Environmental Impacts and Aspects

1
Environmental Impacts and Aspects

• Section 1

2
Slide Overview

• Environmental Terminology
• Environmental Aspects and Impacts
• Examples
• Sources of Data
• Site Approach

3
Environmental Effects

• Environmental Effect
• Any effect or change that a project may cause
  in/to the environment
• Note Effect is a noun that means a result for
  example, global warming has an effect on sea
  temperatures.
• Affect is a verb and means to change, impact or
  influence, for example, global warming may
  affect our capacity to feed our global
  population.

4
Environmental Aspect

• Environmental Aspect
• The sum of the effects or changes that a project
  may cause in the environment
• It is the element of a facilities/sites
  activities, products or services which can or
  does interact with the environment
• Environmental aspects can be continuous, periodic
  or only associated with certain event and
  conditions (such as an emergency).

5
Significant Environmental Aspect

• A significant environmental aspect is an aspect
  that may produce a significant environmental
  impact
• Something is significant if it important in
  effect, or substantial. In statistical terms,
  significant indicates that it is greater than
  would would be expected by chance.

6
Environmental Impact

• Is any change to the environment (whether adverse
  or beneficial), resulting from a facilities/sites
  activities, products or services.

7
Characteristics of Environmental Impacts

• Magnitude (severe, moderate, minimal)
• Gradual/Immediate
• Direct/In-direct
• Extent (wide area, localised)
• Duration (short or long-term, intermittent,
  continuous)
• Timing (during construction, use phase,
  decommissioning, restoration phases)
• Reversible/Permanent
• Nature (positive or negative, cumulative)

8
Significant Environmental Impact

• There are four perspectives for rating an impact
  as significant
• Statistical
• Ecological/environmental
• Project
• Social/cultural

9
Examples

• In summary, an aspect is the cause and the impact
  is the effect.

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Container Port (Dockland)
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Composting of Bio-Active Wastes
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Landfill Site
13
Uncontrolled Dumping and Burning of Wastes
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Electric Car
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Dam
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Stormwater Drains

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Transport and Bailing of Plastics
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Gravel Extraction
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Construction Beach Front
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Road Construction
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Sources of Data to Determine Aspects and Impacts

• Existing Environmental Impact Assessments
• Site Information
• Maps, geology, area, prevailing wind/weather
• Flow process diagrams
• IPPC applications, Licences, Planning Permissions
• Life Cycle Analyses
• Environment Agency, Local Government, etc.
• Risk Assessments
• COSHH forms
• Environmental Management System (EMS)

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Sources of Data to Determine Aspects and Impacts

• Environmental Compliance Audits
• Pollution Prevention Audits
• Any Previous Legal Actions
• Site Personnel
• Visual Inspections (Walk-Around)
• Existing Documented Procedures (i.e. for
  monitoring emissions)
• Emergency Plans

23
Sources of Data to Determine Aspects and Impacts

• Life-Cycle Analysis
• Process Flow Diagrams
• Emission Inventories
• Process Hazard Analysis
• Project Safety Sheets

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Site Approach

• For many industrial sites, it is necessary to
  identify and determine the significance of the
  sites environmental aspects and impacts.
• Tables Heading should include
• Aspect Identification
• Corresponding Impacts
• Significance (i.e. based on factors such as legal
  requirements, company policy, community concern,
  health and safety considerations)
• Objectives and responsibility (i.e. improve
  conditions or maintain current operating
  levels/procedures)

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Overview Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• Section 2

26
Slide Overview

• Engineering and EIA
• Introduction of Environmental Impact Analysis
  (EIA)
• EIA Processes
• EIA Methodologies
• Assessment Methods
• The Future

27
Engineering and EIA

• Why would an engineering project need an EIA?
• Why do engineers need to be familiar with the EIA
  process?
• How will EIA impact your career?
• What is the role of The Engineer in Society?

