EIA Midterms

18th–19th century

Period marked by the Industrial Revolution, when large-scale industrial development greatly increased environmental pressures.

1945–1960s

Period after World War II characterized by a shift toward modernization and accelerated development.

1970s

Period associated with the environmental protection paradigm in the EIA history timeline.

1972: Philippine Economic Development Strategy (PEDS)

Year and Strategy that formed part of the historical background leading to the establishment of the EIA system.

1976 PD 984

Presidential Decree associated with the National Pollution Control Commission.

1977 PD 1151

Presidential Decree establishing the Philippine Environmental Policy.

1977 PD 1152

Presidential Decree establishing the Philippine Environment Code.

1978 PD 1586

Presidential Decree establishing the Philippine Environmental Impact Statement System (PEISS).

1981 PD 2146

Presidential Decree proclaiming Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs) and Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs).

2003 DAO 2003-30

DENR Administrative Order containing the Revised Procedural Manual for the Philippine EIA system.

2010 DENR MC 2010-14

Memorandum Circular that standardized EIA requirements with emphasis on thresholds and the Social Development Plan (SDP).

2011 DENR MC 2011-005

Memorandum Circular incorporating Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation (DRR-CCA) into EIA.

MC 2014-005

Guidelines for Coverage Screening issued in 2014 and used as an operational guide for ECAs, multi-component project categories, and documentary requirements.

Category A

EIA screening category for Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs).

Category B

EIA screening category for non-environmentally critical projects (NECs/NECPs) located in Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs).

Category C

Category for projects that enhance the environment or resolve environmental problems.

Category D

Category for projects that are not covered by the PEISS.

Resource extraction; and Wastes and pollutants

The main pathways through which a development project creates environmental pressure.

Carrying capacity

The capacity of a system to sustainably support a population through time.

Overshoot

The condition that occurs when population growth exceeds carrying capacity.

Instability

Fluctuation of population based on carrying capacity.

Degradation

Decline in natural resources caused by increasing demand and excessive environmental pressure.

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

The process of evaluating and predicting the likely impacts of projects, including cumulative impacts, across construction, commissioning, operation, and abandonment.

Construction, Commissioning, Operation, Abandonment

Project stages whose impacts are covered by EIA.

Mitigation and enhancement measures

Measures designed within EIA to reduce unwanted impacts and improve beneficial effects.

Project development cycle

The sequence in which project planning and implementation progress, with EIA inputs entering at different stages.

1. Project concept

The first main stage of the project development cycle.

2. Pre-feasibility

The second main stage of the project development cycle.

3. Feasibility

The third main stage of the project development cycle.

4. Design and engineering

The fourth main stage of the project development cycle.

5. Implementation

The fifth main stage of the project development cycle.

6. Monitoring and evaluation

The sixth main stage of the project development cycle.

Project sponsor / project proponent

One of the participants in EIA who proposes and develops the project.

EIA consultants

Specialists who participate in preparing and conducting the EIA.

Regulatory agencies

Government agencies, including LGUs, that participate in EIA and related permitting.

Community members

Members of the public who may participate in the EIA process.

Socio-civic organizations

Public-interest organizations that may participate in EIA.

Private organizations

Organizations from the private sector that may participate in EIA.

Religious denominations

Religious groups that may participate in EIA.

Advocacy groups

Groups that represent particular environmental or social concerns and may participate in EIA.

Public participation in EIA

A process in which stakeholders participate throughout all stages of the EIA.

Inform

The participation-ladder level using advertising, media, and brochures to provide information.

Consult

The participation-ladder level using public comments, meetings, and group presentations to obtain views.

Involve

The participation-ladder level using workshops and field visits to involve stakeholders directly.

Collaborate

The participation-ladder level using participatory decision-making with stakeholders.

Empower

The participation-ladder level in which decisions are delegated to the community level.

Project impact

A deviation or change from the baseline situation that occurs as a result of a project or investment.

Positive impact

A project impact representing a beneficial change from the baseline situation.

Negative impact

A project impact representing an adverse change from the baseline situation.

Neutral impact

A project impact in which the change is treated as neutral.

Social acceptability

Understanding environmental impacts can help development projects and investments gain ______ _____________

Secondary data collection

Collection of existing information from local and national government agencies, parallel studies, journal articles, maps, and other sources.

