Impact Analysis PDF

EXECUTIVE SHORT TERM COURSES IN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS TRACK A: A FIVE DAY COURSE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONERS ESS006 SESSION 1 IMPACT ANALYSIS BY Istifanus Yarkasuwa Chindo, Ph.D, FCSN,...

EXECUTIVE SHORT TERM COURSES IN ENVIRONMENTAL STANDARDS TRACK A: A FIVE DAY COURSE FOR ENVIRONMENT AND SOCIAL ASSESSMENT PRACTITIONERS ESS006 SESSION 1 IMPACT ANALYSIS BY Istifanus Yarkasuwa Chindo, Ph.D, FCSN, FICCON Adapted and modified from Dr Maged Hamed, Ph.D , PPE Regional Safeguard Coordinator and co-TTL of SPESSE Environment Global Practice Environment Global Practice of the West and Central Africa - SAWE4 October 2022 1  COURSE CONTENT Impact Analysis Phases of impact analysis including Identification prediction and evaluation 2  Impact Assessment Impact Assessment (IA) is a process of evaluating the likely environmental impacts of a proposed project or development, taking into account inter- related socio-economic, cultural and human-health impacts, both beneficial and adverse. United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) defines Impact Assessment (IA) as a tool used to identify the environmental, social and economic impacts of a project prior to decision-making. It aims to predict environmental impacts at an early stage in project planning and design, find ways and means to reduce adverse impacts, shape projects to suit the local environment and present the predictions and options to decision-makers. Therefore, an impact assessment is a planning and decision-making tool used to assess the potential positive and negative effects of proposed projects. Impact assessments consider a wide range of factors and propose measures to mitigate projects' adverse effects 3  Positive and Negative Impact Projects — like the building of mines, roads or dams – can have both positive and negative impacts. They can improve cities and towns. They might create jobs, produce energy, or uncover useful resources. They can also cause harm to the environment, people, communities, or economies. 4  Categories of positive and negative impacts + + + = High positive impact ++ = Moderate positive impact + = Low positive impact --- = High negative impact -- = Moderate negative impact - = Low negative impact 0 = Neutral impact 5  Factors to be considered The purpose of, and need for, the project alternative means of carrying out the project alternatives must be technically and economically feasible changes to the environment, and to health, social, and economic conditions, as well as the positive and negative consequences of these changes, and the effects of malfunctions or accidents that may occur in connection with the project measures to mitigate adverse effects must be technically and economically feasible the impact that the project may have on any Indigenous group and adverse impacts on the rights of Indigenous peoples considerations related to cultural heritage 6  Cnt’d community knowledge, where provided through stakeholders engagement the extent that the project contributes to sustainability the different impacts of a project on diverse groups of people such as those identified by gender and other identity factors like age, ethnicity, ability (vulnerable groups) 7  Benefits of Impact Assessment (IA) Impact assessments help us understand the possible impacts of these types of projects before they start. Assessments identify the best ways to avoid or reduce a project's negative impacts. They may also find ways to enhance the positive aspects of a project. Their goal is to inform decision-makers about project impacts and ensure the protection of people and the environment. 8  Another important factor is whether the project contributes to sustainability. Sustainability means the ability to: Protect the environment Contribute to the social and economic well-being of the Project Affected People (PAP) and concern parties Preserve the health of the (PAP) 9  Parties in Impact Assessment The proponent: Is the company or organization that carries out the project. It must submit information about the project to inform the assessment. This includes project plans, studies, and predictions about potential impacts. The proponent also provides information on how these impacts will be managed through mitigation measures (measures to eliminate, reduce, control or offset a project's adverse effects). 10  Others review the proponent's project plans, studies, impact predictions and guidelines. They submit feedback at various stages of the process. Experts, including scientists, from other government organizations provide information on different aspects of the project, such as social, health, economic and environmental factors, and the best means of addressing potential impacts. NGOs, community organizations or groups: They contribute expertise, knowledge and information on project impacts. They also speak to possible impacts on Indigenous communities and Aboriginal and Treaty rights, as well as means to mitigate these impacts. Members of the general public provide local knowledge and share useful insights that reflect what people think about the project. The public speaks to how a project might impact communities or lands, and means to mitigate these impacts. 11  Public participation Public participation is an essential part of an open, informed and meaningful impact assessment process. Members of the public can identify important benefits of a project. They may also raise areas of concern related to a project. Further, the information provided by participants may help inform project design and lead to better outcomes. Impact assessments are especially focused on identifying potential problems before they occur. If issues could arise, the impact assessment process takes into consideration ways to mitigate harm: ways to reduce or avoid negative consequences that might arise from a project, should the project move forward. This is based on the proponent's proposed mitigation measures and other stakeholder input on the mitigation measures. 