Environmental Impact Assessment - Essay Example

The Use of Risk/Health Assessment in Environmental Impact Assessment December 18, 2007 Prepared for (Abstract: This report looks into the Risk/health assessment been used in Environmental Impact Assessment and finds the potential for extending the use of risk/health assessment, taking two case studies drawn from different industrial sectors. The analysis is based on Environmental Impact Statements issued by the concerned authorities) (Word count: 1909 excluding Title page, Content Table and Reference) Table of Contents Sl. No. Heading Page no. 1. Introduction 3 2. Environmental Impact Assessment 3 3. Risk Assessment 4 4. How has environmental/health risk assessment been used in these EIAs 5 5. Case Study 1 - McAlpine PPS Pipe Line System Joint Venture - Lower Quinton to King's Coughton Pipeline 6 6. Case Study 2: Portland Bunkering Facility: - Development of fuel Bunkering Facilities at Portland Port, Portland Dorsel. 8 7. What potential is there for extending the use of environmental/health risk assessment in these EIAs 9 8. Conclusion 10 9. References 11 Introduction Environmental Impact Assessment is a management tool to forecast the impact that a project will have on the environment and to find ways to reduce unacceptable impact.1 Risk Assessment is an important aspect of environmental Impact Assessment. Risk Assessment and Impact Assessment deal with uncertainty. Both adopt multidisciplinary approach. They are applied in predictive assessment processes that seek to control and improve policy and plan implementation. We have taken the Environmental Impact statement of (A) Mc Alpines -PPS Pipeline System Joint Venture - Lower Quinton to King's Coughton Proposed Gas Pipeline for analysis. Using the Environmental Impact Statements, the use of Risk Assessment as part of EIA is examined, drawing out the points the EIS should have covered. Environmental Impact Assessment is a 'generic term for a process that seeks to blend administration planning, analysis and public involvement in assessment prior to taking decision'2. This is an approach, which seeks to improve development by prior assessment. Impact Assessment as multiple uses. EIA is more than a technocratic tool, and can be used as a policy instrument, a planning tool, and a means for public involvement. It goes beyond its predictive values to improve decision-making and environmental management in the politico-social environment. EIA is undertaken for the following reasons3: Identifies the probable environmental risk and problem areas. Helps in preventing adverse environmental effects. Assures formulation and adherence to adequate procedures for managing environmental risks and for compliance with the procedures. Helps in compliance with statutory regulations and improves relations with regulatory authorities. Improves financial planning through the identification of future and potential capital, operating and maintenance costs associated with the activities related to environment thus strengthening the bottom line of the corporate. Prepares for emergency and crisis management. Enhances the environmental awareness and responsibility throughout the corporate hierarchy. Facilitates obtaining insurance coverage for environmental impairment liabilities as and when occurs Improves corporate image. Risk Assessment: can be described by following the definition of Munn (1979) as a process of identifying the likely consequences for the bio-geo-physical environment and for man's health and welfare of implementing particular activities and for carrying this information, at a stage when it can materially affect their decision, to those responsible for sanctioning those proposals.4 Risk Assessment can be defined as 'the process of assigning magnitudes and probabilities to the adverse effects of human activities (including technical innovation) or natural catastrophes (Horlick-Jones et al., 1995; Taylor, 1993). This process involves identifying hazards.... and using measurement, testing using mathematical or statistical methods to quantify the relationship between the initiative event and the effects...(Suter, 1993:3).5 According to Suter 1993:3, Risk Assessment can provide: A quantitative basis from which to compare and prioritize risks A systematic means of improving understanding or risks A Means of making assessment more useful and credible by giving probabilities to predicted impacts.6 Risk Assessment can: Identify problems early on Allows priority to be set Justify Risk management Strategies Allow fair comparisons Engender confidence in Projects Save money by focusing in key problems A) How has environmental/health risk assessment been used in these EIAs We have worked on finding answer first by analyzing the facts given on the Environmental Assessments Statements of the two projects selected by us. Then in conclusion we will delve into the potential for extending the use of environmental/health risk Assessment. There is no hard and fast rule in formulating the model of Risk assessment in environmental context. Here we have taken a comprehensive list of the questions to be addressed in EIA from 'Environmental Business Management (p 108)7. We will analyze from the Environmental Assessment Statements of the two projects mentioned and will find how the risk assessments are covered by the EISs. We will try to find out how the EIS addresses this following question. 