Environment

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a major requirement for developmental projects. Dehsabz-Barikab City Development Authority (DCDA) as managing body for the Kabul New City (KNC) development undertakes a number of EIA studies for its infrastructure and land development projects. EIA studies comply with major World Bank environmental safeguarding policies, JICA Environmental considerations and National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) guidelines.

Afghanistan has established an EIA system through the National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA), and therefore, DCDA follows the rule stipulated in the EIA regulations. The EIA reports shall also comply with the Afghanistan Environmental Law. EIA will be conducted on most of the new city projects that include the following necessary aspects for the Environmental Impact Assessment:

Legal framework
Description of the Existing Environment of the Study Area
Description of the Anticipated Environment Impact
Proposed Mitigation Measures
Proposed Monitoring Measures
Land acquisition, Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) and Factories' Relocation/Compensation Plan (if necessary)
Environmental Management Plan
Record of Stakeholder Meetings
Analysis of Alternatives

The role of the EIA is outlined in the following manner:

No.	EIA Related Activities	Scope
1	Determine the category of the developmental projects in advance	Impact category of the project to be determined. The depth of EIA (EIA and Initial Environmental Examination)
2	Development of ToR and RFP or RFT for the projects	ToR for the EIA project, Announcement of EoI, RFP/RFT, reviewing the proposals and making technical decisions.
3	Development of scoping of the EIA projects	Upon determination of the project impact the scoping shall be developed in order to cover all aspects of the EIA impact, mitigation plans, EIA management plans and Environmental monitoring plans.
4	Assist in procuring for the EIA project implementation	Technical assessment of the consultant selection process, Supporting the consultant in achieving the goals of the EIA study, providing necessary documents and studies to the consultant, leading public gatherings that relate to the EIA matters
5	Assist the contracting agency to carry out the EIA process	Provide technical and guidance assistance to the selected consultant in implementing the EIA project. This assistance may include provision of necessary documents, provision of topographical maps, support in community relations, assigning of an liaison officer and participation in the Stakeholder meetings

Implementation of the EIA projects may include the following components and sub components:

No.	Major EIA Components	Sub Elements
1.	Identification of legal system	Land acquisition Involuntary resettlement Involuntary relocation of business establishments Policy to encourage nomads settlement Public participation Information disclosure
2.	Survey on existing natural environment	Topographic and geological characteristics Soil Landscape Ecological characteristic Fauna and flora Air Quality Noise and vibration Water quality analysis Hearing and observation on Karezes and water springs
3.	Survey on existing social environment	Administrative divisions Demographic characteristics Water use for drinking and others Existing settlements Historical and archeological heritage Employment by sector Agricultural activities (if any) Business activities Social structure
4.	Survey on People and Organizations	Residents (if any) Brick factories Nomads Land owners Nearby communities Gender considerations
5.	Supporting Stakeholder Meetings	Preparation of documents Other support
6.	Preparation of Resettlement Action Plan (RAP) (if necessary)	Preparation of RAP
7.	Relocation/Compensation Plan	Preparation of Relocation Plan Preparation of Compensation Plan
8.	Analysis of Alternatives	Analysis of Alternatives
9.	EIA Report Preparation	Analysis of collected data Analysis of impacts Analysis of mitigation measures Preparation of monitoring measures Preparation of Draft Final Report Preparation of Final Report

It is important to mention that if the project is financed by a donor country/agency, the environmental guidelines of the donor may need to be complied in addition to NEPA guidelines.

The final EIA report will identify mitigation measures and environmental management plan that shall be implemented by the authority. Additional financial and technical capacities will be required to implement the recommendations provided by the EIA report.