12  Authoritative bodies Federal Ministry of Environment (FMEnv) World Bank For approval of project after review; whether the project is in the public interest and allowed to proceed. If the project is approved, it also includes conditions the proponent must adhere to when carrying out the project. 13 Impact Assessment and Mitigation for ESIA and ESMP The steps involved in the impact assessment stage are: Identification of potential interactions between the project and the physical, biological, cultural or human environment (based on consideration of information gathered on the project, project alternatives and baseline conditions). Identification of the risk of cumulative impacts arising from the combination of the project’s impacts with the impacts of other developments. 14  Prediction of impacts – determination of what could potentially happen as a result of the project’s interaction with the physical, biological, cultural or human environment, (the diverse range of impacts considered in the ESIA process may result in a wide range of prediction methods being used,including quantitative, semi‐quantitative and qualitative techniques). 15  Definition of impact characteristics - type, extent, duration, scale and frequency of each impact Determination of impact magnitude - the degree of change that the impact is likely to impart upon the resource/receptor, based on its defined characteristics. 16  Determination of impact significance– taking account of the sensitivity/vulnerability/importance of the resource/receptor and the magnitude and irreversibility of the impact-if any). Sensitivity Reversibility Magnitude 17  Severity Severity is ​the fact or condition of something being extremely bad or serious High severe Moderately severe Low severe 18  Reversibility Reversibility (R) is the ability of a sensor to recover, or return to its original background/baseline condition, after exposure. Irreversibility (IR) the quality of being irreversible (once done it cannot be changed). 19  Magnitude Magnitude determines: Size and extent Effect Influence Consequence  Categories of magnitude  High  Moderate  Low 20  IMPACTS Impacts should be assessed in terms of project preconstruction, construction, operation and decommissioning. A sign ranging from --- to +++ describes the magnitude of each impact Impact Pre- Constructio Operation De- Construction n phase Commissio ning Air quality Noise Surface water Groundwater Biological environment Traffic Landscape Socio-economics Cultural resources + + + = High positive impact + + = Moderate positive impact + = Low positive impact - - - = High negative impact - - = Moderate negative impact - = Low negative impact Analysis of Environmental and Social Impacts I mpact Construction Operation Air pollution -- -- Unpleasant odors 0 --- Fire and explosion hazards 0 -- Accidental spillage and leakage - - Ground and surface water - --- pollution Landfill settlement 0 -- Site stability impacts - -- Traffic impacts -- -- Health effects 0 -- Socio-economics -/ + -/ + Noise impacts -- -- Excavation, vegetation and --- -- landscape damage Biological environment - -  MITIGATION MEASURES The ESMP identifies measures and actions in accordance with the mitigation hierarchy that reduce potentially adverse environmental and social impacts to acceptable levels. The plan will include compensatory measures, if applicable. Specifically, the : (i) identifies and summarizes all anticipated adverse environmental and social impacts (including those involving indigenous people or involuntary resettlement); (ii) describes—with technical details—each mitigation measure, including the type of impact to which it relates and the conditions under which it is required (e.g., continuously or in the event of contingencies), together with designs, equipment descriptions, and operating procedures, as appropriate (III) estimates any potential environmental and social impacts of these measures; and (iv) takes into account, and is consistent with, other mitigation plans required for the project (e.g., for involuntary resettlement, indigenous peoples, or cultural heritage  MITIGATION HIERARCHY Avoid at Source, Reduce at Source: avoiding or reducing at source through the design of the Project. Abate on Site: add something to the design to abate the impact. Abate at Receptor: if an impact cannot be abated on-site then control measures can be implemented off-site. Repair or Remedy: some impacts involve unavoidable damage to a resource (e.g. agricultural land due to creating access, work camps or materials storage areas) and these impacts can be addressed through repair, restoration or reinstatement measures. Compensate in Kind, Compensate Through Other Means: where other mitigation approaches are not possible or fully effective, then compensation for loss, damage and disturbance might be appropriate (e.g., planting to replace damaged vegetation, financial compensation for damaged crops or providing community facilities for loss of fisheries, access, recreation and amenity space). 24  MITIGATION cont’d The priority in mitigation was to first apply mitigation measures to the source of the impact (i.e., to avoid or reduce the magnitude of the impact from the associated Project activity), and then to address the resultant effect to the resource/receptor via abatement or compensatory measures or offsets (i.e., to reduce the significance of the effect once all reasonably practicable mitigations have been applied to reduce the impact magnitude On the basis of the above , please develop the following tables of the ESMP of the Project 25  Questions ????? THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION 26