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Accreditation ofEnvironmental Consultants
The designation of geographical entities in this book and the presentation of the material do not imply theexpression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of IUCN concerning the legal status of any country,territory or area, or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers or boundaries.
Published by:IUCN Pakistan (National Impact Assessment Programme)
Copyright:© 2014 Government of Pakistan and International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources.
Accreditation for EIA Consultants was prepared under the National Impact Assessment Programme(NIAP), a joint initiative of the Government of Pakistan and IUCN Pakistan, with the financial support ofthe Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN).
Citation is encouraged. Reproduction and/or translation of this publication for educational or other non-commercial purposes is authorised without prior written permission from IUCN Pakistan, provided thesource is fully acknowledged. Reproduction of this publication for resale or other commercial purposes isprohibited without prior written permission from IUCN Pakistan.
The opinions expressed in this document do not constitute an endorsement by the EKN.
Citation:Hagler Bailly Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd. 2104. Accreditation for EIA Consultants. Islamabad: IUCN Pakistan. 24 pp.
ISBN 978-969-643-004-9
Author:Hagler Bailly Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd
Editor:Shadmeena Khanum
Technical Support:Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)
Facilitation:Ahmad SaeedArfa Zaheer Azmat
Design:Azhar Saeed
Cover Photographs:IUCN Pakistan
Printed by:Wasa Printers (Pvt) Limited
Available from:IUCN PakistanNational Impact Assessment ProgrammeHouse No. 2, Street 83Embassy Road, G-6/4, IslamabadTel: +92 (51) 2271027-34Fax: +92 (51) 2271017www.niap.pk
1Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
1. Introduction 2
1.1 Objectives of the Study 31.2 Organisation of the Report 3
2. The Context 4
2.1 The Need for Accreditation 42.2 Objective of the Accreditation Mechanism 5
3. Examples of Accreditation Systems 6
3.1 Institute of Professional Environmental Practice 63.2 Academy of Board Certified Environmental Professionals 73.3 Institute of Environmental Management and Assessment 83.4 Canadian Meteorological and Oceanographic Society 93.5 National Accreditation Board for Education and Training, India 10
4. Options for Accreditation Systems 13
4.1 Possible Accreditation Organisations 134.2 Accreditation Types 14
5. Proposed Accreditation Systems 17
5.1 General Concept 175.2 Preliminary Scheme for Certification of EIA Experts 18
6. Preliminary Scheme for Accredition of Consulting Firms 21
6.1 Further Work 236.2 Recommended Organisations 24
Table of Contents
2 Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
The National Impact Assessment Programme (NIAP) was initiated as apartnership between the Government of Pakistan (GoP) and the InternationalUnion for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), to contribute to sustainabledevelopment in Pakistan through the strengthening of the EnvironmentalImpact Assessment (EIA) process and introduction of Strategic EnvironmentalAssessment (SEA) in planning processes at the federal and provincial levels.Implementation partners include the Environmental Protection Agencies(Federal, Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan, Azad Jammu andKashmir, and Gilgit Baltistan), the Environment Wing (EW) of the Ministry ofClimate Change (MoCC), the Planning Commission of Pakistan (PC) and IUCNPakistan. The Netherlands Commission for Environmental Assessment (NCEA)provides technical guidance and support to the project. The funding for theproject has been provided by the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands.
The EIA was introduced as a legal requirement in Pakistan in 1983 with thepromulgation of Pakistan Environmental Protection Ordinance 1983. Thisordinance, however, lacked implementation mechanism and largely remainedunenforced. The use of the EIA as a serious planning tool started with theenactment of Pakistan Environmental Protection Act 1997 (“PEPA 1997” or the“Act”). The Act made it mandatory to undertake environmental assessment ofdevelopment projects and proposed penalties for failing to meet therequirements. The implementation mechanism and procedure was defined firstthrough guidelines1 and subsequently by the Pakistan EnvironmentalProtection Agency Review of Initial Environmental Examination andEnvironmental Impact Assessment Regulations 2000 (“IEE-EIA Regulations”).
As is the practice worldwide, the EIA reports are being prepared by consultingfirms. Starting from a handful of individual consultants, the National Directoryof Environmental Consultants, 20042 listed 38 consulting firms located mainlyin Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad. The qualification and experience of thestaff undertaking the environmental assessment and quality of the consultingfirms vary considerably. It is widely recognised as a key weakness in the EIAsystem of the country.
1. INTRODUCTION
1 Policy and procedures for the filing, review and approval of environmental assessments, November 19972 Pakistan Environmental Protection Agency, http://www.environment.gov.pk/new-pdf/DEC.pdf, Accessed
January 2013
3Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
It is one of the objectives of the NIAP to changethis by facilitating the creation of a nationalaccreditation system for the EIA consultants, andmaking this information available to anyorganisation requiring an EIA. To accomplish this,a study was commissioned by the IUCN toexplore the status of Pakistan’s EIA reviewprocess. The terms of reference are included asAppendix A.
A draft report was prepared earlier3 which wasfollowed by a consultative workshop inIslamabad on April 16th, 2013. The minutes of theworkshop are included as Appendix B. A secondmeeting was held on September 5th, 2013. Theminutes of this meeting are included asAppendix C. This document presents the revisedreport of the study prepared in the light of thecomments received from the participants of theconsultative work.
1.1 Objectives of the StudyThe objectives of this study are to:l Explore relevant accreditation practices
globally (e.g. India and USA) in environmentand other disciplines;
l Set out key options for accreditationsystems, pros and cons of each, andconditions needed for such systems tofunction;
l Present key options at a suitable discussionforum (to be decided), facilitate discussionand decision on the most promising andsuitable certification approach for Pakistan;and
l Develop a more detailed proposal for theestablishment of an accreditation system forthe EIA consultants in Pakistan, based on theapproach chosen at discussion, includingrecommendations on housing options for theaccreditation system.
1.2 Organisation of the ReportThe report is organised in five sections. Followingthis section, the context of the review isdiscussed in Section 2. This is followed byexamples of accreditation systems in Section 3.Options for accreditation schemes are discussedin Section 4. Based on these reviews therecommendations are provided in Section 5.
3 National Impact Assessment Programme: Accreditation of Environmental Consultants, First Draft, HBP Ref: D3A01RAE, February 19, 2013.
Bobbi Schijf, NCEA speaking at the consultation, April 2014.
4 Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
2.1 The Need for Accreditation
In the EIA related activities undertaken by NIAP, the lack of a formalaccreditation system for EIA consultants has been identified several times atdifferent forums as a key weakness in the Pakistani EIA system. The issue ofthe quality of EIA consultants has been mentioned in almost all EIA mappingworkshops—national and provincial, as a hindrance in the effectiveimplementation of the EIA system in the country. As currently there is noprocedure in place to ensure appropriate qualifications of an EIA consultant,this is identified as one of the reasons for sub-standard EIA reports producedin Pakistan.
