Towards an effective environmental impact assessment (EIA) in the industrial sector of Bahrain, Arabian Gulf

Figures & data

Table 1. Evaluation criteria for the role of EIA in energy conservation and emission reduction.

Area of evaluation	Emissions questions	Energy questions
1. Description of the project • The size of the project • Production processes and energy used • Residues and emissions	1.1. Are the types and quantities of gaseous and particulate emissions associated with energy use by the project identified? (emissions from combustion of fossil fuels in stationary and mobile plant, emissions from traffic) during construction during operation during decommissioning	1.1. Are the types of energy sources and quantities of energy required by the project identified? during construction during operation during decommissioning
	1.2. Are the locations for discharge of all emissions to air identified and the characteristics of the discharges identified? (e.g. height of stack, velocity and temperature of release)	1.2. Are all the energy consumption processes involved in operating the Project described? (e.g. manufacturing or engineering processes, primary raw material production )
	1.3. Are the quantities of emissions associated with energy consumption per unit of outputs produced by the project described and benchmarked with national or international standard? (presented in terms of kg or ppm per unit mass or volume , etc.) (emission intensity index)	1.3. Are the quantities of energy per unit of outputs produced by the project described and benchmarked with national or international standard? (Presented in terms of energy per unit mass or volume, etc.) (energy intensity index)
	1.4. Are the methods for collecting, treating and finally discharging these emissions to air described?	1.4. Is the potential for resource recovery from wastes and residues discussed? (including re-use, recycling or energy recovery process or heat integration)
	1.5. Are the methods for estimating the quantities and composition of all residues and emissions identified and any difficulties discussed?	1.5. Is efficiency in use of energy and raw materials discussed?
		1.6. Are the methods for estimating the quantities of energy consumption identified and any difficulties discussed?
2. Consideration of alternatives	2.1. Are the emissions associated with energy use considered as one of the criteria for choosing between alternatives?	2.1. Are energy type and quantity considered as one of the criteria for choosing between alternatives?
3. Description of environment likely to be affected by the project • Aspects of the environment • Data collection and survey methods	3.1. Are the current emissions associated with energy use within the area of project described?	3.1. Is the current energy use within the area of project described?
	3.2. Have all relevant national and local agencies been contacted to collect information about the baseline of air emissions?	3.2. Have all relevant national and local agencies been contacted to collect information about the baseline of energy use?
	3.3. Where surveys have been undertaken to characterize the air quality baseline, are the methods used, any difficulties encountered and any uncertainties in the data described?	3.3. Where surveys have been undertaken to characterize the baseline of energy use, are the methods used, any difficulties encountered and any uncertainties in the data described?
	3.4. Were the methods used appropriate for the purpose?	3.4. Were the methods used appropriate for the purpose?
	3.5. Are any important gaps in the data on the existing air quality identified, and the means used to deal with these gaps during the assessment explained?	3.5. Are any important gaps in the data on the existing energy use identified, and the means used to deal with these gaps during the assessment explained?
	3.6. If surveys would be required to adequately characterize the baseline of air quality but they have not been practicable for any reason, are the reasons explained and proposals set out for the surveys to be undertaken at a later stage?	3.6. If surveys would be required to adequately characterize the baseline of energy use but they have not been practicable for any reason, are the reasons explained and proposals set out for the surveys to be undertaken at a later stage?
4. Description of the likely significant effects of the project • Prediction of direct effects • Prediction of secondary, temporary, short term, permanent, long term, accidental, indirect, cumulative effects • Impact assessment methods	4.1. Are direct, primary effects on air quality described and where appropriate quantified?	4.1. Are direct, primary effects on energy use described and where appropriate quantified?
	4.2. Where effects are evaluated against legal standards or requirements, are appropriate local, national or international standards used and relevant guidance followed?	4.2. Where effects are evaluated against legal standards or requirements, are appropriate local, national or international standards used and relevant guidance followed?
	4.3. Are positive effects on the environment described as well as negative effects?	4.3. Are positive effects on the environment described as well as negative effects?
	4.4. Are the methods used to predict effects described, and are the reasons for their choice, any difficulties encountered and uncertainties in the results discussed?	4.4. Are the methods used to predict effects described, and are the reasons for their choice, any difficulties encountered and uncertainties in the results discussed?
	4.5. Where there is uncertainty about the precise details of the project and its impact on the environment are worst case predictions described?	4.5. Where there is uncertainty about the precise details of the project and its impact on the environment are worst case predictions described?
	4.6. Is the basis for evaluating the significance or importance of impacts clearly described?	4.6. Is the basis for evaluating the significance or importance of impacts clearly described?
	4.7. Are cumulative effects on the environment of the project together with other existing or planned developments in the locality described?	4.7. Are cumulative effects on the environment of the project together with other existing or planned developments in the locality described?
5. Mitigation and monitoring • Description of mitigation measure • Commitment to mitigation and monitoring • Environmental effects of mitigation	5.1. Where there are significant adverse effects from air emissions is the potential for mitigation of these effects discussed?	5.1. Where there are significant adverse effects from energy use is the potential for mitigation of these effects discussed?
	5.2. Are the measures which the developer proposes to implement to mitigate effects clearly described and is their effect on the magnitude and significance of impacts clearly explained?	5.2. Are the measures which the developer proposes to implement to mitigate effects clearly described and is their effect on the magnitude and significance of impacts clearly explained?
	5.3. If the effect of mitigation measures on the magnitude and significance of impacts is uncertain is this explained?	5.3. If the effect of mitigation measures on the magnitude and significance of impacts is uncertain is this explained?
	5.4. Are the Developer's reasons for choosing the proposed mitigation explained?	5.4. Are the Developer's reasons for choosing the proposed mitigation explained?
	5.5. Are responsibilities for implementation of mitigation including funding clearly defined?	5.5. Are responsibilities for implementation of mitigation including funding clearly defined?
	5.6. Where mitigation of significant adverse effects is not practicable or the developer has chosen not to propose any mitigation are the reasons for this clearly explained?	5.6. Where mitigation of significant adverse effects is not practicable or the developer has chosen not to propose any mitigation are the reasons for this clearly explained?
	5.7. Are arrangements proposed to monitor and manage residual impacts?	5.7. Are arrangements proposed to monitor and manage residual impacts?
	5.8. Are any negative effects of the proposed mitigation described?	5.8. Are any negative effects of the proposed mitigation described?
	5.9. Are mitigation measures linked to the environmental management plan?	5.9. Are mitigation measures linked to the energy management plan?

Figure 1. Quality index of evaluated EIA reports with respect to air quality and emissions.

Figure 2. Quality index of evaluated EIA reports with respect to efficiency and energy consumption.

Figure 3. A proposed framework of environmental management tools and project cycle for Oil and Gas Sector in Bahrain.