Week 9: Follow-up & Monitoring and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Flashcards
1
Q
What is EA follow-up?
A
The monitoring and evaluation of the impacts of a project or plan (that has been subject to EA) fro management of, and communication about, the environmental performance of that project or plan
2
Q
What are the four elements of EA follow-up?
A
- monitoring
- evaluation
- management
- communication
3
Q
What is the monitoring element?
A
- collection of project and enviro data
- done before and after project implementation
- done to know if predictions were correct
- variety of forms that are focused on key VECs (ex. air quality monitoring)
4
Q
What is the evaluation element?
A
- appraisal of conformity and accuracy of predictions
- how well was the EA done?
- there can be 3rd party evals
5
Q
What is the management element?
A
- taking action in response to monitoring and evaluation
- panels and boards are formed - who’s going to do the FU?
- monitor impact and benefit agreements created
6
Q
What is the communication element?
A
- informing stakeholders and the public about the results of EA follow-up
- usually not done well
7
Q
What are the objectives of EA FU?
A
- Control of projects and their enviro impacts
- Promote adaptive management approach
- Improve scientific and technical knowledge
- Improve public awareness and acceptance
8
Q
Explain FU objective 1 (Control of projects and their enviro impacts)
A
EA FU provides both verifying and controlling functions for implemented projects.
- compliance audits: verifies if projects are implemented and are being operated in accordance with approval conditions
- prediction audits: compares predicted impacts with actual consequences of the project
9
Q
Explain FU objective 2 (Promote adaptive management approach)
A
- need for adaptive management in EA of uncertainties and imprecision of impact predictions (ex. only 44-56% of testable predictions are considered accurate)
- impact predictions are scientific hypotheses that need to be tested
- feedback from FU is an opportunity to respond when changes in an activity or environment warrant adaptation
10
Q
Explain FU objective 3 (Improve scientific and technical knowledge)
A
FU and its learning function:
- prediction accuracy audits improve methods and impact predictions for future projects
- monitoring programs improve understanding of cause-effect relationships
- improve quality of proposed mitigation measures
11
Q
Explain FU objective 4 (Improve public awareness and acceptance)
A
- ongoing EA FU programs improve public awareness
- increased transparency allows for gained trust, credibility, and political support as well as a legitimized decision-making process
12
Q
What is the definItion of FU programs under CEAA 2012?
A
- mandatory after all EAs
- programs are intended to verify the accuracy of the predictions regarding potential environmental effects
- to determine if mitigation measures are working as intended (effectiveness)
13
Q
What is the difference b/w compliance monitoring and FU program?
A
Compliance:
- were mitigation measures implemented?
- on its own, does not satisfy requirements of a FU program
- ex. inspection monitoring, regulatory permit monitoring, monitoring agreements
FU program:
- determines accuracy of the conclusions of the EA and the effectiveness of mitigation measures
14
Q
What is effective FU & monitoring?
A
- Objectives and priorities clearly identified
- Targeted approach to data collection (focus on most useful indicators)
- Hypothesis-based approach (specify significance and probability levels while utilizing baselines & thresholds)
- Combined stressor and effects-based monitoring (performance and magnitude of indicators)
- Control sites (reference monitoring)
- Continuity in data collection (ensures data is transferable and comparable)
- Ensuring adaptability, flexibility, and timelines
- Socioeconomic-inclusive monitoring (address wide range of factors)
- Participatory monitoring (active engagement of local community in process)
15
Q
What were the FU requirements under CEAA 1995?
A
- screening: not mandatory (RA decided)
- comprehensive study: mandatory
- review panel: mandatroy
- stated that FU results may be used for implementing adaptive management measures or for improving the quality of future EAs
16
Q
What are the FU requirements under CEAA 2012?
A
- specified factors that must be considered (created in terms of designated project - objectives are different for each EA but usually include impact prediction verification and ensuring compliance with approval conditions)
- review panel must prepare report with respect to EA that sets out their rationale, conclusions, and recommendations for mitigation & FU
17
Q
Who are the stakeholders involved in FU?