Environmental Impact Assessment4 is a systematic process that examines thepotential impacts of development projects in the environment. It is a planningtool designed to incorporate the concept of sustainable development into themainstream decision-making process. It is formally defined as “the process ofidentifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social, andother relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions beingtaken and commitments made.”5
For the EIA to meet its objectives and contribute towards effective decision-making there are three main steps:1. Development of an EIA which meets the requirements;
2. Establishment of an effective review mechanism to ensure that the EIAmeets its objectives; and
3. Setting up a systematic follow-up programme to ensure that the proposedmeasures in the EIA are implemented.
The scope of this document is limited to Step 1. Development of a quality EIA- an EIA that meets the requirements - entails a certain level of expertise within
2. THE CONTEXT
4 Various organisations and regulatory agencies apply different names to the EIA process and report. Theseinclude, for example, Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Environmental Assessment, andEnvironmental Impact Statement. While the name may differ the broad objectives of these are similar.
5 International Association for Impact Assessment. Principles of Environmental Impact Assessment Bestpractice. Jan 1999.
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the EIA team. A quality EIA can only happen if theconsulting firms have professionals of therequired expertise and with the necessaryqualifications.
As it happens in most of the developed countries,market forces ensure the production of qualityEIAs. There is a demand for quality EIAs; thestakeholders are aware of the requirements; andthe regulatory authorities have the necessaryresources to effectively review the documents. Ifthe consulting firm does not have the requiredprofessional staff and the EIAs are, hence,substandard, the business of the firm is affected.
In developing countries like Pakistan, marketforces do play a role but they are not sufficient toensure the production of quality EIAs due to alack of awareness among stakeholders and poorEIA review mechanism. It is therefore sensible toset minimum standards for the consulting firmsand have a mechanism to enforce these. Indeed,this will not be the only measure and othermeasures such as public awareness,strengthening of the regulatory regime, andimprovement in the EIA review mechanism will berequired. These are, however, beyond the scopeof this document.
There are various other possible options availablein this regard both in the public and private sectorfor accrediting or registering EIA consultants.These will be further discussed during theaccreditation system development.
2.2 Objective of the AccreditationMechanismThe objectives of the having an accreditingmechanism may be as follows:1. Set a minimum qualification for the team or
individuals who are to undertake the EIA in
order to bring uniformity and consistency inEIA reports and hence improve their qualities;
2. Help the project proponents in selectingconsultants with appropriate qualification-
The client should study the proposedproject and its engineering needs so thatit is known what is required from andexpected of the consulting engineer.Selection of a consulting engineering firmshould be guided by one primaryconsideration—the qualifications of theconsulting staff for the project to beundertaken....The client should approachthe selection of a consulting engineer withthe same attitude that would apply to thechoice of a doctor or lawyer. Skill,availability, reputation and experience areall factors to consider....
—Wisconsin Association of Consulting Engineers1991-1992 Directory
As described in the above quote,selection of the consulting firm requiresmore than a mere directory of consultingfirms. One way of providing the additionalinformation on the consulting firms andindividual consultants is an accreditationsystem that directly or indirectly providesinformation on the qualifications of theconsulting staff; and
3. Differentiate between standard and sub-standard consulting firms and hence give thebetter firms a marketing edge.
6 Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
There are various types of accreditation systems for professional organisationsworldwide. The differences in these systems are manifested in the type oforganisation - private, public, or professional association - or in beingdeveloped to meet a mandatory or voluntary requirement. In this section someexamples of such systems are provided.
3.1 Institute of Professional Environmental PracticeThe Institute of Professional Environmental Practice (IPEP)6 is a United States-based independent, not-for-profit certifying organisation for QualifiedEnvironmental Professional (QEP) and the Environmental Professional Intern(EPI) certifications. IPEP’s stated mission is to improve the practice andeducational standards of environmental professionals around the globethrough administration of these multi-disciplinary certification programmes.
3.1.1 Coverage of IPEPIPEP has a membership of over 1,000 professionals in the environmentalsciences. Six major environmental organisations also actively support IPEPand its QEP certification.
IPEP provides individual certification through a rigorous application andexamination process to demonstrate a broad understanding of theenvironment and environmental issues. In addition to knowledge, QEPcertification also emphasises in a strong commitment to excellence in appliedenvironmental science and adherence to a strict code of ethics.
3.1.2 HistoryThe Qualified Environmental Professional (QEP) certification programmeevolved out of an interest among members of the Air and Waste ManagementAssociation (AWMA) in a broad-based credential. AWMA created aCertification Steering Committee in 1990 to research existing certifications andformulate a report on its findings and recommendations. A survey wasconducted in the spring of 1992 among both AWMA and non-AWMA memberswhich indicated overwhelming support among environmental professionals fora broad-based, over-arching environmental credential. Following approval by
3. EXAMPLES OF ACCREDITION SYSTEMS
6 http://ipep.org/
the AWMA Board of Directors, in March of 1993the Steering Committee was incorporated tobecome the Institute of ProfessionalEnvironmental Practice (IPEP), an independent,not-for-profit body. The Steering Committeemembers became the initial Board of Trusteesand, following discussions with several leadingenvironmental organisations, representatives fromthose organisations also joined IPEP.
3.1.3 CredentialsQualified Environmental Professional (QEP)The QEP is a multi-media, multi-disciplinary, fullyaccredited credential that requires environmentalprofessionals to see “the big picture” and to havethe skills and knowledge to solve “real worldproblems”.
Through QEP certification, environmentalprofessionals demonstrate the depth and breadthof their knowledge and experience. They alsoagree to abide by IPEP’s Code of Ethics.
EPI CredentialThe Environmental Professional Intern (EPI)programme is an optional first step towardsobtaining QEP status for environmental studentsand professionals just beginning their careers.The EPI credential is an opportunity for studentswho anticipate entering the environmental field, orfor graduates who have entered the field withinthe last five years, to demonstrate personalknowledge of general environmental science.
EPI Mentoring ProgrammeThe EPI programme offers the availability of aQEP mentor for up to a seven-year period toprovide the EPI with professional guidance andintroduction into a network of senior, well-respected environmental professionals.
3.1.4 Certification BasisCertification is only provided to individuals on thebasis of recommendations from seniorprofessionals and examinations conductedperiodically by the IPEP.
3.2 Academy of Board CertifiedEnvironmental ProfessionalsThe Academy of Board Certified EnvironmentalProfessionals (ABCEP)7 is a United States-basedvoluntary professional association “dedicated toserving the environmental professionalcommunity.” It is the lead organisation certifyingenvironmental professionals; maintainingexemplary standards of ethics and technicalpractice; and supporting individuals, ourprofession and the public relying upon ourservices. The Academy’s primary mission is toconfer the Certified Environmental Professionalcredential to meritorious environmentalprofessionals found to meet exemplary standardsof ethics and technical practice. The processused by this Academy to certify environmentalprofessionals is accredited by the Council ofEngineering and Scientific Specialty Boards.
