1. E nvironmental I mpact A ssessment Geog 456 – Spring 2008 Paul Fraser

2. Introduction Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) “an assessment of the impact of a planned activity on the environment.” {United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (1991)} “ an examination, analysis, and assessment of planned activities with a view to ensuring environmentally sound and sustainable development.” (Thompson & Ross, 2002)

3. Brief History Established in the USA in 1969. Established in the USA in 1969. EIA was created because of increasing environmental awareness. EIA was created because of increasing environmental awareness. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act was passed on January 19, 1995. The Canadian Environmental Assessment Act was passed on January 19, 1995. Encourages actions that promote sustainable development. Encourages actions that promote sustainable development. Promotes cooperation and coordinated action. Promotes cooperation and coordinated action. Ensures that development does not cause adverse environmental effects in areas surrounding the development. Ensures that development does not cause adverse environmental effects in areas surrounding the development. Ensures opportunity for public participation throughout the process. Ensures opportunity for public participation throughout the process.

4. Objectives of the EIA process To identify and predict the impacts of human activities on the biophysical environment and on human health and well-being. To identify and predict the impacts of human activities on the biophysical environment and on human health and well-being. To interpret and communicate information regarding those impacts and to investigate and propose means for their management. To interpret and communicate information regarding those impacts and to investigate and propose means for their management. To allow people to adjust development projects to enhance their benefits and to minimize their environmental costs. To allow people to adjust development projects to enhance their benefits and to minimize their environmental costs. During the process, Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) are prepared to document the information and estimates of impacts derived from the various steps in the EIA process. During the process, Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) are prepared to document the information and estimates of impacts derived from the various steps in the EIA process. EIA is both an ASSESSMENT TOOL and a MANAGEMENT TOOL. EIA is both an ASSESSMENT TOOL and a MANAGEMENT TOOL.

5. Assessment Tool EIA is an assessment tool because the impacts are interpreted, which means that, while having a substantial scientific component to it, it is very much based on human values. EIA is an assessment tool because the impacts are interpreted, which means that, while having a substantial scientific component to it, it is very much based on human values. Management Tool EIA also involves proposing means for managing the impacts of the project. EIA also involves proposing means for managing the impacts of the project.

6. The EIA Process A systematic process… focussing on prevention and utilizing holistic, multidisciplinary methods. A systematic process… focussing on prevention and utilizing holistic, multidisciplinary methods. Normally implemented by governments and lending agencies Normally implemented by governments and lending agencies Involves an interdisciplinary team approach integrating the natural and social sciences and the environmental design arts. Involves an interdisciplinary team approach integrating the natural and social sciences and the environmental design arts.

7. Stage 1: Screening - Is an EIA needed? Screening seeks to focus on projects with potentially significant adverse environmental impacts or whose impacts are not fully known. Screening seeks to focus on projects with potentially significant adverse environmental impacts or whose impacts are not fully known. Two main approaches: - The use of thresholds - Project characteristics or anticipated project impacts - A case-by-case approach – Appraisal of project characteristics against guidelines and criteria. The Stages of EIA

8. Stage 2: Scoping - Which impacts and issues to consider? Scoping is identifying the issues and determining their priority for the EIA process, by way of information gathering and negotiation. Scoping is identifying the issues and determining their priority for the EIA process, by way of information gathering and negotiation. Involves: Involves: scientific and technical specialists, scientific and technical specialists, the developer, the developer, members of the affected public, members of the affected public, interest groups, interest groups, and the project proponent. and the project proponent. The result: The result: the identification of the main issues and impacts, the identification of the main issues and impacts, an explanation of why other issues are not considered significant an explanation of why other issues are not considered significant Description of the project / development action and alternatives Description of the project / development action and alternatives Description of an environmental baseline Description of an environmental baseline

9. Stage 3: Impact Prediction and Assessment To identify the magnitude and other dimensions of change in the environment with a project or action, in comparison with the situation without that project or action. To identify the magnitude and other dimensions of change in the environment with a project or action, in comparison with the situation without that project or action. Methods of prediction are quite varied, reflecting the wide variety of issues that can be seen throughout the process. Methods of prediction are quite varied, reflecting the wide variety of issues that can be seen throughout the process. There are many predictive methods: There are many predictive methods: –Extrapolative: trend analysis, scenarios, analogies –Normative: working backwards from desired outcomes Once predicted, significance must be determined. Once predicted, significance must be determined.

