.

• Prior to the actual visit, it is essential to plan the overall program.

• Planning would include obtaining commitment by management, defining

the objectives and requirements, and developing an information
management system.

• It is also important to organize the audit team and make sure that the
program has the resources and tools necessary to address the issues that
need to be investigated.

• In addition, one must consider the legal measures which may be

appropriate to protect the results of the program.

• In summary, the auditing program must be tailored to meet the needs of

the facility being audited.
 Commitment by management
• No complete audit program can be successful without the clear
commitment of senior management. This commitment must come before
the start of the process in two ways.

• Firstly, the management must provide the program with the required
resources and if necessary, direct plant personnel to provide access and to
cooperate with the auditors during the process.

• Second, it is critical that management clear and explicit written

commitment to follow-up an audit finding and correct the problems that
the audit will uncover.

• Undertaking an audit program without a commitment to cure the ills that

it may uncover is probably worse than not conducting an audit at all. Not
correcting such faults suggests to employees that compliance is not a high
priority item.
 Terms of audit
• The process of performing an audit begins by deciding what type of audit is
needed.

• The auditor must define the scope of the audit, whether all the areas of
environmental management are to be covered or only one specific part. (e.g. air
quality or hazardous waste)

• Audit could cover all or just part of the various environmental management topics.

• A audit would address all these topics perhaps related to health, safety and
transportation requirements.

• After selecting the type of audit and its scope, other decisions need to be made.
– How will successful performance be measured over time?
– How frequently will the audits be done?
– How will the results be reported?
• Each of these is important to evaluate prior to designing the actual
audit process.

• Defining these objectives in the beginning makes a major difference

regarding the types of resources and techniques needed to conduct
the actual audit.

• The combination of tight schedules and liabilities clearly reduces

the certainty of the findings of a property transfer audit.

• The decided advantage of having full knowledge of such liabilities

during negotiations over the selling price will compel some parties
to seek a thorough audit.

• The level of detail to which such an audit is conducted depends

upon the characteristics and history of the site and time constraints
set by the transaction schedule.
A thorough audit in any industry will include the
following issues:
• Soil / ground -water contamination

• Presence of hazardous waste substances

• Waste discharges into receiving waters

• Proper permits and compliance

• Presence of underground tanks

• Any special issues

 Organization of auditing program
Once the objectives are defined for the audit program, the next step is to
organize the program.

• There are many questions to be answered:

– What is the frequency of re-audits, if any?
– How to schedule an audit of multiple sites?
1. Will the audit program be conducted by environmental consultants?
2. will it be done by the corporate staff as a part of their normal jobs?
3. Will it be done by a audit managed by a small corporate group with the audit
function being conducted by staff from the operating divisions.

• Each of these three groups (consultants, corporate staff, and operating

staff) has advantages and disadvantages in its approach to various issues.

• Mature, and successful auditing programs tend to integrate participation

by all the three groups.
 Team of auditing specialists
Conducting a successful audit requires a team effort, directed by
a team leader and supported by auditor specialists.
• The selection of the team has a major influence on the
success of the audit.
• The size and makeup of the team depend on the size of
the facility and the complexity of the issues that must
be addressed.
• Auditors need to be expert in state and central
environmental regulations.
Audit team have to know the specific regulations that apply to the facility's
particular operations and also possess knowledge of the facilities.

• For a manufacturing facility, the team needs to know production

– how a facility operates,
– how its manufacturing processes function,
– where things could be hidden and how things are most likely to fail
• Auditors need to have knowledge of waste treatment and pollution
control technology.
– The team needs to have a variety of scientific disciplines.
• They need knowledge of information management systems and general
management techniques for organizing staff and programs.

• In summary, comprehensive audit team would offer specific experience in

engineering regulatory analysis, regulatory enforcement chemistry,
production and perhaps geology and community relations.
• An audit could function with a team of just two experienced
individuals, namely,
– a regulatory specialist and an engineer.
– More complex facilities require additional team members.

• In addition to knowledge in specific technical areas, the

auditing team should have both training and experience in
conducting audits.

• The auditors should be independent

• Finally, the team members should have sensitivity with the

ability to communicate accurately and appropriately with
different levels of personnel.
 Pre - visit data collection
• A management chart showing key personnel, and their line and
staff responsibilities.

• A site layout showing the location of various operations, particularly

the key items, which should be examined (e.g., waste storage areas,
sewer locations and drainage systems, underground storage tanks
and ground water monitoring wells).

• A brief description and block diagram of operating processes and

any pollution control units, showing recent or planned
modifications.

• Block diagrams are very useful because they allow the audit team
to anticipate the types of chemicals handled by the facility and the
environmental emissions and wastes generated by the process.
• A list of all major types of waste generated and how each is
managed.

• A list of all environmental regulatory permits of the site, with

copies.

