environmental impact assessment (msm3208) lecture notes 3-methods used to assess environmental...
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ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT (MSM3208) LECTURE NOTESUNIVERSITY MALAYSIA TERENGGANU 2010Disclaimer: I don't own this file. If you believe you do, and you don't want it to be published here, please let me know. I will remove it immediatelyTRANSCRIPT
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Methods Used to Assess Environmental
ImpactsTraining Workshop on Environmental Assessment-Tool to Achieve Sustainability
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Definition
Impact
Deviations from a baseline situation
Assessment
The exercise of identifying impacts likely to arise from an activity or project, quantifying them, and assessing their significance
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“Steps” in Impact Assessment Conduct baseline study Identify and evaluate alternatives Identify potential impacts Predict impacts Determine impact significance Consider mitigation options Determine residual impacts and environmental
risks Prepare environmental management plan
Scope of the Presentation
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Impact Identification Methods
Briefing, consultation and workshops
Index approaches (matrices and checklists)
Overlays
Networks
Other
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Briefing, Consultation, Workshops
Briefing/brainstorming approaches to scoping frequently used - relies on experience and knowledge of the assessment team.
Consultation with interested groups and statutory bodies
Public participation
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Checklists
A variety of methods varying in complexity and characteristics.
All share the common basis of an index of environmental factors or development activities: Simple checklists Descriptive checklists Questionnaire checklists Weighting-scaling checklists
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Simple Checklists
Provide assessor with a list of factors to be considered.
Used as a memory aid to identify impacts.
Can provide structure to initial part of scoping stage.
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Disease vectors
(a) Are there known disease problems in the project area transmitted throughvector species such as mosquitoes,flies, snails etc. ? yes no not known
(b) Are these vector species associated with: – aquatic habitats ? yes no not known – forest habitats ? yes no not known – agricultural habitats ? yes no not known
(f) Will the project provide opportunitiesfor vector control through improvedstandards of living ? yes no not known
Estimated impact on disease vectors ?
high adverse insignificant high benefit
Example of Checklist
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Checklists
Advantages Comparatively simple method Not necessarily project specific Once established, can be used in many different
situations
Disadvantages Can never be considered as definite or complete Do not help to identify secondary/higher order
impacts Tend to ‘compartmentalise
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Interaction Matrices
Consist of two checklists - development actions on one axis, environmental parameters on the other.
Sometime magnitude or importance of impacts is included in numerical terms.
Presents a clear summary.
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Example of Matrix
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Advantages and Disadvantages of Matrices
Advantages Easily modified, so many varieties have been developed
and used Relationships between development and environment
made explicit Can present a summary of anticipated impacts in an
easily understood format
Disadvantages Fail to identify potential secondary or tertiary impacts May not provide an objective method for comparing
impact magnitudes or importance
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Overlays
Excellent for identifying indirect impacts.
Manual or computer (GIS) based.
Layers of information overlain to form a composite
Overlays can show: spatial extent/intensity of impact over geographical area different land uses or designations different location constraints of proposals identification of alternative sites or routes
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Overlays
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Advantage and Disadvantage of Overlays
Advantages Conceptually simple; Provide clear presentation Highly versatile Appropriate for describing and assessing impacts
occurring over a wide spatial area Can predict geographical location of impacts
Disadvantages Number of layers limited (6 - 8) Needs weighting of parameters Setting boundaries may induce inaccuracies
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Selecting the Right Tool
Considerations in Impact Identification Direct and Indirect Impact Impact of Secondary Development Long-term Impacts Cumulative Impacts
Tool is selected on the bases of: Available resources Nature of project
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Prediction of Impact
Quantitative analysis (simulation models, statistical analysis, etc).
Qualitative analysis (professional judgment, intuitive reasoning, etc)
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Examples of Prediction Methods
Models Air dispersion models Stream water quality model Groundwater models
Standard Data Noise emission data
Technical Literature Research articles on wildlife behavior
Risk Assessment
Community participation
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Significance Criteria
Law, regulation, policy
Acceptable industry standard
Public health and safety risk (high or unknown)
Public concern or acceptable social or cultural values
Precedent-setting and unique characteristics (protected areas, wilderness, aesthetics)
Expert opinion and value judgment
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Output of Impact Assessment
All potential impacts identified.
Impacts predicted, qualitatively or quantitatively.
Impacts characterized: Magnitude Extent Risk (Probability and severity) Duration Reversibility
Significance determined (acceptable or not).