10. Stage 3: Impact Prediction and Assessment Significance may be determined by considering such factors as: Significance may be determined by considering such factors as: The nature and extent of the impacts (type, duration) The nature and extent of the impacts (type, duration) Likely adverse effects on the receiving environment (sensitive areas) Likely adverse effects on the receiving environment (sensitive areas) Magnitude of impacts (low, medium, high) Magnitude of impacts (low, medium, high) Options for impact mitigation (reduction, avoidance) Options for impact mitigation (reduction, avoidance) Reversibility Reversibility Availability of compensation or offsets (new wetland construction to replace lost wetland) Availability of compensation or offsets (new wetland construction to replace lost wetland) Identification of mitigating measures Identification of mitigating measures Public consultation and participation Public consultation and participation

11. Stage 4: Presentation, Review, and Decision-Making – Submission of EIS & Project Planning Application. An EIS should: An EIS should: Be comprehensive and at least fulfil the requirements of the relevant EIA legislation. Be comprehensive and at least fulfil the requirements of the relevant EIA legislation. Explain why some impacts are not dealt with. Explain why some impacts are not dealt with. Emphasize key points. Emphasize key points. Be honest, unbiased, and objective. Be honest, unbiased, and objective. Good presentation can convey: Good presentation can convey: a concern for the environment, a concern for the environment, and a positive attitude to the public. and a positive attitude to the public. Bad presentation can suggest: Bad presentation can suggest: lack of care, lack of care, perhaps lack of financial backing, perhaps lack of financial backing, and can also negatively affect even a well-organized EIS. and can also negatively affect even a well-organized EIS.

12. Stage 4: Presentation, Review, and Decision-Making – Submission of EIS & Project Planning Application. A review aims to: A review aims to: Ensure all relevant information has been analysed and presented; Ensure all relevant information has been analysed and presented; Assess the validity and accuracy of information contained in the EIS; Assess the validity and accuracy of information contained in the EIS; Consider whether additional information is needed; Consider whether additional information is needed; Assess the significance of the project’s environmental effects; Assess the significance of the project’s environmental effects; Evaluate the need for mitigation and monitoring of environmental impacts; Evaluate the need for mitigation and monitoring of environmental impacts; Advise on whether a project should be allowed to proceed. Advise on whether a project should be allowed to proceed. In the decision-making phase, the decision to authorize or reject a project is made. (in the form of a public document.) In the decision-making phase, the decision to authorize or reject a project is made. (in the form of a public document.)

13. Stage 5: Post-decision Monitoring and Auditing of Predictions and Mitigation Measures. Monitoring and Auditing can provide for better planning and EIA of future projects. Monitoring and Auditing can provide for better planning and EIA of future projects. Monitoring involves the measuring and recording of physical, social and economic variables associated with development impacts (ex: traffic flows, air quality, noise, employment levels). Monitoring involves the measuring and recording of physical, social and economic variables associated with development impacts (ex: traffic flows, air quality, noise, employment levels). – can be used to identify harmful trends in a locality before it is too late for remedial action. – can help to identify and correct unanticipated impacts. – can help to identify and correct unanticipated impacts. Auditing compares the impacts predicted in an EIS with those that actually occur after implementation, in order to assess whether the impact prediction performs satisfactorily. Auditing compares the impacts predicted in an EIS with those that actually occur after implementation, in order to assess whether the impact prediction performs satisfactorily.

14. Stage 6: Follow-up Studies. It is essential to ensure that the good environmental management plans developed for the project are actually implemented. It is essential to ensure that the good environmental management plans developed for the project are actually implemented. EIAs should not be looked at as a means of obtaining a planning permission, but rather as a means to obtain good environmental management over the whole life of the project. EIAs should not be looked at as a means of obtaining a planning permission, but rather as a means to obtain good environmental management over the whole life of the project. Very effective and necessary means of continuing the EIA process. Very effective and necessary means of continuing the EIA process. The EIA process involves learning from the project for application to future projects. The EIA process involves learning from the project for application to future projects.

15. Stage 1 Stage 2 Stage 3 Stage 4 Stage 5 Stage 6 if project proceeds to implementation phase.

16. Strengths and Weaknesses EIA focuses on prevention of harmful impacts. It is a proactive, rather than reactive approach to development! EIA focuses on prevention of harmful impacts. It is a proactive, rather than reactive approach to development! Information about the impacts must be communicated to both the decision makers and the public who might be affected by the proposed developments, before the project is implemented. Information about the impacts must be communicated to both the decision makers and the public who might be affected by the proposed developments, before the project is implemented. The scoping stage can be underestimated. Accuracy is essential. The scoping stage can be underestimated. Accuracy is essential. Impact prediction and determining the impact significance. Intuition is often labelled as expert opinion. Impact prediction and determining the impact significance. Intuition is often labelled as expert opinion. Few developers make a real effort to gain a sense of the public’s view before presenting their applications for authorization. Few developers make a real effort to gain a sense of the public’s view before presenting their applications for authorization. EISs are often used to justify, not assess decisions; therefore, lack of objectivity can pose a problem. EISs are often used to justify, not assess decisions; therefore, lack of objectivity can pose a problem.

17. References  Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, accessed online from http://www.ceaa.gc.ca http://www.ceaa.gc.ca  Glasson, John, Therivel, Riki, & Chadwick, Andrew, (2005). Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment: 3 rd Edition. Routledge, New York, NY.  Joao, Elsa (2001). How scale affects environmental impact assessment. Environmental Impact Assessment Review. Vol. 22, Issue 4. Pg 289-310.  Thompson, Dixon, Ross, William A. (2002). Tools for Environmental Management. New Society Publishers, Gabriola, BC.  Wood, Christopher (1995). Environmental Impact Assessment: A Comparative Review. Longman Group Limited, Essex, England.