| 
Environmental
Impact Assessment
nvironmental
Impact Assessment (EIA) is a systematic process
initiated at the planning stage for predicting
all the beneficial and adverse impacts that
any developmental activity is likely to have
upon environment, and then formulating mitigatory
measures to reduce altogether or at least
minimize the harmful effects of that developmental
activity on the environment. EIA helps in
efficient use of resources, optimizing capital
costs in longer term and aiding a balanced
decision making process that result in sustainable
development.
Initial Environmental Examination (lEE) is
also an environmental assessment technique
similar to EIA but relatively narrows in scope
and applied on moderately significant projects.
The EIA unit of EPA-NWFP comprises of a full
time Deputy Director, Monitoring Inspector
and the clerical support staff. The major
function of the EIA unit is to ensure the
implementation of Section 12 of the Act 1997,
which states, "No proponent of a project
shall commence construction or operation unless
he has filed with the Government Agency ,
where the project is likely to cause an adverse
environmental effects an Environmental Impact
Assessment, and has Obtained from the Government
Agency approval in respect thereof."
EIA/IEE Regulation, 2000
Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency Notified
the IEE/EIA Regulations 2000 wherein details
regarding the filing, review and approval/rejection
process of the lEE and EIA Reports is specified.
IEE/EIA Regulations 2000, also comprises of
two schedules namely Schedule – I, i.e.
the projects requiring submission of lEE and
Schedule –II, i.e. the projects requiring
submission of EIA Report.
Guidelines for Developers:
The Federal Ministry of Environment, Government
of Pakistan has notified general and
sectoral guidelines, to guide and inform developers
regarding preparation of lEE and EIA studies/reports.
Theses are:-
1. General EIA
Guidelines
• Policy and Procedures for the Filing,
Review and approval of Environmental Assessments
• Guidelines for the Preparation and
Review of Environmental Reports
• Guidelines for Public Consutation
• Guidelines for Sensitive and Critical
Areas
• Pakistan Environmental Legislation
and the NEQS
2. Sectoral
Guidelines
• Major Thermal Power Station
• Major Chemical and Manufacturing Plants
• Muncipal Waste Disposal
• New Township Development
• Oil and Gas exploration and production
• Major Roads
• Water Supply Projects
• Sewerage Schemes
• Industrial Estates
3. Environmental
Assessment Checklist and Guidelilnes
The Environmental Protection Agency, NWFP
in collaboration with IUCN - SPCS Support
Program, has also developed Environmental
Assessment Checklists & Guidelines for
small scale projects in NWFP which does not
fall under Schedule I or II of the IEE/EIA
Regulations. The main objective of developing
these guidelines was to control the predicted
environmental pollution that is likely to
be resulted from small scale development activities
in the province. These guidelines are available
with EPA, NWFP and are provided to the proponent
on request for their guidance and information.
Agriculture
Sector
o Construction of water reservoirs in arid
zones
o Construction and lining of water courses
o Use of pesticides in the context of integrated
pest management (IPM)
o Tube well construction for irrigation purpose
Urban
Environment Sector
o Small and medium size road construction
in urban areas
o Small to medium size water supply and sanitation
schemes
o Canal cleaning and desiltation in urban
areas
o Development of small housing schemes
o Construction or expansion of bus stands
and terminals
Forestry Sector
o Road construction in forest covered areas
o Timber harvesting
o Plantation of various species
o Construction of buildings in environmentally
sensitive areas
Industrial
Sector
o Establishment and operation of petrol and
CNG stations
o Establishment and operation of marble and
stone crushing units
o Establishment and operation of brick kiln
units
o Establishment and operation of flour mills
o Establishment and operation of carpet manufacturing
units
o Establishment and operation of poultry farms
Functions
of EIA Unit:
Although, carrying out lEE or EIA is mandatory
according to PEPA 1997 and IEE/EIA Regulations
2000, but mainly due to unawareness of the
general public, most of the developmental
projects are implemented without complying
by the erstwhile regulations. Therefore, in
most of the cases EPA NWFP remains unaware
about the on-ground situation. Nevertheless
these legal lacunas are covered by other institutions/organizations
e.g. the Sui- Gas Department requires an Environmental
Approval by EPA for supply of Gas connection
to an industry, similarly most of the banks
and international donor agencies link their
financial assistance with compliance of Environmental
Regulations. In this way a proponent has to
inform EPA, NWFP directly or indirectly before
implementing any project, and has to comply
by IEE/EIA
Regulations.
EPA NWFP is also represented in District Development
Working Party (DDWP) and Provincial Development
Working Party (PDWP), thus keeping a check
on the environmental aspects of the public
sector development program.
The major functions of EIA unit are:-
• Review of IEE/EIA reports by itself
and through sectoral experts
• Field visits for assessment &
monitoring
• Holding Public Hearings under Section
10 of the IEE/EIA Regulations 2000, for redressing
the grievances/complaints of the general public
arising from any developmental activity
• Approval or Rejection of Developmental
Projects based on their beneficial or adverse
environmental impacts
• Reviewing/advising various public
and private sector organizations on various
environmental policies & issues
• Issuance of No Objection Certificates
(NOC) to small scale projects that does not
fall under IEE/EIA Regulations
Besides the above main functions, the EIA
unit is also responsible for preparing &
coordinating the Annual Development Program
(ADP) allocations for EPA, NWFP.
Environmental Approval of Major Projects
EPA, NWFP is actively engaged in the cause
of environmental protection and simultaneously
it is contributing to the development sphere
of the province. EP A, NWFP has so far approved
41 major projects for which, lEE or EIA reports
were submitted by the developers/proponent.
(List of Approved Projects)
|