During the past 30 years the CertifiedEnvironmental Professional (CEP) designation hasbeen awarded to senior managers and otherqualified individuals as a way to demonstrate theirprofessional skills and high standards of conduct.The CEP designation is a national system ofexcellence and says to employers, clients,colleagues and the public that an individual is aknowledgeable, experienced, and dedicatedprofessional. The CEP is awarded after acomprehensive review of their background, theirabilities, and their knowledge. Most CEPs have atleast ten years of experience in the field.
3.2.1 EligibilityThe applicants for CEP are required to possess aBachelor’s Degree and a minimum of nine yearsof applicable professional environmentalexperience. Five of the nine years are required tobe in a position of responsible charge and/orresponsible supervision. Responsible charge isdefined as: the direction of environmental work byan environmental professional to the extent thatsuccessful completion of the work is dependenton the decisions made by the applicant withoutadvice or approval of others. Responsible
7Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
7 http://www.abcep.org/
8
supervision is defined as: the supervision ofanother professional person’s work by anenvironmental professional to the extent that theapplicant assumes the professional responsibilityfor the work. A Master’s Degree may besubstituted for one year of the nine years ofprofessional experience and a Doctorate may besubstituted for two of the nine years ofprofessional experience. No such substitution is,however, allowed to apply to the requirement forthe five years in responsible charge and/orresponsible supervision.
3.2.2 TrainingThe ABCEP also administers the CertifiedEnvironmental Professional-in-Training (CEP-IT)Programme which prepares those pursuingadvancement in the environmental profession.Those individuals awarded the CertifiedEnvironmental Professional credential may usethe designation “CEP-IT” after their name.
Each Applicant is evaluated by seven members ofthe Certification Review Board (CRB). Members ofthe CRB represent many fields of professionaleffort, e.g.: consulting, academia, private industryand government. The CRB is responsible fordetermining the qualifications of each applicantand grants or denies certification based upon theinformation provided. The Lead Reviewer willinterview the applicant to determine the extent ofthe applicant’s knowledge and experience in hisor her area of expertise and examine othermatters considered germane to certification.These are generally conducted over thetelephone.
3.2.3 Functional AreasIndividuals are certified in one of five areas:Environmental Assessment: Includes evaluation ofrisks to, or past impacts upon, the occupants ofecosystems, workplaces, or residences exertedby physical, chemical, or biological agents towhich exposure may occur, or may haveoccurred;l Environmental Documentation: Includes
preparation of reports, presentation of facts,
completion of other action to establishadministrative records demonstratingcompliance with environmental statutes,regulations, and permits;
l Environmental Operations: Includesmanagement of facilities in accordance withrequirements of environmental statutes,regulations, and permits;
l Environmental Planning: Includesarrangements for future facility construction,operation, and/or management in accordancewith anticipated requirements ofenvironmental statutes, regulations, andpermits or permit renewals;
l Environmental Research and Education:Includes conducting and reporting on originalinvestigations into the dynamics ofenvironmental phenomena, teaching aboutsuch phenomena as investigated by oneselfand/or other investigators
3.3 Institute of EnvironmentalManagement and AssessmentThe Institute of Environmental Management andAssessment (IEMA) is a United Kingdom-basedglobal organisation. Reportedly the largestenvironmental professional body in the world, itprovides environmental practitioners “with theknowledge, skills and tools to ensure soundenvironmental performance delivers real businessbenefit.” IEMA helps its members to make astrategic environmental difference by embeddingenvironment in decision-making at all levelsthrough knowledge exchange, research,conferences, training and publications. With amembership of over 15,000 individual andcorporate members based in 83 countries, IEMAis now the leading international membership-based organisation. It is dedicated to theprofessional development of individuals involvedin the environmental profession, whether they bein the public, private or non-governmentalsectors.
Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
IEMA’s mission is to:l Promote the goal of sustainable development
through the promotion of improvedenvironmental practice and performance;
l Provide recognition, through high-qualityprofessional qualifications, to thoseindividuals who are competent environmentalsustainability professionals and to berecognised as a leading organisation in thisfield;
l Raise the profile of environmentalsustainability professionals and theimportance of the work that they undertake;
l Contribute to the development of skills andcompetencies of environmental sustainabilityprofessionals through training, informationand experience exchange, and the sharing ofgood practice;
l Be recognised as a centre of excellence andto undertake, disseminate and contribute toresearch in environmental sustainability andrelated fields;
l Recognise organisations that successfullycontribute to environmental sustainability;
l Employ talented people and help them todevelop the ability to make a positivecontribution to the Institute’s vision in theirwork; and
l Manage the Institute’s resources in aneffective and efficient way.
IEMA does not provide accreditation to consultingorganisations, however, it runs programmes tocertify organisations on their EMS based on theircompliance with the ISO 14001 and similarstandards.
IEMA offers membership to individuals on variouscategories:
l Affiliate Member. This is the startingmembership that does not require any pre-requisite qualification;
l Associate Member. This is the basicprofessional membership which is achievedafter completion of Associate Entry Exam orAssociate Certificate Course;
l Full Member. Associates can become FullMembers based on experience anddemonstration of knowledge throughinterview;
l Fellow. This is the highest level ofprofessional recognition offered by the IEMA.Attaining this level of membership shows thatan individual has demonstrated substantialachievement in the environmentalmanagement and assessment field. This levelis for highly experienced environmentalprofessionals, who are committed topromoting the goal of sustainabledevelopment.
3.4 Canadian Meteorological andOceanographic SocietyCanadian Meteorological and OceanographicSociety (CMOS) provides accreditation toconsultants who meet the standards set by theAccreditation Committee of the Society. Theaccreditation is provided to consultants whocontract with clients to provide expertise whichthe client does not possess. The accreditation isdecided by a peer review committee establishedto ensure that a basic level of qualifications hasbeen achieved and recognised in meteorology orin oceanography. Accreditation is done on acalendar-year basis. An accreditation document isissued and the consultant’s name is published ina CMOS Directory of Consultants. Accreditedconsultants are allowed to write ACM (AccreditedConsultant Meteorologist) or ACO (AccreditedConsultant Oceanographer) with their names.Criteria for accreditation include:l An appropriate undergraduate degree from a
recognised university;
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10
l At least one of the following types ofspecialised training: post-graduate degreefrom a recognised university in meteorologyor oceanography; post-graduate degree froma recognised university in the natural orapplied sciences or mathematics, specialisingin one or more branches of meteorology oroceanography; or three years of on-the-jobmeteorological or oceanographic experience;and
l Upon completion of the above educationaland training requirements at least two yearsof satisfactory performance, at the workinglevel, including some consulting experience.
