Environmental Assessment and Management

https://pk.boell.org/2017/12/26/current-state-environmental-impact-assessments-eias-pakistan-
and-way-forward
https://www.soas.ac.uk/cedep-demos/000_P507_EA_K3736-Demo/unit1/page_14.htm

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

It’s a tool to identify Environmental, Social and Economic impacts of a project prior to decision-
making – UNEP
OR
An environmental study comprising collection of data, prediction of qualitative and quantitative
impacts, comparison of alternatives, evaluation of preventative, mitigating and compensatory
measures, formulation of environmental management and training plans and monitoring
arrangements, and framing recommendations and such other components as may be prescribed
Process is iterative, not linear
Developer should provide EIA to EPA (Environmental Protection Agency)

History in Pakistan
Forest Act 1927
Factories Act 1934
Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance (PEPO) 1983
Pakistan Environmental Protection Act (PEPA) 1997

EIA Process (stages)

Project Proposal – SSBI-IMEE – EIA follow-up
1. Screening
2. Scoping
3. Baseline Data Collection
4. Impact Prediction
5. Impact Assessment
6. Mitigation
7. Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)
8. EIS Review
Advantages
Promotes public participation, thus increasing transparency
Informs decision makers
Lays the base for environmentally sound projects
Compares alternatives – thus ensures the optimal use of resources

Public Participation
Consultation and participation have formed an integral part of the EIA process since its inception
and most EIA systems make some provision for the involvement of the public. The public have a
democratic right to be informed about projects that will affect the environment in which they live
and to voice their concerns. There is growing acceptance that increased consultation and
participation can produce significant benefits for both the project proponent and those affected.
A non-technical summary is often produced for wider distribution. Public meetings, exhibitions,
and displays also provide a means of disseminating information to the public.

Recommendation
Translation of EIA documents in local or regional language should be made available when the
need arises.
Public hearings are required to be published in the area affected by the project (Section 10
Regulations 2000), and should be conducted in regional languages, to be accessible to a larger
group of stakeholders. Public hearings are an integral part of the EIA process and therefore should
be well advertised and held at an accessible venue, to ensure public awareness and increase
participation.

Current issues with EIAs in Pakistan

1. Lack of institutional coordination at provincial level – also lack of direction of policy from
Federal govt, especially, related to projects with trans-boundary impacts
2. Lack of resources to provincial EPAs + lack of quality & competence of personnel
3. Political influence on EPAs to bypass the environmental legislation for business
development in the country
4. Language of EIA is English – public unaware of understanding it + unable to read
recommendations + Public hearings are also in English
5. Delay of decision = 2500 pending EPAs + EPA has 120 days, if not decided then proponent
expects, it’s good to go + lack of monitoring by EPAs when conditions in EIAs are not
being met

Recommendations
Better human resources + improved financial resources
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
Prior examination and appraisal of Policies, Plans, and Programmes (in which environmental
considerations are integrated) and other higher level or pre-project initiatives