Introduction to environmental impact assessment : a guide to principles and practice / Bram F. Noble.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Noble, Bram F., 1975-

Contributor:

Cornelia Dodderer Fund.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Environmental impact analysis--Textbooks.

Environmental impact analysis.

Environmental impact analysis--Canada--Textbooks.

Canada.

Genre:

Textbooks.

Physical Description:

xi, 216 pages : illustrations ; 23 cm

Place of Publication:

Don Mills, Ont. : Oxford University Press, 2006.

Summary:

A practical guide to the basic principles and processes common across many jurisdictions, Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment is designed for use in both academic and professional contexts. It is organized in four sections. Part I introduces the aims and objectives of EIA and provides an overview of the generic process; Part II looks at the nature of environmental impacts, along with the basic methods and techniques of EIA; Part III focuses on practice, from screening, scoping, and impact prediction to evaluation and post-decision analysis; and Part IV introduces two key areas that are currently in rapid transition: cumulative effects assessment and strategic environmental assessment.

Each chapter includes a list of key terms, study questions and exercises, and references. In addition, numerous case studies-primarily from Canada, but also from the US, Europe, and Australia-show EIA in practice, while two appendices present practical exercises in project and strategic assessment that may be used either as term projects or as workshop exercises. Written from an interdisciplinary perspective, taking into account both physical and human environments, Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment will be an essential text not only for academic courses in geography, environmental science, planning, and civil engineering, but also for professional training and reference for practitioners and administrators.

Features: Provides international context with a Canadian perspective, Introduces the important new areas of cumulative effects assessment (CEA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA), Includes questions and exercises that may be used either as assignments or to stimulate discussion, Offers practical exercises that can be tailored to suit different settings and jurisdictions.

Contents:

Part 1 Environmental Impact Assessment Principles 1

Chapter 1 Aims and Objectives of Environmental Impact Assessment 2

Defining Environmental Impact Assessment 2

EIA Objectives and Principles 3

The Origins and Development of EIA 5

EIA Origins 5

EIA Development 7

International Status of EIA 10

Canada 11

Australia 11

European Union 11

Japan 11

China 11

Developing Nations and Development Agencies 12

EIA Process 12

Benefits and Challenges to EIA 13

Chapter 2 An Overview of Environmental Impact Assessment in Canada 17

EIA in Canada 17

Canadian EIA Systems 17

Provincial EIA 18

Northern EIA 19

Legal Development of EIA 20

EARP Origins 21

Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 21

Towards 'Higher-Order' Assessment 23

EIA Directions 24

Part II Foundations of Environmental Impact Assessment 27

Chapter 3 Nature and Classification of Environmental Impacts 28

Environmental Effects and Impacts 28

Order of Environmental Effects and Impacts 29

Simple Classification of Effects and Impacts 29

Nature of Environmental Effects and Impacts 30

Temporal Characteristics of Impacts 33

Magnitude, Direction, and Spatial Extent of Impacts 34

Reversibility and Irreversibility of Impacts 35

Likelihood of Impacts 37

Chapter 4 Methods Supporting EIA Practice 39

Methods and Techniques 39

Methods for Impact Identification and Classification 40

Examination of Similar Projects 40

Simple Matrices 41

Interaction Matrices 46

Networks 46

Overlays and Features Mapping 52

Systems Models 53

Expert judgement 53

Methods Selection 55

Techniques for Involvement and Communication 58

Rationale for Public Involvement 58

Levels of Public Involvement 58

Identifying the Publics 60

Methods and Techniques 61

Elements for Successful Public Involvement 61

Part III Environmental Impact Assessment Practice 67

Chapter 5 Screening Procedures 68

Screening 68

Screening Approaches 68

Is an EIA Required? 68

Screening Requirements in Canada 69

Requirements for EIA 69

Type of EIA Required 73

Some General Guidelines for Project Screening 76

Chapter 6 Scoping Procedures 79

EIA Scoping 79

Scoping Types and Functions 79

Scoping Requisites 80

Describe the Proposed Activity 80

Scope Project Alternatives 82

Establish the Environmental Baseline 85

Establish Assessment Boundaries 87

Identify Potential Impacts and Issues 92

Scoping Continuation 94

Chapter 7 Predicting Environmental Impacts 96

Impact Prediction 96

Basic Requirements of Impact Predictions 97

Accuracy and Precision 97

Techniques for Impact Prediction 98

Mechanistic Models 99

Statistical Models 99

Balance Models 99

Experimental Techniques 100

Analogue Techniques 100

Judgemental Techniques 100

Predicting Impacts on the Biophysical Environment 103

What to Predict 103

Techniques 103

Predicting Impacts on the Human Environment 106

What to Predict 106

Challenges to Impact Prediction 106

Addressing Uncertainty in Impact Prediction 109

Verifiable Impact Predictions 110

Chapter 8 Determining Impact Significance 115

Impact Significance 115

Determining Significance 116

Impact Characteristics 116

Impact importance 120

Methods, Techniques, and Guidance 122

Fixed-Point Scoring 124

Rating 125

Paired Comparisons 126

Scope of Significant Impacts 128

Chapter 9 Managing Project Impacts 131

Impact Management 131

Managing Negative Impacts 131

Avoidance 131

Mitigation 132

Rectification 133

Compensation 133

Managing Positive Impacts 134

Creating Benefits 134

Enhancing Benefits 134

Measures That Support Impact Management 135

Environmental Management Systems 135

Environmental Protection Plans 135

Impact Benefit Agreements 136

EIA and Impact Management in Canada 137

Chapter 10 Post-Decision Monitoring 140

Follow-up 140

Follow-up Components 141

Rationale for Post-Decision Monitoring 142

Compliance Monitoring 142

Progress Monitoring 143

Monitoring for Understanding 144

Requirements for Effective Monitoring 145

Objectives and Priorities Identified 145

Targeted Approach to Data Collection 146

Hypothesis-based or Threshold-based Approaches 147

Control Sites 148

Continuity 150

Adaptability, Flexibility, and Timeliness 150

Inclusiveness 151

Monitoring Methods and Techniques 154

Part IV Advancing Principles and Practices in Environmental Impact Assessment 157

Chapter 11 Cumulative Environmental Effects 158

Developing an Awareness of Cumulative Effects 158

Definition of Cumulative Effects 158

Sources of Cumulative Effects 159

Types of Cumulative Effects 159

Pathways of Cumulative Effects 160

Cumulative Effects Assessment 162

Spatial Boundaries for CEA 164

Temporal Boundaries for CEA 166

Methods for CEA 167

Towards a Regional Approach to CEA in Canada 173

Chapter 12 Strategic Environmental Assessment 177

The Basis of Strategic Assessment 177

Systems of SEA 177

Aims and Objectives 179

Types of SEA 181

SEA Frameworks 186

Screening 186

Scoping 186

Assessing Initiatives and Option Impacts 191

Determining Significance 195

Identifying the Preferred Option 195

Follow-up 196

Directions in SEA 196

Appendix I Alternative Means: An Exercise in Project Assessment 199

Appendix II Alternatives To: An Exercise in Strategic Assessment 202.

Notes:

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Local Notes:

Acquired for the Penn Libraries with assistance from the Cornelia Dodderer Fund.

ISBN:

019542090X

OCLC:

61216690