Primary data collection

Collection of new field information on biophysical, socio-cultural, and socio-economic conditions.

Biophysical information

Primary information covering flora and fauna, hydrology, geology, land use, climate, soil conditions, and water quality conditions.

Socio-cultural information

Primary information covering demography, customs and traditions, migration, ethnicity, and language.

Socio-economic information

Primary information covering income sources, tenurial instruments, peace and order situation, and mode of transportation.

Physical and chemical environment, Biological environment, Human social environment, Human economic environment

The four facets of the environment.

Environmental reaction

The reaction produced when project pressure or environmental stress acts on the environment.

Avoidance

The strongest option for unwanted impacts in the project's impact-management hierarchy; it seeks to prevent the impact.

Enhancement

An impact-management measure used for beneficial impacts.

Mitigation

An impact-management measure that reduces damage from unwanted impacts.

Compensation

An impact-management measure used when impacts cannot be fully avoided.

Direct impact areas

Areas where project activities directly cause environmental or social changes.

Primary impact areas

Areas receiving the main or immediate environmental effects associated with a project.

Secondary impact areas

Areas affected by indirect or subsequent effects that result from the project and its primary impacts.

Regional impact areas

Areas beyond the immediate project surroundings that may experience impacts extending across a wider region.

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

EIA document for a single new project that contains primary environmental baseline data and has a maximum of 250 pages.

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)

EIA document for a single co-located project or group of co-located projects that contains primary baseline data and carrying capacity information and has a maximum of 350 pages.

Initial Environmental Examination Checklist Report (IEE)

Document using secondary environmental baseline data and including the project description, location, impacts, and management strategies; maximum 75 pages.

Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan (EPRMP)

Document for a single project that is already operating, covering actual environmental impacts and focusing on the effectiveness of current measures; maximum 150 pages.

Programmatic Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan (PEPRMP)

Document covering actual environmental impacts of co-located projects and proposals for expansion, modification, and performance-improvement plans; maximum 200 pages.

Project Description Report (PDR)

Document describing the nature, location, configuration, and use of raw materials and resources of a project; maximum 30 pages.

PEIS page limit

350 pages.

EIS page limit

250 pages.

PEPRMP page limit

200 pages.

EPRMP page limit

150 pages.

IEER page limit

75 pages.

PDR page limit

30 pages.

Annex 2-11

Content outline for the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS), covering pages 149–152.

Annex 2-12

Content outline for the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), covering pages 153–154.

Annex 2-13

Content outline for the Programmatic Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan (PEPRMP), covering pages 155–156.

Annex 2-14

Content outline for the Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan (EPRMP), covering pages 157–158.

Annex 2-15

Content outline for the Initial Environmental Examination Checklist/Report (IEER/IEE), covering pages 159–160.

Annex 2-16

Content outline for the Project Description Report (PDR), covering page 161.

Proponent

The project applicant, whether private or government.

DENR-EMB Central Office

Category A cases are handled by the ________ _____ _______

DENR-EMB Regional Office

Categories B, C, and D are handled by the ________ _________ ______

LGUs and regulatory agencies in EIA

They handle applications for other permits and clearances.

EIA team

A multidisciplinary group of specialists because EIA covers different environmental and socioeconomic dimensions.

Team Leader

EIA team role that may be filled by an Environmental Scientist or Environmental Planner.

Geologist

EIA team specialist focused on geological and geophysical concerns.

Geophysical specialist

EIA team specialist associated with geophysical assessment.

Biodiversity Specialist

EIA team specialist responsible for flora and fauna concerns.

Hydrologist / Freshwater / Marine Specialist

EIA team specialist covering hydrologic and freshwater or marine concerns.

Air Quality Specialist

EIA team specialist focused on air-quality concerns.

Social Scientist / Sociologist

EIA team specialist focused on social dimensions of the project.

Economist

EIA team specialist focused on economic dimensions.

STEP 2 Project Screening

The step that begins with a thorough and full understanding of the proposed project or investment and determines the applicable documentary requirement.

Programmatic EIS

Required for a new, co-located Category A (ECP) project processed by the EMB Central Office.

EIS

Required for a new, single Category A (ECP) project processed by the EMB Central Office.