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69 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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What is an EA
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Study and planning process
- assess potential negative and positive effects of an undertaking on the environment before implementation - studies (models) and public consultation (meetings) - project design can be modified as a result of this process to reduce environmental impacts |
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Operating Principles of EA
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-Identify and compare reasonable range of alternatives
-Conduct rational & systematic evaluation of env effects -Consider all aspects of the env potentially effected -Consult with interested parties early > Identify and consider issues raised and show decision-making that is: accountable, logical and traceable -Provide clear and complete documentation -Ensure monitoring, follow-up and compliance |
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Benefits of EA
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-Improved project planning and design
-Cost saving through early identification of potentially costly unforeseen impacts -Reduction in the role of legality by ensuring early compliance with environmental standards -Increased public acceptance with a project through public consultation and a demonstrated env and socioeconomic responsibility |
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Barriers of EA
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-Agreement barrier
-Knowledge Barrier -Technology Barrier -Economic Barrier -Social Barrier -Political Barrier |
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Purpose of Environmental Assessment Act (EAA) in ON
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"the betterment" of the people of ON by providing for the "protection, conservation and wise management" of the environment
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EAA requires proponents to
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-Consider range of reasonable alternatives
-Assess env effects of alternatives -Demonstrate that preferred alternative is env superior and necessary |
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Cumulative Effects Definition
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-Total effect, incl. direct and indirect, on a given resource, ecosystem, or human community of all actions taken
-Effects resulting from accumulation of similar effects -Effects lasting for years beyond initial action -Effects must be analyzed in terms of the specific resources, ecosystem to human community affected -Effects that must be approached from the perspective of carrying capacity, thresholds and total sustainable effects levels |
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Cumulative Effects Sources
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Space/time crowding
Time lags Fragmentation Cross-boundary movement -Compounding -Indirect -Triggers and thresholds |
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Types of Cumulative Effects
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Linear Additive Effects
Amplifying Effects Discontinuous Effects Structural Surprise |
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Cumulative Effects: Linear Additive
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Incremental additions to, or deletions from, a fixed storage where increment or deletion has the same individual effect
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Cumulative Effects: Amplifying
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Addition or deletion from apparently limitless storage or resource where each instance has a larger effect than the previous
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Cumulative Effects: Discontinuous
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Incremental additions have no apparent affect until a certain threshold is reached
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Cumulative Effects: Structural Surprise
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Changes that occur as a result of multiple developments or activities in a region
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Spatial Boundaries
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Spatial scale is one of the more important decisions
> what are typical boundaries used > can be used as advantage or disadvantage Three Types: 1. Spatial Scale 2. Analysis Scale 3. Phenomenon Scale |
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Spatial Boundaries Guiding Principles
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-Adequate scope
-Natural boundaries -VEC differentiation -Max zones of detectable influence -Multi-scaled approach -Flexibility |
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Temporal Boundaries
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Must consider past, present, future
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Temporal Boundaries: Past
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-Basis of existing env conditions
-When associated impacts first occurred -Land-use designation -When effects first occurred -When were the env conditions favourable |
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Temporal Boundaries: Future
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- Operation life of project
- Point of project abandonment and site reclamation - When VECs restored to pre-disturbance conditions Identifying future actions and activities much more difficult. Three types: 1. Certain actions: action will proceed 2. Reasonable foreseeable actions: may proceed 3. Hypothetical actions: not much of a change |
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Valued Ecosystem Component (VEC) Definition
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Any part of the environment that is considered important by the proponent, public, scientists and government involved in the assessment process
Importance may be determined on the basis of cultural values of scientific concern |
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VEC vs. Regular Parameter
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FIND DEFINITION FOR REGULAR PARAMETER..