A
3 main groups:
- proponent: private company or govt
- first part FU initiated and carried out by proponent - EA regulator: govt agency
- to ensure proponents comply with EA approval conditions
- second part FU carried out by regulators - community: involves publics
- pressure from public scrutiny a driving force for proponents/regulators to implement EA FU program
- third party FU carried out or initiated by community
18
Q
What are challenges for EA FU?
A
- Deficiencies in EA reports
- vague and qualitative predictive statements (untestable - i.e. “slight reduction” or “minor effect”) - Lack of guidance
- little guidance on how to conduct EA FU - Legislative deficiencies
- few jurisdictions with formal legislative requirement for FU - Lack of financial and human resources
- FU requires considerable resources
- if an EA is done well, it transforms the EA from a static to dynamic process
19
Q
Give example of bad FU done
A
CEAA 1995: Elora well system
- comprehensive study
- EA was 118 pages but FU was only 1 page
- monitoring and reporting was only to be done for 2 years and only focused on groundwater quality and quantity impacts
20
Q
Give example of pretty good FU done
A
CEAA 1995: Ekati Diamond Mine
- conditional approval to have an indep enviro monitoring agency
- FU monitors wildlife, aquatic, and air quality effects
- agency recommends actions based on FU findings and must be responded to publicly
- agency members were majority appointed Aboriginal groups
21
Q
What does the IAIA suggest as FU best practices?
A
- determines EA outcomes
- transparency & openness
- EA should include commitment to FU
- FU should be appropriate for EA culture/societal context
- should consider cumulative effects and sustainability
- timely, adaptive, and action oriented
- proponent must accept accountability
- regulators should ensure EA is followed up
- should involve community
- all parties should cooperate openly
- promote continuous learning to improve future practices
22
Q
What are impact benefit agreements (IBAs)?
A
- mechanism to address tensions by ensuring ongoing enviro protection and sharing benefits of resource development on First Nations traditional lands (i.e. direct financial benefits, employment, economic development)
- a form of supra-regulatory agreement b/w private corporations and communities to: formalize relationships, reduce predicted impacts of development, secure economic and other benefits for affected communities
23
Q
What is the potential of IBAs?
A
Could be first step towards addressing more fundamental issues like:
- inadequate FU in EA processes
- marginalization of Aboriginal peoples from enviro management on ancestral lands
- broader social justice and Aboriginal self-govt issues
24
Q
How can IBAs address some of the key failings of EA?
A
- narrow scope and inflexible design
- exclusionary methods
- emphasizing process over product
- discretionary and short terms decisions
- token/restrictive consultation
- excludes benefits
25
What is strategic environmental assessment (SEA)?
Maria: A systematic ongoing process for evaluating at the earliest appropriate stage of publicly accountable decision-making, the enviro quality, and consequences of the alt visions and development intentions incorporated in policy, planning, program (PPP) initiatives, ensuring full integration of relevant biophysical, economic, social, and political considerations
Bob: A tool for analyses that contribute a sustainability component to existing decision making processes and, more ambitiously, as an approach to decision making at the strategic level that focuses on sustainability considerations
26
Explain the pyramid of applying SEA
If SEA is applied to policies, plans, and programs, it will improve all decisions that occur.
- apply it to policy and then domino effect will occur on other tiers
27
What are the key objectives of SEA?
- to facilitate integration of broadly environmental considerations (biophysical, economic, social, and political) into planning and decision making at the strategic level
- ensure attention to alt visions and development intentions
- provide better guidance on subsequent activities
28
How is SEA a specific corrective mechanism?
Response to limitations of project EA
- reactionary
- rushed
- narrow
- poorly integrated into broader processes
29
How is SEA a general corrective mechanism?
- response to much larger failings that threaten ecological integrity and deepen socioeconomic inequities nationally and globally
- reflects conviction that better policy-making and planning is a prereq for a shift towards sustainability
30
What are the basic forms of SEA?
- analytical technical tool used to inform otherwise conventional policy, programme, and plan development
- communication tool to bridge EA practitioners' and decision-makers' perspectives
- replacement for conventional decision-making approaches at strategic level (sustainability considerations)
31
The Canadian govt cabinet directive on EA of PPP proposals is an existing formal SEA. What are the advanced aspects of it?