28
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• Process of identifying and evaluating
  environmental, social and other relevant effects
  of a proposed project/development/activity
• Assists decision-makers evaluate options and
  impacts holistically
• European Directive on Environmental Impact
  Assessment (Directive 97/11/EC)

29
Purpose of an EIA

• Inter-disciplinary decision-making tool, designed
  to be transparent and holistic
• Consider potential environmental impacts and
  implications early in the planning process
• Identify potential solutions to mitigate against
  negative environmental and social impacts

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Purpose of an EIA

• Shape projects/development to suit local
  environments
• An EIA is conducted so that an Environmental
  Statement can be produced which will be presented
  to the planning authority and other key decision
  makers

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Summary

• The EIA is undertaken by the developer and a
  final Environmental Statement is prepared.
• The Environmental Statement and supporting
  information is then considered by the relevant
  statutory body
• The statutory body are required to refuse
  projects which are detrimental

32
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

• SEA involves the definition and evaluation of the
  impacts of a strategic action
• For example, a plan, programme or strategy.
• It aims to contribute to the integration of
  environmental considerations into strategic
  decision-making
• EIA based method, applied to plans and programmes
  rather than projects

33
SEA

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
  Directive
• Applies to a wide range of plans and programmes
  for instance, town and country planning and land
  use
• Requires an environmental assessment of plans and
  programmes with a view to promote sustainable
  development
• For plans/programmes after 21 July 2004 or those
  not adopted before 21 July 2006

34
Essential Information

• Under Directive 97/11/EC (and now 85/337/EEC),
  Article 5 specifies the minimum amount of
  information which developers have to provide on
  their project/development
• Description of the project (design, size, etc.)
• A description of the aspects of the environment
  likely to be significantly affected by the
  project
• The data required to identify and assess the main
  environmental effects

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Essential Information (cont)

• A description of any measures for eliminating or
  reducing any significant adverse effects
• An outline of the main alternatives studies by
  the developer and a clear rationale of the
  choices made taking into account the
  environmental effects
• A non-technical summary of all of the
  before-mentioned information
• Any possible difficulties in data collection

36
UK Legislation

• EIA Directive 85/337/EEC
• Most projects will be covered by the Planning
  Regulations, including
• The Environmental Assessment Regulations 1988 (SI
  No. 1207)
• Town and Country Planning (Assessment of
  Environmental Effects) Regulations 1988 (SI No.
  1199) as amended
• Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Regulations
  1988 (SI No 1221)

37
UK Legislation

• Highways (Assessment of Environmental Effects)
  Regulations (SI No. 1241) as amended
• The Electricity and Pipeline Works (Assessment of
  Environmental Effects) Regulations 1990 (SI No.
  1442)

38
EIA Process

• Project preparation
• Notification to Competent Authority
• Screening Is an EIA or SEA required?
• Scoping (includes the EIA process)
• Environmental Studies (including literature
  reviews)
• Preparation of the Environment Impact Statement
  (EIS)
• Review of the EIS by the relevant stakeholders
  (for example, planning authority)
• Decision (Grant or Refuse Application)
• If granted, project gets underway and monitoring
  starts

39
Notification

• In some European Countries it is necessary for
  the developer to notify the Competent Authority
  in advance of the application for development.
• In the UK this is only voluntary and can be done
  informally.
• Some developers choose to inform the Planning
  Authority of their intention as it can help build
  stakeholder relationships
• Adversely, for possibly contentious projects,
  some developers may chose to be discrete until
  the screening process

40
Screening

• Information to determine if an EIA is required,
  is contained within two schedules of the Annexes
  of the Directive.
• Schedule 1 All projects listed within this
  schedule must have an EIA
• Schedule 2 An EIA will only be required for if
  the project is of significant size or nature to
  give rise to significant environmental effects.
• The Competent Authority (CA) is responsible for
  deciding if an EIA is required.