1) Can it operate safely, without serious risk of dangerous accidents or long-term health effects 2) Can the local environment cope with the additional waste and pollution it will produce 3) Will its proposed location conflict with nearby land uses; preclude later developments in the surrounding area 4) How will it affect local fisheries, farms or industry 5) Is there sufficient infrastructure, such as roads, sewers, to support it 6) How much water, energy and other resources will it consumes, and are these in adequate supply 7) What human resources will it require or replace, and what social effects may this have on the community 8) What damage may it inadvertently cause to national assets as virgin forest, or historical and cultural sites Let's look into the facts of the project Case Study 1 McAlpine PPS Pipe Line System Joint Venture - Lower Quinton to King's Coughton Pipeline: Transco proposed to construct a new buried pipeline for the transportation of natural Gas between existing Block Valve at Lower Quinton and the existing above ground Installation at King's Coughton in the Stratford-upon-Avon District of Warwickshire. The EIS covers various aspects and includes site selection - the process of alternative route selection. Under Pipeline Construction it covers Pre-construction works, working with preparation, Pipe laying, Re-instatement, Road Crossing, Watercourse crossings and Pipeline operation, Maintenance and Decommissioning. Under Potential Impacts and proposed mitigation Measures it talks about Planning Issues, Physical Environment, Agriculture, Landscape and visual assessment, Water Resources, Ecology, Archaeology and cultural heritage, Traffic and Transportation, Noise and Vibration, Emission, Socio Economic, Tourism and Recreation. Under Environmental management it talks about public relation activities including interaction with the local residents and farmers. It seeks to get consent under various legislatures like Town & Country Planning Act 1990, Water Resources Act 1991, Land Drainage Act 1991, Environmental Protection Act 1990, Control of Pollution Act 1974, Waste Management Licensing Regulations 1994, Hedgerow Regulations 1997, Highway Act 1980, New Roads & Street Works Act 1991, Wildlife & Countryside Act 1981, Protection of Badgers Act 1992, EC Habitat Directory 1992, from all the regulatory authorities including Local Planning Authority, Environment Agency, Environmental Health, Local Highway Authority, English Nature and Defra. It did the project justification by looking into the Needs of the project, Strategic Alternatives, and options considered. Adequate work has been done in Route selection, description and justification. Comparative Evaluation is done for alternate routes before finalizing. From the report we find that in project (a) the EIS covers all the questions we have formulated for Environmental Impact Assessment. Case Study 2 Portland Bunkering Facility: - Development of fuel Bunkering Facilities at Portland Port, Portland Dorsel. The proposed project involves the re-establishment of a fuel bunkering facility previously operated by the Royal Navy. The project will involve the re-use of four existing underground storage tanks located at the east weare Port of the Port Estate, the installation of Pipeline from the tanks (partially along the former route) to the inner break water of Portland harbour, the construction of a new berth at the Inner Break water and other facilities including buildings and offices. The EIA was conducted in compliance with the legislature "The Town and Country Planning (Environmental Assessment) (England and Wales) Regulation 1999", which refer to the development projects seeking permission under the Town and Country Planning Act and "The harbour Works (Environmental Impact Assessment) Regulation 1999. They have consulted the statutory authorities and other interested parties. The relevant legislature, planning policies, plans and guidance that apply to a project of this nature has been appraised. The Assessment covers the following areas like Water, Ecology & Nature Conservation, Human effects, Geology, Land contamination, Ground water, Geo technical issues, Noise, Air Quality, Transport, Cultural Heritage, landscape, Recreation and Amenity, and Social Economy. The EIS details the proposed Physical