Environmental Impact Assessment Overview
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Questions and Answers

What kind of impacts can changes have according to the content?

  • Social and economic only
  • Only direct and indirect impacts
  • Only biological and chemical
  • Physical, biological, chemical, social, economic or political (correct)

    • What is a direct impact of a coal-fired power plant mentioned in the content?

  • Increase in SO2 in the air (correct)
  • Decrease in soil fertility
  • Reduction in asthma cases
  • Increase in marine life

    • What does the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process include?

  • Predicting and evaluating likely impacts before a project (correct)
  • Focusing solely on financial outcomes of a project
  • Only evaluating impacts after a project starts
  • Ignoring cumulative impacts

    • Why is the EIA important for project planning?

    <p>It enhances planning and guides decision-making by integrating environmental concerns.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What outcome results from following the EIA process?

    <p>Issuance of an Environmental Compliance Commitment (ECC)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is one principle of the EIA process?

    <p>Authorize activities only after environmental effects are examined</p> Signup and view all the answers

    In the context of the Bolinao Cement Plant project, what is a potential concern highlighted?

    <p>The project is likely to destroy the ecology of the area.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is emphasized as a key action to minimize environmental impacts in a project?

    <p>Identify significant issues to study early on</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a requirement for EIA preparation according to PD 1151?

    <p>Required EIA preparation for projects affecting environmental quality</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following EIA components focuses on potential negative outcomes?

    <p>Assessment of environmental impacts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What role does public involvement play prior to decisions on activities?

    <p>It is essential for gathering diverse opinions</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which PD established the EIS system under the National Environmental Protection Council (NEPC)?

    <p>PD 1586</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is classified as an Environmentally Critical Project (ECP)?

    <p>Major mining and quarry industries</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the first step in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process?

    <p>Scoping</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs)?

    <p>Habitats of endangered or threatened species</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following projects is exempted from the Environmentally Critical Projects criteria?

    <p>Non-pollutive projects</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which PD revised the rules for Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs) and established requirements for critical areas?

    <p>PD 1586 (1984)</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is necessary for decisions regarding activities after the review process?

    <p>They should be made in writing and made public</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which stage of the EIA process involves a description of existing conditions before a project starts?

    <p>Baseline characterization</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a characteristic of Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs)?

    <p>Projects with high potential for negative impacts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which one of the following is NOT considered an Environmentally Critical Project?

    <p>Small farmer's markets</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a fundamental assumption when assessing land suitability for proposed land use?

    <p>Proposed land use will result in environmental safeguards.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What type of environmental change is considered favorable?

    <p>Improvement of soil organic matter through irrigation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following describes severe degradation?

    <p>Gully erosion leading to irreversible land destruction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be done when severe or progressive degradation is identified?

    <p>Determine necessary technical measures to prevent it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is meant by 'progressive land degradation'?

    <p>Continuous depletion of a resource due to poor land use practices.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be included in the evaluation when some degradation is deemed unavoidable?

    <p>The nature and extent of the degradation.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is an example of an off-site effect mentioned in the context of environmental impact?

    <p>Effects of forest clearance on river flow regimes.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    How is an environmental impact defined?

    <p>Any change in the environment caused by an activity or factor.</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is the primary purpose of impact prediction in project management?

    <p>To characterize project activities from inception to completion</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Which of the following is a crucial component of environmental impact evaluation?

    <p>Identifying significant impacts that require mitigation</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What criteria should mitigation measures meet according to impact management?

    <p>They should not cause unacceptable impacts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What is a key part of impact monitoring in project management?

    <p>Measuring and evaluating environmental impacts</p> Signup and view all the answers

    What should be included in the candidate list of key impacts during project planning?

    <p>All identifiable impacts, both positive and negative</p> Signup and view all the answers

    Study Notes

    Environmental Impact Assessment Overview

    • Environmental impact concerns the consequences of activities on the environment, requiring comprehensive screening and evaluation.
    • Land suitability must ensure sustainable use with environmental safeguards in place.
    • Adverse environmental changes should not be severe or progressive, with impacts being either favorable or unfavorable.

    Positive and Negative Environmental Changes

    • Favorable changes can include improvements like increased soil organic matter from irrigation in arid regions.
    • Long-term use of farm manure in The Netherlands has enhanced soil fertility over centuries.
    • Unfavorable changes may manifest as soil erosion, salinization, and pasture degradation, which can lead to severe or progressive degradation.
    • Severe degradation results in irreversible destruction (e.g., gully erosion); progressive degradation involves ongoing resource depletion (e.g., uncontrolled pastoralism).

    Hazard Identification and Land Classification

    • Identifying severe or progressive degradation hazards leads to technical measures for prevention and cost assessments.
    • Land assessed as "Not Suitable" indicates unsustainable use or prohibitive prevention costs.
    • Short-term use may be permissible, with documented degradation implications.

    Environmental Impacts and Assessments

    • Environmental impact involves changes across physical, biological, chemical, social, economic, and political dimensions, both direct (e.g., SO2 emissions increasing asthma rates) and indirect (e.g., acid rain affecting soil fertility).
    • Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) predicts and evaluates project impacts through all phases: construction, operation, and abandonment.

    Purpose and Process of EIA

    • EIA enhances project planning and decision-making by integrating environmental concerns early in the planning stage.
    • The process involves several iterations to reduce adverse impacts, resulting in an Environmental Compliance Commitment (ECC) necessary for project progression.

    Principles of EIA

    • Activities should not proceed until environmental effects are assessed.
    • Importance of defining clear criteria for impact significance and identifying critical issues early in the EIA process.
    • Essential components of EIA include descriptive projections, alternatives, environmental impact assessments, mitigation measures, and public involvement.

    Regulatory Framework for EIA

    • PD 1151 (1977): Mandated EIA for projects impacting environmental quality.
    • PD 1152 (1977): Required consideration of environmental impacts in land use management without mandating EIAs.
    • PD 1586 (1978): Centralized the EIS system and granted extensive authority to the President for environmental project control.
    • Subsequent policies established criteria for environmentally critical areas (ECAs) and critical projects (ECPs).

    Environmentally Critical Areas (ECAs)

    • ECAs include national parks, watersheds, habitats for endangered species, and areas susceptible to natural calamities.

    Environmentally Critical Projects (ECPs)

    • ECPs are projects with high environmental impact risks, spanning heavy industries, resource extraction, and major infrastructure.
    • Specific exemptions exist for operational projects prior to 1982, non-pollutive projects, and small-scale enterprises.

    Steps in the EIA Process

    • Scoping to identify significant concerns early on.
    • Baseline characterization establishes conditions before project initiation.
    • Impact prediction assesses potential consequences throughout the project life cycle.
    • Environmental impact evaluation focuses on significant impacts that require mitigation.

    Impact Management and Monitoring

    • Mitigation measures must avoid unacceptable impacts and be economically viable.
    • Ongoing impact monitoring ensures compliance and evaluates prediction accuracy while maintaining accountability.

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    Description

    This quiz explores the essential aspects of Environmental Impact Assessment, including the evaluation of activities' consequences on the environment. It also covers land suitability, environmental safeguards, and the identification of positive and negative environmental changes. Assess your knowledge on the balance between sustainable practices and environmental degradation.

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