PROCEDURES FOR CARRYING OUT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT.

Section 81 of the Environmental Management Act Cap 191 requires all Developers of projects identified in the 3rd Schedule of the Act and detailed in the 1st Schedule of the EIA and Audit Regulations of 2005, to undertake Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).

1. Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

Section 82 of EMA Cap 181 requires that the EIA be carried out prior to the commencement or financing of the project.

Procedures for carrying out the EIA, identified under the EIA and Audit Regulations of 2005 identify nine key steps to be followed in the EIA process in Tanzania. These are:

Step 1: REGISTRATION

Register the proposed project with NEMC, by submitting an application for the EIA certificate, where you will be required to fill in a ‘Preliminary Environmental Assessment Registration Form’ for your project. The application fee is TZs 200,000/=.

Please use Environmental Experts when filling in registration form and during preparation of the project as required by Regulation 6(3).

Step 2: SCREENING

Return to NEMC three copies of a duly filled Application Form attached with 10 copies of the Project Brief for screening by NEMC. The contents of the Project Brief must comply with the EIA and Audit Regulations of 2005.

Screening report is approved by the Council within 45 days from the date of submission of the brief as per Regulation 10(1).

Step 3: SCOPING

Contract an Environmental Expert/EIA Consultant to prepare a Scoping Report and Terms of Reference (TORs) for conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and submit them to NEMC for review and approval before the commencement of the EIA study. NEMC will provide you with a list of Registered Experts whom you can negotiate with;

TORs are approved by the Council within 14 days as per Regulation 13(2).

Step 4: ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT

Conduct EIA study (by the Consultant) according to the approved TOR and adhere to the Environmental Management Act Cap. 191 and The Environmental Impact Assessment and Audit Regulations of 2005.

Time taken to carry out EIS depends on the type and complexity of the individual project.

Step 5: REVIEW

Submit an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) also called Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Report to NEMC for review by a Cross-sectoral Technical Advisory Committee (TAC); the EIS shall be submitted along with dully filled EIS submission form i.e. form no. 2,

Prior to the review by TAC, NEMC and key stakeholders from other sectors (depending on the type of project) may l visit the proposed site for verification of issues that have been raised on the EIS and confirmation of stakeholder consultation at the proponent’s costs (transport arrangements to be done by the Developer).

The Council shall, within 60 days following submission of EIS carry out its review as per Section 87(1) of EMA Cap. 191.

Step 6: RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEE (TAC)

The Consultant will make improvements of the EIS by incorporating all comments and recommendations raised by the TAC.

Step 7: SUBMISSION TO THE MINISTER FOR ENVIRONMENT

The Consultant will submit the improved (final) version of the EIS to NEMC for final scrutiny. NEMC will forward recommendations to the Minister for Environment for final approval.

Step 8: APPROVAL OF THE EIS

Upon signing of the Certificate by the Minister, it will be brought back to NEMC for collection by the Developer.

The Minister may approve or disapprove the EIS within 30 days as per Section 92(1) of EMA Cap. 191.

Step 9: ISSUANCE OF CERTIFICATE

The signed EIS Certificate will be attached with the General and Specific conditions that must be adhered to by the Developer.

Regular monitoring will be carried out to ensure that the specified conditions are followed.

Do you have any opinions about this Article on Environmental Impact Assessment or would you like to get some advice from us on how best to conduct (EIA) for your business? Even if you just intend to greet us, write to us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call us 0755078800 and we’ll be happy to hear from you.

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