• All major environmental plans and policy manuals.

• Information about non-compliance history of any sort. This is

particularly useful because it allows the auditor to
concentrate on areas that have attracted regulatory attention
and are likely receive close regulatory scrutiny in the future.
• The comprehensiveness of the questionnaire should conform
to the size of the facility, the sophistication of facility
management, and the type of support provided by the
management for the auditing efforts
 Examples of key questions under selected headings
• General issues
• What pollution control equipment is used at the plant?
• Have they been inspected by any regulatory agency last year?
• Have you been cited for non-compliance last year?
• What is the acreage of the facility?
• How long has the facility been in operation?
• What was the past use of the site?
• Hazardous materials
– What is the latest hazardous materials inventory?
– What quantity of petroleum products is stored on the site?
– Do any underground tanks exist on the site?
– Where are wastewater discharge locations (point and non-point)? What
permits are in place?
– Has there been any correspondence with the local sewer agency of the water
board concerning compliance within the last two years?
• Ground waters
• Does this plant have any required groundwater monitoring program
• Air quality
• What air permits does this plant have? For what operations?
 Onsite Activities
The primary purpose of the visit is
– to review documents maintained at the facility,
– to interview facility employees, and
– to inspect thoroughly all relevant operations conducted at the facility.
– This is an intensive and thorough period of collecting data.

The activities at the site include

1. Deriving material balance
2. Identifying waste flow lines
3. Monitoring of characteristics
4. Evaluation of the performance of process and pollution control equipment /
system
5. Assessing environmental quality
6. Holding discussions with the management and finally preparing the draft report.
 UNEP has presented 20 step the procedure for
conducting waste audit
1. Audit preparation (phase I)

Step I Prepare and organize the audit team and resources.

Step II Divide process into unit operations.

Step III Constructing process flow diagrams linking the unit operations.

2. Material balance (phase II)

Process inputs

Step IV Determine inputs.

Step V Record water usage.

Step VI Measure current levels of waste re-use / re-cycling.

Process outputs

Step VII Quantify products / by-products

Step VIII Account for wastewater

Step IX Account for gaseous emissions

Step X Account for off-site wastes

Derive a material balance

Step XI Assemble input and output information.

Step XII Derive a preliminary material balance.

Step XIII Evaluate material balance.

Step XIV Refine material balance.

3. Synthesis (phase III)
Identify waste reduction options.
Step XV Identify obvious waste reduction measures.

Step XVI Target and characterize the problem waste.

Step XVII Investigate the possibility of waste segregation.

Step XVIII Identify long-term waste reduction measures.

Evaluate waste reduction options.

Step XIX Undertake environmental and economic evaluation of
waste reduction options.

Waste Reduction action plan.

Step XX Design and implement a waste reduction action plan to
achieve improved process efficiency.
 Typical audit schedule
Sl.no Date and day Time Audit Item
1 Day 1 Monday 09.30 – 11.00 Meet the
management
2 11.00 – 12.30 General tour in the
premises
3
4
5
6
 Material balance
• The entire manufacturing process of each product should be drawn into a process flow sheet
representing various unit operations as blocks.

• A unit operation is a process where materials are input, a function occurs and materials are output
mostly in a different form, state or composition.

• The quantities of inputs and outputs of each unit operation should be worked out for the entire
process and data incorporated in the process flow sheet.

• A comparison of these requirements with the actually used raw materials in the industry gives an
indication whether they are used in excess of the requirements or used as per the requirements.

• If the raw materials are used in excess, it may be presumed to be finding their way to air, water and
soil, thus causing pollution. Hence, it is important to reduce these excesses.

• The unit operation should be checked up to find out the cause of excess usage of the materials and
accordingly modifications made.
• Norms should then be fixed for performance of each of the unit
operations, for wastes generated from each of these unit operations.

• The production and environment staff are simply to adhere to the norms.

• The environment manager thus can have control over production as well
as wastes generation too.
 Evaluation of waste treatment facilities
• Performance of various pretreatment and final treatment facilities should be
evaluated based on the analysis reports.

• If the treated wastewater, gaseous emissions and solid waste do not conform to
the standards prescribed by the Pollution Control Board, The reason for this should
be diagnosed.

• From the individual streams of wastewater, recyclable and recoverable materials

should be identified.

• All the 'avoidable' wastes should be completely controlled and only the
'unavoidable' allowed for treatment.

• Discussions with the staff, perusal of the records of the company and the
reconnaissance survey will help in arriving at these flow sheets.

• From these flow sheets, data sheets incorporating the raw material requirement,
water consumption, waste and solid waste generation, and gaseous emissions
should be worked out for each product manufactured.
 Waste flow
• From water balance the sources and quantities of generation of
wastewater, gaseous emissions and solid waste should be
identified.

