Environmental Impact Assessment

Tools and Techniques

Session 2: Tools for Conducting EIAs

Green Recovery And Reconstruction: Training Toolkit For Humanitarian Aid

Tools for Conducting EIAs

Do any of you have knowledge of or experience with
EIAs?
We will look at several tools:
Flash Environmental Assessment Tool (FEAT)
Environmental Needs Assessment in Post-Disaster
Situations (UNEP)
Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment in Disasters
(REA)
Environmental Stewardship Review for Humanitarian
Aid (WWF & American Red Cross)
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Flash Environmental Assessment

Tool (FEAT)

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Environmental Needs Assessment in

Post-Disaster Situations (UNEP)
Identifies environmental impacts and risks caused by
the crisis and relief operations as well as potential
environmental pressures of relief efforts
See the text for additional goals of this tool (Sec. 4.4)

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Rapid Environmental Impact Assessment in

Disasters (REA)
REA is a rapid assessment tool to:
Identify,
Define, and
Prioritize environmental issues in
disaster situations threatening
HUMAN LIFE & WELFARE so that
their effects can be minimized

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The REA is
Simple and rapid

Designed for use in natural, technological and/or

political disasters
A useful way to organize and make sense of
environmental information available in disasters
A consensus-based qualitative assessment
process
Used to identify follow-up actions during a
disaster ( Not a tool which provides answers
on how to resolve environmental issues)
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REA and EIA

REA does not replace an Environmental Impact
Assessment
REA fills a gap when an EIA process cant be used
(disasters, rapidly changing situations).

REA results can serve as a scoping assessment for

an EIA
REA results can set a baseline for EIA data analysis

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Environmental Stewardship
Review for Humanitarian Aid
The purpose of this worksheet is to assist humanitarian staff improve project performance by identifying
and addressing environmental sustainability issues. Use of this worksheet is consistent with
SPHERE Standard #6. Include a completed worksheet with the project file.
A.

Project Information
Implementing Agency: ________________________ Project Title:_________________________
Project Location: ________________________________________________________________
Project Coordinator: ______________________________________________________________
Environmental Stewardship Review completed by: ________________________Date: _________

B.

Project Objectives (Describe the objectives you seek to accomplish by pursuing the proposed
project. What needs will the project be designed to address? This can be cut and pasted from
proposal.)
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________

C.

C. Project Description (Provide a brief description of the proposed project. This can be cut and
pasted from proposal.)

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ESR Methodology
See Annex 2 in your module content paper.
Step A: Project Information
Step B: Project Objectives
Step C: Project Description
Step D: Coordination
Step E: Environmental Issues Matrix
Step F: Other Information
Step G: Determine Need for Additional Studies
Step H: Take Action!
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Steps A C: Review Project Aim and

Options
Step A is basic information to identify the project and
key people
Step B: Project Objectives: to reexamine the activities
that are planned to achieve the projects aim with an
eye towards capitalizing on environmental
opportunities and reducing environmental impacts.
What kinds of questions might you ask here?
Step C: Project Description is a brief description of the
project

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Step D: Consultation and

Environmental Information Gathering

The purpose of Step D: Coordination is to clarify the

following:
What are the environmental issues that may be
associated with the project
Laws that apply to the project
Alternative ways to achieve project objectives to
reduce negative environmental impacts
The cultural, government, and environmental setting
of the project to ensure project sustainability

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Who/what are the key sources of predisaster baseline information?

List your ideas:
Environmental profiles for the country/region
Satellite images and maps
Project reports from national and international environmental
agencies
Local knowledge on natural resource management
Previous environment-related assessments
Specific databases, for example, if a national park or marine
reserve in within the affected area, specific reports will likely be
available
Wildlife and fisheries management plans
Housing and related development plans
Land tenure records
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Steps E F: Environmental Impact

Assessment
Environmental Issue
This column
asks
questions
related to key
envir. issues.

Yes
To
answer
This column
suggests
ways to
obtain the
information

Will the project Review

result in the
project
emission of air proposal.
pollutants
Consult
(e.g., smoke,
local natural
resources
gases, dust
department
particles)?

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No

Not
sure

If Yes, then
Guidance on
how to
address the
environmental

issue

Action Taken
This column provides
space to identify what
further action needs to
be taken to address the
environmental issue.

Consider
alternate
activities
which
generate
lower
emissions..

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Step G: Determine Need for

Additional Studies
Can the ESR adequately evaluate a project in terms of:

Size and scale of the project

Uncertain and potentially significant environmental
risks

Cumulative impact.
If not, the ESR must recommend additional studies be
undertaken.

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Step H: Design Mitigation Measures

and Take Action
Consider actions to be taken. Ask:

Does the project need to be changed in order to

protect people, communities, and the environment? If
so, how?
Should the project be cancelled?
What specific actions are needed to take advantage of
environmental opportunities and minimize potential
negative impacts?

List your action recommendations in this table.

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References for Potential

Environmental Activities
The Environmental Issues Matrix (Step E) offers
specific suggestions on how to address issues:
Annex 3: Environmental impacts to be considered in
an EIA
Annex 4.1: IUCNs Environmental Field Manual offers
a number of ideas for mitigating the environmental
impacts of various response activities
Annex 4.2: Essential Guidance for Humanitarian
Actors (Leaflet Humanitarian Action and the
Environment, OCHA-UNEP

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Participant Experience

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http://www.trinity.edu/org/ics/lunch.jpg

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