REVISED PROCEDURAL MANUAL for DAO 2003-30

Question 1

a measure of capacity of the environment to absorb impacts within recovery thresholds such that there is no significant deterioration or depletion of resources to a point where sustainable ecosystem function is impaired.

Answer 1

Carrying Capacity

Question 2

a certification issued by the EMB certifying that, based on the submitted project description, the project is not covered by the EIS System and is not required to secure an ECC.

Answer 2

Certificate of Non-Coverage

Question 3

projects, or series of similar projects or a project subdivided to several phases and/or stages by the same Proponent, located in contiguous areas.

Answer 3

Co-located projects / undertakings

Question 4

additive impacts from various sources

Answer 4

Cumulative Impacts

Question 5

the Director of the DENR-EMB at the Central Office

Answer 5

EMB Director

Question 6

the Director of the DENR-EMB at the Regional Office

Answer 6

EMB RD / EMB RO Director

Question 7

Surrounding air, water (both ground and surface), land, flora, fauna, humans and their interrelations.

Answer 7

Environment

Question 8

a certificate of Environmental Compliance Commitment to which the Proponent conforms with, after DENR-EMB explains the ECC conditions, by signing the sworn undertaking of full responsibility over implementation of specified measures which are necessary to comply with existing environmental regulations or to operate within best environmental practices that are not currently covered by existing laws. It is a document issued by the DENR/EMB after a positive review of an ECC application, certifying that the Proponent has complied with all the requirements of the EIS System and has committed to implement its approved Environmental Management Plan. The ECC also provides guidance to other agencies and to LGUs on EIA findings and recommendations, which need to be considered in their respective decision-making process.

Answer 8

Environmental Compliance Certificate (ECC)

Question 9

an environmentally sensitive area declared through Proclamation 2146 wherein significant environmental impacts are expected if certain types/thresholds of proposed projects are located, developed or implemented in it. Updating of technical descriptions of ECAs is vested on the DENR-EMB through Section 2-D of AO 42 (2002).

Answer 9

Environmentally Critical Area (ECA)

Question 10

projects belonging to project types declared through
Proclamation No. 2146 and Proclamation No. 803 which may pose significant negative environmental
impact at certain thresholds of operation regardless of location. Updating of technical descriptions of ECPs
is vested on the DENR-EMB through Section 2-D of AO 42 (2002), in coordination with the DTI as provided
for in Section 3-A of AO 42.

Answer 10

Environmentally Critical Project (ECP)

Question 11

fund to be set up by a project Proponent which shall be readily accessible and disbursable for the immediate clean-up or rehabilitation of areas affected by damages in the environment and the resulting deterioration of environmental quality as a direct consequence of a project’s construction, operation or abandonment. It shall likewise be used to compensate parties and communities affected by the negative impacts of the project, and to fund community-based environment related projects including, but not limited to, information and education and emergency preparedness programs.

Answer 11

Environmental Guarantee Fund (EGF)

Question 12

process that involves evaluating and predicting the likely impacts of a project (including cumulative impacts) on the environment during construction, commissioning, operation and abandonment. It also includes designing appropriate preventive, mitigating and enhancement measures addressing these consequences to protect the environment and the community’s welfare.

Answer 12

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Question 13

a professional or group of professionals commissioned by the Proponent to prepare the EIS/IEE and other related documents. In some cases, the person or group referred to may be the Proponent’s technical staff.

Answer 13

Environmental Impact Assessment Consultant

Question 14

a body of independent technical experts and professionals of known probity from various fields organized by the EMB to evaluate the EIS and other related documents and to make appropriate recommendations regarding the issuance or non
issuance of an ECC.

Answer 14

Environmental Impact Assessment Review Committee (EIARC)

Question 15

document, prepared and submitted by the project Proponent and/or EIA Consultant that serves as an application for an ECC. It is a comprehensive study of the significant impacts of a project on the environment. It includes an Environmental Management Plan/Program that the Proponent will fund and implement to protect the environment.

Answer 15

Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

Question 16

section in the EIS that details the prevention, mitigation, compensation, contingency and monitoring measures to enhance positive impacts and minimize negative impacts and risks of a proposed project or undertaking. For operating projects, the EMP can also
be derived from an EMS.

Answer 16

Environmental Management Plan/Program (EMP)

Question 17

refers to the EMB PEPP EMS as provided for under DAO 2003-14, which is a part of the overall management system of a project or organization that includes environmental policy, organizational structure, planning activities, responsibilities, practices, procedures, processes and resources for developing, implementing, achieving, reviewing and maintaining an improved overall environmental performance.

Answer 17

Environmental Management Systems (EMS)

Question 18

fund that a Proponent shall set up after an ECC is issued for its project or undertaking, to be used to support the activities of the multi-partite monitoring team. It shall be immediately accessible and easily disbursable.

