Table 1: Basic Steps in EIA Procedure STEPS 1. Registration 2. Screening 3. Scoping 4.Stakeholder Consultation 5. Detailed EIA ACTIVITY Obtain and complete an EA registration form from EPA office or District Assembly office Desktop examination of existing planning documents and other easily available information on the proposed project Site inspection This is carried out for detailed EIA Literature review Survey of proposed site or alternatives sites Identify all stakeholders Brainstorm with the multidisciplinary team Hold public hearings Discuss with relevant specialist outside the team Gathering of information and consultations Description of the environment Analysis and prediction of changes Overall environmental management and reporting EXPECTED OUTPUT EPA is of the proposed activity Understanding of the project in relation to environmental issues Placing the project at the appropriate level of assessment Determine the boundary of focus of key issues of an EIA or SEA for Terms of Reference (TOR) preparation Determines: who is involved, those affected positively and negatively by the project Detailed EIA report TOOLS EA Registration form National laws and regulations Description of proposed project activities Environmental related information on the project Checklist of interactions Scoping matrix and checklist Rapid identification of environmental components Impact analysis Stakeholder analysis Problem analysis Planning documents Resource information Impact matrix Indicators and Limits of Acceptable Change RESPONSIBILITY Proponent EPA and District Planning office Proponents and team of consultants Proponent and EPA Proponent and team of consultants
Recommendations for environmental management • Proposals to adopt site-specific environmental quality goal; definitions of standards and indicators. • Proposals for an environmental management plan: Recommendations for impact management through anticipatory planning: targets for structural interventions (water supply and distribution systems, flood control, drainage, farm roads, etc.), agronomy and land husbandry; Mitigation plan to reduce adverse impacts e.g. on other land users, water supply, habitat restoration/amelioration; in some projects, Limits of Acceptable Change (LACs) have been defined for specific environmental components, with agreement on subsequent mitigative action if they are exceeded, e.g. LACs for percentage of vegetation cover or specific land uses; Compensation plan for residual impacts, for example land compensation, habitat replacement; Contingency plan to prevent accidents or to minimize natural hazards; Action to enhance resource uses other than current project activities, e.g. social forestry programmes. 4.0 ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PROGRAMME Internal environmental management program is an important component of project environmental policy. Management programmes in any development schemes are environmental quality monitoring, auditing, and annual environmental reporting. 4.1 Environmental Quality Monitoring Environmental monitoring is a planned, systematic collection of environmental data through series of repetitive measurements, surveillance and inspection to meet specific objectives and environmental needs. Monitoring establishes environmental conditions; detects trends, seasonal and other predicted changes so that remedial measures can be taken to achieve good environmental performance. Also, monitoring may reveal unanticipated impacts, which may call for design improvements or changes. Regular data collection and evaluation provides early warning of significant impact that demand immediate action. It also, serves to check the predictions of the project. Focus must be on important components and their indicators.
Veterinary Surgeon’s Law PNDC Law 305 C 1992 Land Planning and Soil Conservation (Amendment) Act 35, 1957 To utilization of lands in designated areas by planning and conservation. It has not been repealed. Institution Legal Enactment Purpose Ministry of Fisheries Fisheries Development Law PNDC Law 256 of 1991 Fisheries Act 625 of 2002 Regulates fishing in both marine and inland waters and other fisheries activities Ghana National Fire Service Control and Prevention of Bushfire PNDC law 229, 1990 Prohibits the setting of for any purpose except for farm slash. Grass and herbage if controlled and confined within farm boundaries. Ghana Investment Promotion Centre (GIPC) Ghana Investment Code, 1985 It guides GIPC in appraising Enterprises and ensures that measures for the prevention and control of any harmful effects to the environment are well spelt out. Land Commission/Stool Lands Administration Administration of Lands Act (1962) Administration of (amendment) Decree (1979) Land use tenure laws Regulate stool/traditional land use Wildlife Department (Min. of Lands & Forestry) Wildlife Reserves Regulations LI 710 of 1971 Conservation and protection of wildlife reserves, endangered and threatened species Metropolitan /District Assemblies Government Act 462 of 1993 Enacting and enforcing byelaws and implementing government policy on environment at the local level. 7.0 GENERAL SCREENING CRITERIA Screening an undertaking in the agricultural sector is conducted by considering various factors including:
