Alain P.K. Gomgnimbou, Doctor of Environmental Science and Director General of the Agence Nationale des Évaluations Environnementales (ANEVE), tells us that “all mining projects undergo an environmental assessment prior to start-up”. He was speaking in an interview on the occasion of World Environment Day, celebrated every 5 June. What is the process for obtaining an environmental and social impact assessment?
Process for obtaining an environmental and social impact assessment
According to Dr Alain P.K. Gomgnimbou, there are 3 to 4 stages to an environmental and social impact assessment. Project promoters must submit their terms of reference to ANEVE for scoping. This will involve categorising the activity in question, gaining a better understanding of its various components and perhaps drawing attention to certain specific aspects. After this stage, on the basis of the terms of reference, the developer will draw up its environmental impact study or environmental assessment, depending on the category of project. The study or assessment report then moves on to the examination and validation stage. If the project in question is in category B (environmental impact statement), a field mission is organised to validate it. If it’s a category A project, such as a mining or road project, there are still other stages to go through. We will go through what is known as the public enquiry, meaning that public hearings are organised in the project area to solicit all opinions and perceptions regarding the project in question. A session of the technical environmental assessment committee is then held. This committee is made up of technical experts to examine the report. It is on this basis that the environmental feasibility opinion is issued.
How many types of assessment are there?
It’s often a question of approach and schools. But there are two types of environmental assessment. There is what we call prospective and anticipatory assessment, which is the set of environmental studies carried out before the start of the project for category B projects. The strategic environmental assessment study for a project or programme. There are also environmental prescriptions for certain category C projects whose impact is not really significant. Nevertheless, ANEVE can issue a discharge. All are part of the first environmental assessment group, which takes place before the project begins.
Once the project is up and running, there are certain types of assessment that we call control and management tools. These include environmental audits and inspections. Environmental audits are carried out periodically; for example, for an industrial mine, the Environmental Code stipulates 3 years, whereas the Mining Code stipulates 2 years. For the time being, we’re sticking to the 3 years on a regular basis. But certain projects, such as bakeries and petrol stations, must be able to undergo an environmental audit every 5 years.
Who monitors the implementation of the environmental and social impact assessment?
When environmental assessments, notices or impact studies are drawn up, they refer to the Environmental and Social Management Plan (ESMP). The ESMP includes a monitoring plan, which may be internal or external. Internal monitoring is carried out by the promoter, while external monitoring is the role of the State’s regalian structures, in particular ANEVE and other structures of the Ministry of the Environment. Other ministerial departments also carry out this monitoring because it concerns other areas. For example, the recruitment of local labour and the declaration to the Social Security Fund are monitored by other, more competent bodies. The involvement of civil society organisations (CSOs) is increasing, so that CSOs can also draw the attention of local residents to certain harmful activities.
Rachid Ouédraogo
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