Answer 18

Environmental Monitoring Fund (EMF)

Question 19

capability of Proponents to mitigate environmental impacts of projects or programs.

Answer 19

Environmental Performance

Question 20

documentation of the actual cumulative environmental impacts and effectiveness of current measures for single projects that are already
operating but without ECCs.

Answer 20

Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan (EPRMP)

Question 21

assessment, through the use of universally accepted and scientific methods, of risks associated with a project. It focuses on determining the probability of occurrence of accidents and their magnitude (e.g. failure of containment or exposure to hazardous materials or situations.)

Answer 21

Environmental Risk Assessment (ERA)

Question 22

document similar to an EIS, but with reduced details and depth of assessment and discussion.

Answer 22

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Report

Question 22

simplified checklist version of an IEE Report, prescribed by the DENR, to be filled up by a Proponent to identify and assess a project’s environmental impacts and the mitigation/enhancement measures to address such impacts.

Answer 22

Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) Checklist Report

Question 23

community-based multi-sectoral team organized for the purpose of monitoring the Proponent’s compliance with ECC conditions, EMP and applicable laws, rules and regulations.

Answer 23

Multipartite Monitoring Team (MMT)

Question 23

documentation of comprehensive studies on environmental baseline conditions of a contiguous area. It also includes an assessment of the carrying capacity of the area to absorb impacts from co-located projects such as those in industrial estates or
economic zones (ecozones).

Answer 23

Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement (PEIS)

Question 23

documentation of actual cumulative environmental impacts of co-located projects with proposals for expansion. It should also describe the effectiveness of current environmental mitigation measures and plans for performance improvement.

Answer 23

Programmatic Environmental Performance Report and Management Plan (PEPRMP)

Question 24

open, transparent, gender-sensitive, and community-based public involvement in the EIA process, aimed at ensuring the social acceptability of a project or undertaking, involving the broadest range of stakeholders, commencing at the earliest possible stage of project design and development and
continuing until post-assessment monitoring.

Answer 24

Public Participation

Question 24

document, which may also be a chapter in an EIS, that describes the nature, configuration, use of raw materials and natural resources, production system, waste or pollution generation and control and the activities of a proposed project. It includes a description of the use of human resources
as well as activity timelines, during the pre-construction, construction, operation and abandonment phases.

Answer 24

Project Description (PD)

Question 24

any activity which may have varying levels of significance of impact on the environment, e.g. from high to moderate to nil significance, implying different intensities of preventive or mitigating interventions.

Answer 24

Project or Undertaking

Question 24

remaining impacts after implementation of preventive and mitigating measures

Answer 24

Residual Impacts

Question 24

an industry whose project operation stage involves chemical, mechanical or other processes.

Answer 24

Process Industry

Question 24

any natural or juridical person intending to implement a project or undertaking.

Answer 24

Proponent

Question 25

acceptability of a project by affected communities based on timely and informed participation in the EIA process particularly with regard to environmental impacts that are of concern to them.

Social acceptability within the EIA process administered by the DENR-EMB is limited to its environmental aspects while its other aspects including resolution of conflicts and other social acceptability issues is recognized by the DENR-EMB as falling entirely within the Local Government Unit’s jurisdiction and responsibility. The DENR-EMB review process will provide guidance to the LGUs on environmental aspects to consider in its resolution of SA issues, e.g. EMB can advice on nature, extent and magnitude of direct and indirect impacts and impact areas to assuage the people’s fears and concerns on environmental pollution, health and safety.

Answer 25

Social Acceptability

Question 25

phase in the ECC application review process to check for the completeness the required documents, conducted by EIAM Division at the EMB Central Office or Regional Office.

Answer 25

Procedural Review

Question 25

the stage in the EIS System where information and project impact assessment requirements are more definitely established and focused to provide the Proponent and the stakeholders the final scope of work and terms of reference for the EIS.

Answer 25

Scoping

Question 25

impacts which damage the environment to the point that the environmental resource loses its capacity to sustain life or to continue functioning within baseline levels and efficiency; impacts which need action through prevention, (e.g. change in project siting or design) or mitigation (reduce, repair, rehabilitate) or other interventions to protect the environment from being harmed at levels that reduce its functionality for its users or dependent biota.

Answer 25

Significant Impacts

Question 26

entities who may be directly and significantly affected by the project or undertaking, including the Proponent, government agencies who have mandates over the project, local government units who have jurisdiction over the project, local communities who may be affected by project impacts, locally-based or locally-active NGOs/POs within the impact areas and other public sectors who may be potentially affected by the
project as defined by the findings of the environmental impact assessment of the project.

Answer 26

Stakeholders