Environmental Impact Assessment

Mineral wastes geopolymeric artificial aggregates as alternative materials for wastewater-treatment processes - Study of structural stability and pH variation in water

by Antonio Albuquerque

Silva I., Castro-Gomes J. & Albuquerque A.
Journal of Materials in Civil Engineering, V. 24, Nº 6, 1-6.

Artificial aggregates produced from mine waste geopolymeric binders were studied as a potential substrate for... more Artificial aggregates produced from mine waste geopolymeric binders were studied as a potential substrate for fixed-film
wastewater-treatment processes (biofilm reactors). Waste geopolymeric artificial aggregates (WGA) of 2–3 cm in size were produced using geopolymeric mine waste mud as a precursor and both sodium silicate and sodium hydroxide as alkaline activators. Seven mixtures were produced with different atomic ratios of sodium silicate to sodium hydroxide (S/H) and of precursor (waste mud) to sodium silicate (P/S), using curing temperatures of 20°C and 130°C, for a total of 112 samples. Structural stability and pH variation after immersion in water were observed over an 18-week period. The results showed that the initial water pH decreased with the increase of the curing time, taking between 17 and 42 days to reach pH 8. The mixture cured at 20°C for 28 days appears to be suitable for use as a substrate for biofilm reactors because the initial water pH was one of the lowest (approximately pH 10), and the time necessary to stabilize it to approximately pH 8 was only 17 days.

Pregled sistema strateške procene uticaja (SPU) u zemljama Jugoistočne Evrope / Overview of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) systems in SEE countries

by Tamara Maricic

Arhitektura i Urbanizam, br. 16-17 , 2005, str. 66-74

Rezime: Strate{ka procena uticaja na `ivotnu sredinu (SPU) predstavqa zna~ajan instrument za ocenu podobnosti planova... more Rezime: Strate{ka procena uticaja na `ivotnu sredinu (SPU) predstavqa zna~ajan instrument za ocenu podobnosti planova i programa sa aspekta uticaja na `ivotnu sredinu. Ukqu~ivawe obaveze dono{ewa SPU u nacionalno zakonodavstvo istovremeno predstavqa bitan preduslov sinhronizacije sa legislativom Evropske Unije.
U trenutku kada je primena SPU u zemqama Jugoisto~ne Evrope jo{ uvek u za~etku, rad }e poku{ati da pru`i komparativni prikaz sistema SPU u ovim zemqama sa zakonskog, institucionalnog i proceduralnog aspekta. Osnovni ciq je otkrivawe potencijalnih smetwi i pote{ko}a u implementaciji, uz razmenu iskustava radi boqeg prilago|avawa ili usavr{avawa postoje}ih sistema.

Kqu~ne re~i: strate{ka procena uticaja na `ivotnu sredinu (SPU); zakonski, institucionalni i proceduralni okvir; Jugoisto~na Evropa

Abstract: Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) represents a significant tool for environmental evaluation of plans and programs. Inclusion of mandatory SEA in national legislative represents at the same time important prerequisite for sinchronisation with European legislative.
In the moment, when SEA application in South East European (SEE) countries is still at the very beginning, this paper will try to show the comparative analisys of SEA systems in these countries from legal, institutional and procedural point of view. The main aim is to discover potential obstacles and barriers in implementation, together with exchange of experiances for future adjustments or development of existing systems.

Key words: SEA; legal, institutional and procedural frameworks; South Eastern Europe

Strategic environmental assessment for dam planning: a case study of South Korea's experience

by Daeryong Park

The Significance of EIA and DPR in the development process-From the developers viewpoint

by Robiah Suratman

Evaluación del impacto de la mina a cielo abierto de Cerredo (Degaña, Asturias) sobre los osos pardos

by César J. Pollo

Co-authored with J. Naves & A. Fernandez-Gil
Resumenes V Jornadas de la SECEM, Vitoria (España). SECEM, 2001

2008 Observaciones de la Comunidad Aymara de Quillagua al proyecto "Pampa Hermosa" presentado por Sociedad Química Minera de Chile SQM S.A.

by Alonso Barros

(in Spanish) Co-authored with the Aymara community of Quillagua in opposition to a groundwater extraction project in community territory

Evaluation of Water Quality with Waterborne Diseases for Assessing Pilgrimage Impact along River Indrayani, Pune (India)

by Ravindra Gavali

Marale S. M., Mahajan D. M., Gavali R., S. Rao K. R
IJEP Vol.2 No.1 January 2012 PP.8-14
DOI: 10.5963/IJEP0201002

