EN4001 Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Week 4 PDF

EN4001 Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Week 4: EIA Procedure: Impact Analysis Associate Prof Chong Tzyy Haur School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Teaching materials are provided by Dr. Lim Tuti Mariana  Introduction and Objectives Contents...

EN4001 Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Week 4: EIA Procedure: Impact Analysis Associate Prof Chong Tzyy Haur School of Civil and Environmental Engineering Teaching materials are provided by Dr. Lim Tuti Mariana  Introduction and Objectives Contents Lesson Objectives Impact Analysis At the end of this lesson, you should be able to: Identify environmental impacts and their appropriate Simple Methods for assessment Impact Identification Explain impact assessment principles and methods Impact Prediction Know the difference between impact magnitude and significance Characteristics of Explain the conditions for impact analysis or prediction Environmental Describe the characteristics of environmental impacts Impacts Distinguish the different presentation methods of impact results Evaluation of Impact Explain the health impacts and economic impacts Significance Evaluate the impact significance Estimate the risk and its acceptability EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 2  Introduction to Impact Analysis Preferred approach Present EIA Includes man-made Integrated analysis is Only focused on environment (cultural required to address natural environment and socio-economic) overall impacts impacts impacts due to public involvement Addressing Early EIA Impact Carried out separately EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 3  Introduction to Impact Analysis Impact Analysis can be divided into three phases:  Impact Identification: Specification of environmental impacts and their interaction including indirect and cumulative effects associated with each phase of project activities. Slide 8  Impact Prediction: Forecasting the size and characteristic of impacts. It is a technical exercise so is usually carried out by specialists using models, experiments or other techniques.  Impact Evaluation: To determine the significance of residual impacts  remaining impacts post mitigation actions.  Impact identification and prediction make use of environmental baseline, described by selected environmental indicators or indices.  Collection of environmental baseline information starts from screening and continues through scoping.  The required environmental baseline data are specified in the Term of Reference (ToR). EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 4  Potential Impacts The factors for consideration in potential impacts include:  Employment opportunities  Exposure to disease  Wastewater effluents  Risk of industrial hazard  Air emissions  Noise  Solid wastes  Traffic  Land use  Sociocultural behavior  Infrastructure Distinguish between significant positive and negative impacts, immediate or long-term impacts, reversible or irreversible impacts. Wherever possible, describe the impacts quantitatively in terms of environmental costs and benefits. EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 5  What is an Impact? The impact of an activity is a deviation (a change) from the baseline situation that is caused by the activity. The baseline situation is the existing environmental situation or condition in the absence of the activity. The baseline situation is a key concept of impact analysis. EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 6  Baseline Situation Water Quantity, quality, reliability and accessibility Soils Erosion, crop productivity, fallow periods, salinity, nutrient and concentrations Fauna Populations and habitat In characterising the baseline situation, Flora Composition and density of natural many environmental vegetation, productivity and key species components are used as the parameters Environmental Disease vectors and pathogens Health Special Key species Ecosystems Note: Air, climate & landscape; use of land, natural resources & raw materials; protected areas, heritage, recreation & amenity assets as well as human lifestyle and well-being also included in “environment” EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 7  Methods for Impact Identification Methods for impact identification: Factors to consider:  Checklists  the type and size of the proposal  Matrices  the type of alternatives being  Networks considered  Overlays and geographical  the nature of the likely impacts information systems (GIS)  the availability of impact  Expert systems identification methods  Professional judgement  the experience of the EIA team with their use  the resources available – cost, information, time and personnel  Logical & Systematic approach Slide 4 EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 8  Methods for Impact Identification Checklists Are the lists of the types of impacts associated with a particular type of project Serve as a memory aid and guide Vary in complexity and purpose:  From simple checklist to structured or descriptive checklist  Sectoral checklist: specific to project type and impact Simple checklist on categories  useful for specific area of development environmental components  Sectoral guidelines (World Bank): Much knowledge of impacts have been accumulated over 40+ years of EIA practice  recorded into handbook & guidelines which can be applied to new projects. Sectoral guidelines is based on this knowledge collection and considered as the most useful & widespread tools for preparing impact analysis. EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 9  Methods for Impact Identification Checklist Methods Primarily for organising information or ensuring that no potential impact is overlooked. Four general types of checklists:  Simple Checklist: a list of environmental parameters with no guideline on how they are obtained and interpreted.  