EIA : Case studies

A. OBERLIN
 INTRODUCTION
• The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure in Malaysia has been
developed primarily as an aid to the environmental planning of new or existing
development projects.
• The pollution control which have been promoted for quite some time in Malaysia is
essentially a curative process where else the implementation of the mandatory EIA
procedures is more of a preventive measure to avoid costly mistakes in planning and
development.
• All activities listed under the Environmental Quality (Prescribed Activities)
(Environmental Impact Assessment) Order 1987 have to undergo an EIA before
commencement of work.
• The EIA process in Malaysia with a particular reference to a proposed new road
which has undergone an EIA study is described. The EIA procedure as outlined in
the Environmental Quality Act, Malaysia (1974) is discussed and several aspects of
the EIA process is highlighted.
 Introduction
• Malaysia today is a modern progressive country with high economic growth with
industrialization and urbanization being the key development priority of the country.
• However, with the rapid development activities comes the environmental problems
associated with it.
• In the recent years, the increasing awareness for the concept of sustainable development
has come to fore.
• Basically sustainable development is a pattern of social and structural economic
transformations, that is development which optimizes the existing social benefits,
without endangering the potential of such benefits in the future.
• The support for sustainable development especially in developing countries is due to the
increasing concern over the often deleterious environmental, health, social and economic
consequences of inappropriate large scale development projects.
• Thus the manifestations of this concern is the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
legislation which became a mandatory requirement in 1985.
• The Minister of Science, Technology and Environment is empowered to prescribe any
activities which is likely to have significant impacts on the environment.
 INTRODUCTION
• EIA procedure in Malaysia was developed primarily as an aid to the environmental planning of
new development projects or to the expansion of existing development projects.
• The procedure and guidelines have been tailored specifically to the assessment of development
project proposals.
• Pollution control which has been promoted for several years in Malaysia, has essentially been a
curative process.
• The Act and the various regulations under it are directed mainly towards the control of industrial
pollution.
• The EIA procedure seeks to avoid costly mistakes in project planning and development mistakes
which can be costly either because of environmental losses that result or costly because of
modification that might be required subsequently to make the project environmentally
acceptable to the Government and the community.
• The EIA, pollution control and resource planning are together a total approach to environmental
management in Malaysia.
 The national environmental policy act
• The Malaysian Government has stated its policy on EIA as follow :-
• " In the evaluation of all relevant projects, an assessment of the overall impact of these
projects on the environment will be undertaken. Ministries and Departments as well as the
private sector will be required, before embarking on the implementation of such projects, to
identify all likely environmental effects as well as the means to be taken to counter them.
These assessments will be taken into account in the final design and implementation of the
projects but bearing in mind that the adoption of environmental protection measures will need
always to be in balance with development costs." So as to:
1." maintain a clean healthy environment..."
2." maintain the quality of the environment relative to the needs of the growing population..."
3. minimize " (the) impact of the growing population and human activities relating to mineral
exploration, deforestation, agriculture, urbanization, tourism, and the development of other
resources on the environment"
4. balance "...the goals for socio-economic development and the need to bring the benefits of
development to a wide spectrum of the population.. .against (the) maintenance of sound
environment conditions...“
 The national environmental policy act
5."... place more emphasis on prevention through conservation rather than on curative
measures..." inter alia by preserving the country's unique and diverse cultural and
natural heritage.
6."... incorporate an environmental dimension in project planning and
implementation.... inter alia by determining .... the implications of the proposed
projects... and the costs of the required environmental mitigation measures through the
conduct of El A" and
7. promote "(greater) cooperation and increased coordination among relevant federal
and state authorities..." as well as "...(among) the ASEAN Governments...."
 Environmental impact assessment in Malaysia
Aim and objectives of ElA :
The aim of environmental impact assessment in Malaysia is to assess the overall impact on the
environment of development projects proposed by the public and private sectors. The
objectives of environmental impact assessments are :-
1. To examine and select the best from the project options available.
2. To identify and incorporate into the project plan appropriate abatement and mitigating
measures.
3. To predict significant residual environmental impact.
4. To determine the significant residual environmental impacts predicted.
5. To identify the environmental costs and benefits of the project to the community
 The essential steps
To complete an environmental impact assessment in an efficient manner and to realize
the objectives listed above, the assessor should take the following steps in sequence :
1.Describe the proposed project as well as the options.
2. Describe the existing environment.
3. Select the impact indicators to be used.
4.Predict the nature and the extent of the environmental effects.