3.5 National Accreditation Board forEducation and Training, IndiaThe National Accreditation Board for Educationand Training (NABET), India provides certification toconsultants. The main objectives of NABET are to:l Set and maintain criteria for the registration
of personnel in the practice and assessmentof Quality and Environment ManagementSystems;
l Evaluate and register auditors andprofessionals;
l Set and maintain criteria for and to endorsetraining courses for personnel engaged in theauditing of Quality and EnvironmentManagement Systems;
l Publish the list of Certified Personnel,endorsed training courses and approvedtraining organisations;
l Closely cooperate with Registration Board forCertification Bodies to get feedback andanticipate requirements on training needs;and
l Seek international recognition.
NABET has developed an Accreditation Schemefor environmental consultants. EIAs are essentially
multi-disciplinary activities where inputs arerequired from specialists having knowledge of theindustry/sector for which EIAs are to be carriedout as well as in functional areas like land use, airpollution control, air quality modeling, waterpollution control, noise and vibration, ecology andbio-diversity, socio economic aspects, risks andhazard management. Recognising this, NABETrequires that the key person in developing an EIAReport is the EIA Coordinator (EC) who shouldhave a broad knowledge about the project, aswell as the functional areas which are likely to beaffected by the activities related to the project inits construction, operation and the closurephases. It envisages the role of the coordinator toinclude but not be limited to setting-up the team,visiting the site with the team, draw up the termsof reference (TORs), organise various activities tomeet the requirements of the TORs, evolving workschedule and seeing that data are appropriatelyutilised for assessment, mitigation andmonitoring. The Scheme also recognisesFunctional Area Experts (FAEs) who are expectedto assess the impacts from the proposeddevelopment in their respective areas.
The “Scheme for the Accreditation of EIAConsultant Organisations” evolved by NABETidentifies the following basic requirements of theEIA Consultant Organisation:l Qualification and experience of ECs and
FAEs;
l Requirements for field investigations andlaboratory arrangements to ensure the qualityof the baseline data;
l Quality management systems to be followed;and
l Office facilities and other enabling factors tobe provided by an organisation.
It is mandatory for organisations that prepare EIAreports for obtaining environmental clearance, toget accredited under the Scheme.
Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
3.5.1 ImplementationFor the implementation of the Scheme, NABET isguided by a group of eminent professionals in thefield of environmental management and alliedsubjects structured into four groups as follows:l Technical Committee – comprising 5-7 very
experienced professionals with proven trackrecords. It guides NABET in developing theScheme as well as the assessment process;
l Accreditation Committee – comprising 5-7very eminent persons. Apart from approvingaccreditation, it also issues clarifications onthe Scheme from time to time, as necessary;
l NABET Assessors – they are a group of verysenior and experienced professionals withrelevant experience, who carry out technicalassessment of the applications as well asoffice assessment including interaction withexperts (See: later); and
l NABET Secretariat – it comprises a mix ofsenior professionals and young technical staffwhich coordinates the entire process ofassessment and accreditation.
3.5.2 EligibilityOnly organisations are eligible for accreditation.These can be government, public sector orprivate organisations that could be proprietaryfirms, partnership firms or companies, bodiesregistered under Society Acts, or Companies Act,research institutes and the like, universities, labsor research-based organisations conducting theEIA.
EIA CoordinatorThe EIA Coordinator (EC) should possess thefollowing:a) Clarity in the concept of the EIA process;
b) Knowledge of the applicable Acts, Rules andRegulations;
c) Domain knowledge of the industry/sectors forwhich the EIAs are to be prepared;
d) Broad understanding of the environmentalaspects related to the industry/sector; and
e) Leadership quality in planning, selecting andguiding the EIA team.
Minimum Educational Qualification for an EC is:a) Bachelor’s (graduate) degree or equivalent in
technical subjects such as Engineering,Architecture, Environmental Planning, TownPlanning and the like from recognisedUniversity or Institution, or
b) Master’s (post-graduate) degree in Scienceand other subjects—Physical, Environmental,Life Sciences, Social Sciences, Economics,Management from a recognised University orInstitution.
Qualifications conferred by professionalinstitutions such as Institution of Engineers, theIndian Chemical Society, Indian Institute ofMetals, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers andIndian Institute of Social Welfare and BusinessManagement (IISWBM) are also accepted.
Accreditation Committee has the power to waiveoff minimum requirements in exceptionalcircumstances.
Minimum Experience of an EC is:
Minimum seven years overall work experiencerelated to EIA preparation;
Adequate experience for the sector (s) for whichs/he is proposed by the Applicant; and
Organisation in terms of (i) having worked in thosesectors for at least two years or (ii) havingprepared a minimum of three EIA reports forprojects in those sectors or (iii) having carried outthree environmental assignments (such asenvironmental monitoring/audits, performanceaudits, etc.) in those sectors involving at least onemonth’s exposure or (iv) three in combination of(ii) and (iii)
11Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
12
Functional Area ExpertsFAEs are expected to provide inputs in theirrespective areas of specialisation. They shouldhave: a) an in-depth knowledge in their respective
areas of specialisation;
b) a broad understanding of the EIA process;
c) the capability of assessing the impacts of theproject on the physical, biotic and socialenvironment, as applicable; and
d) the knowledge to suggest or vet mitigationmeasures.
In view of the above expected role, theeducational background has been given emphasisfor the FAEs.
Different EIAs will require inputs from diversefunctional areas depending on the type andmagnitude of the project and its depth and theextent of the anticipated environmental impacts.Twelve areas of expertise have been identifiedthat are required for carrying out EIAs. Theseinclude: land-use; air pollution monitoring,prevention and control; meteorology; air qualitymodeling and prediction; water pollutionmonitoring, prevention and control; ecology andbiodiversity; noise and vibration; socio-economicaspects; hydrology, groundwater and water
conservation; geology, soil conservation; risk andhazards management; and solid and hazardouswaste management.
A Bachelor’s (graduate) degree or equivalent intechnical subjects is prescribed as the minimumqualification. An expert is required to have aminimum of three years overall experience in thefunctional area(s) concerned out of which at leastone year should be in the application of thefunctional area knowledge in developing EIAreport(s) to work as an independent FAE forCategory B projects.
Any organisation to be accredited must also haveat least two in-house FAEs who, together with theabove EC, should have the required qualificationand experience covering the core functionalareas.
An expert meeting the requirements of theScheme may apply for both, EC and FAE. To dojustice to the role of an EC and a FAE asenvisaged in the Scheme, however, an expert mayopt for a maximum of five sectors as an EC andfour functional areas as a FAE.
A ‘free-lance’ expert may be shown as anempanelled expert for a maximum five applicantorganisations altogether both as an EC and FAE(at the same time s/he should meet the otherrequirements stated earlier).
Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
13Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
In this section, the options for accreditation schemes and their pros and consare discussed. This is done in the form of a table shown in Exhibit 4.1.
4.1 Possible Accreditation OrganisationsSome of the organisations that may be involved in developing theaccreditation of consultants are discussed below.
