Introduction to Environmental Assessment

Based of Bram F. Noble textbook, fourth edition

Environmental Impact Assessment

A process used to predict the environmental consequences of a plan, policy, program or project prior to the decision to move forward with the proposed action.

Environmental Change

The difference in the condition of a particular element over a period of time.

Environmental Effect

The difference in the condition of a particular element under project-induced change versus what that condition might be in the absence of the project.

Steps in the EIA process

1. Pre-Project Planning
2. Project description
3. Screening
4. Scoping and baseline assessment
5. Impact assessment
6. Identifying strategies for managing impacts
7. Significance determination
8. Submission and reviews of the EIS
9. Recomendations and decision statement
10. Implementation and follow up programs

Impact Prediction

The identification of potential changes in the environment which requires a knowledge of the baseline conditions

Screening

The narrowing of the application of EA to projects that require assessment because of the potential for adverse effects or because EA is required by way of certain regulations

Three approaches to screening

1. Case-by-Case approach
2. List-based approach
3. Hybrid approach

List-based approach

Relies on a project list delineating which projects require an EIA based on thresholds or project type

Precautionary Principle

States that a lack of information on the project's impact should not be an excuse to approve the activity and avoid an EIA.

Scoping

Determining the issues and parameters that should be addressed in EA, establishing the spatial and temporal boundaries of the assessment, and focusing the assessment on the relevant issues and concerns

Valued Components (VCs)

Aspects of the environment, physical and human, that people value and that are considered important from scientists and public perspectives, thus warranting detailed consideration in the EIA.

How do we measure variation in VEC?

* Identification of indicators
* Establishing VEC objectives using benchmarks, points of reference, or threshold, limit to change accepted;

Impact management

The phase that follows the identification of environmental effects. Translates those findings into recommendations to enhance positive outcomes.

Impact Management Hierarchy

The adequacy of impact management strategies in EA depends on their success in reducing the significant, risk or severity of adverse effects

Accuracy

The closeness of a predicted value to its true value.

Precision

The level of exactness assocated with an impact prediction

Determine impact significance

The importance or value if the affected component is usually based on societal, ecological, economic, and political values or level of public concerns.

Duty to consult

The formal, legal obligation for the government to consult with any Indigenous peoples. Cannot be wholly delegated to other parties, such as a project proponent

Public participation

The involvement of individuals and groups that are positively and negatively affected by a project that is subject to a decision-making process.

3 elements of follow-up programs

1. Monitoring
2. Auditing
3. Ex-post evaluation

Environmental Impact Statement

Describes the proposed undertaking, the affected environment, likely impacts, and actions to manage and monitor those impacts

Berger Inquiry of 1974

Shaped expectations about how EIA should engage with communities and Indigenous peoples, began the conversation on how to incorporate Indigenous knowledge systems into EIA

Alternatives to a project

Functionally different ways of meeting the need and purpose of the described project, including the option of no project

Alternative means

Different options for carrying out a project when it has been accepted that the proposed project is the most suitable alternative to meet the need or opportunity at hand

Peterson Matrix

One of the several methods for comparing/evaluating alternatives

Screening

Ensures that no unnecessary assessments are carried out but that developments warranting assessment are not overlooked

Physical Activities Regulations

Defines those projects for which an EA is required under the IAA (Designated activities)

Terms of Reference

Provide a roadmap for project proponents , outlining the minimum requirements that must be met when preparing the EIS

Precautionary Principle

Suggests that when scientific information is incomplete but there is a threat of adverse impacts, the lack of full certainty should not be used as a reason to preclude or to postpone actions to prevent harm

Environmental baseline

Considers the past, present, and possible future state of the environment without the proposed project or activity

Baseline study

The identification and analysis of conditions over space and time for the purpose of delineating change, trends, patterns, or limits to assist in impact assessment, impact evaluation, and impact monitoring activities

Impact Matrices

Two-dimensional checklists that consist of project activities on one axis and potentially affected VCs on the other

Advantage of the Leopold Matrix

Can be easily expanded or contracted based on the specific project and environmental context

VC indicators

Important to understanding and tracking actual change in VC conditions and to provide early warning to potential adverse effects

Condition-based indicators

Indicators that provide direct, measurable information about the condition or state of the VC

Stress-based indicators

Indicators that focus on measurable stress or disturbances that affect the VC

Cautionary Threshold

Increased monitoring of VC or indicator conditions and implementation of best-management practices to prevent any further adverse change

Target threshold

Typically political or socially defined - a margin of safety and a mandatory tigger for management action

Critical threshold

Defines maximum acceptable change, socially or ecologically, beyond which impacts may be long-term or irreparable

Basic principles for Spatial Bounding

* Boundaries must be large enough to include relationships between the proposed project, other existing projects and activities, and the VCs
* Natural boundaries should be respected
* Different receptors will require assessment at different scales
* Both local and regional boundaries should. be established

Temporal bounding

Involves the consideration of previous and current activities in the project’s region affecting environmental condition and the reasonably foreseeable activities

Cumulative impacts

The total effect of all activities in an area, accumulating over time and across space, combined with larger-scale stress caused by climate change and transboundary effects acting on a single VC

Measures that can address uncertainty in impact prediction

* Probability analysis
* Sensitivity analysis
* Confirmatory analysis
* Uncertainty disclosure

Uncertainty disclosure

Requires that practitioners disclose their assumptions and uncertainties about impact prediction

Uncertainty Matrix

Can be used by practitioners to help communicate uncertainties and determine whether or when additional information might be required

Environmental Management Plans (EMPs)

Prepared by the proponent and detail the specific impact mitigation strategies and the ways in which they are to be implemented (typically required)

Adaptive Management Strategy

A structured, iterative process of robust decision making in the face of uncertainty, with an aim to reducing uncertainty over time via system monitoring.

