Ecological Risk Assessment Quiz

Ecological Risk & Cumulative Effects Assessment

• Risk refers to the likelihood or probability of an adverse consequence occurring due to a particular set of circumstances within a specified time period.
• Ecological risk is the risk to a natural population or ecosystem. Other types of risk include: engineering risk, which is the risk of a particular accident, and health risk, which is the risk to workers or local residents from exposure to hazardous materials.
• Compensation plans are a component of an EMP that describes how a proponent will compensate affected stakeholders. Compensation is not mitigation, but may be done in lieu of it.
• Compensation plans should have a fair and transparent process for determining who should be compensated, the amount of compensation, and the conditions under which it will be paid.
• The final step in an EIA is the determination of residual impacts, which involve describing the direction, magnitude, geographic extent, duration, frequency, reversibility, biophysical and socioeconomic context, significance, likelihood, and certainty of impact.
• It is important to involve stakeholders in the scoping process and throughout the EIA process. Listen to their concerns and perspectives as they may have valuable knowledge that you don't.
• The EMP accountability and reporting plan describes the ongoing roles and responsibilities of the proponent and other stakeholders in implementing the EMP, as well as how information will be reported to the public.
• EIA reports are used by decision-makers to consider the pros and cons of a project and balance competing interests.
• EIA reports should be evaluated based on their adherence to process requirements, comprehensiveness, scientific validity, adequacy of data and models, clarity of assumptions and conclusions, mitigation measures, and residual impacts.
• The decision of whether or not to proceed with a project that has likely significant adverse environmental effects is a political decision, often contingent on the "justifiable in the circumstances" provision in Canadian and other jurisdictions' law.

Cumulative Effects Assessment

• Cumulative Effects Assessment (CEA) is a process used to evaluate the combined impacts of multiple projects on the environment.
• The CEA process is typically conducted in conjunction with other environmental assessments, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA).
• The goal of a CEA is to identify and assess the potential for cumulative effects, which are the combined impacts of two or more projects on the environment.
• CEA involves considering the potential for both direct and indirect effects, including those arising from the interaction of different projects, as well as the impacts of other activities such as pollution and climate change.
• The results of CEA are used to inform decision-making about whether or not to approve a project.

Comparative Environmental Risk Assessment

• Comparative Environmental Risk Assessment (CERA) involves prioritizing and ranking environmental risks across a particular region or jurisdiction.
• CERA can help inform the development of environmental management strategies and policies by focusing on the most important and pressing environmental risks.
• CERA is often done in conjunction with Stakeholder consultation to ensure that the priorities identified are relevant and reflect the concerns of different stakeholders.

Case Study: Hibernia Oil Project

• The Hibernia oil field on the Grand Banks of Newfoundland is a significant example of how oil development projects can have complex social and environmental impacts.
• The original EIA for the Hibernia project was criticized for its failure to account for variations in the social and institutional environment, leading to overestimations of population growth and housing demand.
• The Auditor General of Canada concluded that the Confederation Bridge project failed to account for potential impacts on the local fishing industry and had weak compensation plans.
• The Hibernia project highlights the importance of conducting careful and thorough environmental assessments that consider both the direct and indirect impacts of projects.
• The Hibernia project is a reminder of the importance of engaging stakeholders in the environmental assessment process. Especially when the project is new and has no analog.
• The Hibernia project demonstrates the importance of having strong regulatory frameworks in place to ensure that oil development projects are conducted in an environmentally responsible manner.

Test your knowledge on ecological risk and cumulative effects assessment. This quiz covers concepts such as risk probabilities, compensation plans for affected stakeholders, and the final steps in an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Understand the distinctions between various types of risks and the processes involved.