Importance Of Environmental Impact Assessments

Importance Of purlieual Impact AssessmentsThe milieu that we live in is the intromission on which exclusively life is based on. We affect to preserve and protect the rude(a) environs and by implementing environmental impact opinions we cumulus sustain the environment for future organic evolution and non ruin it.Environmental impact discernments (EIAs) be becoming increasingly important any t doddering over the world, and the need to per formula environmental impact assessments book been made compulsory in a lot of countries. In southeast Africa the environmental laws atomic number 18 in truth strict to protect the environment of the country that we live in.EIAs are performed on the sites where new developments are scheduled to be undertaken or where there is a planned extension of previously veritable pukes, to assess the impact that the developments bequeath have on the environment. One person cannot perform an environmental impact assessment alone, but rather a team of environmental assessment practitioners (EAPs).The environmentThe word environment has a very broad spectrum of areas that it could consist of, but it is most commonly used to describe the of course occurring environment. It is the world we live in, work in, play in, and includes all living (and non-living) things that we encounter on earth. (Aucamp, 2009, p.1).The environment has the ability to vary as time goes by. Therefore the species or organisms that live in an environment need to be able to adapt to these changes in their living environments in order to survive. The environment provides resources for different types of projects. These resources are all smash of the environment and prove to be a very crucial part of our lives.The environment is the foundation of future life and needs to be saved and preserved.Environmental Impact AssessmentAn environmental impact assessment (EIA) is defined by Canter (1999) as the fleshification and estimation of the impacts that a planned project could potentially have on various workings of the environment. These impacts can occur directly, as well as indirectly and include both environmental and friendly implications.Environmental impact assessment of proposed development should prove that a project does not have a major negative effect on the environment. If a project does have a significant impact on the environment, the environmental impact assessment should show that these impacts can be mitigated to such an result such that it doesnt have a great effect on the environment.An environmental impact assessment is not just a document, but rather a process that is followed. This process can be described as very flexible, since there are m some(prenominal) different methods and techniques of performing an EIA. EIAs should only be performed in one case a well proposed project has been planned.Main activities that take place during an EIADuring an environmental impact assessment a lot of crucial steps need to be followed and it is very important that all of these steps are completed thoroughly to ensure that the EIA has been performed correctly.These are the four main activities involved in an EIAScopingStakeholder involvementEnvironmental assessmentsRelated legal aspectsThese activities provide be explained individually finishedout the remainder of this report.ScreeningScreening is the process that needs to be undertaken to establish whether or not an environmental impact assessment has to be done. This process ( viewing) is done by compiling all the indispensable given information or, if there is not teeming information, a brief assessment or site visit needs to be done. The level at which an EIA must be performed can also be determined by implementing cover version.The steps that can be followedAfter screening has been completed, decisions on how to continue with the development can be made. The steps that can be followed to perform screening are as followsInitial meeting with the promoter of the proposed developmentThe environmental assessment practitioner that has been placed in charge of the specific project needs to meet with the person who is promoting the new development or the extension of an old development. They have to discuss all the aspects of the proposed project. These aspects are things like the earth of the project, the size, cost, main stakeholders, opposition and whether some parts of the project are negotiable or not. The environmental assessment practitioner needs to know who all the spate are that are in charge of the different categories of the project in order to assess exactly what all the impacts of the project will be.Visit the proposed or existing location of the siteDuring a visit to the intended site, a lot of necessary information can be gathered that is needed for the screening of the project. The exact co-ordinates of the site can be obtained as well as pictures. This makes the project more realistic to assess and easie r to visualize once you are no longer on site. While on site, observation can be made and in situ tests can be conducted. The surrounding areas can also be assessed and therefore the whole screening process becomes more intense, which allows for more accurate results concerning the level of the environmental impact assessment that