4.1.1 Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority The Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), under theMinistry of Science and Technology, is the national standardisation body. Inperforming its duties and functions, PSQCA is governed by the PSQCA Act,1996. PSQCA became operational on December 1st, 2000, working with 81scientists/engineers and 254 supporting staff as a self-financed organisation,been given the task of not only formulation of Pakistan Standards but is alsoresponsible for promulgation thereof. PSQCA is a member of the InternationalOrganisation for Standardisation (ISO), the International Electro-technicalCommission (IEC), and the International Organisation of Legal Metrology(OIML). PSQCA has also been established to advise the Government onstandardisation policies, programmes and activities to promote industrialefficiency and development, as well as for consumer protection.
The main function of the Department is to foster and promote standards andconformity assessment as a means of advancing the national economy,promoting industrial efficiency and development, ensuring the health andsafety of the public, protecting the consumers, facilitating domestic andinternational trade and furthering international co-operation in relation tostandards and conformity assessment.
Its objectives are:l Setting up of standards on quality and dimensions, preparation and
promotion of general adoption of Pakistan Standards Specifications,operation of Certification Marks Scheme and coordination of the efforts ofmanufacturers and consumers for the improvement of standardisation andthe provision of assistance in the manufacture of quality products;
4. OPTIONS FOR ACCREDITION SYSTEMS
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l Testing and assessment of industrial rawmaterials and finished products to establishtheir quality, grade and compositionconforming to national and internationalstandard specifications in various fields likechemical products and formulations, textiles,food items, building materials, mechanicalengineering, electrical and electronic goodsand appliances, etc. and provision ofconsultancy services to various industrialunits so as to achieve improvement of qualityof their products;
l Working on standardisation and improvementof analytical methods, procedures andconsultancy in the field of metallurgy.Inspection and testing of products andservices for their quality specifications andcharacteristics during use and for import andexport purposes;
l Grant, renewal, suspension, cancellation orwithdrawal of a license or certification inrelation to the use of any of the AuthorityMarks;
l Enforcement and implementation of qualityand environmental management systems thatis ISO 9001:2000 and ISO 14000 as well asassistance to local industries to obtaincertifications for these systems;
l Coordination and Cooperation with othernational, regional and internationalorganisations, associations, societies,institutions or councils, whether incorporateor not, whose objectives are wholly or in partsimilar to those of the Authority.
4.1.2 Pakistan National Accreditation CouncilPakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC) isa national organisation that provides accreditationto laboratories under ISO 17021. Its scope is,however, not limited to ISO 17021 and, hence, it
can provide accreditation for consulting firmsprovided a standard is available.
4.1.3 Pakistan Environmental ProtectionAgencyAlthough the scope of the Federal EnvironmentalProtection Agency is now limited to IslamabadCapital Territory after the 18th Amendment to theConstitution, it is likely to retain somecoordination and policy roles. It may be entrustedwith Accreditation functions.
4.1.4 Pakistan Environmental AssessmentAssociation One attempt to address this issue was in the formof the Pakistan Environmental AssessmentAssociation (PEAA). PEAA was conceived as anational network of impact assessmentprofessionals, established in the late nineties toaddress some of the problems pertaining to EIAsystem deficiencies. Its members includedgovernment agencies, environmental consultants,and non-governmental organisations. It wasthought to be a forum through which impactassessment in Pakistan could be promoted andthe capacity developed for writing and review ofEIA. It was also considered to be a neutraltechnical body to provide advice to the EPAs onEIAs, Strategic Environmental Assessment, andother technical matters. Accreditation of the EIAconsultants was also considered to be a functionof the PEAA. For various reasons, however, thePEAA did not perform as originally envisaged.
4.1.5 Certification BodiesThese include organisations such as SGS Groupand Afnor Group (formerly AFAQ-EAQA).
4.2 Accreditation TypesThere are basically two types of accreditation -individual and organisation. A third possibility iscertifying both or the organisation on the basis ofindividual certification.
Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
15Accreditation of Environmental ConsultantsEx
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ww.e
nviro
nmen
t.gov
.pk)
Indu
stry
Ass
ociat
ion
like
PEAA
Pakis
tan
Stan
dard
s an
dQu
ality
Con
trol A
utho
rity
(PSQ
CA) (
www.
psqc
a.co
m.p
k)an
d Pa
kista
n Na
tiona
lAc
cred
itatio
n Co
uncil
(PNA
C)
Priva
te s
ecto
r cer
tifica
tion
com
panie
s
Indi
vidua
l
EPAs
hav
e lim
ited
tech
nical
capa
cities
to m
anag
e th
is ta
sk. F
urth
er, th
ere
is th
e co
nstit
utio
nal
issue
of w
heth
er th
e Fe
dera
l EPA
acc
redi
tatio
n ca
n be
app
lied
to th
e pr
ovinc
es.
The
alter
nate
is to
give
thes
e po
wers
to a
ll the
EPA
s. Th
e re
gion
al EP
As a
lso h
ave
capa
city
issue
s.Fu
rther,
sim
ilar w
ith th
e Fe
dera
l EPA
the
certi
ficat
ion
from
one
pro
vince
may
not
app
ly to
the
othe
rpr
ovinc
es. T
hus
cons
ulting
firm
s wo
uld b
e re
quire
d to
obt
ain m
ultip
le ce
rtific
atio
ns w
hich
is no
tpr
actic
al.
This
is a
poss
ibilit
y bu
t this
bod
y do
es n
ot e
xist.
To c
onst
itute
this
body
for t
his p
urpo
se, a
ndm
ake
it ef
fect
ive to
the
exte
nt th
at it
bec
omes
self
-sup
porti
ng in
term
s of
fina
nces
and
man
agem
ent
syst
ems
will t
ake
cons
ider
able
effo
rt an
d tim
e. F
urth
er, a
s th
e bo
dy w
ill ha
ve m
embe
rs fr
om th
eve
ry o
rgan
isatio
ns th
at re
quire
acc
redi
tatio
n a
pote
ntial
for c
onflic
ts o
f int
eres
t exis
ts.
PSQC
A is
an a
uton
omou
s an
d fu
nctio
nal b
ody.
It ha
s be
en in
volve
d in
deve
lopi
ng s
tand
ards
for
vario
us ty
pes
of in
dust
ry a
nd th
ere
is th
e po
ssib
ility
to in
volve
this
orga
nisat
ion
as th
eAc
cred
itatio
n Bo
dy.
The
objec
tives
of P
SQCA
inclu
des
“Enf
orce
men
t and
impl
emen
tatio
n of
qua
lity a
nd e
nviro
nmen
tal
man
agem
ent s
yste
ms,
that
is IS
O 90
01:2
000
and
ISO
1400
0 an
d as
sista
nce
to lo
cal in
dust
ries
toob
tain
certi
ficat
ions
for t
hese
sys
tem
s”. T
he fi
rst s
tep
in ac
cred
itatio
n wo
uld b
e to
dev
elop
a st
anda
rd fo
r mem
ber o
rgan
isatio
ns. T
his s
tand
ard
on th
e lin
es o
f ISO
900
1:20
00 b
ut w
ould
be
spec
ificall
y ge
ared
towa
rds
envir
onm
enta
l con
sultin
g fir
ms.
