INVESTIGATIONS AND HYDRAULIC MODELS
S. No. Stages of Study Activities to be undertaken
5. Construction
2.1.5 Environmental Aspect .1 Introduction
Environmental studies (Initial Environmental Examination or Environmental Impact Assessment) of development projects has been the legal requirement in Nepal since promulgation of Environmental Protection Acts, 1997 and its Rules in 1997. The Schedule 1 and 2 of Rule 3 of EPR 1997 details out proposal requiring IEE and EIA level of studies respectively. The hydropower development of size 1 MW to 5 MW would have to go through IEE process and hydropower projects having more than 5 MW installed capacity would have to go through EIA process. In addition any project which is located within the sensitive area such as National Parks, Conservation Area, Buffer Zone etc will have to go through EIA process. Water Conveyance Systems being the part of hydropower development both EPA and EPR are attracted.
2.1.5.2 Environmental Process Guideline
National Environmental Impact Assessment Guideline, 1993 is the first formal guideline on environmental study in Nepal. Environmental Protection Act, 1997 and Environmental Protection Rules, 1997 are the legal documents which have made the environmental protection as the legal requirement in implementation of the development projects. The Rules were amended in 1999.
In the IEE process the Terms of Reference for the Study will have to be endorsed by the concern ministry. In the case of hydropower project, the concern ministry is Ministry of Water Resources. IEE study will have to be carried out with the active participation of the stakeholders of the project which are project affected people and the local institutions. The peoples participation have been ensured not only by taking out 15 days public notice in the national daily newspaper but also making the deed of public appraisal (muchulka) of the notice in the project area and the collection of recommendations from the local bodies (VDCs/municipalities).
In the project requiring EIA level of study, the scope of work of the EIA study is determined with the active participation of the stakeholders which include the project affected people. The participation of
the stakeholders in the scoping exercise is ensured by the public notice in the national daily newspaper and collection of issues and suggestions from the VDCs/municipalities of the project area.
Based on the Scoping exercise, terms of reference for the EIA study is drawn and get it endorsed from Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology after the passing through review committee comprising of number of eminent environmentalists.
EIA study is to be carried out with the active participation of the stakeholders. The EIA study will have to cover four major environments namely: physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural. It suggests presenting the baseline information of the project area in these four environments. Identify the environmental parameters under these four environments, predict and evaluate the impacts due to the project implementation at the different phases namely: pre-construction, construction and post- construction. Each of the identified adverse impact will have to be mitigated or compensated whereas the possible and practical benefit enhancement measures will have to be proposed for the beneficial impacts. In order to ensure the implementation of the proposed mitigation measures, the environmental management plan is the basic requirement in the EIA study which includes the implementation mechanism of the proposed mitigation measures and environmental monitoring plan for ensuring the implementation of the mitigation measures and assessing the effect of mitigation measures. The public participating in the EIA study has been the major thrust. Public hearing of the EIA findings in the project area and recommendation from the local bodies (VDCs/municipalities) is the mandatory requirement in the EIA process.
2.1.5.3 Data Collection
Baseline data collection could be made through different methods. In general the baseline data are collected by the walkthrough survey, inventory survey, measurement, sampling, focused group discussion, household survey, local enquiry etc.
2.1.5.4 Identification of Environmental Impact
Environmental impacts can be categorized under four major environmental setting namely: physical, biological, socio-economic and cultural. The impact can be categorized as direct, indirect and cumulative. The impacts could be identified by different methods. The simplest methods would be Checklist Method, Matrix Method and Network Method.
2.1.5.5 Impact Prediction
The impact prediction will have to be made on the basis of available baseline data on the environmental condition. Such anticipated changes or impacts will have to be described in quantitative and qualitative terms. For predicting the environmental impacts at least following will have to be undertaken:
• Determine the initial or basin environmental condition
• Predict the future environmental condition in case the concern project is not implemented
• Estimate the future environmental condition in case the concerned project is implemented In the process of impact prediction, magnitude, extent and duration of the impact will have to be assessed.
2.1.5.6 Mitigation Measures
While proposing the mitigation measures for the identified impact, one has to consider whether the alternative for the activity is available or not. If the alternative is not available what would be the corrective measures that would lessen the impact or is there any preventive measure that would lessen the adverse impact. The compensatory measures would be the last option that will be considered in the mitigation measures.
2.1.5.7 Other Guidelines and the Manuals to be followed for the Hydropower Projects in Nepal The following guidelines and manuals relevant for environment need to be followed to fulfill the Environmental requirements in the development of Hydropower Projects in Nepal.
National EIA Guidelines, 1993,
EIA guideline for Forestry Sector, 1995,
Guidelines for Environmental Monitoring and Environmental Auditing of Water,
Energy Projects in order to integrate environmental aspects in the water resources Projects (WECS, 1995).
Forest Produce Collection and Sales Distribution Guidelines (1998)
Manual for Preparing Scoping Document for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Hydropower Projects
Manual for Preparing Terms of Reference (ToR) for Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Hydropower Projects, with notes on EIA Report Preparation
Manual for Preparing Environmental Management Plan (EMP) for Hydropower Projects
Manual for Reviewing Scoping Document, Terms of Reference (ToR) and Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) reports for Hydropower Projects
Manual for Preparing Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Report for Hydropower Projects
Manual for Public Involvement in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Process of Hydropower Projects
Manual for Developing and Reviewing Water Quality Monitoring Plans and Results for Hydropower Projects
Manual for Prediction, Rating, Ranking and Determination of Significant Impacts in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of Hydropower Projects.
2.2 Hydraulic Models