Water pollution due to residents and pilgrims causing waterborne health related diseases especially AGI (Acute Gastro... more Water pollution due to residents and pilgrims causing waterborne health related diseases especially AGI (Acute Gastro Enteritis) amongst local population. The river water monitoring was carried and a questioner based survey was used to estimate water-borne and enteric disease incidence amongst the local residents and floating population consisting of pilgrims, tourists etc. 1.75% of local population suffered AGI at Alandi and 1.53% local population suffered due to AGI at Dehu. Various health disorders such as skin itching, ear pain, throat irritation, nausea etc were reported in the pilgrims. Multi-criteria approach is used to evolve composite quality index (CQI). The impact due to occurrence of AGI for various factors calculated using a parameter called as Odd Ratio (OR). It is observed that the odd ratio (OR) has decreased by 28% and 32% in Dehu and by 49% and 63% at Alandi during pilgrimage periods of Ashadi and Kartiki respectively, thereby indicating increased trend of number of people suffering from AGI due to pilgrim activities during pilgrimage period in comparison to non pilgrimage period.
Keywords-Sewage pollution, Pilgrimage activities, Composite Quality Index, Odd Ratio, Skin diseases, Solid Waste

Sesan River Fisheries Monitoring in Ratanakiri Province, Northeast Cambodia: Before and After the Construction of the Yali Falls Dam in the Central …

by Ian Baird

Ian G. Baird and Meach Mean
Sesan Protection Network, Ban Lung, Cambodia (2005)

Avaliação de impactes e Património Cultural: que papel para o arqueólogo e para o património arqueológico?

by Maria Jose de Almeida

Intervenção proferida na 3ª Conferência Nacional de Avaliação de Impactes (CNAI’08) como oradora convidada na sessão plenária “Avaliação de Impactes e Património Cultural” a 24 de Outubro de 2008.

A associação do património cultural à política de ambiente determina a presença deste factor ambiental humano nos... more A associação do património cultural à política de ambiente determina a presença deste factor ambiental humano nos processos de AIA. Por razões de ordem processual, e pela aparente demissão de outros profissionais da área, o descritor património cultural é frequentemente confundido com a realização de trabalhos arqueológicos, sendo arqueólogos os profissionais que sobre ele se pronunciam nas diferentes fases do processo. A imagem possível dos trabalhos arqueológicos realizados em âmbito de AIA é marcada pela diversidade decorrente da deficiente normalização de procedimentos, quer ao nível da execução, quer da sua (dupla) avaliação. Analisam-se duas propostas de normalização, promovidas pelo ex-IPA e pela APA, salientando a importância que a normalização tem na afirmação de padrões de qualidade, credibilização de procedimentos e na compatibilização de metodologias que permitam a leitura integrada da ocupação humana do território ao longo do tempo. A participação de arqueólogos nos processos de AIA está consolidada em Portugal, mas importa garantir que o tratamento do extraordinário manancial de informação recuperado se faça por profissionais com formação adequada, no respeito dos mais elevados critérios de qualidade, ética e deontologia. Só assim se poderá cumprir o maior desafio para o arqueólogo e para o património arqueológico em âmbito de AIA: a utilidade social.

The association between cultural heritage and environmental policies determines the presence of this human factor in the processes of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). Due to procedural reasons and to the apparent dismissal of other professionals of the area, the term “cultural heritage” is often confused with the making of archaeological work, the archaeologists being the professionals who decide on such work in the different stages of the process. The possible representation of archaeological work done in the context of EIA is marked by a diversity that results from a poor standardization of procedures at the levels of their execution and (double) evaluation. This paper discusses two attempts of standardization proposed by the former Portuguese Institute of Archaeology (IPA) and the Portuguese Professional Association of Archaeologists (APA), stressing the importance of standardization on the affirmation of quality principles, the certification of procedures and the compatibility of methodologies so as to offer an integrated reading of human occupation of the territory over time. The participation of archaeologists in EIA processes is well established in Portugal, but imports to guarantee that qualified professionals make the management of the extraordinary amount of information retrieved in these actions, respecting the highest criteria of quality, ethics and deontology. Only then we’ll be able to meet the greatest challenge of both archaeologists and the archaeological heritage in the context of EIA: the social utility.

Impact Assessment and Policy Learning In the European Commission

by Lorenz Hilty

Governance for sustainable development requires policy coherence and Environmental Policy Integration, which are being... more Governance for sustainable development requires policy coherence and Environmental Policy Integration, which are being hindered by difficulties coordinating the two separate impact assessment processes being conducted in the European Commission. One of them, the Commission-wide Impact Assessment process, looks primarily at EU-internal impacts, whereas the other one, Sustainability Impact Assessment (SIA) in DG Trade, looks outward to other countries and intergovernmental organizations. Ideally, the two processes should complement one another, especially as the two are set to continue being done in parallel. The paper uses a case study of the reform of the European sugar regime under a World Trade Organization ruling to demonstrate how the two impact assessment processes could better complement one another. Feedback from the experience had with existing trade agreements could then promote policy learning and inform the negotiations on new agreements. The number of new bilateral and Regional Trade Agreements is expected to continue rising, thus increasing the importance of the Commission-wide Impact Assessment process required for them.

