EIA Screening and Scoping
Screening and Scoping
Screening establishes the appropriate level of assessment. Scoping identifies the issues, receptors, project phases and study boundaries that the assessment must address.
## 1. Screening: deciding the assessment pathway Review the project type, scale, location, process technology, resource demand, emissions, waste streams and proximity to sensitive receptors. The applicable authority’s current legislation and screening schedules determine the formal category and submission route.
## 2. Scoping: defining what must be studied - Describe the project boundary, associated facilities and construction, operation and closure phases. - Identify potentially affected receptors: communities, workers, surface water, groundwater, soil, air, biodiversity and cultural assets. - Map source–pathway–receptor linkages for each credible impact. - Set spatial boundaries, temporal coverage, assessment methods and data requirements. - Record exclusions and explain why an issue is not expected to be significant.
## 3. Sector-specific scoping prompts | Project | Issues to scope | |—|—| | Industrial facility | Fuel and raw-material use, process emissions, wastewater, hazardous materials, noise, traffic and waste | | Wastewater treatment plant | Influent variability, odour, bioaerosols, treated effluent, sludge, chemicals, bypasses and receiving-water sensitivity | | Drinking-water project | Source abstraction, catchment effects, treatment residuals, disinfection by-products, pipelines and construction disturbance |
## 4. Scoping register | Issue | Potential source | Receptor | Evidence needed | Include? / rationale | |—|—|—|—|—| | Example: wastewater discharge | Final outfall | Receiving water | Flow, quality, seasonal baseline | To be determined |
## 5. Scoping deliverable The terms of reference should define the project description, alternatives, study area, baseline programme, impact methods, consultation plan, specialist studies, reporting structure and schedule.