environmental impact assessment - university of …rmcbride/eia slides/eia 1 slides_student...

ENVIRONMENTALIMPACT

ASSESSMENT

SOIL*3050 SOIL*3100

- Integrallandevaluation EIA

(+NRMFieldCamp)

- CLI- LASTAN

- Aggregates - Wetlands- Forestry- Agriculture

Level Activity

1o “baseline” inventories of selected environmentalattributes existing prior to a proposed project

2o prediction of anticipated impact magnitude onkey ecosystem components (simulation modelling, etc.)

3o assessment of impact significance(biophysical, social/cultural, etc.)

4o legislated EIA policy/process withaccompanying regulations

Historical Perspective19601960’’s Conservation Movements Conservation MovementNational Environmental Policy Act (1969) National Environmental Policy Act (1969) in U.S.in U.S.

comprehensive coverage of all aspectscomprehensive coverage of all aspectsof the environmentof the environment5 goals had sweeping influence on U.S.5 goals had sweeping influence on U.S.plans, programs and policiesplans, programs and policiesresearch was major strategy research was major strategy for achievementfor achievement

N.E.P.A. (1969) GoalsProtect environment for future generationsProtect environment for future generationsAssure safe, healthful, productive, Assure safe, healthful, productive, aesthetically and culturally pleasing aesthetically and culturally pleasing surroundingssurroundingsAttain widest range of beneficial uses of the Attain widest range of beneficial uses of the environment without degradation,environment without degradation,risk to health or safety, or other risk to health or safety, or other undesirable or unintendedundesirable or unintendedconsequencesconsequences

N.E.P.A. (1969) GoalsPreserve important historic, cultural and Preserve important historic, cultural and natural aspects of national heritage; natural aspects of national heritage; maintain environmental diversity, and maintain environmental diversity, and variety of individual choicevariety of individual choiceEnhance quality of renewable resources, Enhance quality of renewable resources, recyclerecycle depletabledepletable resourcesresources

““Federal plans , programs and policies Federal plans , programs and policies should be consistent with these goalsshould be consistent with these goals””

Canada followed American lead in Canada followed American lead in December, 1973December, 1973

FederalFederal EnvEnv. Assessment Review Process. Assessment Review Process(F.E.A.R.P.) implemented by cabinet decision(F.E.A.R.P.) implemented by cabinet decision

Ontario Environmental Assessment Act Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (1975) (1975)

Milestones in EIA (Canada)Department of Environment created Department of Environment created (1971)(1971)F.E.A.R.P. implemented (1973)F.E.A.R.P. implemented (1973)C.E.A. Act tabled in parliament (1990)C.E.A. Act tabled in parliament (1990)C.E.A. Act proclaimed (1995) C.E.A. Act proclaimed (1995)

Terminology (C.E.A. Act)Environmental EffectEnvironmental Effect““any effect or change that a project may any effect or change that a project may cause in the environmentcause in the environment””

Environmental ImpactEnvironmental Impact““the the sumsum of the effects or changes that a of the effects or changes that a project may cause in the environmentproject may cause in the environment””

Impact = Sum of effects or changes

Environmental Impact AssessmentEnvironmental Impact Assessment““the process of identifying, predicting, the process of identifying, predicting, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, evaluating and mitigating the biophysical, social and other relevant effects of social and other relevant effects of proposed projects and physical activities proposed projects and physical activities prior to making major decisions and prior to making major decisions and commitmentscommitments””

Purpose of E.I.A. ProcessPurpose of E.I.A. Processto facilitate sound, interdisciplinary decisionto facilitate sound, interdisciplinary decision--making in which environmental considerations making in which environmental considerations are explicitly includedare explicitly includedto consider environmental implications at the to consider environmental implications at the earliest stage of project planningearliest stage of project planningto achieve or support the ultimate goals of to achieve or support the ultimate goals of environmental protection and sustainable environmental protection and sustainable development development

ActionAction““any policy, legislation, or physical any policy, legislation, or physical development with environmental development with environmental implicationsimplications””

ProponentProponent““a person, body, federal authority or a person, body, federal authority or government which intends to undertake government which intends to undertake an action having potential environmental an action having potential environmental effectseffects””

Environmental Impact Statement Environmental Impact Statement (general)(general)

““a report that summarizes the anticipated a report that summarizes the anticipated environmental impact of an action, environmental impact of an action, including the nonincluding the non--action stateaction state””

the future without the the future without the ““actionaction”” is notis notalways equivalent to the presentalways equivalent to the presentenvironmental conditions environmental conditions

Environmental Impact StatementEnvironmental Impact Statement(C.E.A. Act)(C.E.A. Act)

