Environmental auditing

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Environmental Auditing

Auditing refers to the examination and assessment of a certain type of performance. In the case of an EIA, an audit assess the actual environmental impact, the accuracy of prediction, the effectiveness of environmental impact mitigation and enhancement measures, and the functioning of monitoring mechanisms. The audit should be undertaken upon a project run in operation, for some time, and is usually performed once or twice in the entire project cycle.

The following types of audit that are recommended to be implemented in different phases of the EIA process:

Types of Audit

Decision Point Audit	examines the effectiveness of EIA as a decision-making tool

Implementation Audit	ensures that approved conditions have been met

Performance Audit	examines the responses of agencies concerned with project management

Project Impact Audit	examines environmental changes arising from project implementation

Predictive Technique Audit	examines the accuracy and utility of predictive techniques by comparing actual against predicted environmental effects

EIA Procedures Audit	critically examines the methods and approach adopted during the EIA study

Not all the audit types mentioned above are required to be implemented in EIA process. However, at the project approval stage, both project proponent and authorizing agency should considered whether an application of a particular audit technique is likely to result in new information or an improvement in management practices. Particular attention should be given to the project cost-effectiveness of any proposed audit and to technical difficulties likely to be encountered.

Since the EIA concept is a relatively recent, the use of environmental audits will play a significant role in evolving a systematic approach of the application of EIA.

Environmental auditing should compare monitoring results with information generated during the pre-project period. Comparisons can be made with similar projects or against standard norms. Relating actual impacts with predicted impacts, help in evaluating the accuracy and adequacy of EIA predictions.

Environmental Auditing Plan

Environmental Audit should be carried out upon the completion of project construction and after 2 years of project operation in order to obtain information on:

the condition of natural/social/economical resources prior to project implementation after the project construction is completed,
whether or not, all the mitigation measures implemented are effective to control adverse impact, or enhance beneficial impacts,
whether or not mitigation measures implemented are effective to control adverse impact, or enhance beneficial impact,
whether or not all degraded landscape due to project implementation have been restored into original condition,
what are the impacts of boom-bust scenario among the workforce involved in project implementation and the local economy, and
the effect on the local economy of project implementation.

Information from monitoring output should also be utilized for carrying out environmental audit:

Example

Nepal: Tentative plan for carrying out environmental audit The example is taken from hydropower project for illustration of an auditing activity. More...