The
accr
edita
tion
to th
e co
nsult
ingfir
ms
will b
e pr
ovid
ed b
y th
e PN
AC.
Priva
te s
ecto
r cer
tifica
tion
com
panie
s un
derta
ke a
udits
of p
rivat
e an
d go
vern
men
t sec
tor f
irms
again
st m
anag
emen
t sta
ndar
ds s
uch
as IS
O 90
00 a
nd IS
O 14
001.
The
se c
ompa
nies
may
be
invol
ved
in th
is ro
le; h
owev
er, th
is wi
ll firs
t req
uire
the
deve
lopm
ent o
f sta
ndar
ds a
gains
t whic
h th
eau
dit c
an b
e un
derta
ken.
Base
d on
the
disc
ussio
n wi
th P
SQCA
, the
role
of th
ese
orga
nisat
ions
can
be
furth
er e
valua
ted.
Indi
vidua
l acc
redi
tatio
n of
con
sulta
nts
and
expe
rts is
wid
ely p
ract
iced
and
beca
use
of p
rece
denc
ean
d ex
perie
nce
is ea
sy to
impl
emen
t. Th
e eli
gibi
lity c
riter
ia ar
e ea
sy to
set
bas
ed o
n ed
ucat
iona
lqu
alific
atio
n an
d ex
perie
nce.
The
main
diff
iculty
is in
diff
eren
tiatin
g th
e co
nsult
ants
on
the
basis
of q
uality
of w
ork.
It is
pos
sible
for t
wo c
onsu
ltant
s wi
th s
imila
r exp
erien
ce a
nd q
ualifi
catio
n, o
n pa
per,
to h
ave
a wi
dely
diffe
rent
16 Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
Area
Option
Discussio
n
Volu
ntar
y vs
Man
dato
ry
Orga
nisat
iona
l
Com
bina
tion
of in
divid
uals
and
orga
nisat
ions
Volun
tary
Man
dato
ry
A se
cond
pro
blem
relat
es to
the
quali
ficat
ions
of s
enio
r EIA
con
sulta
nts
in Pa
kista
n to
day.
Mos
t of
thes
e pr
ofes
siona
ls do
not
hav
e fo
rmal
quali
ficat
ions
in e
nviro
nmen
tal m
anag
emen
t. Pr
ofes
siona
lsbe
long
ing to
this
grou
p m
ay h
ave
to b
e tre
ated
diff
eren
tly o
n ind
ividu
al ba
sis.
For j
unio
r con
sulta
nts,
a sy
stem
of c
ertif
icatio
n ba
sed
on te
sts
may
be
requ
ired.
Suc
h an
ex
amina
tion
can
be in
stitu
ted
by o
rgan
isatio
ns s
uch
as A
ga K
han
Unive
rsity
-Exa
mina
tion
Boar
d,AK
U-EB
(exa
mina
tionb
oard
.aku
.edu
/Pag
es/h
ome.
aspx
)
Disc
ussio
n is
requ
ired
with
AKU
-EB
to fu
rther
ass
ess
the
feas
ibilit
y of
this.
Orga
nisat
iona
lacc
redi
tatio
n is
mos
t des
irabl
e fro
m a
n EI
A qu
ality
poi
nt o
f view
but
is d
ifficu
lt to
im
plem
ent f
or v
ario
us re
ason
s su
ch a
s:
lA
large
num
ber o
f exp
erts
are
invo
lved
from
var
ious
disc
iplin
es. T
he s
chem
e sh
all e
nsur
e th
atall
of t
hem
are
ava
ilabl
e to
the
EIA
firm
;
lFr
ee-la
nce
cons
ultan
ts a
nd e
xper
ts o
ften
mov
e be
twee
n or
ganis
atio
ns m
aking
it d
ifficu
lt to
cate
goris
eth
e co
nsult
ing fi
rm b
ased
on
their
sta
ff;
lSe
vera
l of t
he c
onsu
lting
firm
s ar
e m
ulti-d
iscip
linar
y, pr
ovid
ing s
ervic
es in
env
ironm
ent a
ndse
vera
l oth
er a
reas
. The
acc
redi
tatio
n sc
hem
e sh
ould
take
this
into
acco
unt w
hen
setti
ng th
ecr
iteria
for e
ligib
ility.
Alte
rnat
ively
the
firm
s m
ay b
e re
quire
d to
clea
rly s
epar
ate
their
envir
onm
enta
l and
EIA
bus
iness
from
the
rest
; and
lTh
ere
is no
exis
ting
mec
hanis
m to
mon
itor t
he s
taff
and
reso
urce
s of
con
sultin
g fir
ms.
With
out
such
a m
echa
nism
, whic
h m
ay ta
ke ti
me
to d
evelo
p an
d im
plem
ent,
the
accr
edita
tion
sche
me
may
not
be
effe
ctive
.
A co
mbi
natio
n of
indi
vidua
l cer
tifica
tion
and
orga
nisat
iona
lacc
redi
tatio
n m
ay b
e th
e be
st o
ptio
n.Th
is m
ay re
quire
mor
e th
an o
ne a
ccre
dita
tion-
body
, one
for o
rgan
isatio
ns a
nd o
ne fo
r ind
ividu
als.
The
main
adv
anta
ge o
f this
opt
ion
is th
at it
can
be
impl
emen
ted
in ph
ases
, sta
rting
with
indi
vidua
lce
rtific
atio
n fo
llowe
d by
org
anisa
tiona
lacc
redi
tatio
n.
This
may
be
pref
erre
d be
caus
e it
give
s fle
xibilit
y to
org
anisa
tions
and
fits
well
with
mar
ket f
orce
s.Or
ganis
atio
ns th
at d
o no
t wish
to h
ave
the
accr
edita
tion
can
still
com
pete
in th
e m
arke
t on
the
basis
of t
heir
othe
rwise
stre
ngth
and
mar
ket r
eput
atio
n.
A m
anda
tory
requ
irem
ent b
rings
unif
orm
ity a
nd e
nfor
ces
a ce
rtain
mini
mum
sta
ndar
d.
17Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
The recommendation for the accreditation scheme based on the analysis andthe feedback from the stakeholders is presented below. Where difference inopinion existed among the stakeholders all opinions are included as options.
5.1 General ConceptBased on the analysis provided earlier, it is the opinion of the author of thisreport, that the accreditation scheme shall have the following elements:
1. Both certification of individual consultants and accreditation of consultingfirm shall be considered.
2. The certification of individual consultants shall be based on a uniformcriteria; the criteria shall include:l Educational qualification;
l Experience of EIA including the roles in which they were involved andthe quality of the EIA. This may require categorisation of recent EIAsfor their quality for which separate criteria and procedure may have tobe developed;
l An examination to be conducted by a recognised organisation suchas the Aga Khan University Examination Board; and
l Interview with senior professionals. This may be only required for mid-career consultants and experts.