““the report prepared for panel review the report prepared for panel review projects following guidelines established projects following guidelines established by the panelby the panel””

Federal AuthorityFederal Authority““a Minister of the Crown or agency of the a Minister of the Crown or agency of the federal governmentfederal government””

Responsible AuthorityResponsible Authority““a federal authority that is responsible for a federal authority that is responsible for ensuring that an environmental impact ensuring that an environmental impact assessment is carried out in compliance assessment is carried out in compliance with the C.E.A. Actwith the C.E.A. Act””

““TriggersTriggers”” of the Federal E.I.A. Processof the Federal E.I.A. ProcessWhen a federal authorityWhen a federal authority…………....is the proponent of a projectis the proponent of a projectprovides financial assistance to a projectprovides financial assistance to a projectsells, leases or otherwise disposes of land to enable sells, leases or otherwise disposes of land to enable a project to proceeda project to proceedexercises a regulatory duty with respect to the exercises a regulatory duty with respect to the project (i.e., issues a license, permitproject (i.e., issues a license, permitor approval)or approval)

Norman Wells Oilfieldand Pipeline Development(Panel Report 1981)

HiberniaOffshoreOilfieldDevelopment

(Panel Report1985)

Northumberland Strait Crossing Development[Confederation Bridge] (Panel Report 1990)

Voisey’s Bay Mineand Mill Development(Panel Report 1999)

Millennium Natural GasPipeline Project[Canadian segment](Panel Report ??)

E.I.A. Processes

CANADA ONTARIOCANADA ONTARIO

Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch

E.I.A. Methodology(Generalized)

FactionsFactionsproponent practitioner politicianproponent practitioner politician(cost (scientific (social and(cost (scientific (social andeffectiveness) merit) political effectiveness) merit) political

acceptaacceptability)bility)

10-Year Review of FEARP (1973-1983)

ReRe--evaluation of existing methods within theevaluation of existing methods within thecontext of a scientific, ecological frameworkcontext of a scientific, ecological framework((BeanlandsBeanlands && DuinkerDuinker, 1983), 1983)

FILMJames Bay HydroJames Bay Hydro--electricelectric

Power DevelopmentPower Development

James Bay HydroJames Bay Hydro--electricelectricPower DevelopmentPower Development

Assessment MethodsAssessment Methods

Assessment MethodsI. Identification of ImpactsI. Identification of Impacts

socialsocial scopingscopingecologicalecological scopingscopingecological characterizationecological characterization

II. Measurement/Prediction of Impact MagnitudesII. Measurement/Prediction of Impact MagnitudesIII. Assessment of Impact SignificanceIII. Assessment of Impact SignificanceIV. CommunicationIV. Communication

Social Scopingidentifies identifies ““Valued Ecosystem ComponentsValued Ecosystem Components””(V.E.C.(V.E.C.’’s s -- ““the attributes or components of the attributes or components of the environment for which there is public or the environment for which there is public or professional concernprofessional concern””))public hearings, questionnaires, mediapublic hearings, questionnaires, mediainteraction matricesinteraction matrices((““checklistingchecklisting””, , ““screeningscreening””))

Leopold Matrix

Aldo Leopold and family

Luna

Aldo

Leopold Matrix

cause and effect interactionscause and effect interactions

100 actions causing environmental impact

88existingenvironmentalconditionsthatmightbe affected

Leopold MatrixLeopold Matrix

Impact magnitude

Impact significance

73

+5+3

+2+2

36

104

54

12

1 9

98

33

2 8

66

Ordinal ratings (scaling)

Ordinal scalingnumerical ranking with respect to a numerical ranking with respect to a propertypropertyno consideration of absolute interval no consideration of absolute interval between each rank or the zero point on the between each rank or the zero point on the scalescalecannot perform arithmeticcannot perform arithmeticmanipulationsmanipulations

ordinal magnitude/importance rankings ordinal magnitude/importance rankings frequently manipulated arithmeticallyfrequently manipulated arithmeticallyseparate matrices required for each alternative separate matrices required for each alternative project designproject designtoo comprehensive (too comprehensive (““shotgunshotgun”” approach)approach)doubledouble--counting of impactscounting of impactsincorrectly regarded as anincorrectly regarded as anallall--inclusive EIA methodinclusive EIA method

Shortcomings (Leopold Matrix)

