CHAPTER SIX: ENVIRONMENTAL

AND SOCIAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Charles B. Niwagaba (PhD)

Associate Professor
[email protected]; [email protected]
Telephone: +256 772 335477
Office: Room 1008 CEDAT New Building

Chapter Six, Lecture One; 11/09/2024

 Order of the Presentation
• Rationale and Motivation
• What is Environment and what are its
components?
• What is EIA/ESIA?
• Why do we do ESIA?
• At what stage do we do it, in comparison with
a typical Water Project Cycle?
• What are the steps in the ESIA?
• What would be your role in ESIA?
• How do you get information for ESIA or what
to look out for when reviewing EIA/ESIA?
 RATIONALE AND
MOTIVATION
In relation to Environment, Health, and Safety

3
 INTRODUCTION
• Generally, on sites, you often hear of staff/
professionals designated as:
– ESHS
– OSHE,
– OSH,
– EHS,
– HSE,
– SHE,
– SHEQ

• BUT Why are they there and what do they do?

Sensitive ecosystems
If sensitive ecosystems are not
protected, we get among others,….

6
 Project preparatory activities, e.g. geotechnical
investigations could harm the environment
 If unprepared for this work, and a snakebite happens?
 Time between a poisonous snakebite and treatment is critical!
 You can lose a life, if unprepared for such an eventuality!
 Therefore, what should people have, when doing such work?
 Harm to environment during construction will be
reduced through planning – ESIA documentation

 Clearance for
construction
works – e.g.
minimising
biodiversity
loss...
 ESIA MUST
document this,
and how to
monitor this.
 Case of Nambigirwa Bridge;
Kampala - Entebbe Expressway

 Is this an environmental design?

 1.5km long; with 240 piles (120 on either side)
 What if the Engineer designed a rock fill with box culverts, and later,
NEMA suggested the design to be supported on pillars?
 How would the cost change?
 Would the Engineer pull this out, without a variation?
 What if there is no money to vary the contract, up to 3 times or more
on this section? 9
 Public health issues are key
 Can contaminate water on site depending on storage!
 Use of one cup by many people can spread diseases!

 Food preparation
 Drinking water
 Ergonomics etc
 Why ESHS?
• In construction, we deal with many hazards.
• They arise from the MEEPS;
 Materials, e.g. solids, liquids, gases;
 Equipment, e.g. machinery, tools, devices;
 Environment, e.g. temperature, workstation design etc;
 People, e.g. employees, guests, contractors, etc;
 System, e.g. flawed policies, plans, procedures etc.

• Let’s consider a hazardous material such as

cement.
Lets take an example of Cement (1)
 Cement is common in concrete, mortar, plaster, etc.
Cement causes burns and irritations.
 Cement causes burns due to exposure to wet cement
– causes a dry skin (pain, swelling, itching, redness,
blisters etc); and long term exposure can cause irritant
contact dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis.
 On the pH scale of 0 to 14; cement is extremely
alkaline with a pH of about 12 or 13. Human skin has
a pH of about 4.5 (acidic).
 The pH scale is logarithmic. That means that every
single unit increase raises the pH tenfold. Thus, the
pH of cement is about 1 billion higher than skin pH.
12
13
Lets take an example of Cement (2)
 As cement is really problematic and common on
nearly all construction sites, use PPE e.g. gloves and
boots for protection. After work, wash prior to going
home. Therefore, not only should changing rooms be
provided on sites, but also bathrooms/bathing shelters
with bathing water for the workers to bathe and clean
up after work.
 When using soap to wash off cement, use acid/near
neutral soap. However, most soaps are alkaline!
 Use moisturizers on clean skin and NOT lotions on a
dirty skin as these will seal the skin pores.
Do you see why bathing and changing places
are necessary at workers’ campsite??????? 14
 Lets return to environment and its
components
• We define the environment as the sum of all
external conditions that affect the life, development
and survival of an organism.

• Generally, environment refers to the biological,

physical and social things on the earth or in
inhabitable space outside the earth's atmosphere.

