EIA Guidelines

The Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Procedures are cross sectoral guidelines which detail the process to be followed in The Gambia when conducting EIA. The sector guidelines contained in this document serve as a framework for consideration during the scoping phase of the EIA process. After the initial screening process, if a project is determined to require a more in-depth analysis of potential environmental impacts, the EIA Working Group will review the project in question, and using these sectoral guidelines as a reference, develop a scope of work for the required Environmental Impact Assessment. The developer will be informed in writing about the expected scope of the environmental impact study and will then prepare a document, referred to as the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). T
This edition, the fourth, of the EIA Sector Guidelines expands the number of guidelines available. The Sectors taken in consideration by these guidelines are the Manufacturing and Processing Industries, the Mining and On-Site Mineral Processing, the Road Infrastructure, the Solid Waste Disposal, the Large Agricultural Projects, the Fisheries and Aquaculture, the Tourism Development Projects. As the need arises in the future, additional sector guidelines may be prepared for other key areas. For each of the featured sectors, the guidelines set the process to be followed during the scoping phase of the EIA process.
A description of the process is required, referring to the purpose and physical characteristics of the proposed project, the land use requirements of the proposed project, the production process and the plant description and the alternative sites and processes considered. Also, a description of the site and its environment are required, containing information on the physical features of the proposed site, on all relevant statutory designations such as national parks, forest parks, nature reserves, and national monuments that are likely to affect or be affected by the proposed project or that are otherwise sited unreasonably close to the site identified for the proposed project. Also the legislative and policy framework shall be included in the descroption, with reference to all applicable national laws as well as to relevant international treaties, conventions or other agreements to which The Gambia is a Party. The identification and the description of the impacts on Human Beings and the Human-Made Environment, as well as on the land, on the water resources, on the air quality and climate, on flora and fauna is also necessary. Also indirect and secondary impacts shall be taken in consideration. Based on such impact assessment an analysis is required to determine the significance of potentially negative environmental impacts. The developer should also provide a detailed account of measures that shall be adopted to avoid, reduce or remedy all those significant adverse impacts with regard to waste reduction, recycling, pollution control and treatment of air emissions, toxic effluents, and solid wastes, pollution containment, landscaping measures, preservation of monuments etc. The assurance that the developer is prepared to monitor the environment during construction and routine operations is provided by environmental monitoring and evaluation programme within the Environmental Impact Statement.