An environmental management plan (EMP), also referred to as an impact management plan, is usually prepared as part of EIA reporting. It translates recommended mitigation and monitoring measures into specific actions that will be carried out by the proponent. Depending upon particular requirements, the plan may be included in, or appended to, the EIA report or may be a separate document. The EMP will need to be adjusted to the terms and conditions specified in any project approval. It will then form the basis for impact management during project construction and operation.
The main components of an EMP are described in the table below, which reflects practice at the World Bank. Although there is no standard format, the EMP should contain the following:
Summary of the potential impacts of the proposal;
Description of the recommended mitigation measures;
Statement of their compliance with relevant standards;
Allocation of resources and responsibilities for plan implementation;
Schedule of the actions to be taken;
Programme for surveillance, monitoring and auditing; and
Contingency plan when impacts are greater than expected.
The predicted adverse environmental and social impacts for which mitigation is required should be identified and briefly summarised. Cross referencing to the EA report or other documentation is recommended.
Description of mitigation measures
Each mitigation measure should be briefly described with reference to the impact to which it relates and the conditions under which it is required (for example, continuously or in the event of contingencies). These should be accompanied by, or referenced to, project design and operating procedures which elaborate on the technical aspects of implementing the various measures.
Description of monitoring programme
The monitoring program should clearly indicate the linkages between impacts identified in the EIA report, measurement indicators, detection limits (where appropriate), and definition of thresholds that will signal the need for corrective actions.