• The Human environment can be interpreted to

comprehensively include the natural and built up
environment and man’s relationship with that
environment.
 INTRODUCTION
• In general, we can refer to environment as:
– AIR,
– WATER, and
– LAND
• Therefore in environmental impact studies, we
want to study how to mitigate against/manage
the impacts of our actions/projects on the above.
• Impacts (or effects) include ecological (natural
resources and the components, structure, and
functioning of the ecosystem), aesthetic, historic,
social, economic and health effects.
INTRODUCTION
• Impacts may be:
– Direct: caused by the action and occur at the
same time and place as the action e.g.,
displacement of persons for dam and reservoir
construction.
– Indirect: caused by action but may occur in a
different place at another time, although still
reasonably foreseeable e.g., the sinking of
borehole lowers the water table, which may result
in die-off of vegetation miles away.
– Cumulative: caused by the incremental impact of
the action when added to other past, present and
reasonably foreseeable future actions, regardless
of what agency or person undertakes such
actions. The continued action of the project
compounds the present or future impact.
 • To understand cumulative impacts, lets take
the example below

• Bioaccumulation is the selective absorption and storage of a great variety

of molecules - toxins that are rather dilute in the environment can reach
dangerous levels inside cells and tissues through bioaccumulation.
• Biomagnification the process whereby the effects of toxins are magnified
(increase) and thereby their concentration is increased in the environment
through food chains.
Why the cause for concern? Environmental
degradation, is linked to climate change!
• As an example, the IPCC fifth Assessment Report (2015)
predicted the Global mean surface temperature increase
to range from 2.5°C to 7.8°C from pre-industrial time
until 2100.
– Increases at or above 4°C will lead to species extinction, global
and regional food insecurity.
– Current efforts are to limit increases to below 2°C.
• Warming-up of the atmosphere is part of changes in
climate and if it persists it will influence water availability,
flood hazards, agricultural productivity and natural areas.
• Natural and human systems are exposed to these
changes, which undermine sustainability.
• The role of EIA, to achieve sustainable development!
The Principal Components of the Environment
 EIA/ESIA
• EIA is “a systematic examination conducted to
determine whether or not a project will have any
(adverse) impact on the environment”.

• SIA, is "the process of assessing or estimating in

advance, the social consequences that are likely to
follow from specific policy actions or project
developments"

• Therefore, ESIA is derived from combining

Environmental and Social Impact Assessments.
 EIA/ESIA
• Even if in the National Environment Statue (1995), the
Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is defined as
the systematic examination conducted to determine
whether or not a project will have any adverse impact
on the environment; and even if we find it referred to
as EIA, we must note that socio-economic impacts are
implied!

• The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is the

product of EIA, and is a detailed written statement
describing the action to be taken, the
process/methodologies followed, impacts and
mitigation measures and ESMP.
 Why do we do ESIA?
• To identify whether or not a proposed policy or
project or activity is likely to have significant
environmental impacts (both adverse and beneficial);
and if it has, to:
– identify the potential significant environmental impacts.
– analyse the significance of the adverse environmental
impacts.
– determine whether the adverse environmental impacts can
be mitigated.
– recommend appropriate preventive and/or mitigation
measures.
– identify and assess any other alternatives to the proposed
policy, plan, programme and project or activity.
– recommend whether or not the proposed policy, plan,
programme and project or activity should be implemented
or modified.
 What level of ESIA is needed?
• Small-scale projects – with potential adverse EIs
which can easily be identified and mitigated at the
design stage.
– Emergency repairs to a water supply scheme within the character
of its surroundings, water supplies to individual subsistence small
farms, extensions of water supply schemes to localised
communities within a water supply area, development of
localised water points such as protected springs, shallow/hand
dug wells, boreholes for small rural communities, onsite
sanitation facilities and treatment plants for small communities
e.g. public toilets, septic tanks, bio-latrines, baffled reactors.