5. Identify the relevant human concerns.
6.Assess the significant of the impact
7.Incorporate appropriate mitigating and abatement measures into the project plan.
8. Identify the environmental costs and benefits of the project to the community.
9. Report on the assessment.
 The EIA procedure
Preliminary assessment
•This should be initiated during the early stages of project planning.
•It might be conducted "in house or by a consultant.
•It requires resources that are a small proportion of man-hours, money, skills and equipment
committed to a prefeasibility study and the assessment should be completed within the time
frame of that study.
•Some form of public participation is also mandatory.
•Environmental data collection may be necessary and close liaison between the assessor and
relevant environment related agencies is encouraged.
•The assessor and the EIA consultant will normally have informal meetings to obtain some
verifications or certain important feedback pertaining to some aspect of the study before the
result of that study are reported formally for examination and approval by the approving
authority.
•Project initiators may also opt to go straight into detailed assessment although preliminary
assessment will still need to be carried out as part of an input to the detailed assessment.
 The EIA procedure
Detailed assessment
•This is carried out for those prescribed activities for which significant residual environmental
impacts have been predicted in the preliminary assessment.
•It should continue during project planning until the project plan is finalized.
•It might be conducted "in house" or by a consultant.
•The assessment method is selected according to the nature of the project and the specific terms
of reference issued by the Review Panel for each project.
•It requires resources that are small proportion of the man-hours, money, skills and equipment
committed to a project feasibility study and the assessment should be completed within the time
frame of that study.
•The results of the assessment are reported formally for examination and approval.
 The EIA procedure
Review
•The review of the detailed assessment is done by an independent Review Panel, established
specifically for the project of concern and comprising of members from relevant disciplines and
chaired by the Director General of Environmental Quality.
•The panel may ask suitable experts for their specialist advice on specific aspects of any project
under review.
•Comments are also invited from concerned environmental-related agencies and from the
public.
 An EIA for a proposed new road project
• As a case study of an EIA study conducted in Malaysia, reference is made to a study
performed for a proposed road linking Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lipis in the state of
Pahang in West Malaysia .

• This road linkage would greatly reduce travel distance and time between the two areas.

• However, the proposed road need to traverse through forested areas and relatively hilly
terrain along certain stretches
 Existing environment
• A thorough understanding and appreciation of the existing undisturbed environment is
necessary for an EIA exercise as it will be the basis for the prediction of possible impacts.
• Information and data were gathered directly from field surveys or collected from secondary
sources. The elements which have been addressed include the following:
Physical environment and land resources: The proposed project area lies mostly in forested
hilly terrain such that there would be a considerable conservation interest due to the need for
forest clearance. The geology and soil characteristics of the proposed project area are typical
of a hilly terrain in a tropical region. For this condition erosion is a problem during the
construction stage and during the operational stage the safety of slopes requires attention.
Appropriate preventive and protection measures should be provided during the construction
period.
Climatic and hydrological conditions: The climatic conditions along the proposed route
were obtained from climatic and rainfall stations. The climatic components which are of
relevance include rainfall, temperature, relative humidity, sunshine, evaporation and wind
conditions. The river system and drainage pattern for the proposed project area was also
studied. The extend of catchment areas were determined.
 Existing environment
Noise levels and air and water quality: These {parameters were obtained through sampling
techniques and direct measurement on-site. Water quality parameters for selected rivers flowing
within the study area were determined for the existing conditions.

Flora and fauna: As the proposed road traverse through forested areas, an in-depth study was
made to determine the types of flora and fauna within the study area and in its vicinity. Both
terrestrial and aquatic flora and fauna were identified. An inventory of the existing flora and
fauna was established.
Principal project activities and possible environmental impacts
• The principal project activities were grouped into different project phases and those activities
which may have impacts on the existing environment were highlighted and discussed.
• The project phases is defined as the pre-construction, construction and operational phases.
• The major activities within the pre-construction phase include the following; project planning,
site surveys, land acquisition and construction of access road and tracks. Only the last activity
has any significant impact on the environment as trees are cleared and bare lands are exposed.
• As to the construction phase, the major activities are as follows; land clearing operations,
burning, labour recruitment and base camp construction, earthworks, slope stabilization,
stream crossings, piling, road construction, transportation of construction materials and waste
disposal.
• Most of these activities have significant impacts on the environment.
• For the operational or post-construction phase, the major activities addressed include the
following; road traffic operations and maintenance of pavement and road shoulder, slopes,
bridges and drainage systems.
