Environmental Effects and Assessment

Question 1

Define the activity

Answer 1

• document what is proposed into its various parts
• gain an understanding of scale
• any specific methods being adopted for construction or technology applied that could affect how the activity is described?
• duration that the various parts will be undertaken for

Question 2

AEE

Answer 2

Assessment of Environmental Effects

- an accurate and objective statement about the effects of your proposal on the environment

Question 3

What needs to be included in an AEE

Answer 3

• description of proposed activity
• assessment of actual and potential effects on environment
• where effects are likely to be significant, a description of available alternatives
• discussion of risks to enviro from hazardous substances and installations
• assessment of nature of contaminant discharge and sensitivity of receiving environment
• description of how adverse effects may be avoided, remedied or mitigated
• identification of persons effected, consultation undertaken (if any)
• details of proposed monitoring where an effect needs to be controlled

Question 4

General Structure of AEE

Answer 4

• site location and owner details
• description of proposed activity
• description of environment
• consultation undertaken
• classification of activity status according to plan rules
• assessment of effects for each activity
• proposed mitigation (and monitoring)
• assessment against Part 2 of RMA
• assessment against RPS, and Policies and Objectives of the relevant plans
• duration sought
• summary/appendices including maps, figs, drawings

Question 5

Avoid - quarry example

Answer 5

The adverse visual effects of a quarry can be AVOIDED if located somewhere unseen

Question 6

Remedy - quarry example

Answer 6

The adverse visual effects of a quarry can be REMEDIED by filling in the hole

Question 7

Mitigate - quarry example

Answer 7

You could MITIGATE the effect if you planted trees around the hole

Question 8

Monitoring

Answer 8

IS NOT MITIGATION

Question 9

How much level of detail to include in AEE

Answer 9

• comprehensiveness of AEE proportional to the potential effects of the proposed activity

Question 10

Permitted Baseline

Answer 10

• what is permitted to occur without resource consent

- any consideration of effects therefore in comparison to what effect could occur as a result of permitted activity

Question 11

Existing Consented Activities

Answer 11

• considerd to be a part of the existing environment

- assessment needs to account for the effects of that activity before adding the effects of the proposed activity

Question 12

Consultation

Answer 12

• not required under the act (an individual is not forced to consult)
• depending on the scale and nature of the activity, some consultation is generally recommended