A preliminary scheme for certification is included and discussed in Section5.2.
3. Work on development of an accreditation scheme for consulting firms shallbe conducted separately. This would entail the following:l Development of management standards for consulting firms. An ISO
9000 type management standard may be developed. Elements ofindividual consultants’ certification are to be incorporated in thisscheme;
5. PROPOSED ACCREDITION SYSTEMS
18
l Agreement with Pakistan Standards andQuality Control Authority (PSQCA) tonotify and implement the standards;
l Development of management systems inthe consulting firms;
l Training for auditing firms to conductaudits for these standards; and
l Accreditation by Pakistan NationalAccreditation Council (PNAC) onsuccessful completion of the audit.
Preliminary criteria for accreditation ofconsulting firms are discussed in Section 5.3.
4. The decision on mandatory or voluntarystandard shall be taken after the details of theproposed scheme are worked out. Thedecision shall involve feedback from theconsulting firms.
5.2 Preliminary Scheme forCertification of EIA Experts
5.2.1 Objectives of CertificationThe objective of individual certification is to set aminimum qualification for the individuals who areto undertake the Environmental Assessment (EA).This is to be done in order to bring uniformity andconsistency in EA reports and hence improvetheir qualities.
5.2.2 EA ProfessionalsBroadly, three types of professionals are involvedin the development of an EnvironmentalAssessment (EA). These can be categorised asfollows:
1. Environmental assessment experts are peoplewho are at the centre of the EA process.Generally, they are expected to have anunderstanding of the EA process; knowregulatory requirements and international bestpractices; are aware of the developments inenvironmental science and technology; and
have an understanding of the environmentalissues faced by the country. These are also thepeople who are qualified to manage the EAprocess by ensuring that all legal requirementsat various stages are met; interacting at theprofessional level with the subject specialist,and integrating the inputs from various expertsinto the EA report; and ensuring the quality ofthe product. Typically, the EA experts haveeducational qualification in environment orrelated natural or social sciences andexperience of working in the area.
2. Subject Specialists are people from variousdisciplines related to environment such asecology, chemistry, sociology, hydrology, andsoil science, who contribute to specific issuesin the EA process. Their core qualificationsare in their respective fields but they alsoneed an understanding of the environmentalissues and the EA process. The corecompetence and professional engagement ofthe subject specialists are in their respectivesubjects. They typically include universityprofessors and researchers in variousresearch organisations such as the NationalAgricultural Research Council and thePakistan Museum of Natural History.
3. Other professionals not associated withconducting the EA but contribute to it in theirprofessional capacity as regulators orreviewers.
5.2.3 CategoriesThe following categories of certifications areproposed:
1. Associate EA Professional (AEAP): Freshenvironmental graduates and otherprofessionals associated with the EA processwill receive this certification; hence, theeligibility criteria for this category will beminimal.
2. Qualified EA Professional (QEAP): Individualenvironmental consultants conducting EIA
Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
and IEE and meeting the eligibility criteria willreceive this certification. This will be the maincertification for EA professionals.
3. Lead EA Professional (LEAP): This is a higherlevel qualification for QEAP. Selected QEAPwho meet the eligibility criteria qualify tobecome LEAP.
4. Qualified EA Subject Specialists (QESS):Individual subject specialists working inspecific areas of EA and meeting the eligibilitycriteria will receive this certification. This willbe the main certification for subjectspecialists. The subject specialist may alsoopt to work as a full-time member of the EAteam and opt to become a full-time EAExpert.
5. Fellow EA Professional (FEAP): AEAPassociated with the EA in functions other thanconducting EA and meeting the eligibilitycriteria will qualify for this certification.
The conceptual progression of the proposedcategories is shown in Exhibit 5.1.
5.2.4 Eligibility CriteriaThe proposed eligibility criteria for the proposedcategories are presented in Exhibit 5.2.
The proposed scheme is essentially for futurecertification. It may be required that seniorprofessionals who are currently part of thepracticing community be given QEAP and FEAPcertification. This will be done on the basis ofinterviews and known professional status withouthaving to go through the examination process.
19Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
Exhibit 5.1: Conceptual Scheme for Certification of EA Professionals
Fresh Graduates and other professionals associatedwith EA process arecertificed as Associate EAProfessionals
Associate EA Professionalsfrom disciplines related toenvironment after completingthe minimum criteria, qualify tobecom Qualified EA SubjectSpecialists
Associate EA Professionals working as EA Consultants,after completing the minimumcriteria, qualify to become Qualifed EA Professionals
Associate EA Profssionals associated with EA in functionsother than conducting EA aftercompleting the eligibilitycriteria, qualify to become Fellow EA Professionals
Qualified EAProfessionals meeting the eligibilitycriteria, qualify tobecome Lead EAProfessionals
20 Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
Exhibit 5
.2: P
ropo
sed Eligibility Criteria fo
r Env
ironm
ental P
rofessiona
l
Category
6. C
riter
iaTypical E
ligibility
Note
s: 1.
“Mas
ter’s
deg
ree
(or e
quiva
lent)
refe
rs to
16
year
s of s
choo
ling,
i.e.,
four
year
s of t
ertia
ry le
vel e
duca
tion
afte
r hig
h sc
hool
. 2. “
Seve
ral”
may
be
defin
ed a
s, fo
r exa
mpl
e, 5
to 7
and
“som
e” m
ay b
ede
fined
as 3
to 5
. The
se n
umbe
rs a
re su
bjec
tive
and
may
be
decid
ed w
hen
the
sche
me
is de
velo
ped.
3. “
Inte
rnat
iona
l bes
t pra
ctice
guid
eline
s” g
ener
ally m
eans
guid
eline
s suc
h as
that
of t
he W
orld
Ban
k Gr
oup
and
Asian
Dev
elopm
ent B
ank.
lPr
ofes
siona
l deg
ree
in en
viron
men
t or r
elate
d fie
lds
lAs
socia
tion
with
the
EA p
roce
ss in
any
cap
acity
lMaster’s Deg
ree (or e
quiva
lent)1
in en
viron
men
t or r
elate
d fie
lds
lTh
ree
year
s of
Exp
erien
ce in
EA
prof
essio
n
lIn
volve
men
t in some2
large
EIA
repo
rts, p
ract
ice a
nd k
nowl
edge
of w
orkin
g in
natio
nal a
nd in
tern
atio
nal
majo
r pro
jects
, inc
luding
thos
e pr
oduc
ed u
nder
internationa
l best p
ractice
guid
eline
s3
lKn
owled
ge o
f EA
proc
ess,
regu
lator
y re
quire
men
ts, i
nter
natio
nal b
est p
ract
ices,
deve
lopm
ent s
ecto
ren
viron
men
tal a
spec
ts, a
nd c
urre
nt e
nviro
nmen
tal is
sues
dem
onst
rate
d th
roug
h an
exa
mina
tion.
