Lecture 6

Question 1

Probability and Acceptance of Risk

Answer 1

• Risk-based principles may be used to establish ‘rules of thumb’ for the acceptability of effects.
• statistical threshold of significance may be established to define an acceptable incidence
  e.g. disease per million people exposed to a specified hazard in case of carcinogenic chemical.
• This approach is often controversial. It is important to document why and how the level and
  acceptability of risk has been determined.
• A risk-based approach can be useful to address the significance of cumulative effects and ecosystem
  level changes.
• Quantitative risk assessment will not be possible because of lack of knowledge of the variability of
  natural systems.
• Qualitative rules of thumb may be set for cumulative loss or change.
  e.g. limiting drainage of wetlands to no more than 25 per cent of the area.

Question 2

Fairness of EIA

Answer 2

• There are a number of specific measures that can help to make the EIA process transparent,
  accessible and accountable to the public.
  ✔ requiring the proponent to register all consultants, their expertise and responsibilities with the
  administering agency;
  ✔ publishing these details in the terms of reference and the EIA report;
  ✔ making all EIA documents and reports available to the public; and
  ✔ publishing reasons for decisions – screening and final approvals – together with requirements
  and terms and conditions for mitigation and environmental management plans.

Question 3

EIA report

Answer 3

• Also known as Environmental impact statement (EIS) and environmental statement (ES)
• EIA reports have the same basic purpose, approach and structure.
• Proponent is responsible for the preparation of the EIA report.
• report should meet the terms of reference.
• the proponent is to implement the proposal in an environmentally and socially responsible way.
• the responsible authority should make an informed decision on the proposal, including the terms and
  conditions that must be attached to an approval or authorization.
• the public should understand the proposal and its likely impacts on people and the environment.
• Should be actionable – a document that can be applied by the proponent to achieve environmentally
  sound planning and design;
• decision-relevant – a document that organizes and presents the information necessary for project
  authorisation and, if applicable, permitting and licensing; and
• user-friendly – a document that communicates the technical issues to all parties in a clear and
  comprehensible way

Question 4

EIA report typically includes

Answer 4

• executive or non-technical summary (which may be used as a public communication
  document);
• statement of the need for, and objectives of, the proposal;
• reference to applicable legislative, regulatory and policy frameworks;
• description of the proposal and how it will be implemented (construction, operation and
  decommissioning);
• comparison of the proposal and the alternatives to it (including the no action alternative);
• description of the project setting, including the relationship to other proposals, current
  land-uses and relevant policies and plans for the area;
• description of baseline conditions and trends (biophysical, socioeconomic etc), identifying
  any changes anticipated prior to project implementation;

Question 5

EIA report typically includes
part 2

Answer 5

• review of the public consultation process, the views and concerns expressed by
  stakeholders and the way these have been taken into account;
• consideration of the main impacts (positive and adverse) that are identified as likely to result
  from the proposal, their predicted characteristics (e.g. magnitude, occurrence, timing, etc.)
  proposed mitigation measures, the residual effects and any uncertainties and limitations of
  data and analysis;
• evaluation of the significance of the residual impacts, preferably for each alternative, with an
  identification of the best practicable environmental option;
• an environmental management plan that identifies how proposed mitigation and monitoring
  measures will be translated into specific actions as part of impact management*; and
• appendices containing supporting technical information, description of methods used to
  collect and analyse data, list of references, etc.

Question 6

Executive summary

Answer 6

• the proposal and its setting;
• the terms of reference for the EIA;
• the results of public consultation;
• the alternatives considered;
• major impacts and their significance;
• proposed mitigation measures;
• the environmental management plan; and
• any other critical matters that bear on the decision.

Question 7

Description of the proposal and its alternatives

Answer 7

• Includes main activities that will take place during project construction, operation and
  decommissioning.
• the project setting and the major on-site and off-site features (e.g. access roads, power and
  water supply, etc.);
• resource use, raw material inputs and emission and waste discharges;
  operational characteristics, processes and products;
• the relationship of the technical, economic, social and environmental features of the
  proposal; and
• comparison of alternatives and options (such as size, location, technology, layout, energy
  sources, source of raw materials) within the above context.

Question 8

Description of the affected environment

Answer 8

• A concise description is needed of the biophysical and socio-economic conditions of the
  affected environment.
• Current land use and other proposed development activities within the project area should
  also be taken into account.
• Baseline information is often covered in too much detail in an EIA report. It should provide
  only the necessary background and baseline to understand impact predictions.
  spatial and temporal boundaries;
  biophysical, land use and socio-economic conditions;
  major trends and anticipated future conditions should the proposal not go ahead; and
  environmentally-sensitive areas and valued resources that may need special protection.

Question 9

Public consultation and inputs

Answer 9

• Depending on the provision made for public consultation, some or all of the following points
  can be included:
• identification of the interested and affected public;
• the method(s) used to inform and involve stakeholders;
• analysis of the views and concerns expressed;
• how these have been taken into account; and
• outstanding issues and matters that need to be resolved.

Question 10

Environmental impacts and their evaluation

Answer 10

• prediction of each major impact, its characteristics and likely consequences;
• consideration of their compliance with environmental standards and policy objectives;
• recommended measures for avoiding, minimizing and remedying the impact;
• evaluation of significance of the residual impacts (stating the standards or criteria used); and
• limitations associated with impact prediction and evaluation, as indicated by the
  assumptions made, gaps in knowledge and uncertainties encountered.

Question 11

Forms of presentation of EIA report

Answer 11

• EIA report should be accessible to all those who have an interest in, or are affected by the
  proposal.
• use of local media, radio and television;
• community report back;
• newsletters, information sheets;
• walk-in and storefront displays; and
• feedback through political representatives, local chiefs or other power structures, as appropriate