– The environmental aspects of such a small-scale project would

normally be approved on the basis of the mitigation measures
prescribed in a project brief, without the need for a detailed
Environmental Impact Study (EIStudy).
 What level of ESIA is needed? (2)
• Projects for which there is some level of
uncertainty regarding the nature and level EIs
expected, thus requiring a more in-depth EIR to
determine if appropriate mitigation measures can
be identified and prescribed.
– Examples are small scale gravity water supply schemes, localised
small scale valley dams/tanks, water supply and wastewater
treatment plants for medium sized communities.
– If during the EIR, it is found that adequate mitigation measures
can be identified and incorporated in the project design, then the
necessity for detailed EIStudy may be eliminated and the
environmental aspects of the project may be approved. The EIR
carried out at this stage would normally examine various
alternatives, so that the decision maker can select options which
do not have significant environmental impacts.
 What level of ESIA is needed? (3)
• Projects which clearly will have significant EIs for
which mitigation measures cannot readily be
prescribed unless a detailed EIStudy is conducted.
– Examples include water supply systems for rural growth/urban
centres and their components e.g. water intake structures
abstracting water from wetlands, rivers or lakes; water treatment
plants, water transmission and distribution systems, water
pumping/booster stations and reservoirs/water storage tanks,
wastewater collection pipes, waste stabilisation ponds/lagoons
and conventional wastewater treatment plants.

– If during the EIStudy, it is found that some impacts are so severe

that they will not be readily implemented, alternatives should be
identified, which have less adverse environmental impacts. The
project may also be abandoned!
 WHEN DOES ONE NEED AN EIA?
• In the preliminary stages of a project
– To determine possible impacts of the project on the
environment
– To establish any possible impact reductions, improvements
etc.
• Often during the feasibility studies and
preliminary engineering design.
• In some instances, may be done along side the
detailed engineering designs.
• NEMA guidelines for EIA, but important also to
consider those of the funding agency, e.g.
World Bank, AfDB etc.
 WHAT SHOULD AN EIA COMPRISE OF?
• A description of proposed action and alternatives
• An estimate of the nature and magnitude of likely
environmental changes including action-induced
effects
• An identification of human concerns, i.e., who
and/or what will be affected and what will be
changed
• Estimation of the significance of the predicted
changes by summing up all the impacts and
weighing the project proposal according to the
set limits or goals
 WHAT SHOULD AN EIA COMPRISE OF?
• Definition of criteria for measuring and
grading significant changes and relative
weighting for comparison of different
changes. These may be:
– subjective, e.g., [very bad] – [bad] – [fair] – [good] – [very good]
– logically weighted, e.g., 0(very bad) – 1 – 2 – 3 – 4 – 5 – 6 (very
good)
– comparison with standards, e.g., results of lab analysis of
samples, visual inspections

• Preparation of recommendations for

inspection/monitoring procedures after action
has been taken to check whether the project
impact will be as anticipated
 WHAT SHOULD AN EIA COMPRISE OF?
• Preparation of proposals for:
– acceptance for the project by the community
– remedial action to avert/alleviate negative impacts
– one or more viable alternative methodologies
– rejection of the project
 LEVEL OF DETAIL REQUIRED OF AN EIA
• The required level of detail of an EIA depends on:
– Sensitivity of the local environment, e.g., discharge of toxic
wastes in an inhabited area, as a last resort, will require a
more detailed EIA than, say, disposal in the middle of the
Sahara desert.
– Scale and potential effects of the proposed developments,
e.g., in rural or urban area impacts may differ.
– Social value attached to conserving environmental quality
locally, nationally and internationally. Some nations for
example may afford to spend millions of dollars to protect
their environment. Also architectural relics, historical sites,
traditional burial grounds, etc., may overrule urbanisation.
– Resources and scientific expertise locally available.
– Available time in which to produce the document (set time
limits, deadlines).
 The EIA Process
• Who is involved in the EIA Process?
– Developer
– EIA Practitioners – do not belong to one specific
discipline – can be engineers, doctors, social
scientists, economists, environmentalists
• Must be registered with CEP
• Must be members of UAIA.
– The Authority (NEMA)
– The Lead Agency
– Stakeholders
The EIA Process
 Typical contents of a Project Brief
Example of a waste recycling project dealing with composting,
production of charcoal and anaerobic digestion in a biolatrine