Advanced:
- applies to PPPs that require Ministerial approval and have important enviro effects
- meant to help implement sustainability goals and respond to strong public concerns
- defines environment as in CEAA but also mentions optimizing positive enviro effects
- emphasizes integration of enviro considerations into overall analysis of options
- requires examination/comparison of alts
- auditing by commissioner for env and sustain. dev.
32
The Canadian govt cabinet directive on EA of PPP proposals is an existing formal SEA. What are the regrettable aspects of it?
- retains self-assessment
- sets no firm process/procedures (starts with preliminary scan, includes enviro effect analysis, effort depends on significance of case factors)
- rare, late, and vague public reporting; detailed conclusions to be reported in Cabinet submissions not accessible to public
33
Explain the lessons learned from SEA York Region example
- explicitly lining official plan, master plan, infrastructure plan, and project EIA
- transparency of planning processes and adequate public participation is critical
- exploring strategic level alts and alt technologies to avoid problems at the project level
34
What is the basic sustainability challenge?
- we're now using 120% of planet's sustainable carrying capacity for humans
- approx 40% of current human is living on less than $2/day
- gap b/w rich and poor is growing almost everywhere
35
What is sustainable development?
- meeting needs of present generation without compromising ability of future generation to meet their own needs
36
Sustainability has emerged as:
- a critique
- a set of principles implying positive objectives
- a focus on strategies for changes
37
What is the purpose of sustainability?
- provide/protect viable possibilities for future gens
- recognize the interdependence of social, economic, and ecological considerations
- reverse unsustainable trends (not just mitigation)
- respect complexity and uncertainty
- accept limits and pursue opportunities for creative innovation
38
What is the criteria for sustainability assessment (SA)?
1. socio-ecological system integrity
2. livelihood sufficiency and opportunity
3. intragenerational equity
4. intergenerational equity
5. resource maintenance and efficiency
6. socio-ecological civility and democratic governance
7. precaution and adaptation
8. immediate and long term integration
39
Explain socio-ecological system integrity requirement
Build human-ecological relations to establish and maintain long-term integrity of socio-biophysical systems and protect irreplaceable life support functions upon which human and ecological well-being depends
- understanding complex systemic implications
- need to reduce direct and indirect human threats
40
Explain livelihood sufficiency and opportunity requirement
Ensure that everyone and every community has enough for a decent life and that everyone has opportunities to seek improvements in ways that do not compromise future gens possibilities for sufficiency
- need to ensure provision of key prereqs of decent life
- need to appreciate diversity
41
Explain intragenerational equity requirement
Ensure that sufficiency and effective choices for all are pursued in ways that reduce dangerous gaps in sufficiency b/w rich and poor
- need to build sustainable livelihoods
- need to emphasize less material and energy intensive approaches
42
Explain intergenerational equity requirement
Favour present options and actions that are most likely to preserve or enhance opportunities of future gens to live sustainability
- need to return resource extraction to sustainable levels
- need to build integrity of socioecological systems
43
Explain resource maintenance and efficiency requirement
Provide a larger base for ensuring sustainable livelihoods for all while reducing threats to long term integrity of socioecological systems by reducing extractive damage, avoiding waste, and cutting overall material and energy use per unit of benefit
- need to do more with less
44
Explain socio-ecological civility and democratic governance requirement
Build capacity and motivation of individuals and communities to apply sust requirements through more open and informed deliberations, greater attention to fostering reciprocal awareness
- need to mobilize participants
- need to strengthen understanding of socioecological systems
45
Explain precaution and adaptation requirement
Respect uncertainty, avoid poorly understood risks of serious damage; plant to learn, design for surprise, manage for adaptation
- need to act on incomplete info
- ensure availability and practicality of alts
46
Explain immediate and long term integration requirement
Apply all principles of sustainability at once, seeking mutually supportive benefits and multiple gains
- need positive steps in all areas
- need to resist convenient immediate compromises
47
What are the SA trade-off rules?
- max net gains
- burden of argument on trade-off proponent
- avoidance of significant adverse effects
- protection of future
- explicit justification
- open process
