Environmental Impact Assessment of Civil Engineering Infrastructure Development Projects

Abstract

The study involved environmental impact assessment of upgrading of existing flow station dealing with different civil engineering works such as road network, housing, water supply, to name a few. Data was collected from Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA), Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) Port Harcourt, Nigerian Meteorological Department (NMD), Lagos, Rivers State Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (RSMENR), Port Harcourt, Ahoada West Local Government Area (AWLGA), Akinima, Rivers State and the Internet. Data collected was used to get an overview of the existing Environment. Relevant test of existing water, soil, noise and air samples were carried out. Comparisons were made with results of the test carried out and data of the area collected. Formal and informal interviews were also carried out with some of the inhabitants of the area. All these were done with the aim of assessing the impact the infrastructure had on the environment, and projection of the likely impact of the upgrading exercise. The study revealed that civil engineering infrastructure development projects impacted greatly on the environment especially in areas of noise pollution, water pollution, decrease in size of available land, etcetera. Based on the findings, recommendations were made for the elimination of the negative effects in some cases; and for amelioration of the effects in situations where it will be impossible to completely eradicate such effects.

Keywords: Environmental impact assessment, flow station, environmental pollution, civil engineering infrastructure, impact mitigation