Construction and subsequent management and operation of the proposed facility. It gives details about the alternative design, location and operation management systems considered and how the final decision narrowed down. It also talks about the assessment conducted on the existing facilities like existing storage tanks. The all the tanks were found to be in good condition. There is no sign of significant water ingress of water other than though the access shafts. It is assessed that it is unlikely that any loss of fuel from the tanks will occurs as a result of their re-use. It has been proposed to re-examine a portion of diagonal cracks in the Tank 3 & 4 following cleaning of the affected areas to confirm that these is no damage to the underling cast iron lining. However it is stated that there seems to be negligence in decommissioning of the tanks by the Royal Navy. They were supposed to be emptied and cleaned prior to disposal. Actually it was observed that only in tank 1 was focused. Only cursory cleaning was done on Tank2, 3 & 4. We find the EIS covers more on the external aspects of EIA but does not give any details about internal information like the kind of resources like water, power, manpower to be used etc. It is more of a kind of fulfillment of obligatory responsibilities rather than an extensive statement, which could have built the confidence of all the stakeholders. It lacks in scope to be used as a powerful tool for the project implementation. However it meets the safety requirement of the external society. B) What potential is there for extending the use of environmental/health risk assessment in these EIAs The uses of Risk/Health Assessments in the EIS can be extended further for the benefit of all. This can be used as Planning tool and a decision making tool8. The EIS can be used as a warning system from threat on environmental quality, life support systems, human welfare and social stability.9 It also can help in uniting the science of Environmental analysis with the politics of Resource Management (Graham Smith 1993: 95). It can help ensure that planners and decision makers are made more accountable for their actions, which will force them to give proper importance about any proposal. The EIA should be followed up with Retrospective Impact Assessment, to be initiated after a project gets underway. This will result in documenting the actual effects of the project undertaken, which can be used as reference for future activities. It will help in understanding and better future planning. It can be extended to Regional Risk Assessment, where it seeks to establish the risks likely to affect a region (Suter, 1993: 365-375) Assessments can be applied above project level in Programme Impact Assessment, where it includes cumulative impacts triggered by a set of related projects and Strategic Environmental Assessment which is a form of policy or programme focused, tiered, nested or sequential environmental impact assessment that seeks to provide a framework within which project, programme and policy impact assessment can take place.10 Another expansion can be sought in Issue Definition Assessment. Issue Definition Assessment is defined as the evolution of a perceived environmental or soci-economic problem that has yet to be demonstrated to have actually happened. Issue Definition Assessment determines the state of knowledge and show what research is needed or whether the risk can be safely dismissed. Conclusion The Risk Assessment plays a very important role in Environmental Impact Assessment. The EIA can play a vital role in shaping the planning and programming of industry, locality, country and the globe. It not only has social impact, but it also has economic impact on the stakeholders, the corporate, local authority, and country and to the extent to the global level. References Armour, 1990: 4; Impact Assessment Bulletin 1990: 8(1-2), special issue entitled: 'Integrating Impact Assessment into the Planning process: International perspective and experience'; Graham Smith, 1993:12 Barrow, CJ. Environmental and Social Impact - an Introduction, 1997 published by ARNOLD. Defra http://www.defra.gov.uk/ENVIRONMENT/risk/eramguide/index.htm McAlpines PPS Pipeline Systems - Joint Venture, Environment Statement, Environmental Statement - Lower Quinton to Kings Coughton proposed Gas Pipeline. (December 2002) North Klaus. Environmental Business Management, Second Edition, 1997, published by International Labour Office, Geneva. Portland Bunkers International Ltd., Environmental Statement - Portland Fuel Bunkering Facility (April 2001) Wathen Peter, Environmental Impact assessment: Theory and Practice, taken from the abstract published in http://books.google.com/bookshl=en&lr=&id=8A6wLryImBYC&oi=fnd&pg=PP11&sig=vC72JVaRJvi47Xkj7VWhUZy-Oow&dq=risk+assessment+in+environmental+Impact+Assessment#PRA1-PA6,M1 Read More