Impact Benefit Agreements (IBAs)

Are external to the regulatory EA process but often occur in conjunction in EA between an industry proponent and (usually) an affected community or Indigenous group

Residual Effects

The effects that remain after proposed mitigation measures are taken into consideration

Monitoring

Determining whether change in a VC or indicator has occurred and to understand the nature, cause, and magnitude of the change by repetitive observation, measurement, and recording over a defined period of time

Auditing

The assessment of the results from monitoring activity against specified standard or expectations and public reporting of results

Ex-post evaluation

The collection and appraisal of information about a project’s impacts and making decisions on remedial actions and communicating the results

Compliance Monitoring

Ensures that a project is operating within the specified guidelines and that mitigations have been implemented as committed by the proponent or as required under the conditions of project approval

Implementation monitoring

Involves checking to ensure that operating procedures are being followed and commitments or conditions are being met

Regulatory permit monitoring

Involved the tracking of conditions that may be required for a proponent’s maintenance or renewal of project permit

Monitoring of agreements

Focused on tracking socio-economic commitments regarding such matters as housing, employment, and infrastructure demands

Ambient environmental quality monitoring

Focuses on the biophysical environment, assessing data about environmental conditions pre and post project implementation ro assess impacts

Effectiveness monitoring

Focuses on the mitigation actions and assesses if those actions are successful in managing impacts at an acceptable level

Types of compliance monitoring

* Implementation monitoring
* Regulatory permit monitoring
* Monitoring of agreements

Types of monitoring for management

* Ambient environmental quality monitoring
* Effectiveness monitoring
* Cumulative effects monitoring

Effectiveness monitoring

Assessing whether the implemented mitigation actions manage anticipated impacts and hold impacts to acceptable levels

Cumulative effects monitoring

Focuses on monitoring the accumulated state or indicators of stress associated with developments in a region

Types of monitoring for understanding

* Experimental monitoring
* Monitoring for knowledge

Experimental monitoring

Generates information and knowledge about environmental systems and their impacts through research methodologies guided by questions that test specific hypotheses

Monitoring for knowledge

A type of data collection and reporting that takes place after impacts occur

Early warning indicators

Serve to indicate stress of particular VC before the VC becomes adversely affected

Effects-based monitoring

Focuses on the condition or performance of the receiving environment - based on the premise that measuring change in environmental indicators is the most direct means of assessing change

Control-impact design

A monitoring design that compares project-exposed sites to control sites to help differentiate between project impacts and other natural sources of change

Gradient-to-background monitoring

When a well-established control site is not possible, this approach assumes that the effects on a VC should decrease and reach ambient conditions at increasing distances from the project

Indigenous knowledge

A cumulative body of knowledge, practice, and belief,evolving by adaptive process and handed down through generations by cultural transmission, about the relationship of living beings with one another and with their environment

Bridging knowledge systems

Integrating both scientific knowledge and traditional knowledge into EIA

Indigenous-led impact assessment

A process completed prior to approvals or consent for a proposed project which is designed and conducted by Indigenous parties

Project-centered approach

Focuses on the effects of a single project or activity on each of the VC

Valued component-centered approach

Focuses on the VCs and considered the impacts of all sources of distributable or stress - whether caused by individual projects, other types of land use and human activities, or natural drivers

Regional Assessment

Studies conducted in areas of existing projects or anticipated development to inform planning and management of cumulative effects and inform project impact assessments.

Effects-based CEA

Focused on assessing existing environmental conditions relative to a reference condition and is typically retrospective in design

Stressor-based CEA

Focus is on quantifying past and present patterns and trend in the distribution of human disturbance in a region and then projecting disturbances into the future under different scenarios of land use and management

Analysis scale

Used to examine VC and impacts across space, typically represented by ideas such as data resolution, detail, and granularity

Phenomenon scale

Refers to the spacial units within which various processes operate or function

Administrative scale

Reflects the realities imposed by jurisdictions, land-use plans, or regulatory processes

Retrospective analysis

Involves looking at the past to determine key condition changes and drivers of change to understand the present accumulated state

Prospective analysis

Focuses on predicting and evaluating how indicators or conditions might respond to additional stress in the future

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

Identifying and assessing a range of strategic initiatives - typically policies, plans, and programs (PPP) - at an early stage when there is flexibility with respect to future actions and the decisions being taken

Compliance-based SEA

Investigates whether, and to what extent, a proposed PPP complies with specified objectives, policies, or commitments and explores options to ensure compliance

Project-like SEA

Focused on assessing the potential environmental impacts of a PPP, and comparing the PPP’s impacts to viable alternatives

Strategic futures SEA

Identifying and assessing the potential implications of alternative future scenarios or land use, evaluating the relative risks and opportunities, and establishing a preferred strategic direction or PPP approach

Strategic transitions SEA

Used to better understand the governance context of strategic initiatives, including PPPs, and influence institutional transitions towards more sustainable outcomes

Impact measurement

The characteristics of an impact (i.e. magnitude, spatial extent, duration)

Impact meaning

The context by which the characteristics of impact are viewed and interpreted (i.e. regulatory, social, environmental)