Sorensen Matrix

causecause--conditioncondition--effect interactionseffect interactions

Sorensen MatrixSorensen Matrix

x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x

x x x x x x x x x x x xx x x x x x

x x x x x x

x x x x x x x x x x x x

x x x x x x

Uses

CausalFactors

InitialConditions

‘Stepped Matrix’

x x x x x x

x x x x x x

x x x x x x

x x x x x x

x x x x x x

ConsequentConditions x x x x x x

x x x x x x

x x x x x xx x x x x x

x x x x x xx x x x x xx x x x x x

x x x x x x

x x x x x xx x x x x x

UltimateEffects

‘Multiple Effect Network’ C CO OR NR TE RC OT LIV + ME E

CA HC AT NI IO SN MS S

Advantages over Leopold Matrix

not numerical (no value judgements or improper not numerical (no value judgements or improper arithmetic operations)arithmetic operations)one matrix handles all project alternativesone matrix handles all project alternativesless tendency toward less tendency toward ““shotgunshotgun”” identificationidentificationless chance of doubleless chance of double--counting impactscounting impactslogical arrangement of impacts for ecologicallogical arrangement of impacts for ecologicalscopingscoping and baseline study formulationand baseline study formulation

Ecological Scoping

““exploration of the possibilities for exploration of the possibilities for studying or predicting the effects of a studying or predicting the effects of a planned action on the valued ecosystem planned action on the valued ecosystem componentscomponents””

Study Strategy Study TacticsStudy Strategy Study Tacticstemporal and spatial field inventories,temporal and spatial field inventories,boundaries pilot perturbationboundaries pilot perturbation

administrative experimentsadministrative experimentsprojectprojectecologicalecologicaltechnicaltechnical

Ecological Characterizationapplication of application of ““systems thinkingsystems thinking””relationship of valued ecosystem relationship of valued ecosystem components to the entire ecosystem components to the entire ecosystem structure and functionstructure and functionprecursor to ecological simulation precursor to ecological simulation modelling modelling

Assessment MethodsI. Identification of ImpactsI. Identification of ImpactsII. Measurement/Prediction of Impact MagnitudesII. Measurement/Prediction of Impact Magnitudes

baseline studiesbaseline studiesimpact magnitude predictionimpact magnitude prediction

III. Assessment of Impact SignificanceIII. Assessment of Impact SignificanceIV. CommunicationIV. Communication

Baseline Studies

““quantitative description of selected quantitative description of selected environmental attributes existing prior to environmental attributes existing prior to development against which subsequent development against which subsequent changes can be predicted, or measured, changes can be predicted, or measured, through monitoringthrough monitoring””

Assessment MethodsI. Identification of ImpactsI. Identification of ImpactsII. Measurement/Prediction of Impact MagnitudesII. Measurement/Prediction of Impact Magnitudes

baseline studiesbaseline studiesimpact magnitude predictionimpact magnitude prediction

III. Assessment of Impact SignificanceIII. Assessment of Impact SignificanceIV. CommunicationIV. Communication

Impact Magnitude Prediction

““process of predicting the magnitude of process of predicting the magnitude of changes from the inventoried baseline changes from the inventoried baseline conditionsconditions””3 types of predictions3 types of predictions

Impact Magnitude Prediction1. firm predictions based on accepted1. firm predictions based on accepted

scientific principlesscientific principlesA) Impact MultipliersA) Impact Multipliers

““per unit impact estimates for each V.E.C.per unit impact estimates for each V.E.C.and each activity involved in theand each activity involved in theproposed actionproposed action””

Example:land use conversion from land use conversion from wooded land to residential wooded land to residential housinghousing(per unit area impact multiplier)(per unit area impact multiplier)

AVERAGE AVERAGEANNUAL ANNUALRESIDENTIAL WOODLAND IMPACT

POLLUTANT LOADING LOADING MULTIPLIER

(kg/ha/yr) (kg/ha/yr) (kg/ha/yr)

Sediment 180 67 113

N 6.50 0.50 6.00

P 0.70 0.16 0.54


1. firm predictions based on accepted1. firm predictions based on acceptedscientific principlesscientific principles

B) Computer SimulationB) Computer Simulation ModellingModellingprocessprocess--based based modellingmodelling is far ahead ofis far ahead ofecological effect ecological effect modellingmodelling in reliabilityin reliability

Canadian Nuclear Fuel Waste Management Program

DeepGeologic Disposal(Rock Vault)

Impact Magnitude Prediction2. forecasts based on:2. forecasts based on:

experience (similar projects elsewhere experience (similar projects elsewhere under comparable conditions)under comparable conditions)


experience (similar projects elsewhere experience (similar projects elsewhere under comparable conditions)under comparable conditions)empirical experimentation (pilotempirical experimentation (pilot--scale scale perturbation experiments in the field)perturbation experiments in the field)


experience (similar projects elsewhere experience (similar projects elsewhere under comparable conditions)under comparable conditions)empirical experimentation (pilotempirical experimentation (pilot--scale scale perturbation experiments in the field)perturbation experiments in the field)professional judgement (professional judgement (““expert opinionexpert opinion””))