Descriptive Checklist: includes an identification of environmental parameters and guidelines on how to measure data on that parameter.  Scaling Checklist: similar to a descriptive checklist, but with additional information on subjective scaling of the parameters with respect to magnitude or severity.  Scaling Weighting Checklist: similar to a scaling checklist, with additional information for the subjective evaluation of each parameter based on expert judgement. The application of the different types of checklists to be used depends on the level of information and expertise required. EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 10  Methods for Impact Identification Simple checklist developed for the Huasai-Thale Noi Road Project Nature of likely Impacts Items Adverse Beneficial ST LT R IR L W ST LT SI N Aquatic Ecosystems X X X Fisheries X X X Forests X X X ST: Short Term Terrestrial Wildlife X X X LT: Long Term Rare and Endangered Species X X X R: Reversible IR: Irreversible Surface Water Hydrology X X X L: Local W: Wide Surface Water Quality X *:Negligible Ground Water * * * * * * * * * * Soils Air Quality X X Navigation X X Land Transport X X Agriculture X X Socio-economic X X Slide 10 Aesthetic X X Source: Lohani, B.N. and S.A. Kan. (1983). Environmental evaluation for water resources in Thailand. Wat. Resource. Develop.1(3): 185-195. NEB. (1980). Initial Environmental Examination of Hausai-Thale Noi Road (No. 4150) Project, NEB 0504-79-4-004, National Environment Board, Bangkok. EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 11  Methods for Impact Identification Checklist Method: Scaling and Weighting The following steps are used for scaling and weighting: 1. Determine an appropriate set of environmental factors to be considered, for example, wildlife habitat 2. Determine the environmental impact index for each factor: 2.1 Define the units of measurement for each environmental factor, for example, the hectares preserved 2.2 Collect the data on the environmental factor, for example, 10,000 hectares preserved 2.3 Decide on a common interval scale for each environmental factor index, for example, from zero to one 2.4 Convert the data for the environmental factor to environmental factor index 3. Determine a weight for each environmental factor 4. Decide on the method of aggregation across all factors (usually additive) Can rank alternatives EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 12  Methods for Impact Identification Checklist Method: Scaling and Weighting – Example Generally depend on: 1. Env factors to be considered. 2. Technique used to Higher better construct index. 3. Methods of Higher better assigning weightage. 4. Grand index computation. 3000/5000 = Less 0.5 x 0.2 = 1 x 0.2 = Higher level of expertise important required in assigning 1 x 0.8 = 0.6 x 0.8 = Priority weightage as they must be justifiable and defendable. Higher better Higher better Source: Canter, L. (1996). Environmental Impact Assessment (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 13  Methods for Impact Identification Checklist Methods Some potential concerns with checklist are: Too general or incomplete EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 14  Methods for Impact Identification Matrices Method Grid-like table is used to identify the interaction between project activities and environmental characteristics. “Entries” are made in the cells to highlight impact severity to the nature of the impact. Useful in: Scoping the assessment. Identifying areas that required further research apart can link interaction between activities and specific environmental components. The matrices can be simple interaction matrices, importance or significance rated matrices. Slide 16 EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 15  Methods for Impact Identification Matrices Method A well-known example is Leopold Matrix (after Dr. Luna Leopold, 70s). A comprehensive matrix with 88 environmental characteristics (in the rows) and 100 project actions (in the columns). Gross screening technique to identify impacts. Slide 15 EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 16  Methods for Impact Identification Simple environmental impact matrix for the Phoenix Pulp Mill Slide 15 Source: Lohani and Halim, 1983 Canter, L. (1996). Environmental Impact Assessment (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 17 Methods for Impact Identification Matrices Method – Significant rated Matrices Diagonal line in the cell: Magnitude and importance Numerical value to highlight magnitude and importance Instruction for using the Leopold Matrix (Leopold et al., 1971) EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 18  Methods for Impact Identification Matrices Method E.G Leopold Matrix (1971) A matrix analysis can systematically identify potentially important effects by assignment of ranks and values. However, the approach is M (1-10) relatively subjective. I (1-10) Expertise & extensive database needed. - Adverse Impact (Size indicates degree) - Beneficial