possibly has to be performed.A written report of all applicable legislationAll the legal requirements that involve an EIA have to be examined. Regulations and rules regarding EIAs harmonise to the subject field Environmental Management sour (NEMA) need to be adhered to at all times. These regulations could also determine whether a basic or full scale environmental impact assessment is required. Knowledgeable ex spiriteds should be conscious when working with all the legal aspects of a project during screening.ScopingAfter the screening process has been completed, or even at the same time as the screening process, scoping can commence. During scoping t he most important issues are attended to. These are the issues that have been raised during the screening of the proposed development that has caused the greatest concerns among the environmental assessment practitioners, the people in charge of the project and the general humans. Therefore this process mainly highlights which impacts will have the greatest effect and provides a trend for the final assessment. Scoping is necessary for projects of all sizes.Scoping should be performed throughout the project. Once the site for the proposed development has been finalised the angle of the scoping will differ. Then there will be less issues and more attention can be placed on minute aspects of the assessment.According to Hamilton (2000) additional time is needed to assess unknown impacts that the project may have on the environment and the social community. This is caused by ineffective scoping. take onivitiesDuring the scoping process a number of activities take place. These activitie s includeIdentifying the key stakeholders and introducing them to the project and the stakeholders list.Highlighting the most significant issues, values and concerns that need attention during an EIA.Using findings accurately in debating situations as well as in crucial decision making, involving alternatives that could be introduced to a project.The process of identifying all the policies, regulations and detailed aspects of the assessment.These activities should provide a comprehensive scope and could point to means of mitigation or alternatives (Aucamp, 1999 Bekker, 2006).Stakeholder involvementIn order to comprehend the stakeholder involvement it is first necessary to understand who a stakeholder is. Howlett and Nagu (1997) define stakeholders as all those people and institutions who have an interest in the successful aim, implementation and sustainability of the project. This includes those positively and negatively affected by the project. Stakeholder participation involves p rocesses whereby all those with a stake in the outcome of a project can actively participate in decisions on planning and management. They partake information and knowledge, and may contribute to the project, so as to enhance the success of the project and hence ultimately their own interests.Stakeholder involvement is the process where the affected parties of a proposed development or activity participate in the project and includes the full range of communication between the stakeholders and the decision makers of the proposed development. The stakeholders of a project should therefore be part of decisions that are made during a project and they should always be briefed as to the status of the project. Stakeholders should have a adjust to their opinion and always be brought into consideration during and after a project has been completed.Reasons why stakeholder involvement is important according to Hughes (1998)Stakeholders help identify and address issues that are relevant duri ng an EIA.The involvement of stakeholders helps to concern traditional knowledge of the environment to the project.During an EIA the stakeholder involvement improves the communication between the promoters of the development and the stakeholders.The involvement of all the different stakeholders allows the promoters to identify each stakeholders requirements concerning the project.Stakeholders could identify problems and come up with promising opportunities for the mitigation of problems.Stakeholders make sure that the EIA is performed thoroughly and assure that no aspects have been neglected.When satisfactory attention is spent on stakeholder involvement during an EIA, the class expectancy of the environmental assessment improves. Stakeholder involvement allows for more information to be gathered when an assessment is being done. Some local stakeholders have cumulative knowledge approximately their environments and more availability to information concerning the area of the devel opment.Environmental assessmentsAn environmental assessment (EA) is the process of determine the consequences or effects of change (positive or negative) that a proposed development or activity might have on the environment. The environmental assessment therefore studies the effects that these changes will have on both the physical as well as the social environment. Some changes wont have any effect on the environment. Jain (2004) concluded that some projects that undergo an environmental assessment wont experience any changes caused by the actions, but the present status of the project might have been unacceptable from the start.Methods used to perform environmental assessments according