41
Scoping

• Scoping is used to identify key issues the
  content and extent of the environmental
  information to be included
• Scoping methods include
• Stakeholder consultation (legal requirement)
• Environment Agency, Local Authority, Residents,
  National Trust etc.
• Relevant stakeholders must be given opportunity
  to comment
• Scoping is an ongoing exercise
• A poor scoping exercise will negatively influence
  the quality of the final ES
• A developer can ask the CA for a Scoping Opinion
  (i.e. issues to be covered in the environmental
  information)
• Take account of abnormal events

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Scoping Questions

• Will construction or operation of the project
  cause physical changes in the locality
  (waterways, land-use, run-off)
• Will construction or operation of the project
  require the use of resources (renewable or
  non-renewable, scarce, fuel, aggregates, water,
  land)

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Scoping Questions

• Will the project produce any waste
  materials/by-products. Also consider the
  decommissioning stage.
• Will the project cause any nuisance (noise, light
  pollution, heat, odour)
• Will there be a risk of accidents or injury
  during the life-cycle of the project
• Will the project impact on social characteristics
  (employment, schooling, housing)

44
Scoping Questions

• Could the project lead to releases of
  contamination/pollution to the environment (air,
  water, land)
• Will the project require the use or supply of any
  toxic or potentially hazardous materials (what
  are the health and safety implications,
  stakeholder concern, perceived risks)

45
Environmental Studies

• The developer must conduct suitable studies to
  gather the information required in Article 5 of
  the Directive and also identified from the
  Scoping exercise.

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Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

• An EIS is a report which summarises the
  anticipated environmental impact of a
  project/development.
• The EIS should also include comment on the
  non-project/development scenario (equivalent to
  the current environmental conditions)

47
Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)

• The developer submits all of the environmental
  information gathered in the form of a EIS, along
  with the planning application.
• The CA will consider the accuracy, scope and data
  presented in the EIA in the decision to grant or
  decline planning permission
• If the EIS is inadequate or incomplete, the
  developer will be asked to provide additional
  information
• The decision (and the decision process) of the CA
  must be made available to the public

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Rules of a Good EIS

• Non-technical summary
• Clear, concise structure, including a table of
  contents, figures etc.
• Good use of diagrams, flow charts, graphics and
  photographs where appropriate
• Reads as one single document with appropriate
  cross-referencing
• Clear description of the development/ project
• Written in an impartial and professional manner
  using appropriate consistent language (including
  a glossary if necessary)

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Rules of a Good EIS (cont)

• All information is fully referenced and is of the
  correct scientific rigour
• Any complex issues are clearly explained (as if
  to a lay audience)
• Full methodology for all studies
• Provides clear evidence of consultations
• Clear discussions on alternative options
• Presentation of ongoing monitoring techniques and
  any forms of abatement

50
Project Monitoring

• On-going repetitive measurement of environmental
  variables (as specified in the ES) during and
  after project/development

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EIA Assessment Methods

• Section 3

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Functions of EIA Methods

• Impact Identification
• Impact Prediction
• Impact Interpretation
• Impact Costing
• Communication of Information
• Devising Monitoring Schemes

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Various EIA Methods

• Checklists
• Matrices
• Networks
• Professional Judgement
• Weighting/Scaling
• Overlays

54
Checklists

• Annotate environmental factors to be addressed.
• Vary in complexity (simple to complex)
• Can be sector specific or general
• Highly adaptable to individual sites and projects
• Not effective in identifying higher order impacts
  or inter-relationship between impacts

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Checklist Example Contents

• Sources of Impacts
• Industrial Processes
• Receptors of Impacts
• Location of sensitive receptors
• Environmental Impacts
• Environmental changes
• Risk analysis
• Mitigation Measures
• Additional Comments

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Matrices

• A Matrix is a grid-like table
• Used to identify interaction between project
  activities and environmental characteristics
• Entries are made in cells to identify impacts and
  their significance/severity
• Can be complex or simply

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Types of Matrices

• Leopold Interaction Matrix
• Well known system.
• Complicated (88 environmental characteristics by
  100 project actions)
• Simple
• Often base don the Leopold design, but of limited
  or specified scope
• Component Interaction
• Simple tables listing specific factors relevant
  to the project

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Leopold Matrix

• Each cell shows two values (one to quantify
  magnitude, and one to measure significance/importa
  nce.
• Numerical cell values from 10 to -10 for both,
  to indicate beneficial or detrimental effects.