 Potential environmental impact and assessment
• An evaluation and assessment of the environmental components likely to experience significant
impacts either positively or negatively together with the magnitude and nature of the impacts were
performed. The evaluation of impacts are based on accepted and established methodology and
guidelines given in the Handbook of El A Guidelines were adhered to. The main points to be noted
are:
Physico-chemical aspects: Soil erosion and sedimentation will mainly be significant during the
construction period and with proper management the impact can be minimized. The hydrological
regime is not expected to be significantly affected by the project. The quality of air and water and
noise pollution will be an environmental concern in the operational stage. This aspect and the solid
waste can be tackled with proper management.
Biological: In general, due to the fact that the affected land is restricted to a strip of land along the
stretch of the proposed road, the impact on the flora and fauna is somehow limited. During the
construction stage disturbance to the flora and fauna can be controlled. However, the fauna can be
susceptible to danger in the long run as the area is more accessible.
Human: Socio-economic aspects considered include land-use and employment issues. In general, the
impacts on human are beneficial or positive. The project will enhance the economic potential of the
whole area. Existing economic activities can be upgraded with the presence of the new road and new
economic activities can be generated. Apart from this, with the new road greater accessibility and
improved communication facilities are expected to be of benefit to the area.
Mitigation measures and environmental monitoring
• After determining the types and nature of possible impacts due to the proposed road
project, various mitigation measures were considered and evaluated and consequently
proposed for implementation so as to reduce the adverse environmental impacts that
may occur. Any negative impacts could be substantially mitigated by sound engineering
practice and stringent control of the various activities.
 Enforcement of ElA recommendations
• Road construction is unique in a sense that the project proponent is normally either the state or
the other governments agencies.
• For road constructions, the disturbance to the physical environment mainly affect a strip of
land along the corridor of the road.
• Issues like soil erosion will be critical during the construction period and monitoring by the
Department of Environment could be facilitated by its inclusion in some of the site meetings.
• The main obstacle to effective monitoring by them is lack of manpower.
• The risk and impact of surface erosion, one of the main environmental concerns, have
generally been adequately assessed by environmental impact assessors.
• They have also suggested a range of mitigation measures which can bring this problem within
a manageable level.
• The developer or the project initiator has to assess the effectiveness of any measure
undertaken.
• The DOE should be evident that appropriate measures are taken and they are effective.
• The DOE should be able to request a redo of any mitigating measures considered ineffective.
 Enforcement of ElA recommendations
• The other physical impact is the stability of cut and embankment slopes.
• Instrumentation and monitoring of these slopes should be given a higher consideration.
• Instrumentation of certain stretches which are considered of a higher risk should be made
mandatory.
• This will require a new legislation but is necessary to help the enforcement of EIA
recommendations as the developer should be required to furnish monitoring data indicating that
the slopes are safe.
• The risk of danger to the wildlife and habitat is a serious issue during the construction stage.
• During this stage the disturbance can be better controlled and enforcement of the EIA
recommendations is easier provided cooperation from related agencies e.g. the Wildlife
Department can be sought.
• Inspections to the project site can be made to ensure EIA recommendations are adhered to.
 Enforcement of ElA recommendations
• The protection of the wildlife is a more serious matter in the long term as the road will
improve accessibility to the whole area.
• More people will and it will be more difficult for the DOE to manage the enforcement
issue long term protection is less straightforward.
• Certain issues may not come directly under the subject of environmental quality. Here
the recommendation may have to be enforced under a different legislation and hence
becomes the responsibility of other agencies.
 Surveillance and monitoring
• For the EIA recommendations to be effective a detail surveillance and monitoring of the
project implementation is necessary.
• This will include arrangements for the reporting of monitoring data.
• At present there are certain degree of uncertainty as to the details of the follow up programme.
 Conclusions
The following conclusions can be drawn from the above discussions:
(i). In the case of new roads traversing through forested hilly terrains, there are several
physico-chemical and biological aspects that require appropriate attention to minimize
possible impacts due to the development of the project. However, the considerations in
implementing such a project should take into account the benefits as a whole.
(ii). In order for the legislations relating to the environmental issues to be effective, the
Department of Environment should have the capability to enforce the recommendations of the
environmental consultants preparing the environmental impact assessment report. The issue of
trained and adequate manpower for enforcement of EIA recommendation should be given due
consideration.
(iii). As the environment is a multi-aspects issue the enforcement of EIA recommendations
require a multi-agencies approach.