Lecture 1

Question 1

What is the definition of EIA according to the IAIA?

Answer 1

The process of identifying, predicting, evaluating, and mitigating biophysical, social, and other relevant effects of development proposals prior to major decisions being taken and commitments being made.

Question 2

What are the key principles defining how EIA should be applied?

Answer 2

• as early as possible in planning/decision-making stages
• applied to all proposals that may generate significant adverse enviro effects or those for which there is public concern
• consider biophysical and human issues potentially affected by development (ex. health, gender, culture)
• sustainable development
• allows involvement of affected and interested parties in decision-making process

Question 3

What is an environmental change?

Answer 3

The difference in condition of particular enviro or socio-economic parameters that are usually measurable over time

Question 4

What is an environmental effect?

Answer 4

The difference in conditions of enviro parameters under project-induced change vs what the condition might be in the absence of the project

Question 5

What method is EIA based off of?

Answer 5

The rationalist planning model (1960s)

i) define problem
ii) set goals/objectives
iii) identify options
iv) assess options
v) implement preferred solution
vi) monitor and evaluate

not always this easy though

Question 6

What is the ultimate objective of EA?

Answer 6

• to provide decision makers with indication of likely consequences of their actions
• combines scientific data, values, knowledge, and understanding together to reach a decision

Question 7

What are the 2 different types of EA objectives?

Answer 7

1. output objectives (immediate, short term that can be audited and measured directly for the EA process)
2. outcome objectives (longer term objectives that are products of consistent EIA application, but difficult to measure and directly associate with the EA process)

Question 8

What are the origins of EA?

Answer 8

• 1960s awareness of enviro issues
• US National Enviro Policy Act (NEPA) derived to ensure projects will not have adverse enviro impacts
• early 1970s, very casual process that ignored wider impacts
• early 1980s, became more organized & introduced scoping
• up to 2000s, rapid growth of EA due to intl conferences leading to greater awareness and formation of IAIA

Question 9

What is an undertaking?

Answer 9

the proposal being examined/assessed

Question 10

What is environment defined as?

Answer 10

ecological and socio-cultural (broad term)

Question 11

What is an EIS?

Answer 11

Enviro Impact Statement is an EA report written by the proponent

Question 12

What are VECs?

Answer 12

Valued environment/ecosystem components

Question 13

What are some main EA objectives?

Answer 13

• identify/predict negative impacts of proposed project
• ensure decisions are made in full knowledge of enviro consequences
• find ways to avoid/minimize sig negative biophysical and social impacts
• identify, enhance, and create potentially positive impacts

Question 14

What are perceived EA objectives?

Answer 14

Depends on who’s looking at it.

• Resident: public relations tool used by developers to justify decisions/ ensure proponent accountability
• NGO: tool to improve stakeholder involvement in decision-making or preventing development from proceeding
• Proponent: expensive hurdle to overcome to receive project approval (earning social license to operate)

Question 15

Ea benefits?

Answer 15

• avoidance/minimization of adverse enviro effects
• opportunities for public participation and Indigenous consultation
• cost savings for proponent through early identification of unforeseen impacts
• increase in public acceptability through participation

Question 16

EA challenges?

Answer 16

• doesn’t apply to all projects
• often rushed/reactionary as its examining already selected projects
• narrow scope (fails to properly address cumulative impacts)
• poor follow-up and monitoring
• viewed solely as bureaucratic hurdle for developers
• ensuring high quality, efficient EA difficult
• difficult to balance efficiency and efficacy (effectiveness)

Question 17

What are the fundamental principles of EA?

Answer 17

• purposive: informative process
• rigorous: apply best sciences to address problem
• practical: result in helpful info outputs
• relevant: provide sufficient, reliable, and usable info
• cost-effective: achieve objectives within budget
• efficient: impose minimum cost burden
• focused: concentrate on key enviro issues
• adaptive: be adjustable to realities
• participative: provide inclusive opportunities to participate
• interdisciplinary: combination of knowledge/info
• credible: carried out professionally
• integrated: address social, economic, enviro relationships
• transparent: clear, easily understandable requiements
• systematic: fully consider all relevant info

Question 18

What is the generic order of EA?

Answer 18

1. Project description
2. Screening
3. Scoping
4. Impact prediction/evaluation
5. Impact management
6. Submission and review of EIS
7. Decision
8. Implementation and follow-up

Public consultation should occur throughout each stage

Question 19

What is project description stage?

Answer 19

Describes proposed project, alternatives, and characteristics on enviro.

• usually articulated around a need/purpose (ex. need more electricity; an alternative to meet the need would be a new dam)
• proponent will have a preferred alternative

Question 20

What is the screening stage?

Answer 20

Determines if an EA is needed and type of EA required (level of detail).
- ensures no unnecessary assessments are carried out and that developments warranting assessment are not overlooked

Question 21

What is scoping stage?

Answer 21

What will the EA address?

• looks at key issues and boundaries to consider and the baseline conditions/trends
• the outcome is the TOR (Terms of Reference) as guidance (contents of EA report)
• activities include: project alts, identifying VECs, defines boundaries, establishes baseline/trends, identifies relevant stakeholders, informs affected people of undertaking, identifies potential impacts/issues of concern, and creates TOR

Question 22

What is the impact prediction/evaluation stage?

Answer 22

Prediction/forecasting of impacts related to each alt under consideration and evaluates impact significance.
- data collection fundamental to expanding/generating baseline info

Question 23

What is the impact management stage?

Answer 23

Identification of mitigation measures and development of protection plans

Question 24

What is the submission and review of EIS stage?

Answer 24

• formal EA document produced
• technical and public review of EIS
• inform public of findings/feedback, identify errors, and check assumptions/predictions

Question 25

What is the decision stage?

Answer 25

Recommendations/decision as to whether proposed undertaking should proceed and any conditions

Question 26

What is the implementation/follow-up stage?

Answer 26

• proposed development is implemented
• follow-up verifies accuracy of impact prediction, determines effectiveness of mitigation measures, and ensures proponent complies with conditions attached to decision made
• on-going activity!

Question 27

What is the evolution of EA?

Answer 27

1st Gen: Project EIA - including social and enviro effects
2nd Gen: SEA - applies to PPP and legislation
3rd Gen: use EIA and SEA together to ensure enviro sustainability
Next Gen: towards sustainability appraisal (integrate cost assessment with sustainability factors)