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Leopold Matrix

• Project
  Features
• Env. Characteristics

Magnitude
Importance
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Methodology for Completing a Leopold Matrix

• Identify the actions/aspects of the project
  across the top of the table
• For each aspect, all of the potential
  environmental characteristics/impacts should be
  listed down the left side of the table
• For each cell where there is an environmental
  impact, rank its magnitude (top left of the box)

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Methodology for Completing a Leopold Matrix (2)

• The importance of the impact should then be
  inserted in the bottom right of the box.
• The higher the numbers (1-10 for both scales) the
  grater the magnitude and impact
• A written summary should accompany the table
  identifying the main areas for potential
  environmental harm

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Benefits of Leopold

• Easy to use
• Minimal personnel training
• Low cost
• Transparent
• Easily understood by a lay audience
• Shows which factors were considered
• Clearly shows where decisions were made

63
Limitations of Leopold

• Subjective
• Ordinal magnitude (importance ranking) can be
  manipulated arithmetically
• The same impact can be recorded in several areas
  and can lead to double-counting
• Some regard the matrix as a comprehensive EIA
  method
• Alternative project designs require separate
  matrices, making it hard for comparison

64
Networks

• Networks are usually displayed pictorially or a s
  a diagram
• Illustrate the cause-effect relationship of
  project activities and environmental
  characteristics.
• Good for identifying second-order environmental
  impacts

65
Sorensen

• Network method
• Cause-condition-effect interactions and linkages
• Pictorial method using a flow/process chart
• Easy to convey information to the reader
• Quality of network is highly dependant on the
  network designer
• Can become too complex and focused on trivial
  matters

66
Advantages of Sorensen

• No numerical (no subjective judgements or
  improper arithmetic operations)
• All project options can be displayed in one
  matrix, making comparisons easier
• Less chance of recording an impact more than once
• Logical arrangement of impacts for ecological
  scoping and baseline study formulation

67
Professional Judgement

• Expert prior knowledge of the EIA process and/or
  the type of project can allow individuals and
  companies to develop data banks, reports, manuals
  and other resources for use on future projects.
• Professional experience and judgement can be
  focused using interactive methods
• Delphi Technique

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Delphi Technique

• Method for accessing expert opinion by
  systematically soliciting the advice of a
  specified number of experts, and then determining
  a consensus from the advice.
• Establish a monitoring team (2 people) and an
  expert panel (usually 8-10)
• Administer a questionnaire on the issues
• Collate responses and draft a second
  questionnaire based on responses
• Administer the second questionnaire
• Summarise consensus

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Overlays

• System of representing data is a geographical or
  pictorial form
• Transparent overlays which contain specific
  information are laid over a location map to form
  a comprehensive, aggregate may
• Most common technique was developed by McHarg
  (1969) as a land-use planning tool
• Now typically complimented by GIS

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Assessment Methods

• Environmental Impacts
• Leopold Matrix
• Sorensen Matrix
• Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA)
• Cost-Benefit Analysis
• Social Scoping/Stakeholder Dialogue
• Measurement/Prediction of Impact Magnitudes
• Assessment of Impact Significance
• Communication

71
Factors Influencing Methodology

• It is usually best to administer at least two
  different methodologies to ensure reasonable
  coverage of issues as some techniques have
  weaknesses
• The type and size of proposal
• The number (if any) of alternative proposals to
  be considered
• Resources (personnel, capital, time)
• Experience of EIA team
• Ensure the methodology is suitable (for project,
  the environment and is within the capacity of the
  team)

