Building a Science and Knowledge Base for Environmental Impact Assessment

Transcription

1 Building a Science and Knowledge Base for Environmental Impact Assessment Dr Paul Vogel Chairman Environmental Protection Authority

2 Summary 1. The EPA and Environmental Impact Assessment 2. Economic and environmental context 3. Uncertainties in assessing dredging impacts and risks 4. The role of WAMSI in end-user driven research 5. Conclusions

3 EPA 5 member board Provides independent, public advice to Govt on the environmental acceptability of all significant proposals and on important environmental issues Through key functions of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and strategic advice Supported by Office of the EPA (a dept of State)

4 Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) EIA involves predicting environmental impacts and risks, but Imperfect understanding of complex ecosystems Make judgements about acceptability in the face of that uncertainty Importance of science in improving our knowledge of those systems to support riskbased decision-making

5 EPA s Key Strategies 1. Strategically influence decision-making 2. Implement best practice environmental impact assessment 3. Communicate and engage 4. Build a science and knowledge base for environmental advice 5. Evaluate outcomes

6 Our Marine Biodiversity

7 Our Marine Wildlife

8 Our Economic Resources: LNG 164 tcf

9 Our Economic Resources: Iron Ore 34.5 Gt

10 Wave of Development

11 Wave of Development

12 Wave of Development

13 Marine environmental impacts of ports Port development Dredging (approx. 200 Mm 3 ) Filling and piling Associated shipping and discharges Main Issues Dredging benthic habitats Infrastructure and shipping marine fauna

14 Dredging and disposal

15 Areas of uncertainty - Dredging Hydrodynamic modelling Reasonably well developed Particle transport modelling Less well developed Source characterisation Deposition/re-suspension Ecological impact modelling Relatively poorly developed Many variables Cause-effect pathways

16 Consequences Complicates assessment Impacts uncertain Conservative predictions Complex/costly conditions Introduces risk Environment Compliance Timelines cost Generates public concern Extent of approved impacts Cumulative effects

17 Dredging and disposal Geraldton Port Enhancement 2002 Pluto LNG Development 2007 Wheatstone Project 2011 Port Hedland Outer Harbour 2012 Anketell Point Port Development 2012 Problems first apparent First Offset Draft dredging policy Oct 2010 Revised policy Sept 2011 Dredging Science Plan finalised Nov 2011

18 Opportunities for improvement Efficacy of monitoring improving benefits from monitoring shift from monitoring for compliance to management Availability of data limited access to data in the past now approval condition on public availability Collation and maintenance of data WAMSI Dredging Node data avail for research Predictive uncertainty WAMSI research to fill knowledge gaps increased certainty and efficiency of EIA

19 Information gaps Benthic communities Ecological roles and importance Critical habitats, e.g. seagrass/dugong Generation of pressure Sediment production Transport, settlement and re-suspension Responses to pressure Cause-effect pathways Indicators of stress Susceptibility/resilience and recovery

20 Why it s important Project siting and design Avoid important and critical habitats Avoid susceptible habitats Management of activities Avoid important times/seasons Develop management triggers Trigger criteria to prevent unacceptable impact Recovery potential Post-development monitoring and closure plans

21 Pathways to adoption Good science Targetted and relevant Outcome-focussed End-user needs Improving confidence Calibration and validation data Project lifecycle Continual improvement Sharing knowledge Public availability of data

22 Looking to the future Role of Industry Greater recognition of need for environmental knowledge Need to invest early and strategically Role of Government Guidance to proponents Support science infrastructure Role of Research Providers Ensure high quality science Relevant, fit for purpose and outcome-focussed

23 Four Key Challenges 1. Environmental knowledge management 2. Strategic and collaborative approaches to environmental management 3. Cumulative impacts 4. Rehabilitation and decommissioning

24 Conclusions Govt and industry acting independently will not solve these problems nor can project x project EIA WAMSI Dredging Node great example of end-user driven research - one of the best conceived with its sharp outcome focus Marine Fauna Node could yield similar benefits Strategic approach to the use of offsets paying dividends Formidable breadth and depth of expertise of WAMSI Successful model now being applied to create WABSI