Impact Analysis of Ecological factors

This section addresses the basic concept and methodological approach of

conducting a scientifically based analysis of the potential impacts of proposed
project and activities on ecological factors.

Soil and Groundwater Environment

Air Environment

Noise Environment

Surface Water Environment

Biological Environment

Cultural & Social Aspect

Air Environment
Different developmental activities (both exiting and proposed) will add pollutants into the
atmosphere or can change the condition of weather and climate, which may have adverse
effect on living beings, materials, buildings, etc

Air Pollution:
The presence of one or more pollutants (contaminants ) in the outdoor atmosphere in such
quantities and of such duration as may cause discomfort, disease, or death to humans,
damage other living organisms such as food crops, or damage the natural
environment or built environment.
e.g. Sox, Nox, Oxidants, H2S, PM, Smoke, etc

Photochemical smog Acid rain Global warming

Air Environment
Sources of Air Pollutants
Air Environment
Air Environment
Effects of Air Pollutants

Humans Plants Animals

Buildings Buildings Aesthetics

 Conceptual Approach for Addressing Air Environmental
Impacts

• Identification of Air Quantity- Quality Impacts of Proposed Project

Step1

• Description of existing Air Environmental Condition

Step 2

• Procurement of relevant Air Quantity– Quality Standards/ guidelines

Step 3

• Impact Prediction
Step 4

• Assessment of Impact Significance

Step 5

• Identification and Incorporation of mitigation measures

Step 6
Step1
Identification of Air Quantity- Quality Impacts of Proposed Project

Identify types and quantities of air pollutants/ disturbances

• Emission Factor: average rate at which pollutant is released as a result of some

activity

e.g. Quantity of fugitive dust emission from unpaved road per vehicle mile traveled

 S  365  w 
E  (0.81s)  
 30  365 
Where s= silt content of road surface material (%)
S= Average vehicle speed in mile/ hr
W= mean annual number of days with 0.01inch (0.254mm) or more rainfall
Step 2 Preparation of description of existing Air Environmental Condition

Description of environmental setting

Air
Compilation of air quality info

Development of emission inventory

Key metrological data

Dept.: CPCB, SPCB, Indian Metrological department, Agriculture,

 • Procurement of relevant Air Quantity– Quality Standards
Step 3

Procurement of relevant laws, regulations, criteria, policies, ambient air quality

standards

• Impact Prediction
Step 4

Mass balance

Box Model Approach

Air-Quality Dispersion Modelling Approach

Mass balance:
 Development of new emission inventory due to proposed project
 Assessing the % increase in emission due to proposed project:

Box Model Approach:

Qt
C
xyz
Where C= average concentration of gas/ particulates (<20 μm) throughout box in μg/m3

Q= Release rate of gas/ particulates in μg/s

t= time period for uniform mixing (1hr)

x, y, z= downwind, crosswind, vertical dimension of box in ‘m’

Air-Quality Dispersion Modelling Approach::

 Manual calculation model
 Computer Model
Manual calculation model
a) Elevated point source model: (Industrial Stack)

Q   H2 y 2 
C x , y ,o  exp    
 y z u   2 z 2 y 
2 2

Where Cx,y,o = ground level concentration of gas/ particulates (<20 μm) at distance x downwind from source
and distance y crosswind in μg/m3
Q= Release rate of gas/ particulates in μg/s
σy =Horizontal dispersion co-efficient which represents amount of plume spreading in crosswind
direction at distance x downwind from source
σz =vertical dispersion co-efficient which represents amount of plume spreading in vertical
direction at distance x downwind from source
u= mean wind speed in m/s
H=effective stack height

b) Ground level point source model: (small incinerators)

Q   y 2 
C x , y ,o  exp   
 y z u   2 y 
2
c) Area source model: (open burning, wind erosion)

Q
C x , y ,o 
 ( y   yo ) z u
2 2

Where Cx,o,o = ground level concentration of gas/ particulates (<20 μm) at distance x downwind
from source and distance y crosswind in μg/m3
σyo =one-forth of emission width of area or line source along axis which coincides with
direction

Computer Model

Most of the computer model are based on Gaussian plume dispersion concept, which enable to
predict ground level concentration of pollutant several kilometer from the source
E.g.
– APRAC: It is a Stanford Research Institutes Urban Carbon Monoxide Model
– CDM: Climatological Dispersion Model determines longterm pollutant concentration at
ground level
 • Assessment of Impact Significance
Step 5

Assessing the significance of impacts in terms of magnitude and location based on

the pertinent laws/ regulation, professional judgment and public input

• Identification and Incorporation of mitigation measures

Step 6

Limiting the open burning of crop residues Water spraying to prevent wind erosion
 Soil stabilization chemicals

Wind breaks

Traffic control
Emission control tech
Air pollution control equipments for point source of emission

Electrostatic Precipitator

Catalytic Incineration
Venturi Scrubber Carbon adsorption
Water Environment
Water Environment
Many types of projects, plans, or programs have impact implications for surface-water
environment (rivers, lakes, estuaries or oceans)

Ind. using surface water Water used by cooling towers

Ind. wastewater STP wastewater

Domestic wastewater Solid waste disposal

Domestic wastewater Dredging activity

Surface mining Hydraulic structures

Deforestation Non-point source

Water Environment
Surface-Water Quality Parameters

Water quality refers to the chemical, physical and biological characteristics of water

