Environmental Impact Assessment

1. Evolution Environmental Policy and Procedure

Legislation

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) establishes a strong framework for protection of the environment and the conservation of biodiversity. It includes a broad range of enforcement mechanisms for managing suspected or identified instances of non-compliance and for reviewing the compliance of referred projects. The Australian Government's approach to maximising compliance is outlined in the Department's Compliance Policy. This approach includes proactive compliance measures, as well as a range of enforcement mechanisms to address non-compliance.

These mechanisms include:

• civil or criminal penalties that can apply to individuals and corporations that contravene the requirements for environmental approvals under the Act, including the provision of false or misleading information to obtain approval
• remediation orders and determinations to repair or mitigate environmental damage resulting from a contravention of the EPBC Act
• enforceable undertakings to negotiate civil penalties and provide for future compliance

Approved code practise of environmental

Codes of practice for activities that cause, or are likely to cause, environmental harm, have been approved under s. 318E of the Environmental Protection Act (EP Act). These codes of practice list ways of achieving compliance with the general environmental duty. Industry or industry associations generally prepare these codes to advise members on measures they should take to prevent or minimise environmental harm.

An environmental code is one of the factors the administering authority needs to consider in making certain decisions under the EP Act. You can also defend a charge of unlawfully causing environmental harm if you can prove that you were complying with the terms of an approved code of practice (s. 493A).

Preparing a code is a voluntary action taken by industries who want to take a step towards greater environmental responsibility. Similarly, complying with a code is voluntary—it is not an offence to fail to comply with a code. However, the defence mentioned above is available to operators who are complying with the terms of a code that are relevant to the issue in question.

What is Environmental Impact Assessment?

The effects of human activities related to the use of environmental resources on the natural environment are called Environmental Impact. The prediction and evaluation of environmental effects of human activities are collectively called as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

Environmental Impact Assessment is the method of evaluating environmental consequences such as environmental changes, construction of dams, reservoirs, roads, rails, bridges, industrial locations, urban expansion, etc. and the maximum possible adverse effects of these environmental changes due to human activities.

Environmental changes referred to as degradation of environment and pollution resulting in ecological imbalance and ecosystem disequilibrium. The environmental impact assessment process began with the enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act in 1969

It aims to predict environmental impacts at a certain stage in project planning and designing find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment, and establish the predictions and options to decision-makers.

History

EIA is termed as one of the best policy innovations in the 1900s. The main aim of EIA is to conserve the environment and bring out the best combination of economic and environmental costs and benefits. Read the below-mentioned points to understand the Environmental Impact Assessment evolution and history:

1. The birth of EIA is dated back to the 1970s. In 1969, The USA had brought its first National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) 1969.
2. The EIA was initially practised by developed nations but slowly it was also introduced in developing nations including India.
3. Columbia and the Philippines are the earliest examples of developing nations who introduced EIA in their policies. Columbia brought it in 1974 while the Philippines in 1978.
4. Worldwide, EIA is now practised in more than 100 countries. By the mid-1990s, some 110 countries applied EIA as a major environmental policy.
5. In 1989, EIA was adopted as the major development project by the World Bank.

Current EIA Reports

EIA Notification 2020 draft has been made public. Once the EIA Notification 2020 will be published in the Official Gazette, it will replace EIA notification 2006. EIA has been in the news following EIA notification 2020 was drafted as one of the amendments will be the removal of public consultation from several activities (Put under Category B2).

Here are a few important terms/agencies concerning EIA notification 2020 which aspirants should further read about:

1. Accredited Environment Impact Assessment Consultant Organization (ACO)
2. Central Pollution Control Board
3. Certificate of Green Building
4. Corporate Environment Responsibility
5. Eco-Sensitive Area/ Eco-Sensitive Zone

Environmental Impact Assessment

• EIA started in India in 1976-77 when the Planning Commission directed the Department of Science & Technology to assess the river valley projects from the point of view of the environment. This was extended for all those projects that required approval from the Public Investment Board.
• Then, in 1986, the government enacted the Environment (Protec­tion) Act which made EIA statutory. The other main laws in this regard are the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act (1972), the Water Act (1974), the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act (1981), and the Biological Diversity Act (2002).
• In 1982, the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change set up the Environmental Information System (ENVIS) to collect, collate, storing, retrieving and disseminating information related to the environment sector. This serves as a web-based distributed network of subject-specific databases. The chief purpose of the ENVIS is to integrate all countrywide efforts to collect, store, disseminate, and use environment-information for better managing environmental assessment activities.

Continuously seek environmental improve performance

• Determine the environmental requirements and objectives of your business organisation and its objectives and align them to ensure environmental improvements that support your business strategy.
• Ensure that you remain compliant, undertaking measures to monitor your activities, and quickly respond to any legislative changes to reduce any impact on your business operations.
• Stay up to date on environmental policies and changes that could impact your existing business plans.
• Always review your activities and improve them to achieve sustainable development.
• Collect and evaluate evidence to analyse performances and develop effective ways to make effective use of opportunities and mitigate benefits.

Improving or enhancing environmental management is best achieved through the implementation of an effective and compliant management system that ensures that your commitment to improving performance also has the resources, infrastructure and framework to act on that commitment in a sustainable and systematic manner.