72
Ecological Impact Assessment (EcIA)

• Institute of Ecology and Environmental
  Management, UK, has a set of guidelines for EcIA
• These guidelines
• Standardise the approach by providing a common
  framework
• Ensure scientific rigour
• Provide decision-makers with the relevant
  information on the ecological impacts associated
  with a project/development

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Requirements for an EcIA

• EcIA is required
• At the scoping stage (to determine which
  ecological resources to monitor)
• During the evolution of the project (to ensure
  ecosystems have not been missed, and to take
  account of any new impacts. Also, to identify
  mitigation strategies and opportunities for
  enhancement)
• To determine the success of the mitigation
  strategies
• To determine if ecological compensation is
  required

74
Baseline Study

• The assessment of impacts should be undertaken in
  relation to the baseline conditions (either
  current, or predicted for when the project will
  start)
• Baseline studies provide a quantitative
  description of various environmental conditions
  existing prior to the project/ development,
  against which subsequent changes (both positive
  or negative) can be predicted or measured
  (essentially the cumulative impacts)

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Considering Baseline Conditions

• Baseline conditions may change naturally over
  time regardless if the project goes ahead or not
• Future conditions will change subject to
• Environmental trends (changes in rainfall, global
  temperatures)
• Neighbouring developments (which may influence
  run-off, migration patterns, levels of air
  pollution)

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Example Aspects of Ecological Structures

• Ecological Processes - (i.e. nutrient and
  population cycles, seasonal behaviour,
  reproduction rates)
• Human Influences - (i.e. farming practices,
  pollution, transport, public access, weeds and
  GMOs, mowing)
• Available Resources - (i.e. minerals and
  nutrients, food and water)

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Example Aspects of Ecological Structures

• Natural Processes (i.e. floods cycles, fire
  events, storms, prevailing winds)
• Ecological Relationships - (i.e. food-webs)
• Ecological Roles (i.e. herbivore, predator,
  fungi, decomposer)
• Ecosystem Properties (i.e. carrying capacity,
  bio-assimilative capacity, productivity,
  populations)

78
Cost-Benefit Analysis

• Economic technique for project appraisal
• Can be used to cot both environmental and
  social impacts
• Must take into account the economics of time
  (discounting over a project life-span)
• Viewed by some unfavourably as it assigns
  financial value to environmental resources

79
Impact Analysis/Magnitude Prediction

• This is the process of predicting the magnitude
  of changes (from the proposed project/development)
  from the baseline conditions.
• Three types of predictions
• Quality predictions based on scientific knowledge
  (quantitative analysis, risk assessment)
• Forecasts (i.e. Delphi, modelling)
• Guesstimates (frequently based on the hunches of
  experienced personnel)

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The Future

• Sustainability Assessment (SA)
• Aims to influence the decision prior to any
  development, shifting the assessment to the front
  of the project
• In some cases EIA is appears too late in the
  decision-making process
• SA is a pro-active assessment
• EIA is a reactive assessment

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Sustainability Assessment (SA)

• SA will focus on the triple bottom line framework
  
• Whilst EIA is believed by some to be too
  environment focused at the expense of social and
  economic factors
• Can be applied to everything policies, plans,
  programmes, services, strategies, planning,
  products, parliamentary decisions
• Project Sustainability Management (PSM) is the
  practical implementation tool of SA.

82
PSM Guidelines

• International Federation of Consulting Engineers
  (FIDIC) guidelines can be found at
• http//www1.fidic.org/resources/contracts/describ
  e/FI-EN-T-AA-10.asp?back/bookshop/prod_page.aspP
  roductCodeFI-EN-T-AA-10price20
• FIDIC homepage www.fidic.org/

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Cromarty Bridge Video

• Part 4

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Cromarty Bridge Project

• The building of the Cromarty Bridge across the
  Cromarty Firth, Scotland
• Bridge linked the major towns of Inverness to
  Edinburgh via the A9
• The video shows construction processes
• Some limited presentation of the environmental
  aspects associated with the construction phase