Delphi TechniqueDelphi Technique

Delphi Technique““a means of accessing expert opinion and a means of accessing expert opinion and evaluating incomplete information in that it evaluating incomplete information in that it systematically solicits the advice of a systematically solicits the advice of a number of experts and forges a consensus number of experts and forges a consensus from that advicefrom that advice””

Steps:establish establish ““monitor teammonitor team”” (2(2--3 people)3 people)identify identify ““expert panelexpert panel”” (8(8--10 people)10 people)administer questionnaire #1administer questionnaire #1collate responses, draft questionnaire #2collate responses, draft questionnaire #2administer questionnaire #2 (iterate if necessary)administer questionnaire #2 (iterate if necessary)summarize consensussummarize consensususe information to solve EIA problemuse information to solve EIA problem


experience (similar projects elsewhere experience (similar projects elsewhere under comparable conditions)under comparable conditions)empirical experimentation (pilotempirical experimentation (pilot--scale scale perturbation experiments in the field)perturbation experiments in the field)professional judgement (professional judgement (““expert opinionexpert opinion””))

Delphi TechniqueDelphi TechniqueNominal Group TechniqueNominal Group TechniqueRetaining Consultant(s)Retaining Consultant(s)


3. outright guesswork3. outright guessworkmonitoring used as a substitute for monitoring used as a substitute for predictionprediction

FILMBioremediation of Contaminated SoilBioremediation of Contaminated Soil

Assessment MethodsI. Identification of ImpactsI. Identification of ImpactsII. Measurement/Prediction of Impact MagnitudesII. Measurement/Prediction of Impact MagnitudesIII. Assessment of Impact SignificanceIII. Assessment of Impact Significance

impact significance assessmentimpact significance assessmentproject implementationproject implementationcontinuing monitoring programcontinuing monitoring program

IV. CommunicationIV. Communication

Impact Significance Assessmentweakest linkweakest link(subjective value judgement)(subjective value judgement)most important stagemost important stage(project alternative comparison, approval)(project alternative comparison, approval)

““a significant impact is one where a significant impact is one where anticipated future conditions, environmental anticipated future conditions, environmental or social, resulting from a proposed action or social, resulting from a proposed action differ from those otherwise expected from differ from those otherwise expected from normal change, and where this anticipation normal change, and where this anticipation raises serious concerns among a raises serious concerns among a professional or lay section ofprofessional or lay section ofthe Canadian publicthe Canadian public””

CONCERN ISSUE IMPACTCONCERN ISSUE IMPACTSTAGE STAGE STAGESTAGE STAGE STAGE

4 perspectives on impact significance:4 perspectives on impact significance:statisticalstatisticalecologicalecologicalprojectprojectsocial/culturalsocial/cultural

Social/Cultural Impact(Archaeology)

Methods of Significance Assessmentimportance of the environmental attribute in importance of the environmental attribute in question to project decisionquestion to project decision--makersmakers

has bearing on project planninghas bearing on project planningissue in public forumissue in public forum

distribution of V.E.C. changedistribution of V.E.C. changein time and spacein time and space

magnitude of changemagnitude of change““stability envelopesstability envelopes””““set valuesset values””supply or abundance of V.E.C.supply or abundance of V.E.C.

reliability with which change hasreliability with which change hasbeen predicted or measuredbeen predicted or measured

significant until proven significant until proven otherwiseotherwise

Project Implementationmonitoringmonitoring““the repetitive, periodic measurementthe repetitive, periodic measurementof environmental variables during andof environmental variables during andafter a development proposalafter a development proposalhas been implementedhas been implemented””

Continuing Monitoring Programtest prediction accuracytest prediction accuracytest effectiveness oftest effectiveness ofmitigation measuresmitigation measures

Assessment MethodsI. Identification of ImpactsI. Identification of ImpactsII. Measurement/Prediction of Impact MagnitudesII. Measurement/Prediction of Impact MagnitudesIII. Assessment of Impact SignificanceIII. Assessment of Impact SignificanceIV. CommunicationIV. Communication

Communication

early and broad role of environmental early and broad role of environmental specialists and general public in E.I.A. specialists and general public in E.I.A. processprocessclear, intelligible clear, intelligible EnvEnv. Impact Statement . Impact Statement reportsreports

Waste Management and Environmental Assessment

soil bioremediation on contaminated sitessoil bioremediation on contaminated sitestreatment of hazardous industrial wastestreatment of hazardous industrial wastesdisposal of municipal sewage and solid disposal of municipal sewage and solid wasteswastesenvironmental site assessmentsenvironmental site assessments(Phases 1(Phases 1--3)3)

FILM““Waste not, want notWaste not, want not””

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