lMaster’s Deg
ree (or e
quiva
lent)1
in en
viron
men
t or r
elate
d fie
lds
lse
ven
year
s of
Exp
erien
ce in
EA
prof
essio
n
lIn
volve
men
t in
com
pilat
ion
of several2
large
EIA
repo
rts, p
ract
ice a
nd k
nowl
edge
of w
orkin
g in
natio
nal
and
inter
natio
nal m
ajor p
rojec
ts, i
nclud
ing th
ose
prod
uced
und
er in
ternationa
l best p
ractice
guid
eline
s3an
d so
me
as te
am le
ader
lKn
owled
ge o
f the
EA
proc
ess,
regu
lator
y re
quire
men
ts, i
nter
natio
nal b
est p
ract
ices,
deve
lopm
ent s
ecto
ren
viron
men
tal a
spec
ts, a
nd c
urre
nt e
nviro
nmen
tal is
sues
dem
onst
rate
d th
roug
h an
exa
mina
tion.
lM
aste
r’s D
egre
e in
relev
ant f
ield
lIn
volve
men
t in
com
pilin
g so
me2
EA re
ports
lPr
ofes
siona
l (an
d ap
prov
ed) t
raini
ng in
the
EIA
proc
ess
with
in th
e las
t five
yea
rs
Asso
ciate
Env
ironm
ent
Asse
ssm
ent P
rofe
ssio
nal (
AEAP
)
Quali
fied
Envir
onm
ent
Asse
ssm
ent P
rofe
ssio
nal (
QEAP
)
Lead
Env
ironm
ent A
sses
smen
tPr
ofes
siona
l (LE
AP)
Quali
fied
Envir
onm
enta
l As
sess
men
t Sub
ject S
pecia
list
(QES
S)
Fello
w En
viron
men
tal A
sses
smen
tPr
ofes
siona
l (FEA
P)
Educ
atio
n
Expe
rienc
e
Educ
atio
n
Expe
rienc
e
Dem
onst
rate
dKn
owled
ge
Educ
atio
n
Expe
rienc
e
Dem
onst
rate
dKn
owled
ge
Educ
atio
n
Expe
rienc
e
Know
ledge
Expe
rienc
e
21Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
6.1.1 Purpose of AccreditationThe purpose of the Accreditation Scheme is to define the minimumrequirements that an organisation shall meet to undertake environmentalassessment of development projects in Pakistan.
6.1.2 The ConceptFor an organisation to follow the EA best practice and produce a good EIA orIEE, certain qualities are needed that stem from the desired qualities of the EIAas discussed in the main report. In particular, the organisation must have:
l A number of experts who are well-versed in the Science of EIA and havesufficient experience to identify potential issues;
l Access to experts from various fields who can undertake specific studiesrelated to their specialties;
l The means to undertake baseline surveys;
l The ability to manage a multi-disciplinary team; and
l The tools to ensure quality of the process and products.
The scheme proposed here defines the minimum requirements that a firm shallhave to function as a consulting firm for EIAs. As it is possible that all firmsmay not have all the abilities, the firms may be categorised into two or threecategories. The firms meeting all the criteria, classed as Category A, will beallowed to take all kinds of EIAs including those of major projects. Category B,and possibly Category C, firms will only be allowed to undertake relativelysmall and simple environmental assessments.
6.1.3 Key Requirements for the OrganisationIn order to obtain accreditation, a consulting firm must meet the followingcriteria to qualify as Category A consulting firm:
6. PRELIMINARY SCHEME FOR ACCREDITION OF CONSULTING FIRMS
22
1. Qualified Environmental Professionalsl The firm must have at least five (5) QEAP
including one LEAP. These terms havebeen explained earlier.
l The QEAP and LEAP must be full-timeemployees of the firm for at least sixmonths in the year prior to accreditation.
2. Subject Specialistsl The firm must have access to QESS as
per the following list:
l Environmental Engineer;
l Air Quality Modeling Expert;
l Water Pollution Modeling Experts;
l Ecologist (mammalogist, botanist,herpetologist, ichthyologist, ornithologist);
l Noise Modeling Expert;
l Socio-economist;
l Hydrologist and/or Hydro-geologist;
l Soil Scientist;
l Environmental Legal Expert;
l GIS Expert;
l Marine Scientist;
l Environmental Geologist; and
l Chemical Engineer or Chemist
l A Category A firm must have at least twoof the above QESS as full-timeemployees and have memorandum ofassociation with at least three otherexperts.
3. EquipmentTo undertake surveys, a Category A firm musthave access to field equipment such as GPSreceivers, compasses, digital camera, andfield kits for water analysis.
Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
Stakeholder consultation on Accreditation Mechanism in Islamabad, September 2013.
4. LaboratoryA Category A consulting firm must have itsown laboratory or, alternately, have amemorandum(s) of association with firms (s)to carry out the following types of surveys:l Ambient air quality;
l Stack emission;
l Soil;
l Waste-water;
l Noise; and
l Ground-water sampling.
5. A Category A consulting firm must have amanagement system to ensure quality of itsproducts. The management system may bebased on ISO 9000 and must include thefollowing:l Quality policy;
l Management responsibility;
l EIA manual;
l Document and data controlsystem/archive;
l Information management system;
l EIA process control;
l EIA peer review mechanism;
l EIA editing and quality check manual;
l Sampling and analysis quality assurancesystem;
l Testing equipment inspection andcalibration system;
l Control of non-conforming reports;
l Corrective and preventive action plan;
l Training programme; and
l Continual improvement plan.
6.1 Further WorkBased on the recommendation provided earlier,further work for NIAP is envisaged to include thefollowing:1. Discussion with the following organisations to
assess the possibility of implementation ofthe proposed scheme:l Pakistan Standards and Quality Control
Authority (PSQCA);
l Aga Khan University Examination Board;and
l Auditing firms such as SGS.
2. Development of a final document onaccreditation options and conditions neededfor the proposed system to function. This willinclude, but not be limited to, the topicsbelow: l Duration and grades for accreditation;
l The role of training in accreditation, andhow such training would relate to otherEIA training that is offered;
l Mechanism to ensure transparency andaccountability of the System;
l Quality control system; and
l Administrative system and fee structures.
3. Development of a framework for themanagement system for a consulting firm.
4. Development of a multi-year action plan forintroduction and establishment of theaccreditation system proposed, including anytesting strategy for accreditation elementsthat need to be trialed and perfected beforethey can be instituted.
23Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
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6.2 Recommended OrganisationsThe preferred certification and accreditation bodyis PEAA. As this organisation is currently notfunctional, it is recommended that the body maybe activated on a priority basis. In the interimperiod, the responsibility may be handled by acommittee comprising representatives from theenvironmental protection agency and the privatesector. The recommended examination body isthe Aga Khan University Examination Board.
Accreditation of Environmental Consultants
Produced with the financial support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands (EKN).