Resettlement Loss of alternative land use or activities Loss of cultural resources Dislocation of population and communities Project implementation or benefits impaired due to conflicts of land ownership Conversion of land may favour one group over another Disturbance of valuable resources, such as scared forest and archeological site Siting of project to minimize dislocations Compensation to owners of dislocated property Resettlement scheme ensuring at least equal standard of living and including environmental considerations of services, such as roads, water supply sanitation and health Consultation with affected population, authorities and NGOs Pre-project socioeconomic surveys and land use assessment Measures to protect or restore affected resources if avoidance is not possible Define ecological requirements Operated dams to suit downstream requirements and encourage wildlife around reservoirs Table 8: Summary of Environmental Issues, Impacts and Mitigation/Enhancement Measures Related to Livestock Environmental Issue Environmental Impact Mitigation/Enhancement Measures Land and soil quality Soil erosion from land clearing for stock water construction Soil erosion due to livestock trails/tracks (hoofing effect) Soil compacting due to livestock movement Loss of organic matter and nutrients due to land clearing Loss in pasture productivity Bush encroachment resulting from selective grazing Fencing and planting of vetivar grass around stock water points Adequate and uniformly distributed watering points should be provided. Improvement of soil fertility through the planting of leguminous plants in pasture development Droppings from livestock fertilize the land Periodic rest of selected areas during a growing season (rotational grazing) Practice grazing management. Diversification of livestock species and protection of sensitive areas Water quality Silting of water bodies and small dams contributes to sediment loads and turbidity which affect fish and other aquatic organisms. Impact of water quality (pollution of water by livestock faeces) Proper waste and effluent management Provide for adequate treatment of effluents and solid waste from projects Provision of separate watering points for livestock and humans Provision of watering troughs (ensure that livestock do not directly from water bodies)
Contamination of soil and water bodies Uncontrolled import, sale and distribution of pesticide Unsafe management of pesticides containers Underground water pollution resulting from pesticides Using recommended pesticide at a minimum effective application rate Ensure application equipment is in good working order and is properly and regularly calibrated Enforce import regulations Ensure proper disposal of pesticides containers Education Environmental Issue Environmental Impact Mitigation/Enhancement Measures Sprayer filling stations and Pesticide preparation Contamination by chemical spills during filling Locate the filling at 10m from all water courses, wells and boreholes. Position the filling station at a lower elevation than wells such that spills will run away from the water supply Have response equipment close by the mixing and storage site, including absorptive materials, shovels, protective gear etc.
1. Scale of operation 2. Location [Sensitivity] 3 Level of impacts on Human life/settlement Water Resources Soil Resource Any other Resource Neutral - 0 NS No Significant Impact - 1 MS Medium Significant Impact - 2 VS Very Significant Impact - 3 3.3.5 Placement Category Placement Basis A Only registration Required [issue permit] Project not anticipated to result in adverse environmental impact requiring further review. B Request for PER Project with limited environmental impact that can be routinely resolved through application of limited mitigation measures or design changes C Request for EIA [Mandatory] Project with the potential for significantly far reaching environmental impacts requiring detailed field study and review. D Strategic Environmental Assessment {SEA} Formulation of policies and programmes. Development of strategy of action plan for sector/sub-sector. E Reject [Disapprove] proposal Location too sensitive for the scale and level of impacts. 3.4 FISHERIES 3.4.1 Types/categories of Fish Production 1. Capture fisheries 1.1 Industrial 1.2 Semi-industrial 1.3 Artisanal/Canoe fisheries 2. Aquaculture [Culture fisheries] 2.1 Intensive [Complete dependence on formulated fish]. 2.2 Semi-intensive [partially fed on supplementary feed]. 2.3 Extensive [Fish left to grow on their own utilizing natural food]. 3.4.2 Activities in fisheries and scale for classification Type of fishing Description Of activities Scale Small [Category A] Medium [Category B] Large [Category C] Industrial/ Fleet Use trawlers, purse seiners, shrimps and tuna vessels * Operate in deep waters [offshore] 30 meters depth and beyond * Semi-industrial Use of small wooden vessels with inboard engines * * Operate in inshore waters along the coast, below 30 meter depth and above *
Moderately acidic 4.0 – 6.5 Neutral 6.5 – 7.5 Moderately 7.5 – 8.5 Highly basic 8.5 3.5.3 Major Activities under Pesticide and Agro-chemical Management and Control Activities Category Registration of pesticide C Manufacture and formulation C Bulk storage of agro-chemicals B Transportation of chemicals B Commercial/large scale application [e.g. aerial spray, locust control] B Disposal of agro-chemical waste and containers. B Disposal of expired or obsolete pesticide C 3.5.4 Placement Category Placement Basis A Only registration Required [issue permit] Project not anticipated resulting in adverse environmental impact requiring further review. B Request for PER Project with limited environmental impacts that can be routinely resolved through application of limited mitigation measures or design changes. C Request for EIA [Mandatory] Project with the potential for significantly far reaching environmental impacts requiring detailed field study and review. D Strategic Environmental Assessment {SEA} Formulation of policies and programmes. Development of strategy of action plan for E Reject [Disapprove] proposal Location too sensitive for the scale and level of impacts.