Principles of EIA

Question 1

What can EIA do?

Answer 1

• modify and improve design
• ensure efficient resource use
• enhance social aspects
• identify key impacts and measures for mitigating them
• inform decision-making and condition-setting
• avoid. serious and irreversible damage to the environment
• protect human health and safety

Question 2

In terms of integration within EIA, the EIA process addresses the following impacts:

Answer 2

• biophysical and resource use
• social and cultural
• health and safety
• economic and fiscal
• landscape and visual
• indigenous peoples rights and traditional areas

Question 3

Core Values

Answer 3

Integrity - EIA process should meet local and international and requirements

Utility - EIA process should provide information relevant for decision making

Sustainability - EIA process should aim to mitigate serious adverse effects and avoid irreversible losses.

Question 4

Guiding Principles of EIA (criteria for a good EIA should tick all these boxes)

Answer 4

• purposive
• rigorous
• practical
• relevant
• cost-effective
• efficient
• focused
• adaptive
• participative
• interdisciplinary
• credible
• integrated
• transparent
• systematic

Question 5

Purposive

Answer 5

The process should inform decision making and result in appropriate levels of environmental protection and community well-being

Question 6

Rigorous

Answer 6

the process should apply “best practicable” science, employing methodologies and techniques appropriate to address the problems being investigated.

Question 7

Practical

Answer 7

The process should result in information and outputs which assist with problem solving and are acceptable to and able to be implemented by proponents.

Question 8

Relevant

Answer 8

The process should provide sufficient, reliable and usable information for development planning and decision making. (only consider info that is important to the thing you’re looking at)

Question 9

Cost-effective

Answer 9

The process should achieve the objectives of EIA within the limits of available information, time, resources and methodology

Question 10

Efficient

Answer 10

The process should impose the minimum cost burdens in terms of time and finance on proponents and participants consistent with meeting accepted requirements and objectives of EIA.

Question 11

Focused

Answer 11

The process should concentrate on significant environmental effects and key issues; i.e., the matters that need to be taken into account in making decisions

Question 12

Adaptive

Answer 12

The process should be adjusted to the realities, issues and circumstances of the proposals under review without compromising the integrity of the process, and be iterative, incorporating lessons learned throughout the proposal’s life cycle.

Don’t just use a ready-made approach, circumstances will be different per project.

Question 13

Participative

Answer 13

The process should provide appropriate opportunities to inform and involve the interested and affected publics, and their inputs and concerns should be addressed explicitly in the documentation and decision making.

Appropriate opportunities for public inputs and concerns to be addressed explicitly in documentation and decision making

Question 14

Interdisciplinary

Answer 14

The process should ensure that the appropriate techniques and experts in the relevant bio-physical and socio-economic disciplines are employed, including use of traditional knowledge as relevant.

Question 15

Credible

Answer 15

The process should be carried out with professionalism, rigor, fairness, objectivity, impartiality and balance, and be subject to independent checks and verification.

Question 16

Integrated

Answer 16

The process should address the interrelationships of social, economic and biophysical aspects.

Question 17

Transparent

Answer 17

The process should have clear, easily understood requirements for EIA content; ensure public access to information; identify the factors that are to be taken into account in decision making; and acknowledge limitations and difficulties.

Question 18

Systematic

Answer 18

The process should result in full consideration of all relevant information on the affected environment, of proposed alternatives and their impacts, and of the measures necessary to monitor and investigate residual effects.

Question 19

EIA Benefits

Answer 19

• Better environmental planning and design of a proposal
• Ensuring compliance with environmental standards
• Reduced time and costs of approvals of development applications
• Savings in capital and operational costs
• increased project acceptance by the public

Question 20

General Steps in the EIA process

Answer 20

• screening
• scoping
• impact assessment and mitigation
• impact management
• the EIA report
• review and licensing
• monitoring

Question 21

Screening

Answer 21

The purpose of screening is to determine:
- wether or not a proposal requires an EIA
- what level of EIA is required

Outcomes of screening:
- Full EIA, Limited, or No further EIA required

Question 22

What are typical projects that might require an EIA

Answer 22

dams and reservoirs, (re)settlement and urban development, infrastructure, industrial facilities, energy and mineral extraction, waste management, energy development.

