Distillieries - Environmental Clearance

Operational Aspects of an EIA4.4.3 Impact prediction toolsThe scientific and technical credibility of an EIA relies on the ability of the EIApractitioners to estimate the nature, extent, and magnitude of change in environmentalcomponents that may result from project activities. Information about predicted changesis needed for assigning impact significance, prescribing mitigation measures, anddesigning and developing EMPs and monitoring programs. The more accurate thepredictions, the more confident the EIA practitioner will be in prescribing specificmeasures to eliminate or minimize the adverse impacts of development project.Choice of models/methods for impact predictions in respect to air, noise, water, land,biological and socio-economic environment are tabulated in Annexure X.4.4.4 Significance of the impactsEvaluating the significance of environmental effects is perhaps the most criticalcomponent of impact analysis. More than other components, however, the interpretationof significance is also a contentious process. The interpretation of significance bearsdirectly on the subsequent EIA process and also during environmental clearance onproject approvals and condition setting. At an early stage, it also enters into screening andscoping decisions on what level of assessment is required and which impacts and issueswill be addressed.Impact significance is also a key to choosing among alternatives. In total, the attributionof significance continues throughout the EIA process, from scoping to EIS review, in agradually narrowing “cone of resolution” in which one stage sets up the next. But at thisstage it is the most important as better understanding and quantification of impactsignificance is required.One common approach is based on determination of the significance of predicted changesin the baseline environmental characteristics and compares these with reference toregulatory standards, objective criteria and similar ‘thresholds’ as eco-sensitivity, cultural/religious values. Often, these are outlined in guidance. A better test proposed by theCEAA (1995) is to determine if ‘residual’ environmental effects are adverse, significant,and likely (given under). But at this stage, the practice of formally evaluatingsignificance of residual impacts, i.e., after predicting the nature and magnitude of impactsbased on before-versus-after-project comparisons, and identifying measures to mitigatethese effects is not being followed in a systematic way.Step 1: Are the environmental effects adverse?Criteria for determining if effects are “adverse” include:Effects on biota healthEffects on rare or endangered speciesReductions in species diversityHabitat lossTransformation of natural landscapesEffects on human healthEffects on current use of lands and resources for traditional purposes by aboriginalpersons; andForeclosure of future resource use or productionTGM for Distillery Industry August 20104-25