Sustainable management of urban pollution: an integrated approach

by Giovanni Leonardi

THE PRACTICE OF POST-DEVELOPMENT MONITORING IN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT: CLAIMS AND EVIDENCES

by uche okpara

Executive Summary:
“Follow-up”, “auditing”, “impact monitoring”, “compliance monitoring” and “post-development... more Executive Summary:
“Follow-up”, “auditing”, “impact monitoring”, “compliance monitoring” and “post-development monitoring” are familiar to environmental assessment practitioners as members of a family of terms that relate to the general concept of “feedback” in the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) system, and they are commonly used interchangeably in literature. The term “post-development monitoring” is adopted for this study and it is conceptualised as the measurement of environmental variables during project construction and operation to determine the changes which may have occurred as a result of the project. Post-development monitoring represents a crucial point in assessing the predictive force of the EIA procedure and it is becoming widely accepted as the most crucial element of any EIA system. Most countries in developed and developing nations now have some form of EIA monitoring systems. Countries like Canada, Australia and the Netherlands that have long traditions of EIA practice, have well established legislative requirements for EIA monitoring. In UK, monitoring is self-regulatory. In developing countries, monitoring practices are recent and not well coordinated even though there are regulations in place. Information on monitoring is meager, scattered and the lessons learnt from EIA experience not well documented and shared amongst stakeholders especially in Ethiopia, South Africa and Nigeria. While the benefits and needs for monitoring are well documented, and the requirements spelt out, there seem to be only few projects that undergo monitoring in most of the ten countries surveyed in this study. The tasks and responsibility for monitoring are shared amongst proponents, regulators and the public (communities). What each partner does and when, are defined by each countries regulations. While developed countries boast of a robust track record of public participation and openness in their monitoring activities, the developing countries lack well designed process for involving the public and the parties involved lack the required training and character. The study proposed some recommendations which sum up to suggest that post-development monitoring can and will succeed if national governments show high level commitment and make efforts to build information exchange networks across borders.

Health Aspects in EIA

by Salim Vohra

Diálogos Transatlânticos: contribuições da arqueologia consultiva à pesquisa e protecção do Patrim(ó)(ô)nio arqueológico no Brasil e em Portugal

by Maria Jose de Almeida

co-authored with M. Almeida, S.B. Caldarelli, G.A. Cavalcanti, F.A Costa, R.J. Dias, M. Lago, E. Malerbi, J.P.C. Ribeiro, M.C.M.M. Santos and F. Tocchetto

This is the chronicle of a symposium with the same title that was held at the XV Congress of the Brazilian Society of... more This is the chronicle of a symposium with the same title that was held at the XV Congress of the Brazilian Society of Archaeology, on September 22, 2009, in the city of Belém (Pará, Brazil). An analysis of Rescue Archaeology in Portugal and Brazil is done, as well as a presentation of the forms of management and protection of cultural heritage by the public administrations of both countries. The authors offer also two case studies as examples of good-practice experiences in the realm of Rescue Archaeology and make a diagnosis of concerns and challenges that affect the professional practice of archaeology in the process of environmental licensing and in the field of public policies of archaeological heritage preservation and management. The discussion of positive experiences is made from the standpoint of a dialogue between professionals of archaeology from both sides of the Atlantic in order to find the best solutions to cope with the challenges that are posed to the protection of the archaeological heritage and to the assertion of a qualified exercise of archaeological activity.

Spatial Rule-Based Assessment of Habitat Potential to Predict Impact of Land Use Changes on Biodiversity at Municipal Scale

by Scolozzi Rocco

Assessing Environmental Sustainability of Different Apple Supply Chains in Northern Italy

by Alessandro Cerutti

Alessandro K. Cerutti , Daniela Galizia, Sander Bruun, Gabriella M. Mellano, Gabriele L. Beccaro and Giancarlo Bounous.
Published in: M. Finkbeiner(Ed.) Towards Life Cycle Sustainability Management, 2011:341-348

The application of environmental assessment methods in the fruit sector is conventionally divided into a field phase... more The application of environmental assessment methods in the fruit sector is conventionally divided into a field phase and a retail phase. Although there are important differences in the environmental impacts in field phase, a major part of the impacts is related to the management of the fruit and the distribution chain in the retail phase. In this paper, the environmental impact of fruit production is quantified in the production and retail phase of apple production in Piedmont in Northern Italy. Three main scenarios have been identified: (I) direct selling, (II) distribution to local markets and (III) distribution to national markets. A complete life cycle assessment (LCA) has been performed on the three apple supply chains.
Results show the importance of retailing strategies for the environmental sustainability of such food item.

