Environmental Impact Assessment Course Description

This course will introduce students to the theory and practice of environmental impact assessment (EIA), the systematic identification and evaluation of the potential effects on the physical, biological, cultural, and socioeconomic components of the environment of proposed actions—projects, plans, programs, legislation. The objective of EIA is to encourage consideration of the environment in the planning and decision-making process to arrive at actions that avoid or minimize adverse impacts on the environment. EIA is now mandated by legislation in over 100 countries around the world. With encouragement from ISO 14000, the practice of EIA is expanding into the corporate world to evaluate the environmental aspects of business operations. This course will explore the need for environmental impact assessments, the different types of assessments, and the regulatory and technical requirements of preparing an assessment. This course will include a series of student presentations.

COURSE Objectives:

The course aims to introduce the concepts, procedures, and methodology of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), to develop a critical awareness of factors that affect the use of EIA as part of project management in the legislative and regulatory context of recently- industrialized or less – industrialized countries, and to expose the students to the need for environmental impact assessments and how to prepare the various documents required by state and federal regulations.

In order to achieve these aims, the course will:

1. Understand the concept and basic process of environmental impact assessment
2. Familiarity with specific models and methodologies used for impact prediction on the physical-chemical (air, surface water, soil, and groundwater, noise), biological (habitat and nonhabitat), cultural (historic, archaeological, visual), and socioeconomic (traffic, jobs, housing) components of the environment.

3. Carry out simple EIA

Course Outline

1. Introduction of environmental impact assessment

Course Objectives

Course Structure

a. Definition of environment

1) Environment

(1) Background

(2) Sustainable development b. Environmental Impact Assessment
1) History of Environmental Impact Assessment

2) Definition of Environmental Impact Assessment

3) Benefits and Directive of Environmental Impact Assessment

2. The Environmental Impact Assessment Process a. Types of Assessments
1) Environmental Assessments
2) Environmental Impact Statement b. Basic Steps in the Process
1) Alternative

2) Screening

3) Scoping

4) Impact analysis

5) Mitigation

6) Follow up

7) Public involvement

3. Impact prediction methodologies and mitigation measures a. Air
b. Surface and groundwater
c. Biologic
d. Noise
e. Cultural and socioeconomic

4. Case study

5. Special topics

a. Social Impact Assessment

b. Strategic Environmental Appraisal