Physical indicators: Water Temperature, Specifics Conductance or EC, Electrical

Conductance, Conductivity, Total suspended solids (TSS), Transparency
or Turbidity, Total dissolved solids (TDS), Odor of water, Color of water, Taste of
water

Chemical indicators: pH, Biochemical oxygen demand (BOD), Chemical oxygen

demand (COD), Dissolved oxygen (DO), Total hardness (TH), Heavy metals,
Nitrate, Orthophosphates, Pesticides, Surfactants

Biological indicators: bacteriological parameters such as coliform, pathogens and

viruses
Water Environment
Effects of Water Scarcity

Agriculture Water supply

Water supply Livestocks

Water Environment
Effects of Water Scarcity

Fish death Colour

Diseases Algae
 Conceptual Approach for Addressing Surface-Water
Environmental Impacts

• Identification of Surface water Quantity- Quality Impacts of Proposed Project

Step1

• Preparation of description of existing Surface water resources Condition

Step 2

• Procurement of relevant Surface water Quantity– Quality Standards

Step 3

• Impact Prediction
Step 4

• Assessment of Impact Significance

Step 5

• Identification and Incorporation of mitigation measures

Step 6
 • Identification of Surface-Water Quantity- Quality Impacts of Proposed Project
Step1

Determine the features of the proposed project

Method of impact identification by using checklist, network or matrices method

Literature review

Water quantity usage for different purpose and its variation with time

• Preparation of description of existing Surface water resources Condition

Step 2

Compilation of water quantity-quality information

Highlighting key climatological information

Summary of pollution source and water uses

Dept: CPCB, SPCB, Water resources dept., Irrigation dept., Industrial Area Development
Authority, GSI, IMD, NRSC, etc
 • Procurement of relevant Water Quantity– Quality Standards
Step 3

Procurement of relevant laws, regulations, criteria, policies, ambient air quality

standards
Step 3 • Impact Prediction
Step 4

Literature review

Laboratory experiments: leachate testing, chronic-toxicity testing, tracer study

Mass-balance approach

Modelling Approach: QUAL-IIE, CREAMS, GLEAMS, SWMM, HEC-SQ

• Assessment of Impact Significance

Step 5

Assessing the significance of impacts in terms of magnitude and location based on

the pertinent laws/ regulation, professional judgment and public input
 • Identification and Incorporation of mitigation measures
Step 6

RWH Reduce leaks

Drip/ Sprinkler Irrigation STP/CETP

IPM

Constructed wetlands

Constructed wetlands Cooling towers Oxygen diffusers

Noise Environment
Noise can be defined as unwanted sound or sound in wrong place at wrong time.

Noise pollution effects are giving so many negative impacts on the human health,
animals, structures.

Elevated workplace or other noise can cause hearing impairment,

hypertension, ischemic heart disease, annoyance, and sleep disturbance. Changes in
the immune system and birth defects have been attributed to noise exposure

Sound pressure level (SPL) or sound level is a logarithmic measure of the effective
sound pressure of a sound relative to a reference value. It is measured
in decibels (dB) above a standard reference level.
Examples of common sounds in Decibels
Noise Environment
Causes of Noise Pollution

Pumps Compressors

Industry Industry
Military training activity

Helicopter Fighter jets

Tanks Firing
 Traffic Construction

Demolition/Repair Airplane
 Conceptual Approach for Addressing Noise Environmental
Impacts

• Identification of Noise Quantity- Quality Impacts of Proposed Project

Step1

• Preparation of description of existing Noise level Condition

Step 2

• Procurement of relevant Noise Quantity– Quality Standards

Step 3

• Impact Prediction
Step 4

• Assessment of Impact Significance

Step 5

• Identification and Incorporation of mitigation measures

Step 6
Step1
• Identification of Noise Quantity- Quality Impacts of Proposed Project
 Preparation of description of existing Noise Environmental Condition
Step 2

It is necessary to delineate the study area considering the area of noise influence

Primary info include:

 Noise levels and noise sources within study area
 Land use
 Population distribution

Develop noise inventory, which can be used as baseline marker

Dept.: CPCB, SPCB, Industrial Area Development Authority, Private industries

If data are not available then

 Literature review
 Field monitoring
 Preparation of description of existing Noise Environmental Condition
Step 2
 • Procurement of relevant Noise Quality Standards
Step 3

Procurement of relevant laws, regulations, criteria, policies, ambient Noise quality

standards
 • Impact Prediction
Step 4
Step 3
Calculating the % increase in noise inventory

Simple noise-attenuation models

r2
Sound  Level1  Sound  Level 2  20 log
r1

Where level 1 & 2= station 1 and 2

r1 and r2= radius

Simple model for specific source type

Modelling Approach: INM, ASAN, HNM, NOISEMAP

 • Assessment of Impact Significance
Step 5

Assessing the significance of impacts in terms of magnitude and location based

on the pertinent laws/ regulation, professional judgment and public input

• Identification and Incorporation of mitigation measures

Step 6

Valley training Enclosed firing

 Sound Insulation

Sound Insulation
Noise Barrier Noise Barrier
Noise Barrier