ABSTRACT
1 CONTACT DETAILS OF THE PROJECT DEVELOPER
1.1 Name of the Developer
1.2 Main postal address and contacts of the developer
1.3 Name of the main contact persons and addresses
2 CHARACTERISTICS OF THE PROJECT
2.1 Brief description of the proposed project
2.1.1 Type of project
2.1.2 The form of energy source
2.1.3 Size of the project
2.1.4 Number of people to benefit from the project
2.2 Reasons for proposing the project
2.2.1 Justification of the project (Statement of the Problem)
2.2.2 Project objectives
2.3 Background of the project
2.4 Project Site
2.5 Alternative Site
2.6 Baseline Data
2.7 Physical form of the development
Typical contents of a Project Brief Cont’d
Example of a waste recycling project dealing with composting, production of charcoal and
anaerobic digestion in a biolatrine

3CHARACTERISTICS OF THE POTENTIAL IMPACTS

3.1 Introduction
3.2 Protective measures
3.3 Composting
3.4 Recycling
3.5 Biolatrine (Biogas production and use)

REFERENCES/BIBLIOGRAPHY
APPENDICES
Appendix I: Land Lease Agreement
Appendix II: List of interviewed persons
Appendix III: Drawings
Lets mirror a water project cycle to ESIA steps………

Source: EIA Guidelines for Water Resources Related Projects in Uganda (2011)
 What would be your role in ESIA?
• As a consultant actually doing the EIA?

• Stakeholder – Project Affected Person (PAP), to be

consulted, and/or re-settled?

• Representative of the lead agency – provide

information for the EA?

• Reviewer (scoping report, ToR, EIS) and submit to

NEMA to make an informed decision?

• Any other? Which one?

 In general terms, the EIA Report should have the following:
• Cover page
• Table of contents
• List of acronyms
• Executive Summary
• Introduction
• Description of the Site and Environmental Setting
– Description of the biophysical and socio-economic environment baseline conditions
• Policies and regulatory framework
• Methods and techniques used to carry out the environmental analysis
• Identification of the impacts
• Description of project alternatives if any
• Description of proposed mitigation measures
– Include Consultations with relevant stakeholders, including project affected persons
• Environmental and Social Monitoring Plan (ESMP) for the proposed project
– Table of the EMP for the proposed project, showing responsibilities, frequency and costs
• References
• Appendices
– ToR
– Letter of approval of ToR
– Approval of consultants
– List of individuals/ institutions contacted
– Site plans/Drawings
– Evidence of land ownership
– Any other relevant agreements
How to get information for EIA Report
• Ch1: Introduction; Ch2: Description of the site
and environmental Setting
– Project documents - concept note and existing
reports, e.g. feasibility study reports, engineering
design report, for example, for soil data and
geological information
– Interviewing the developer,
– Literature search,
– Field observations,
– Collection and analysis of samples – water, soils,
flora and fauna species.
How to get information for EIA Report
• Ch 3: Policies and regulatory framework
– Largely from review of literature, e.g. Environmental
Legislation of Uganda, By laws – BUT where there is a
conflict, refer to the supreme law and for any
country, this usually is the constitution.
– For regional or trans-boundary projects, review
international treaties and conventions.
– For projects funded by international funding bodies,
e.g. World Bank/IFC, AfDB, EADB, ADB etc, review
their relevant policy and regulatory frameworks.
How to get information for EIA Report
• Ch 4 Methodology
– A description of methods you use
• Ch 5 Identification of impacts
– Key informant interviews,
– Expert knowledge and judgement (Experience),
– Literature review,
– Modelling (computer aided simulations),
– Focus group discussions,
– Transect walks,
– Observations – use of checklists,
– Public hearings.
Impact identification and rating of impacts
Project component: Water Treatment Phase: Construction phase
works
Type and
Issue Potential Impact Extent Duration
Rating
Air pollution Emissions from construction Direct, Limited Temporary
equipment and project Minor
vehicles.
Noise Intermittent noise from Direct, Limited Temporary
pollution construction. Equipment and Moderate
heavy project vehicles.
Water Water pollution from Direct, Limited Temporary
pollution dredging activities, Major
accidental spillage of fuel
and lubricants.
Water levels Water levels may be affected Direct, Wide Short to Long
by rehabilitating the Major term
impoundment weir and
reservoir.
How to get information for EIA Report
• Ch 6 Identification of mitigation measures
– Key informant interviews,
– Expert knowledge and judgement,
– Literature review,
– Modelling (computer aided simulations),
– Focus group discussions,
– Transect walks,
– Observations – use of checklists,
– Public hearings.