Various EIA Methods

- Ad Hoc
EIA methods – how can you do it? - Checklists
- Matrices
- Weighting/Scaling
- Overlays
- Networks
EIA
UNIT
EIA
UNIT

Functions of EIA Methods Ad Hoc

Impact Identification No structure

Impact Prediction Brainstorming
Impact Interpretation Basis for other methods?
Communication of Information More effective the wider the consultation
Devising Monitoring Schemes

EIA
UNIT
EIA
UNIT

1
 Terrestrial ecosystems

a) Are there any terrestrial ecosystems of the

types listed below which, by nature of their
size, abundance or type, could be classified
as significant or unique?
Forest? Yes____ No____ Unk____
Savanna? Yes____ No____ Unk____

Checklists b)
Grassland?
Desert?
Are these ecosystems:
Yes____
Yes____
No____
No____
Unk____
Unk____

Pristine? Yes____ No____ Unk____

Moderately degraded? Yes____ No____ Unk____
Severely degraded? Yes____ No____ Unk____
c) Are there present trends towards alteration of

Simple checklists these ecosystems through cutting, burning,

etc. to produce agricultural, industrial, or
urban land? Yes____ No____ Unk____
d) Does the lo cal population use these

Descriptive checklists ecosystems to obtain non -domesticated:

Food plants? Yes____ No____ Unk____

- Suggests prediction techniques Medicinal plants?

Wood products?
Fibre?
Fur?
Food Animals?
Yes____
Yes____
Yes____
Yes____
Yes____
No____
No____
No____
No____
No____
Unk____
Unk____
Unk____
Unk____
Unk____

Scaling checklist e) Will the project require clearing or alteration of:

Small areas of land in these ecosystems? Yes____ No____ Unk____

- Forces interpretation by including

Moderate areas of land in these ecosystems? Yes____ No____ Unk____
Large areas of land in these ecosystems? Yes____ No____ Unk____
f) Does the project rely on any raw materials
(wood, fibre) from these ecosystems? Yes____ No____ Unk____

“thresholds of concern” g) Will the project decrease use of products from

these ecosystems by producing or providing
substitute materials? Yes____ No____ Unk____
h) Will the project cause increased population

Questionnaire checklist growth in the area, bringing about increased

stress on the ecosystem? Yes____ No____ Unk____

EIA
UNIT
- Gives rough idea of impacts EIA
UNIT
Estimated impact on terrestrial ecosystems
ND..HA..MA..LA..O..LB..MB..HB

where ND = not determinable HA = high adverse MA = medium adverse

LA = low adverse O = low or insignificant LB = low benefit
MB = medium benefit HB = high benefit

Matrices

Leopold matrix
Simple matrix
Component interaction matrix

EIA
UNIT
EIA
UNIT

2
 Option 1 Option 2

4 Magnitude 3
Impact 1
5 Significance 6

10 8
Impact 2
2 8

Sum = 21 Sum = 25
EIA
UNIT
EIA
UNIT

Component Interaction Matrices CIM - First order impacts

A B C D 1 A B C D E F
Legend

These are unidirectional effects

First order impacts
A
A B 2
B
This impact can occur in either direction
C
D
A B C D B depends on A
A depends on B
This a model E C depends on B
system for which 3
the effects are D depends on C
EIA separated into EIA F D also depends on F
UNIT cause and effect by UNIT
the Component E depends on B
Interaction Matrix E F F depends on E

3
 CIM - Second order impacts CIM – Third & fourth order impacts
Legend Legend
A B C D E F A B C D E F
First order impacts First order impacts
A A
Second order impacts Second order impacts
B B
Third order impacts
C C
Fourth order impacts
D D
A depends on A (via B) Third order:
E E D depends on A (via B and C)
B depends on B (via A)

F C depends on A (via B) F D also depends on B (via E and F)

D depends on B (via C) F depends on A (via E and B)

EIA
UNIT
D also depends on E (via F) EIA
UNIT
E depends on A (via B) Fourth order:

F depends on B (via E) D depends on A (via B, E and F)

Weighting/scaling

Weighting:
- Determining value
Scaling
- Using common units
Environmental Evaluation System
EIA
UNIT
EIA
UNIT

4
EIA
UNIT
EIA
UNIT

Overlays

McHarg overlays
Geographical Information Systems (GIS)

EIA
UNIT
EIA
UNIT

5
EIA
UNIT
EIA
UNIT

Remobilisation
Reduction in fish of toxins
populations Disturbance to
Networks Fish gills
birds/mammals
Disturbance of
sediment Noise
Need big sheet of paper! Suspended
Benthic matter
Excellent for indirect impacts invertebrates
Marine Material rejected
Excellent for interlinkages Spawning
overboard
grounds Dredging

Removal of
substrate Current flow

EIA
UNIT
EIA
UNIT Beach drawdown