• The waste pre-treatment, final treatment and disposal path should

be identified.

• The production staff should be consulted as these people are likely

to know about waste discharge points and unplanned waste
generations, such as, spills, leaks, washings, and other discharge
points due to overflows. Spills and other materials handling
practices and sources should be accordingly finalized and waste
flow sheet prepared.
 Example of the contents of an audit report
• Executive summary
• Key findings and commentary
• Commentary on site tour and photographs
• Full list of all recommendations
• Scope of Audit
• Areas audited, site location, audit focus
• Date of audit and participants
• Detailed report
• Sections based upon topics covered in audit protocol
• Conclusions and Recommendations
• Appendices
• Copy of audit protocol
• Photo log
• Supporting documentation (may be included in a separate volume)
 Types of environment audit
1. Waste audit
2. Energy audit
3. Compliance audit
4. Management audit
5. Waste minimization audit
6. Liabilities definition audit
7. Property transfer audit
8. Health and safety audit
 Waste audit
• Waste audit is to
• quantify and identify types of wastes generated from different sources in the
processes and
• To identify the optimum methods to minimize the quantities of wastes.

Waste audit is a technical tool meant for waste reduction from all
possible sources.
 Step by step procedure in waste audit
• Define sources, quantities and types of waste generated.

• Gather information on unit operations, raw materials, products, water usage and wastes

• Highlight process inefficiencies and areas of poor management.

• Cause awareness in the work force regarding benefits due to waste reduction

• Permit the development of cost effective waste management strategies.

• Increase the knowledge of the process.

• Help to set targets for waste reduction.

• Help to improve process efficiency.

• Improve operation and maintenance of pollution control equipment.

 Energy audit
• The purpose of energy audit is
• To estimate the quantities and types of fuels consumed
at different stages are identified and
• To identify means to minimize consumption
• to eliminate the losses of fuels at various stages of the
processes.
 Audit report for each unit should include

• Emission to air, water and land.

• Waste management.

• Noise and other nuisance.

• Safety.

• Energy, water and raw materials.

• Products.

• Management.
 Benefits of energy audit

• Saves money

• Minimize operating cost

• More profits or less losses

• Conserves valuable energy sources

• Partly reduces environmental problems

Following equipment are major consumers of
energy

• Boiler

• Steam system

• Furnaces

• Oven/Furnaces
 Compliance Audit
Audits required to be carried out as per regulations / procedures are known
as compliance audits. It deals exclusively on regulatory compliance.

Hazardous waste regulations

– Identification, Packaging, Storage, Waste minimization, Emergency
preparation, Employee training, present method of waste disposal, Record
keeping, and reporting.

Past disposal of hazardous waste

– Release notification procedures, Remedial investigations and actions.

Emergency planning requirements

– Emergency response planning, Emergency release reporting, Hazardous chemical
inventory, Toxic chemical releases.
Air pollution regulations
Permitting Record keeping and reporting.

Water pollution regulations

Spill prevention and control plans, Facility controls, Discharge permitting,
Sampling analysis.

Underground storage tanks

Registration notifications, Testing inventory control incidents.

Solid waste regulations

Permitting Record keeping and reporting.
 Management Audit
• A management audits determines whether an adequate compliance
management system is established, implemented and used correctly to
integrate environmental compliance into everyday operating procedures.
• audit examines cultural,
• management and operational elements to include
internal policies,
• human resources training programs,
• budgeting and planning, systems, monitoring, reporting
systems, and
• information management systems.
 Management Audit cont…

• A management audit detects potential systematic breakdowns that could

manifest themselves as environmental problems.

• Management audit is a traditional audit evolved as a method to verify

whether o a facility has instituted adequate procedures, allocated
sufficient resources, and installed necessary systems to comply with
environmental regulations.

• What is the management presently doing?

• Can the management do it better and cheaply?
• What more the management should do?
These questions need to be answered in the
management audit.
 Benefits of EA
• Provides information on compliance with environmental legislation,
there by highlighting potential areas for improvement and reducing
the risk of a company being accused of negligence.

• Facilitates comparison and exchange of information within and

between companies, allows benchmarking between sites.

• External audits provide an independent opinion of the performance

of an industrial facility and identifies areas which require attention,
from either compliance or good management practice perspectives.

• Generates valuable data for regional or national state-of-

environment reports;
• Can increase public awareness about a company’s environmental
performance and may encourage public involvement in environmental
management of a company;

• Increase awareness of company management and personal about

environmental issues, regulatory requirements, company policies and
potential liabilities;

• Can identifies cost recovery and saving opportunities through

minimisation of wastes, recycling, energy saving, reduction in use of raw
materials, sale of byproducts, etc.;

• Supports and assists in fostering more open relations between the

company and the authorities, by providing information about the kind of
procedures adopted and company environmental performance.