Environmental Protection is a practice of protecting the environment on individual, organizational or governmental level, for the benefit of the natural environment and humans. This means taking an action or a relinquishment from an action that facilitates preservation or restoration of ecosystem natural balance
Pollution is an undesirable state of the natural environment being contaminated with harmful substances as a consequence of human activities; the contamination can be either intentionally or accidentally. Pollution is also introduction of contaminants into an environment that causes instability, disorder, harm or discomfort to the ecosystem.
An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is required before any industry comes on stream in the State. Also, an EIA is required on any development activities including but limited to infrastructure, transportation, agriculture, general construction and service, health, mining, energy, tourism.
EIA is a planning and making decision tool, applied to a proposed undertaking (i.e. any activity, project implementation, or development of which may have significant impact on the environment)
EIA involves the gathering and analysis of all relevant information on a proposed undertaking to determine the likely consequences of the undertaking implemented in a given area, and if it should . . . . What appropriate mitigation or alternative must be considered in order to ensure environmentally sound and sustainable implementation or development.
i. Obtain a Registration Form from the Agency
ii. Complete (in duplicates) and submit the Registration Form to the Agency.
i. The project proponent (i.e. the owner)
ii. Environmental Protection Agency
iii. Relevant Municipals
iv. Relevant Ministries and Departments
v. Communities affected by the project
vi. Other stakeholders (interested parties)
i. Yes, if the project is included in the EIA Mandatory List.
ii. No, if the project is not in the Mandatory List.
The advice could be one of the following:
i. Objection to proposal (i.e. cannot proceed);
ii. No-Objection (i.e. proposal may proceed);
iii. Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) required;
iv. EIA required
PEA is required for moderation significant impact undertaking to provide adequate information on the project as the basis for decision making.
i. When the Agency after considering an application decides that the proposed undertaking is likely to have severe negative effects on the environment.
ii. For undertakings listed in Category I
iii. For those sited in the areas that are considered to be environmentally sensitive
Scoping is the first exercise to be carried out to determine the main issues to be addressed in EIA Study. The Scoping exercise leads to the preparation of Terms of Reference (ToR) which serves as guide for the EIA. The ToR must be agreed upon between the Agency and the proponent.
The EIAs submitted are reviewed by the Agency in collaboration with relevant Ministries and government Agencies.
For EIAs, a 21-day public notice (newspaper publication) is served to invite contributing comments. Public hearing is held as part of the review process where:
i. There are strong public concerns on the undertaking;
ii. It involves settlement of communities, utilities or diversion of river/stream;
iii. The Agency considers that the undertaking could have extensive and far reaching consequences on the environment.
An Environmental Permit (EP) must be obtained in order to commence or implement an undertaking. The Environmental Permit (EP) is an evidence of compliance with Environmental Assessment Regulations.
The Agency charges review fee/ administrative charges on technical documents (EIA, EA, EAR, PIA,EMP, e.t.c) being submitted to the Agency.
Industries in the State are visited at least twice in a year for an assessment of the compliance status with regards to environmental regulations and standards.