Impact (Size indicates degree) Disadvantages: Matrices tend to oversimplify impact pathways Synergistic impact are not adequately addressed Matrices cannot explicitly represent spatial considerations EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 19  Methods for Impact Identification Networks Method Integrates impact causes and consequences through identifying interrelationship between actions and the impacted environmental factors. Identifies direct and indirect impacts. Systematic sequential approach  Major activities leads to changes  Changes lead to impacts  Impacts lead to mitigation Conceptual model of causal chain: impact Networks EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 20 Methods for Impact Identification Networks Method – Example EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 21 Methods for Impact Identification Example of Networks EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 22  Methods for Impact Identification Example of Networks (showing linkages leading to changes in quality of life for wildlife and tourism) Network can identify higher CHANGING QUALITY OF LIFE FOR WILDLIFE CHANGING QUALITY OF TOURISM order of impacts, however beyond 2nd order, higher In creased In cid en ts Lo ss o f Hab itat b etween Wild life & Peo p le Lo ss o f Natu ral expertise and financial resource Wild ern ess Valu e Defo restatio n & Ero sio n o f Riv er Ban k Ov erg razin g Ch an g es in required. Lo ss o f Bio d iv ersity Go rg e Ero sio n Aro u n d An imal Beh av io u r Access Path s Water Ho les Network can also predict To o small an area fo r an imal n u mb ers cumulative impacts qualitatively. Rip arian Co n strictio n Harrassmen t Selectiv e Cu ttin g o f wild life o f trees fo r Water Wav e Veg etatio n o f wild life Po llu tio n Effects Red u ced mo v emen ts Cu rio Wo o d Mo re Fen ces/ Visu al Distu rb an ceIn creasin g Disadvantages: Oily d isch arg es Riv er Ban k & Islan d En clo su res Imp acts o f wild life n o ise lev els fro m b o ats etc. Dev elo p men t New Ro ad Deman d fo r Mo re Mo re Ex p an sio n o f Mo re Aircraft Fly in g Ov er Mo re Mo to r & Brid g e at Old Drift/Zamb ezi Networks cannot integrate Cu rio s Raftin g Jetties & Ho tels/Camp s In creased Licen ces Bo at Licen ces & To u rist Facilities Falls & To wn Veh icles Natio n al Park the impacts over spatial In creased Visito r Nu mb ers dimensions. Deman d fo r Mo re Direct Imp ro v ed Bo rd er Imp ro v ed Ro ad Lin k s Lo w-sp en d in g In tern atio n al Facilities - Liv in g sto n /Lu sak a To u rism In creases Flig h ts - Zamb ia/Bo tswan a/Namib ia In creased cu sto ms co -o p eratio n Airp o rt Up g rad in g b etween Zimb ab we/Zamb ia (Source: UNEP Environmental Impact Assessment Training Resource Manual. (2002, June 1). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://www.unep.ch/etu/publications/EIAMan_2edition_toc.htm) EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 23  Methods for Impact Identification Overlay Method – GIS An overlay is based on a set of transparencies or maps. These transparencies or maps can be overlaid to produce a composite. The number of transparencies or maps is Composite limited to ten in a composite. Ecological sites McHarg (1969) demonstrated this technique Historic sites for highway (transparencies of environmental & land use characteristics overlaid on a Visual regional base map) Health Settlements Overlays & GIS can integrate environmental characteristics over spatial dimension and Noise therefore are known as spatial based methods. Severance Water EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 24  Methods for Impact Identification Overlay Method – GIS Mapping with an analysis of sensitive areas or ecological carrying capacity to set the basis on the level of project development. Before mudflow, 2004 After mudflow, 2008 Before and after maps to assess the landscape changes. Sidoarjo Mud Flow, Indonesia : Image of the Day. (2004, August 28). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://earthobservatory.nasa.gov/IOTD/view.php?id=36111 EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 25  Methods for Impact Identification Overlay Method – GIS “A system for capturing, storing, checking, integrating, manipulating, analysing and displaying data which are spatially referenced to the Earth. This is normally considered to involve a spatially referenced computer database and appropriate applications software” (Chorley Report, HMSO, 1987) GIS. (2006, December 31). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:GvSIG_-_GIS.jpg Geographic information system (GIS) is a very powerful tool to identify impacts of development on the environment as project activity can affect natural resources. EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 26  Methods for Impact Identification Overlay Method – GIS Useful to screen alternative project sites or routes before detailed impact analysis is completed. Useful to evaluate development options in coastal areas and for routing pipelines and transmission lines. Hand produced overlays have been replaced by computer (GIS)  Construction of real-world models based on digital data  Show how natural resource will be affected by a decision Powerful management tool for resource managers and planners High level of expertise required Quality, quantity and coverage of data Expensive EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 27  Methods for Impact Identification Expert Systems Knowledge-based systems (KBS) to assist diagnosis, problem solving and decision- making. Built and developed through experience gained over time. Well established computerised system developed (screening and scoping) using a number of rules and data system. Answer series of questions that have been developed to identify impacts and determine their “mitigability” and significance. Information intensive and therefore expensive, which restricts their use and application in developing countries. EIA practitioners have accumulated over 40+ years knowledge of impacts which are mostly recorded to be applied to new projects  aid of computer to develop KBS. EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 28  Methods for Impact Identification Professional or Expert Judgment Not a formal method but widely used in EIA Based on knowledge and expertise gained in EIA work to develop data banks, technical manuals and expert systems Used to assist impact identification of future projects and development of formal impact analysis (impact identification, model cause-effect relationship and others). EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 29  Methods for Impact Identification Expert Judgment: Ad-Hoc Method Team of experts to conduct EIA over short time based on experience, training and intuition  quick and easy to use. Cannot be replicated thus difficult to review and critique the conclusion  not meaningful for analysis and presentation. Not really a method Need to be supplemented by other methods Good for developing ToR during scoping EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 30  Methods for Impact Identification Illustration of the ad-hoc method for comparing reservoir arrangements Items Alternatives A B C Number of reservoirs on river system 4 1 0 Combined surface area, ha 8500 1300 - Total reservoir shoreline, km 190 65 - New irrigation areas, ha 40000 12000 - Reduced open space because of project and associated population increases, ha 10000 2000 - Inundated archaeological sites, nos 11 3 - Reduced soil erosion, relative magnitude 4x 1x Nil Enhanced fisheries, relative magnitude 4x 1x Nil Provision of flood control measures Yes Yes No New potential material areas, relative magnitude 4x 1x Nil Additional employment potential, number of persons 1000 200 - Source: Canter, L. (1996). Environmental Impact Assessment (2nd ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill. Advantages: readily understood by layman  easy to use. Drawback: does not cover all relevant impacts, inability to compare various impacts due to absence of weightings and lack of guidance for detailed impact analysis (Lohani et.al) EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 31  Methods for Impact Identification Method Comparison ADVANTAGES DISADVANTAGES Checklists si mpl e to understand do not di sti ngui sh –simple and use between di rect and Specific checklist known as sectoral –ranking good for si te sel ecti on i ndi rect i mpacts checklist/guidelines have been developed to and and pri ori ty setti ng do not l i nk acti on and weighting i mpact apply for particular type of projects & impact the process of categories. They are useful tool to incorporate i ncorporati ng val ues environmental protection into the project. can be controversi al Matrices l i nk acti on to i mpact di ffi cul t to di sti ngui sh good method for di rect and i ndi rect di spl ayi ng EIA resul ts i mpacts Matrix can identify impacts on various project si gni fi cant potenti al stage: construction, operation & decommission. for doubl e-counti ng of i mpacts Networks l i nk acti on to i mpact can become very useful i n si mpl i fi ed compl ex i f used beyond Scientific thinking process represent causal form for checki ng for si mpl i fi ed versi on chain: activities lead to changes lead to impact second order i mpacts handl es di rect and lead to mitigation. i ndi rect i mpacts Overlays easy to understand address onl y di rect Can use to assess landscape change & set the i mpacts good di spl ay method basis for the level of project development by good si ti ng tool do not address i mpact durati on or probabi l i ty combining mapping and analysis. GIS and excel l ent for i mpact heavy rel i ance on Powerful tool to identity impacts by integrating computer i denti fi cati on and knowl edge and data expert anal ysi s data on land used with topography & geography often compl ex and systems information for decision making. good for ‘ experi menti ng’ expensi ve (Source: UNEP Environmental Impact Assessment Training Resource Manual. (2002, June 1). Retrieved December 2, 2015, from http://www.unep.ch/etu/publications/EIAMan_2edition_toc.htm EN4001: Environmental Impact Assessment & Monitoring Page 32  Impact Prediction and Evaluation After important impacts have been identified, their potential size and characteristics can be predicted. Impact prediction is a technical exercise that requires specialists (model and techniques application). “Baseline” conditions:  Current environmental conditions  Current and expected trends  Effects of implemented proposals  Effects of other foreseeable proposals Collecting baseline information can be time consuming and expensive  relevant for impact analysis. Specialist required to oversee and set limits on data collection. In certain cases, incomplete baseline data as per ToR & thus revision is needed wrt to study strategy & impact prediction (should be given with short explanation of reasons in EIA report). General guideline baseline chapter in EIA report: