Seven steps in conducting EIA on a project

1. Description of the project

• Description of actual project and site description
• Break the project down into its key components, ie construction, operations, decommissioning
• For each component list all of the sources of environmental disturbance
• For each component all the inputs and outputs must be listed, e.g, air pollution, noise, hydrology

2. Alternatives that have been considered

• Examine alternatives that have been considered
• Example: in a biomass power station, will the fuel be sourced locally or nationally?

3. Description of the environment

• List of all aspects of the environment that may be effected by the development
• Example: populations, fauna, flora, air, soil, water, humans, landscape, cultural heritage
• This section is best carried out with the help of local experts

4. Description of the significant effects on the environment

• The word significant is crucial here as the definition can vary
• 'Significant' needs to be defined
• The most frequent method used here is use of the Leopold matrix
• The matrix is a tool used in the systematic examination of potential interactions
• Example: in a windfarm development a significant impact may be collisions with birds

5. Mitigation

• This is where EIA is most useful
• Once section 4 has been completed it will be obvious where the impacts will be greatest
• Using this information ways to avoid negative impacts should be developed
• Best working with the developer with this section as they know the project best
• Using the windfarm example again construction could be out of bird nesting seasons

6. Non-technical summary (EIS)

• The EIA will be in the public domain and be used in the decision making process
• It is important that the information is available to the public
• This section is a summary that does not include jargon or complicated diagrams
• It should be understood by the informed lay-person

7. Lack of know-how/technical difficulties

• This section is to advise any areas of weakness in knowledge
• It can be used to focus areas of future research
• Some developers see the EIA as a starting block for good environmental management