enivro 200 - test 3
Who conducts an EIA?
- engineers
- planners
- developers
- collaboration with wider community
Why conduct an EIA?
- growing populations globally
- finite resources
- sustainability of environment
- irreversible impacts of development
What is an EIA?
determining and managing the potential impacts of proposed human actions and their alternatvies on the environment
what are the core values of EIA? + meanings
- integrity (meet standards)
- utility (info for decision makers)
- sustainability (mitigate)
What are some of the guiding principles for EIA?
- transparent
- systematic
- credible
- integrated
- interdisciplinary
- participative
- adaptive
- focused
- efficient
- cost-effective
- relevant
- practical
- rigorous
- purposive
What is the general EIA process?
General steps:
- screening
- scoping
- impact assessment & mitigation
- impact management
- EIA report
- review and licensing
- monitoring
What are the six levels of consents? + meanings
- Permitted (without asking = 'as of right')
- Controlled (minor)
- Discretionary (major/need approval)
- Restricted discretionary
- Non-complying
- Prohibited
What are the impact characteristics? The characteristics of environmental impacts vary, based on:
- nature
- magnitude
- location
- timing
- duration
- reversibility
- likelihood
- significance
Types of uncertainty in impact/effect prediction?
- scientific uncertainty
- data uncertainty
- policy uncertainty
Types of social effects?
- demographic
- cultural
- community
- socio - psychological
What are the environmental standards?
- limits on waste/emissions discharge and concentrations
- clean air & water quality standards
- policy objectives and targets
- plans that allocate use of land and natural resources
How are impacts/effects likely to be significant?
- extensive over space/time
- intensive concentration or capacity
- exceed enviro standards
- not compliant with enviro policies
- affect community lifestyle / traditional land usage
- affect heritage resources
The resource management act (RMA) 1991 section 2 defines environment as:
- ecosystems + people and communities
- all resources (natural and physical)
- amenity values
- social, economic, aesthetic and cultural conditions
The resource management act (RMA) 1991 section 3 defines "effect" as:
- positive / adverse effects
- temporary/permanent effects
- past/present/future effects
- cumulative effects
- potential effects of low and high probababilities
What is the resource management act (RMA) 1991 other key sections:
6: national importance
7: other
8: treaty of waitangi
30: regional councils under this Act
What are the types of resource concents for public involvement?
All done by council which then may/may not be taken to general public...
- publicly notified (will have/likely to have adverse affects?)
- limited notified (will anyone be adversely affected by the acitivity that is at least 'minor')
- non-notified (no involvement of general public)
Auckland unitary plan key roles:
- resources will be managed
- framework for upholding standards
- planning doc for akl council
What is AEE?
Assessment of enviro effects
effects > impacts
EIA process addresses what enviro impacts?
- biophysical and resource use
- social and cultural
- health and safety
- economic and fiscal
- landscape and visual
- indigenous peoples rights and traditonal areas
What are EIA benefits?
- better enviro planning and design of proposal
- compliance of enviro standards
- reduced time and costs
- savings
- increaed project acceptance by the public
EIA steps:
1) screening
2) scoping
3) Investigation and report prep
4) review
5) decision
6) monitoring
(SSIRDM: slithery snakes into rough desserts on monday)
What is scoping?
- early step in the process
- open and interactive
- lays foundation: necessary info & key issues to be considered
What are the key objectives of scoping?
- identify and inform stakeholders
- key concerns
- alternatives
- main issues
- define boundaries of AEE/EIA study
What is involved during impact analysis (assessment)
identifying impacts more specifically
predicta characteristics
evaluate signficance of residual impact
a successful EIA report is...
actionable (proponent); decision relevant(authority); user-friendly(public)
permited consent
'as of right', dont need to apply for resource consent, can do whenever
controlled consent
council must grant consent, unless insufficient info
steps of AEE
description of proposal/site/surroundings
consult to councils
identify effects
propose mitigation for effects
additional reports
finalise AEE
impact considerations
environment loss/deterioration
social impact
standards
risk
biodiversity, habitat depletion
ecological functions impaired
types of environmental standards
waste discharge and concentrations
air and water
use of land & natural resources
types of impact management
avoid
minimise
remedy
levels of community engagement
information
consultation
participation
negotiation
key stakeholders
iwi/hapu
locals
proponent & project beneficiaries
government agencies
steps for EIA review
identify deficiencies
critical shortcomings
recommend remedial measures
integrity
meet standards
utilty
provides info relevant for decision making
sustainability
mitigate serious adverse effects, and avoid irreversible losses
Resource Management Act section 2 is?
"Environment"
- ecosystems
- resources (natural and physical)
- amenity values
- social, economic, aesthetic and cultural conditions
Resource Management Act Section 3 is:
"Effect"
- positive or adverse effects
- temporary or permanent effect
- cumulative effect
- potential effect of high/low probability