Green Recovery And Reconstruction: Training Toolkit For Humanitarian Aid

Environmental Impact Assessment Tools and Techniques

Session 2: Tools for Conducting EIAs

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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, andPrioritize environmental issues in disaster situations threatening HUMAN LIFE & WELFARE so that their effects can be minimized

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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)

The REA is…

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REA does not replace an Environmental Impact Assessment

REA fills a gap when an EIA process can’t 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

REA and EIA…

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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 InformationImplementing 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 project’s 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 pre-disaster 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

Environ-mental IssueThis column asks questions related to key envir. issues.

To answer…This column suggests ways to obtain the information

Yes No Not sure

If Yes, then…Guidance on how to address the environmental issue

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

Will the project result in the emission of air pollutants (e.g., smoke, gases, dust particles)?

Review project proposal.

Consult local natural resources department

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: IUCN’s 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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