ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

Transcription

1 ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT - E I A - Prof. S.Chieng Civil Engineering UBC

2 Suggested references B. F. Noble (2006). Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment. Oxford University Press. K.S. Hanna (2005) Environmental Impact Assessment: practice and participation. Oxford University Press. Wood, C. (2002). Environmental Impact Assessment: a Comparative Review (2 nd Edition). Harlow, Prentice Hall.

3 What is E I A? An important procedure for ensuring that the likely effects of new development on the environment are fully understood and taken into account before the development is allowed to go ahead.

4 The International Association for Impact Assessment (laia) defines ElA as: The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, The International social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments made.

5 What is it really? Environmental Impact Assessment is an activity (or a tool) which identifies, predicts, interprets and communicates information, and proposes ameliorative measures, about impacts of a proposed action or development proposal on human health and the well-being of the ecosystem upon which human survival depends.

6 Benefits of EIA include : environmentally sound and sustainable design better compliance with standards savings in capital and operating costs reduced time and costs for approvals increased project acceptance better protection of the environment and human health

7 Generalized E I A Process Flowchart

8 Sequential Engineering/Economics/Social Planning Environmental Impact Assessment Project + Mitigation Parallel Engineering/Economic/Social Planning Environmental Planning Project + Mitigation Integrated Engineering/Economic/Social Planning/Environment Project

9 Screening Is an EIA needed? Many projects may have no significant environmental effects A screening mechanism seeks to identify those projects with potentially significant adverse environmental effects

10 Scoping The scope of an EIA is the issues and impacts it addresses Scoping is the process of deciding which of a project s possible alternatives and impacts should be addressed in the EIA Scoping is carried out in discussions between the developer, the competent authority, relevant agencies and, ideally, the public

11 Baseline studies Following the scoping phase, it is essential to assemble all the relevant information on the current status of the environment The baseline study should anticipate the future state of the environment assuming the project is not undertaken - the no action alternative This provides the baseline against which future impacts can be assessed

12 Predictions How any project component may give rise to an impact Probability of impacts occurring Magnitude of each impact Spatial and temporal of each impact

13 Impact assessment (Evaluation) Impact assessment involves evaluating the significance of the impacts identified Significance can be determined through professional judgement, reference to regulations etc. Potential for bias in determining what is significant The conclusions of the impact assessment can ultimately be used by decision-makers when determining the fate of the project application

14 Mitigation Negative impacts on the environment identified during the EIA can be alleviated through mitigation measures The mitigation hierarchy: Avoid - Reduce - Remedy - Compensate - Enhance Impacts remaining after mitigation are known as residual impacts

15 Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) In EIA, an Environmental Impact Statement should include details on any adverse environmental effects which cannot be avoided should the proposal be implemented alternatives to the proposed action

16 EIS preparation / review EIS is a formal document which includes information on the development and information relating to screening, scoping, baseline studies, predictions, etc.

17 EIS preparation / review Once complete, the EIS is submitted to the competent authority (along with the planning application) The EIS is often reviewed (either formally or informally) The review enables the competent authority to decide whether the EIA is adequate, accurate and unbiased

18 The EIS should include the following information, although not necessarily in this order: Executive summary; Statement of project objectives; Identification and description of project alternatives; Rationale for selection of the preferred option; Detailed project description of the preferred option; Description of the existing environment; Description and evaluation of the predicted impacts; Identification of, and commitment to mitigation and enhancement measures and appropriate post-environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) studies (Compliance Schedule); and Documentation of the public participation program.

19 Sec (US NEPA) Recommended format of EIS. Agencies shall use a format for environmental impact statements which will encourage good analysis and clear presentation of the alternatives including the proposed action. The following standard format for environmental impact statements should be followed unless the agency determines that there is a compelling reason to do otherwise: (a) Cover sheet. (b) Summary. (c) Table of contents. (d) Purpose of and need for action. (e) Alternatives, including proposed action (f) Affected environment. (g) Environmental consequences (h) List of preparers. (i) List of Agencies, Organizations, etc. to which EIS copies are sent. (j) Index. (k) Appendices (if any), including supporting data

20 (a) Cover sheet title of proposed action list of responsible agencies contact person at agencies designation of EIS as draft, final or supplement date by which comments must be received (b) Summary major conclusions areas of controversy issues to be resolved (c) Table of contents. (d) Purpose of and need for action. (e) Alternatives, including proposed action (f) Affected environment.

21 (g) Environmental consequences environmental impacts of alternatives, including proposed action adverse environ. effects which cannot be avoided if proposal is implemented mitigation measures to be used & residual effects of mitigation relation between short-term uses of the environ. & maintenance & enhancement of long-term productivity irreversible or irretrievable commitments of resources if proposal is implemented, discussion of : - direct and indirect effects and their significance - possible conflicts between actions and objectives of land use plans, policies, controls...etc. - natural resource requirements and conservation strategy - effects on historic and cultural resources, built environment, and quality of life - means to mitigate adverse impacts (h) List of preparers. (i) List of Agencies, Organizations, etc. to which EIS copies are sent. (j) Index. (k) Appendices (if any), including supporting data

22 Public consultation EIA requires that, as much as possible, both technical (scientific) and philosophical (value) issues be dealt with. public consultation is an integral part of EIA different view points are brought forward, concerns aroused are identified, potential conflict areas are pinpoints, and the comfort level of decision makers is raised.

23 Monitoring Monitoring should determine: the accuracy of the original predictions the degree of deviation from the predictions the possible reasons for any deviations the extent to which mitigation measures have achieved their objectives

24 EIA tools 1. Ah hoc methods these are perhaps the oldest and crudest approaches to EIA. These methods focus on broad areas of possible impacts rather than specifying specific parameters to be investigated. There are often based on objectivity and intuition.

25 EIA tools cont d 2. Checklists Checklists are a variant of the Ah Hoc method. A prescribed list of parameters is considered in the assessment process. While the list of environmental parameters are investigated for possible impacts, the explicit establishment of direct cause-effect links to the project activities are not required.

26 Sample checklist - for a bridge construction project Proposed project activities Yes No dredging blasting pier construction traffic diversion Affected physical components water quantity water quality soil quality soil stability air quality Affected biological components fish populations spawning habitat bird habitat wildlife habitat Affected socio-economic components employment noise health

27 EIA tools cont d 3. Matrices Two-dimensional tables used to identify impacts arising from the interaction between project activities and specific environmental components. Leopold matrix Peterson matrix Component interaction matrix etc

28 Ex. Leopold matrix Project actions characteristics & conditions A B a 2 2 b c d e 5 7

29 Example of a section of the Leopold Matrix

30 Sample of an Impact Assessment Matrix

31 Sample of an Three-Dimensional Impact Matrix

32 EIA tools cont d 4. Map overlay A series of maps (transparencies) is used to identify, predict, assign relative significance to, and communicate impacts of the project. It is geographically reference. GIS system is normally used these days.

33 EIA tools cont d 5. The Battelle environmental evaluation system Designed by Battelle Columbus Laboratories, USA to assess the impacts of water resource developments, water quality management plans, highways, nuclear power plants and other projects. The system is essentially a very sophisticated checklist.

34 Note: Provide detailed explanation on each of the check in the Checklist. Sample : Checklist for Huasai-Thale Noi Road Project, Thailand