Environmental Assessment and Management

Question 1

What does the definition of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) include?

Answer 1

> The identification and prediction of the impacts on the environment and on man’s health,
and the wellbeing of legislative proposals, policies, programmes, etc.
The interpretation and communication of information about these impacts.

Question 2

How does the International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) define Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

Answer 2

“The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical,
social, and other relevant effects of a proposed developmental proposal prior to
major decisions being taken and commitments made.”

In other words => “Prevention is better than cure.”

Question 3

What are the implications of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

Answer 3

> Data gathering.
> Analysis and interpretation of the data.
> Identification of effects.
> Communication.
> Mitigation procedures.
> Transparency and integrity

Question 4

What constitutes as an environment? (NB)

[In other words what is the definition of an environment?]

Answer 4

The environment has both social-cultural and economic dimensions, such as:
> Economic structures.
> Labour markets.
> Demography.
> Housing.
> Services (e.g. education, health, policem fire, etc.).
> Lifestyles.
> Values.

International Association for Impact Assessment (IAIA) definition: “Incorporates the physical, biological, cultural, economic, and social factors.”

Question 5

What are the three(3), central dimensions involved in defining an environment?

Answer 5

> Scale (e.g. Local, international)
Space (e.g. Urban, Rural)
Time (e.g. 10 year, heritage)

Question 6

Different types of environmental impact

Answer 6

> Physical and socio-economic.
> Direct and indirect.
> Short-run and long-run.
> Local and strategic.
> Adverse and beneficial.
> Quantitative and qualitative.
> Distribution by group and/or area.
> Actual and perceived.
> Relative to developments; cumulative.

Question 7

What tasks are performed in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)?

Answer 7

> Screening.
> Scoping.
> Public participation.
> Impact study (the main EIA study).
> Environmental impact statement.
> Review and decision making.
> Monitoring and audit.

Question 8

When is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) needed? (Screening)

Answer 8

Consider only the projects with significant adverse environmental impacts, or whose impacts are not
fully known. One should note:
> This is determined by the EIA regulations of a country.
> Some procedures may require an initial outline to check likely environmental impacts.

Question 9

What does the scope of an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA consist of?

Answer 9

> Impacts
Issues
Alternatives to address it

Question 10

What does the EIA scoping process identify?

Answer 10

> The impact is potentially significant.
The impact is not significant.
The impact has no clear significance.
There are issues to be monitored later.

Question 11

Issues considered in the EIA scoping process include

Answer 11

> The impacts of particular concern on the affected parties.
The methodology that should be used to predict and evaluate the different impacts.
The scale at which those impacts should be considered.
Broad alternatives that should be considered

Question 12

What term refers to why a project exists?

Answer 12

Developmental Objective

Question 13

What is required to have an understanding of the project?

Answer 13

> Background information.
Purpose and rationale.
Physical character.
Land use requirements during construction and operation.
Characteristics of the production processes (the nature and quantity of materials used).
An estimate by type and quantity of waste and emissions (soil, water, air, noise pollution,
vibrations, light, heat, radiation, etc.).
Location and physical presence.
Life-cycle of the product.
The processes used.
Socio-economic characteristics.
Any associated policies.

Question 14

How to choose the right method for identifying EIA impacts?

Answer 14

> Compliance with regulations.
Comprehensive coverage of socio-economic and physical issues.
Distinguish between positives and negatives, reversible and irreversible.
Identify secondary, indirect, cumulative, and direct impacts.
Significant and insignificant impacts.
Allowance for comparison of alternatives.
Include qualitative and quantitative information that is easy and economical to use.
Use unbiased information that gives consistent results.
Be of use in summarising and presenting impacts in EIS.

Question 15

Objectives of the South African Environmental Impact process

Answer 15

> Determine policy and legislative context.
Describe need and desirability.
Identify location and developmental footprint within preferred site.
Determine nature, significance, consequence, extent, duration, and probability of impacts
and the degree of reversal, replaceability, avoidance, and mitigation.
Identify most ideal location for activity.
Identify, assess, and rank the impacts on preferred location.
Identify the risks that need to be managed and monitored.