Cumulative effects

Question 1

Define cumulative effects (2 ways)

Answer 1

Canter:Effects of an additive, interactive, synergistic, or irregular nature, caused by individually minor but collectively significant actions that accumulate over time

USCEQ: The impact on the environment (that) results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present and reasonably foreseeable future actions

Question 2

what are the 2 pathways of cumulative effect

Answer 2

single source: Single activity has multiple effects. Potential interactions between them may create cumulative effects

Multiple source: Multiple actions accumulate in an additive manner. Multiple actions interact in a synergistic way

Question 3

How is regional assessment done in CEA

Answer 3

Regional assessments are typically used in
planning process

Regions may be physical units, ecological
units, jurisdictional units, watersheds or
planning areas

Question 4

what are the models of CEA

Answer 4

effects based CEA - what has happened

Stressor based CEA- what might happen

Question 5

framework for CEA

Answer 5

Scoping (spatial and temporal boundaries)
retrospective analysis
prospective analysis
management

Question 6

concerns of CEA

Answer 6

thresholds not easily determined
future based so predictions may be inaccurate