A review of studies applying environmental impact assessment methods on fruit production systems

by Alessandro Cerutti

Alessandro K. Cerutti, Sander Bruun, Gabriele L. Beccaro, Giancarlo Bounous.
Journal of Environmental Management 92 (2011) 2277-2286

Although many aspects of environmental accounting methodologies in food production have already been investigated, the... more Although many aspects of environmental accounting methodologies in food production have already been investigated, the application of environmental indicators in the fruit sector is still rare and no consensus can be found on the preferred method. On the contrary, widely diverging approaches have been taken to several aspects of the analyses, such as data collection, handling of scaling issues, and goal and scope definition. This paper reviews studies assessing the sustainability or environmental impacts of fruit production under different conditions and identifies aspects of fruit production that are of environmental importance. Four environmental assessment methods which may be applied to assess fruit production systems are evaluated, namely Life Cycle Assessment, Ecological Footprint Analysis, Emergy Analysis and Energy Balance. In the 22 peer-reviewed journal articles and two conference articles applying one of these methods in the fruit sector that were included in this review, a total of 26 applications of environmental impact assessment methods are described. These applications differ concerning e.g. overall objective, set of environmental issues considered, definition of system boundaries and calculation algorithms. Due to the relatively high variability in study cases and approaches, it was not possible to identify any one method as being better than the others. However, remarks on methodologies and suggestions for standardisation are given and the environmental burdens of fruit systems are highlighted.

A Study to Minimize or Eliminate Hard Bottom and Reef Impacts from Anchoring Activities in Designated Anchorages at the Ports of Miami and Palm Beach.

by Brian Walker

Walker, B. K. 2010. A Study to Minimize or Eliminate Hard Bottom and Reef Impacts from Anchoring Activities in Designated Anchorages at the Ports of Miami and Palm Beach. Florida DEP report #RM083. Miami Beach, FL. Pp. 59.

Sensitivity Assessment Methodology for use in Environmental Impact Assessment for geodiversity features in Norfolk

by Tim Holt-Wilson

Consultation draft published by the Norfolk Geodiversity Partnership, 2011.

Developments such as road building, flood prevention, mineral extraction, urban development, landfill and agriculture... more Developments such as road building, flood prevention, mineral extraction, urban development, landfill and agriculture have an impact on a wide range of geodiversity assets; geology, geomorphology, soils, water, and geosystem services are all affected. These assets may be valued as Earth heritage and also for the environmental services they perform.

'Environmental Impact Assessment – A guide to procedures' (ODPM 2000) sets out the ground rules for EIA in the UK. The preparation of an environmental statement is mandatory for a range of developments. Elements of geodiversity listed for assessment include:
* Geological, palaeontological and physiographic features,
* Local topography,
* Soil quality and stability,
* Drainage pattern,
* Hydrographic and hydrological features,
* Archaeological features (treated here as cultural features in stratified geological context).

Environmental Impact Assessment is commissioned by developers or their agents. It is frequently requested by planners for ecological, hydrological, archaeological and landscape character assets, so some aspects of geodiversity are thus routinely included in EIA. However impact on the full range of Earth heritage and geosystem assets is not routinely carried out, despite the policy guidance of PPS9.

Scottish Natural Heritage published a handbook on environmental impact assessment (2011), and noted that there are no published techniques or good practice methods relating specifically to geodiversity. This handbook has pioneered Geodiversity Impact Assessment in the UK.

This document presents an integrated EIA methodology for the full range of geodiversity assets in Norfolk. It is intended as a consultation draft, and feedback is actively sought.

Resisting (Nuclear) Power? Environmental Regulation in South Africa

by Carl Death

Published in Review of African Political Economy, 2006, 33(109): 407-424

This article considers the resistance potential of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and their effects upon... more This article considers the resistance potential of Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and their effects upon existing power relationships. It focuses upon the blocking of Eskom's proposed new test nuclear reactor by the environmental NGO Earthlife Africa, at Koeberg, South Africa, the site of Africa's only existing nuclear power plant. This was achieved through their engagement with, and contestation of, the South African EIA process. It occurred within a context of a globally uncertain future for the nuclear industry, and broader questions over the possible role of nuclear power in sustainable development. Whilst initially appearing as an example of environmental resistance against a big development project, by approaching the case through the lens of Michel Foucault's concept of governmentality the article suggests that Earthlife Africa's challenge reinforced existing power relationships and legitimised an essentially pro-development EIA process. This is particularly evident when considering the relationship between EIAs and established scientific authorities, and the problematic role of public participation. However, by regarding the EIA as an example of 'bearing witness' some sense of its resistance potential can be reclaimed. The article concludes by suggesting that a broader debate on nuclear power in South Africa is desirable, and that environmental NGOs should seriously consider the degree to which they accept and participate in the EIA process.