Question

Which stage of EIA involves the identification of potential impacts and formulation of mitigation measures?

• A. Assessment of the impact
• B. Scoping
• C. Monitoring
• D. Screening

Hint:

• Screening: Is an EIA needed?
• Scoping: What are the key issues and impacts to study? What alternatives and broad mitigation approaches should be considered? (Sets Terms of Reference).
• Impact Assessment: Detailed study and prediction of impacts.
• Mitigation: Detailed design of measures to reduce negative impacts.
• Monitoring: Tracking impacts and mitigation effectiveness post-approval.
• Scoping is the stage where potential impacts are identified to guide the full assessment, and initial considerations for mitigation are often included.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is B

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a systematic process to identify, predict, evaluate, and mitigate the biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of proposed development projects before major decisions are taken and commitments made. The EIA process typically involves several stages:
Option (A) Screening: Determines whether an EIA is required for a particular project based on its type, size, location, and potential environmental sensitivity. 
Option (B) Scoping (option b): This is a critical early stage. If an EIA is required, scoping defines the key environmental issues and potential impacts that need to be investigated in detail. 
It sets the terms of reference for the EIA study. 
This includes:
Option (H) Impact Assessment/Analysis (often part of "Assessment of the impact" - option a): This involves detailed prediction and evaluation of the identified potential impacts (positive and negative, direct and indirect, cumulative) of the project on the environment. 
Option (I) Mitigation: Based on the impact assessment, measures are formulated to prevent, reduce, remedy, or compensate for significant adverse environmental impacts. While scoping might initiate thinking about mitigation, the detailed formulation and commitment to mitigation measures typically follow the detailed impact assessment. 
Option (J) Reporting (EIA Report/Environmental Impact Statement - EIS): Documenting the findings of the EIA. 
Option (K) Review: Examination of the EIA report by authorities and the public. 
Option (L) Decision-Making: Using the EIA findings to approve, reject, or modify the project. 
Option (M) Monitoring (option c) and Auditing: After project approval and implementation, monitoring is conducted to ensure compliance with conditions, effectiveness of mitigation measures, and to track actual impacts. The question asks which stage "involves the identification of potential impacts and formulation of mitigation measures."

• Scoping is where potential impacts are first systematically identified to define the scope of the full EIA. While detailed formulation of mitigation measures happens later, scoping often includes preliminary thoughts on alternatives and broad mitigation strategies.
• Assessment of the impact (or Impact Analysis/Prediction) involves a deeper analysis of these identified impacts. Mitigation measures are then more concretely formulated based on this detailed assessment.

If "identification of potential impacts" is emphasized as the primary focus, scoping is key. If "formulation of mitigation measures" is emphasized as a detailed step, it comes after the detailed impact assessment. However, scoping sets the stage for both. The term "formulation" might imply more than just preliminary identification. The provided answer is (b) Scoping. In many EIA frameworks, scoping does indeed involve not just identifying what impacts to study but also outlining the types of mitigation that might be considered. It's about defining the breadth and depth of the subsequent detailed study, including the need to investigate mitigation. \[ \boxed{\text{Scoping}} \]