1 - Introduction Flashcards by Jenna Vandenbossche

What are some acronyms of Environmental Impact Assessment?

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What are the five main characteristics of an Environmental Impact Assessment?

Process
Methodology
Arts and Science
Not a formula for preparing a document
“Look before you leap”

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What are the origins of the EIA?

From the National Environmental Policy Act (1969) USA

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How many nations require an EIA?

More than 100+

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What does the IAIA stand for?

International Association for Impact Assessment

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What is the IAIA?

The leading global network on best practice in the use of impact assessment for informed decision making regarding policies, programs, plans, and projects.

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What do members of the IAIA believe?

That impact assessment is a practical tool for helping meet todays needs without compromising the opportunities of future generations.

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Provide a definition of an EIA:

An activity designed to identify and predict the impact on human health and well-being of legislative proposals, policies, programs, and operational procedures and to interpret and communicate information about the impacts.

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What are the categories of EIA?

Environment
Social Issues
Other

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What are the subcategories of an Environment EIA?

Air
Biodiversity
Land use and Soil
Sewage Release and Groundwater

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What are the subcategories of Social EIA?

Population Characteristics
Present Land Use and Zoning Land-use Plans
Community Impacts
Visual Resources

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What are the subcategories of Other EIA?

Disaster Management
Adaption and Increasing Vulnerability to Climate Change

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What kind of different assessments and modelling can be included in an EIA?

Predictive Modelling
Life-cycle Assessment
Social Impact Assessment
Cultural Impact Assessment
Human Health Risk Assessment

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Define Sustainable Development:

Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

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What is Impact Assessment from a Federal perspective?

Planning
Impact Statement
Impact Assessment
Decision-making
Post Decision

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What happens after you submit an EIS? (8)

Notice of Determination
Assessment Process Initiated
Information requests (IR)
Public Review
Hearing Process
Decision Making
Decision Statement Issued
Follow-up & Monitoring

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True or False: Some jurisdictions have legislated timelines for submitting an EIS.

True

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True or False: There is a strict grouping of people involved in the Decision Making step of an EIS submission.

False.

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What is the purpose of IA?

“Over years IA has been recognized as a forward-looking instrument that is able to proactively advise decision-makers on what might happen if a proposed action is implemented. “

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Define an Impact, in terms of an IA:

Impacts are changes that are judged to have environmental, political, economic or social significance to society.
Impacts may be positive or negative and may affect the environment, communities, human health and well-being, desired sustainability objectives, or a combination of these.”

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What is the immediate result of an EA?

A development proposal that is well thought-out environmental, social, economic, and technical design, accompanied by a management plan to deal with potential risk and unanticipated outcomes

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What are the four main purposes of an IA?

Identifying and evaluating potential impacts
Support decision making
Promoting sustainable development
Ensuring that development is in the public interest

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What are the five components of the Spectrum of EA Philosophies and Values?

Analytical Science
Environmental Design
Information Provision
Participation
Environmental Governance

How does the Analytical Science philosophy view EAs? and what kind of science is used?

That EAs serve to inform decisions and enhance scientific understanding.
- Applied
- Experimental
- Naturalistic

How does the Environmental Design the Spectrum of EA Philosophy view EAs? and what kind of science is used?

EA serves to inform and influence design decisions. - Applied Environmental for design and engineering

How does the Information Provision philosophy view EAs? and what kind of science is used?

EA serves to inform decisions. - Largely Natural Science - Minimal Social Science

How does the Participation philosophy view EAs? and what kind of science is used?

EA is about participatory decision-making. - Equal Natural and Social Sciences

How does the Environmental Governance philosophy view EAs? and what kind of science is used?

EA is about deliberative democracy. - Largely social science, - Minimal natural science

In order for an EIA to be credible, it must be based on...

- Scientific Objectives - Modelling and Experimentation - Quantified Impact Predictions - Hypothesis Testing

As a decision tool, EIA are...

- Deliberative - Social Justice - Community Governance

Who is involved in the IA process?

1) Project Proponents 2) Regulators / Government Authorities 3) Decision-Makers 4) Affected Interests 5) Practitioners

Define the role of a Project Proponent in EIAs:

- Proposes development - Responsible for its implementation, operations, and management

Provide an example of a Project Proponent:

- Private Corporations - Government Entities - Private-public Partnerships

Define the role of the Regulator / Government Authority:

Responsible for EA and ensuring due process.

Who is responsible for ensuring legal obligations for consultation with Indigenous peoples is fulfilled in the EIA process?

Regulators / Government Authorities

Define the role of the Decision-makers:

- Responsible for elected ministers (Weighs information provided by proponent and Affected interest) - Consider government policy objectives / commitments - Determines if it is the public interest that a project continue

Define the role of Affected Interests in the EIA process:

- Anyone or any group potentially affected

Provide several examples of an Affected Interest:

- Indigenous Governments or communities - Public - Private Landowners - Private Business - Special Interest Groups

True or False: Not all affected interests are involved in the EIA process in the same capacity or share the same legal standing.

True

Define the role of Practitioner in the EIA process:

The consultant who carry out the technical analysis and compile the EIS on behalf of the proponent.

Who might Practitioners work for?

- Communities - Government Agencies - Various review boards/panels

What is the process flow of Federal IAs?

1. Planning 2. Impact Statement 3. Impact Assessment 4. Decision-making 5. Post-decision

What is the 10 step process for IAs?

1) Pre-project Planning 2) Project Description 3) Screening 4) Scoping & Baseline Assessment 5) Impact Assessment 6) Identifying strategies for managing impacts 7) Significance Determination 8) Submission & Review of an EIS 9) Recommendation & Decision 10) Implementation & Follow-up

When should engagement occur in the IA process?

Throughout!

True or False: At any point in the IA process you could have to return to an earlier step.

True

True or False: The Practitioner must hold all necessary skills to complete the task.

False. The role of practitioner is interdisciplinary, engagement with other disciplines is required.

What are the 3 types of practitioner?

1) Practitioner 2) Senior Practitioner 3) Lead Practitioner

Define Ethical Conduct in reference to an EIA:

The values, norms, experiences and interrelations of practitioners engaged in the EA process paly a significant role in the quality of the process

What is the social contract between impact assessment professionals, civil society, and decision makers?

a. IAs will be conducted with integrity, free of misrepresentation or bias. b. IAs will respect citizen rights to participate in decisions that affect them.

True or False: An IA professional’s beliefs and cultural preferences must not interfere with the fair representation of the potential impacts of policies, plans, programs, and projects

True.

It is also ______ to advance private interests to the detriment of the public, clients, or decision-makers.

improper

Impact assessment professionals should seek ____________ outcomes from human actions that affect ecosystem and social functions and have due regard to the rights and interests of future generations.

sustainable and equitable

Impact assessments must be conducted and implemented in a manner that averts _________ of the human rights of any section of society and does not condone the use of violence, harassment, intimidation, or undue force

infringement

Impact assessment professionals must strive for _____________ by maintaining and enhancing their own knowledge and skills, by encouraging the professional development of coworkers, and by fostering the aspirations of potential members of the profession

excellence

What are the five things to know of IAIA?

S.E.A.U.I S - Sustainable E - Excellence A - Avert Infringement U - Unbiased I - Integrity

Memorize the Spectrum of EA Philosophies (Will be on test)!!!

Introduction Powerpoint

What are some responsibilities of the Regulator / Government Authority?

- Setting **terms of reference** - Issuing **approvals /authorizations** - Ensuring **public participation** - Fulfilling legal obligations with **Indigenous peoples** - Post-project Follow up **approval of compliance**