to (Aucamp, 2009)Comparisons with EIA projects in similar projects taglistsEnvironmental cost-benefit studiesExpert opinions and systemsIndicators of environmental media or resourcesLaboratory testingLandscape evaluationInteraction matricesImpact tree networksPhotographyThese are just a few example s and there are many more methods used to perform environmental assessments.Most important environmental legislation unequivocal the undertaking of an EIA in South AfricaIn South Africa there are environmental laws that need to be followed when one plans on performing an EIA. This body of rules and guidelines forms part of the structure of the South African environmental legislation.Multinational environmental agreement (MEA)This is part of an international law and includes the followingTreaties Attending to endangered species.Protocols These include the Kyoto protocol that controls carbon emissions.Conventions This includes the likes of the Montreal convention.The ConstitutionThe constitution addresses the rights of all South African citizens. The South African Constitution environmental right section 24 (Republic of South Africa, 1996a) says thatEveryone has the right (a) to an environment that is not harmful to their health or wellbeing and(b) to have the environment protec ted, for the benefit of present and future generations, through reasonable legislative and other measures that (i) prevent pollution and ecological degradation(ii) promote conservation and(iii) secure ecologically sustainable development and use of natural resources while promoting justifiable scotch and social development.Statuary lawWritten statuary laws are signed by ministers and presidents. The following are general statuary lawsEnvironmental Conservation Act (ECA) No. 73, 1989.National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) NO. 107, 1998 Chapter 5 amended 2008.Specific lawThe following are specific laws that are pert of the South African environmental legislationAir VEMA Air quality Act No. 39, 2004.Water National Water Act No. 36, 1998. state Conservation of agricultural resources Act No. 43, 1983.Biodiversity NEMA Protected areas Act 2003NEMA Environmental Biodiversity Act No. 25. 1999.Heritage National Heritage Resources Act No. 25, 1999. urbane lawThe civil law is one that is unwritten. It is based on precedent and it is between individuals or between individuals and companies or governmental organizations.All of the above mentioned laws form part of the structure of the most important environmental legislation controlling the undertaking of EIAs in South Africa.When an environmental impact assessment should be undertaken in South AfricaEvery country has their own environmental legislations and follows different procedures when they plan on performing environmental impact assessments. South Africa has one of the best environmental legislations in the world, which covers every aspect of the environment in order to protect and preserve it for sustainable development. South Africa is very prosperous in terms of natural environment, since the country has a great deal of wildlife and resources.Knowing when to perform an environmental impact assessment is crucial and no short cuts should be taken when ascertain this.Knowing when to perform an EIAA certain criteria of requirements need to be met in order to ensure whether or not an environmental impact assessment should be performed or not. In South Arica there are rules and regulation controlling this decision. These requirements are all covered in the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA), the three listing activities and the EIA regulations. New projects that have started after the 2nd of August 2010 need to adhere to the new regulations. These regulations are discussed in the following subsection.New regulationsWhen determining whether an EIA should be performed the new regulations that have been promulgated in June 2006 should be taken into consideration. After the EIA legislation was introduced to South Africa it was reviewed in 2006. This review brought a number of amendments to the National Environmental Management Act (NEMA) which improved certain acts that wasnt up to standards.On the 2nd of August 2010 these regulations were changed slightly. The following regulatio ns have come into effect confinements that run through this transitional period and cross over into the new regulations only need to adhere to all the old environmental impact assessment regulations, which were still in effect when the project started.Differences between basic and full scale environmental impact assessments in South AfricaFull scale EIAAcknowledge receiptCheck applicationSubmit applicationEIAResponseSubmit scoping reportScopingNotification of decisionDecisionResponseBasic EIASubmit applicationBasic assessment reportPublic participationAwait authorisationAcknowledge receiptCheck applicationResponseNotification of decisionImages of environmental impacts in South AfricaMoses Mahbida Stadium in DurbanDescriptionThis photo shows the construction of the soccer stadium. This huge structure covers 89600 m2 and is 45 m in height. A 350 m long unholy that stretches across the stadiums length reaches a height of 100 m.Type of projectThis was a construction project for the dev elopment of Durbans Fifa World Cup 2010 venue that replaced the old Kings Park Soccer Stadium.ImpactsThis stadiums biggest negative impact was its visual impact on Durban, since it is such a massive structure and it was an upgrade of an existing stadium.Mitigation of impactsThe design of this stadium was done to world class standards. The stadium was designed to be a great engineering accomplishment and by doing this the big structure no longer had a negative impact on the social environment. Everyone was looking forward to the completion of the great stadium and they were proud to include this stadium to the go steady of Durban.Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC)DescriptionThis is a photo of the Cape Town International Conference Centre that is stated to be the greenest building in South Africa. This project is attempting to set international standards in sustainable building design and management.Type of projectA 30000 m2 extension project of the Cape Town Internati onal Conference Centre was performed to improve the facility.ImpactsThis building didnt have any significant negative impacts on the environment, but it didnt have any positive impacts either.Mitigation of impactsThe mitigation process for this project was turning a project with no impact on the environment into a project with an overall positive impact on the environment. According to Harcourt (2008) they accomplished this by designing the building to use 40 pct less energy per m2, 25 percent less waste to landfill and 95 percent potable water.The port of NgquraDescriptionThis is a development of a deep water port at the Coega River Mouth. It is primed(p) about 20 km from Port Elizabeth and will be the deepest container terminal in Africa.Type of projectThis is a brand new project that has been strengthened from scratch. It will have a fixed embedded jet pump sand bypass system. It will include major earthworks as well as road networks.ImpactsThe natural environment around this area has been severely changed and damaged. This was a very simple piece of land and there were no endangered species. It will surely also positively impact the economical environment of a previously undeveloped and poor region.Mitigation of impactsThe areas all around the Port will be developed once Ngqura is promoted to South Africas hub port. These damaged areas will then be created into an industrial area and create thousands of jobs and economically strengthen the regionGautrain ProjectDescriptionThe Gautrain will be a Rapid Rail Link system that can improve transportation in the Gauteng area. It is a world class railway system and will produce high speed trains for speedy transportation that stretches from Johannesburg to Pretoria.Type of projectThis will be South Africas most technical transportation project to date. This Rapid Rail Link system has been under construction for several years and is currently up and running. This project has a lot of potential of expanding in th e future.ImpactsDue to the size of this project there are a lot of impacts. There are both bio-physical and socio-economical impacts. The bio-physical impacts are the following wolf and flora along the path of the construction.Ground and wetlands that are destroyed.Soils along the route and the geology of the earth.Air quality around the construction sites.The socio-economical impacts are as followsNoise and oscillation that will be caused during the construction and once the trains are running every day.Land use and the property values.Social.Heritage.Economic.Mitigation of impactsThe developers of the Gautrain project have held several meetings with the public and their stakeholders in order to mitigate all of the problems that have arisen from this project. All endangered plant species have been saved and protected. Wetlands have been rehabilitated to previous conditions as well as damaged ground and soils. The noise levels have been lessened considerably since the project has b een running and there have been no major complaints. All heritage sites have been protected during the construction. Overall this project has shown a very large potential for economic growth.ImpactsThe most significant impacts involved with this project are the transmission integrating factors, seismic suitability of the sites, impacts on dune geomorphology, impacts on wetlands, impacts on vertebrate fauna, impacts on invertebrate fauna and economic impacts.Mitigation of impactsConclusionThis report has shown the greatness of environmental impact assessments. It is definitely a fundamental step in the life of a project. Performing an EIA is critical for a successful project and that projects are done without performing EIAs are destined for failure and devastation to all the people involved in the project.The South African law proves to be very up to date when it comes to environmental legislation and is of world class standards. These laws protect all environments and help enforc e developers to build according to the regulations.EIAs very detailed processes and all developers should gain insight as to what the procedures are when performing EIAs and when EIAs should be performed to basic or full scales.EIAs are there to protect the environment and ensure sustainable development. They ensure that we leave something behind for future generations.