Question 23

What. is some useful information for decision makers during screening?

Answer 23

– description of the proposal
– conditions and characteristics of the environment
– applicable policy planning and regulatory objectives
– identification of potential impacts
– degree of public concern and interest

Question 24

What is EIA Scoping

Answer 24

• lays the foundation of an EIA
• Identifies important issues and factors
• meaningful public engagement
• determining appropriate boundaries (time, space, legal)

Question 25

What are key objectives of scoping?

Answer 25

– inform and identify stakeholders
– find out their concerns
– consider feasible and practical alternatives
– identify the main issues and impacts to be studied
– define the boundaries of the EIA study
– agree on means of public involvement

Question 26

What does the impact analysis or detailed study phase of EIA involve?

Answer 26

– identifying the impacts more specifically
– predicting the characteristics of the main impacts
– evaluating the significance of the residual impact

Question 27

Mitigation

Answer 27

Finding better alternatives and ways of doing things;
enhancing the environmental and social benefits of a proposal; avoiding, minimising or remedy adverse impacts

Question 28

The characteristics of environmental impacts vary based on:

Answer 28

nature, magnitude, extent/location, timing, duration, reversibility/irreversibility, likelihood, significance.

Question 29

Impacts are likely to be significant if they

Answer 29

– are extensive over space or time
– are intensive in concentration or in relation to assimilative capacity
– exceed environmental standards or thresholds
– do not comply with environmental policies/ land use plans
– affect ecological sensitive areas and heritage resources
– affect community lifestyle, traditional land uses and values

Question 30

What are the objectives of impact management?

Answer 30

– ensure that mitigation measures are implemented;
– establish systems and procedures for this purpose;
– monitor the effectiveness of mitigation measures;
– take any necessary action when unforeseen impacts occur

Question 31

What are principles of mitigation

Answer 31

– give preference to avoid and prevent measures
– consider feasible alternatives to the proposal
– identify customised measures to minimise each major impact
– ensure they are appropriate and cost-effective

Question 32

What should environmental management plans contain?

Answer 32

– summary of impacts
– recommended mitigation measures
– statement of compliance with standards
– allocation of resources and responsibilities
– schedule of required actions
– surveillance, monitoring and auditing programmes

Question 33

The EIA report is a statement that assists…

Answer 33

– the proponent to plan and design
– the responsible authority to decide
– the public to understand

Question 34

A successful EIA report will be

Answer 34

– actionable - by the proponent
– decision-relevant - to the responsible authority
– user-friendly - for the public

Question 35

What are the main elements of an EIA report

Answer 35

– executive summary
– need for and aims of the proposal
– description of proposal and alternatives
– description of affected environment and community
– public consultation and views
– main impacts and their mitigation
– evaluation of significant residual impacts
– environmental management plan

Question 36

What are common shortcomings in an EIA

Answer 36

– alternatives do not account for the environment
– key problems not described
– sensitive elements in environment overlooked
– best alternative not described (or insufficiently described)
– serious impacts not mentioned or not correctly
described
– impacts not compared with standards or targets
– appropriate mitigation measures not considered

Question 37

Purpose and objectives of review

Answer 37

The purpose of the review process is to establish if the information in an EIA report is sufficient for decision-making

Key objectives are to:
– review the quality of the EIA report
– take account of public comment
– determine if the information is sufficient
– identify any deficiencies to be corrected.

Question 38

Purpose of monitoring

Answer 38

Provides data on the impacts of the Project for the whole Project lifecycle. Regular monitoring of indicators. Ensures fulfilment of commitments made in approved EIA.

Question 39

What is a AEE

Answer 39

similar to EIA, looks at effects rather then impacts (RMA), tied closely to RMA and local guidelines.