Assessment of Environmental Effects Process Flashcards
General steps of the AEE process
- Provide description of proposal, site and surroundings
- Talk to the regional and/or district council(s)
- Identify the effects on the environment and people
- Propose any conditions that may help mitigate any effects of the proposal
- Provide any additional reports required to support application
- Finalise AEE
description of proposal, site and surroundings
- Description of proposed activity/activities
- Can include site visit, desktop assessment
- Description of site and site features –> Natural features (vegetation, water courses), Adjacent activities (neighbouring properties), Physical features (infrastructure, buildings)
prior to consultation/during consultation with council
prior:
- confirm compliance with rules in place
during:
- provides information regarding required resource consents
- identifies how proposal fits in with relevant regional plan
- identify specific site constraints and limitations
Identify effects
- Consider all aspects of proposal (Specific site considerations, Adjacent site considerations)
- Utilise the provisions in the relevant plan
- List all effects identified related to proposed Project/activities
- Identify if specialist assessment may be
required - Consult affected parties
impact management phase - propose mitigations for effects
Following identification of effects:
– Rank effects (minor or significant) Can effect be avoided? Can effect be mitigated? Can effect be remedied?
– For significant adverse effects, consider alternatives (e.g. changes in location, resources)
– Identify which effects would require monitoring (Cumulative effects, Uncertain likelihood of occurrence)
– Consider how monitoring will take place - Who will complete monitoring? How often is monitoring required?
table of effects
temporary effects, permanent. effects, cumulative effects - significant, minor, no effect, critical effect
3 steps of finalising a AEE
- provide additional. information if required
- review and reevaluate proposal
- final check of AEE
Final check of AEE
– accurately describe the activity
– accurately describe the site and locality
– complete your effects checklist, including ranking and discussing how any adverse effects may be avoided, remedied or mitigated
– identify any consultation undertaken and its results
– (where significant effects are likely to occur) identify
alternatives you have considered and why they were rejected
– identify any proposals for monitoring potential and actual effects.
Identifying impacts/ effects - identification
identifying the preliminary effects more specifically
Identifying impacts/ effects - prediction
predicting the characteristics of the main effects
Identifying impacts/ effects - evaluation
evaluating the significance of the residual effects
Impact/effect identification methods
- checklists
- networks
- matrices
- overlays
- professional judgement
- GIS and computer based systems
What does the choice of identification method depend on?
- type and size of the proposal
- nature of likely effects
- availability of effect identification methods (e.g. is there a localised checklist)
- experience of AEE/EIA team
- resources available
The characteristics of environmental impacts vary based on:
– nature (positive, negative, direct, indirect, cumulative)
– magnitude (severe, moderate, low)
– extent/location (area/volume covered, distribution)
– timing (during construction, operation, decommissioning, immediate, delayed, rate of change)
– duration (short term, long term, intermittent, continuous)
– reversibility/irreversibility
– likelihood (probability, uncertainty or confidence in the prediction)
– significance (local, regional, global)
Methods of impact/effect prediction
- best estimate professional judgement
- quantitative mathematical models
- experiments and physical models
- case studies as analogues or references
Types of uncertainty in impact/effect prediction
- scientific uncertainty (limited understanding of the ecosystem or community affected)
- data uncertainty (incomplete information or insufficient methodology)
- policy uncertainty (unclear or disputed objectives or standards)
Types of social effects
- demographic
- cultural
- community
- socio-physical
Factors affecting economic effects
- Duration of construction and operation
- Workforce requirements for each period
- Skill requirements (local availability)
- Earnings
- Raw material and other input purchases
- Capital investment
- Outputs
- The characteristics of the local economy
Key elements for assessing impact / effect significance
- environmental standards
- level of public concern
- scientific and professional evidence concerning: resource loss/ecological damage, negative social impacts, foreclosure of land and resource use options
Guiding principles for determining impact/effect significance
- Follow the established local procedures
- Adapt relevant criteria
- Assign significance rationally, documenting reasons for judgement
Impact/Effect significance considerations
- Environmental loss and deterioration
- Social impacts resulting from environmental change
- Non-conformity with environmental standards
- Probability and acceptability of risk
Ecological significance considerations
- Reduction in species diversity
- Habitat depletion or fragmentation
- Threatened, rare and endangered species
- Impairment of ecological functions e.g. Disruption of food chains; Decline in species population.
Social significance considerations
- Human health and safety
- Decline in important resource
- Loss of valued area
- Displacement of people
- Disruption of communities
- Demands on services and infrastructure
Environmental Standards
- Limits on waste/emissions discharge and concentrations
- Clean air standards, water quality standards
- Policy objectives and targets
- Plans that allocate use of land and natural resources