Reduce pollutions, emissions, and waste

1. Increase Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency represents the single largest potential contributor to global emissions reduction, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA 2017). 

2.  Continue to Build Wind and Solar Plants at Significant Scale

Wind and solar are now very inexpensive sources of energy, with the price of solar having decreased 85% since 2009 and the cost of wind power dropping 50%. Portfolio models indicate that solar and wind can provide up to 80% of the zero-carbon energy in many grids if integrated properly with dispatchable assets such as hydro, natural gas, and electrical storage

3. Reducing Carbon through a Broad, Technology-Neutral Portfolio

Setting goals that include renewables while specifically targeting reductions of carbon emissions per unit of energy across the grid as the primary metric of success is critical if efforts at decarbonizing the power supply are to be scaled up. As the UK example illustrates, a broad portfolio encompasses significant investment in energy efficiency, wind, solar, nuclear, a robust transmission grid, and carbon capture and storage (CCS).

4.Composting

Composting has currently begun to gain a lot of traction and many cities have created programs for composting within homes and schools. If your area does not have a composting program you can create your own compost bin, mix it up with some dirt, and then use as soil for gardening.  Composting all of your food can greatly reduce the waste being put into landfills and speeds up the decomposition process greatly.

5.  Replace Single-Use Items with Reusable Ones

Single-use plastics are one of the largest contributors to waste on the planet. Not only do single-use plastics create extra unnecessary waste they are not recyclable. Therefore, it should be avoided at all costs whenever possible

Reducing raw material waste, energy and supplies

To prevent the waste of materials, continually assess systems and revise procedures and policies. Increasing the efficiency of industrial processes and the flow of materials through the economy is a slow transformation process that will take time.

Reusing items is another way to stop waste at the source because it delays or avoids that item's entry in the waste collection and disposal system.

Water saving

• We avoid unnecessary water consumption by using special water taps and shower heads with water pressure regulation or water taps, shower heads and urinals working with photocells and time control. With such a system we plan to save 40 million litters water a year.
• Low – volume reservoirs reduce the consumption of toilet waste water, so that the already limited water sources are kept under control. This technique we to save 20 million litter of toilet waste each year.
• We train our personnel no notice and prevent the leakages in the room toilets, and expect also from our guest to inform us if they notice such leakages.
• We offer you low shower cabinets where you can enjoy your shower in a spacious area and consume less water at the same time.

WASTE REDUCTION AND RECYLING

• ‘No` to fast consumption, ‘Yes` to local production!
  We try to avoid as much as possible disposable packages and products in our restaurants and bars; emerging waste is stored and then passed on to licensed hazardous waste operators for recycling. Free of charge. We also support organic production by using raw materials with eco-labels for the production of alternative food and beverage.
• Waste separation by our guests
  In common areas we have sorting points where our guests can separate their waste. On the hotel floors we also provide special boxes for used batteries and medical waste.

It is not only recycling but also support to society!

• Each year we continue to add value to production by donating all recyclable commodities to recycling stations, to schools or charity foundations.
  Neutrality is hidden in the detail!

• By using environmentally friendly materials for renovation or repair work we give an enormous effort to bring all details in harmony with nature.

ENERGY SAVING

• Heat regulation – adjustment
  The temperature in each room is under thermostatic control and can be adjusted independently. The entrance doors are equipped with porches and air curtains.
• Minimum energy consumption with energy-saving air conditioners! The rooms are equipped with a system that turns off electricity supply after the guests have left the room. By using class energy – efficient air-conditioners. We save 33% more energy every year compared to air conditioners of lower class.
• Designed saving in lighting!
  A specially designed lighting system enables us to avoid unnecessary lighting and to achieve the highest level of energy saving using lamps of class A.
• Sufficient lighting when necessary!
  We can prevent the loss of even a single light beam by using lights with motion sensors in general areas.
• Non-poultice and renewable energy with solar energy!
  The produce hot water we use environmentally friendly and renewable energy sources like solar energy.
• Saving in heating and cooling. Decrease in the global warming! By using double-glazing in the rooms and restaurants we do not only spend 20% less energy in heating and cooling. But also make a contribution to reduce global warming.
• Advanced technology to save more energy!
  We prevent power surges by using frequency inverter in air-conditioners as well as in water boosters. Heat pumps allow us to reduce energy consumption to a minimum.

Raise awareness, train employees, and encourage participation

• Set up a “Sustainability Corner” on the company intranet.
• Send employees an email with a link to the company’s latest sustainability report.
• Create a bulletin board in the cafeteria where sustainability info is rotated monthly.
• Host a “green fair” in a large conference room, with stations devoted to different areas of the company’s sustainability initiatives.
• Provide sustainability tours that point out sustainable building features.
• Develop a self-guided walking tour of your facilities, highlighting key sustainable features.
• Put up signs in the kitchen and bathrooms highlighting water conservation activities.
• Share the electricity bill with employees.
• Share the water/sewage bill with employees.
• Share the waste and recycling bills with employees.
• Conduct a waste audit, involving employees in the collection, sorting, and weighing of trash.

Assist customer of using environmentally product and services

Use Eco-Friendly take-out containers

Use Compostable and Durable Napkins

Offer More Vegetarian and Vegan Options

• Implement eco-friendly promotional products for use 

• Scrap the Paper and Go Digital where possible