1 - Introduction Flashcards
What are some acronyms of Environmental Impact Assessment?
- EIA
- EA
- IA
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”
What are the origins of the EIA?
From the National Environmental Policy Act (1969) USA
How many nations require an EIA?
More than 100+
What does the IAIA stand for?
International Association for Impact Assessment
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.
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.
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.
What are the categories of EIA?
- Environment
- Social Issues
- Other
What are the subcategories of an Environment EIA?
- Air
- Biodiversity
- Land use and Soil
- Sewage Release and Groundwater
What are the subcategories of Social EIA?
- Population Characteristics
- Present Land Use and Zoning Land-use Plans
- Community Impacts
- Visual Resources
What are the subcategories of Other EIA?
- Disaster Management
- Adaption and Increasing Vulnerability to Climate Change
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
Define Sustainable Development:
Development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.
What is Impact Assessment from a Federal perspective?
- Planning
- Impact Statement
- Impact Assessment
- Decision-making
- Post Decision
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
True or False: Some jurisdictions have legislated timelines for submitting an EIS.
True
True or False: There is a strict grouping of people involved in the Decision Making step of an EIS submission.
False.
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. “
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.”
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
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
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?
- Planning
- Impact Statement
- Impact Assessment
- Decision-making
- 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