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Highly Qualified Person
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EPA requires a Qualified Person to undertake activities related to the filing of an RSC
Must: - Hold a licence under the Professional Engineers Act - Hold a certificate of registration under the Professional Geoscientists Act and is a member of the Association of Professional Geoscientists of ON |
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Qualified Persons and Risk Assessment (RA)
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Must hold a bachelor's degree in science, engineering or applied technology from a post-secondary institution
Has experience conducting/supervising ESAs or RA - Doctoral in science/engineering, 5 yrs experience degree - Master's degree in science/engineering, 7yrs experience - In any other case, 8 years experience Within the experience required the person as 2 years experience specifically in: - conduct/supervision of risk assessment or - in the technical or scientific review of a risk assessment on behalf of a public authority |
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Under EPA/Reg 153 Qualified Persons are required to:
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-Conduct/supervise Phase I ESA
-Conduct/supervise Phase II ESA -Prepare/supervise Risk Assessment -Make certain certifications in RSC |
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VEC examples
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Lichen
Species at risk Local Soil Quality etc. |
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Environmental Baseline
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Determining the present and future sate of the environment without the proposed project or activity
Key Questions: - what needs to be known about the baseline env to make a decision on project - what are the relevant background conditions that have influenced the current env - what is the likely baseline condition in the future in absence of the project |
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Ontario Facts
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-13 million residents- 38.8% of Can's pop
-90% of ON lives in Mixedwood Plains Ecozone -Ecozone has highest biodiversity and lowest natural cover in ON |
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Species at Risk (SAR) in ON
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Majority of SAR in ON can be found in south
Over 200 species have been listed as - Endangered - Threatened - Special Concern |
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ON Endangered Species Act
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A provincial act that applies to all endangered or threatened species on private lands, and public lands under provincial jurisdiction
- Both species and habitat are protected |
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Species at Risk definition
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Species, subspecies, variety or genetically or geographically distinct population of animal, plant or other organism (other than bacteria or virus)
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SAR Prohibitions
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No person shall
- kill, harm, harass a SAR - possess, transport, etc. any part of a living/dead SAR |
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General Habitat of SAR
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-Once species is listed it has a general habitat protection
-The area a species currently depends on, either directly or indirectly to carry out its' life processes |
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Regulated Habitat of SAR
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The area prescribed for a species in a habitat regulation
- Describes specific features/boundaries - Unoccupied or area of reintroduction |
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SAR and Development
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ESA requires all projects determine the impacts, if any, on SAR and their habitat
Development of any type that may impact a SAR must be identified during various approval processes Permits may be required when impacts cannot be avoided The act is an evolving piece of legislation - Species are cont. added and habitat defined for protection Financial and legal penalties occur if the killing, harm, harassment or capture of these species takes place |
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Penalties for SAR
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First Offense:
- Corporation: Max. $1,000,000 - Person: Max. $250,000/ 1 yr imprisonment (either or both) Second Offense: - Corporation: Max. $2,000,000 - Person: Max. $500,000/ 1yr imprisonment (either/both) |
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SAR Process
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Step 1: screen-know what is there
Step 2: Consult MNR and confirm approach to assess Step 3: Conduct detailed studies as required Step 4: Determine if project activity impacts SAR/habitat- optimize project to avoid impacts Step 5: Consult MNR to highlight impacts Step 6: apply for permit if required |
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SAR are unavoidable: Options
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Implement necessary changes to the project to avoid impacts to the species or its habitat
or When impacts are unavoidable, permitting may be required |
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SAR distinct types of activities
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1. Little or No risk Activity:
- no approval necessary 2. Specific Low-risk Activity: - must follow clear regulations 3. Moderate Risk Activity: - requires following 'Rules and Regulations' and submitting project to MNR Registry 4. All Other Risk Activity - required to use the standard approval and application process and review for an Overall Benefit Permit |
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What Happens if SAR are found
>Mussels example |
Mitigation- Relocation
-All freshwater mussels in prescribed search area must be relocated -Relocated mussels must be monitored one-month, one-year and two-years post-relocation >Had to take into timing window for relocation |
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MOE (Ministry of Environment)
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Manages and undertakes compliance and enforcement activities at contaminated sites in order to mitigate risks to human health and the environment
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MOE involvement with RSC (record of site condition)
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BROWNFIELDS LECTURE SLIDE 17
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Definition: Environment
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Air, land, water
Plant, animal life Social, economic, cultural conditions that influence life of humans or community Building, structure, machine, device made by humans Solid, liquid, has, odour, heat, sound, vibration, radiation resulting directly or indirectly from human activities |
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Definition: Environmental Assessment
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Study/Planning Process
- Assess potential -ve and +ve effects of an undertaking on the env BEFORE implementation - Studies (models) and public consultation (meetings) - Project design can be modified as a result of this process to reduce environment impacts |
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Definition: Environmental Assessment Act
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Distinguishes between public & private sector proponents
Applies to public sector undertakings unless exempt by order/regulation Doesn't apply to private sector undertakings unless designated by regulation, voluntarily included Minister authorized to dispense with statutory requirements to harmonize with other jurisdiction |
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Definition: Brownfield
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Former industrial lands that are now vacant/underused but have potential to be redeveloped for new uses
May be contaminated due to past/present activities - Closed factories - Gas Stations - Former waterfront lands for commercial port operations |
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Definition: ON Reg 153/04
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In ON, brownfield redevelopment is regulated under ON Reg 153/04
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Definition: Canadian Env Protection Act
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An act respecting pollution prevention and the protection of the environment and human health in order to contribute to sustainable development
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Definition: Environmental Site Assessment
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...The assessment of the environmental condition of the land incl. the soil, groundwater, and sediment, if any
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Definition: Phase I ESA
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Conducted "to determine the likelihood that one or more contaminants have affected all of part of the property"
- Must Incl: >records review >site visit >interviews >eval of info from these activities >written report and submission of report to client/property owner |
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Definition: Phase II ESA
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Conducted to determine the location and concentration of one or more contaminants in the natural environment
- Required for RSC: >if property is used, has ever been used for an industrial use or for certain commercial uses as specified in the regulation >When "qualified person" is the opinion that a PIIESA is necessary (based on results of PIESA) |
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Definition: Risk Assessment
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Systematic process of evaluating the potential risks that may be involved in a projected activity or undertaking
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Definition: Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
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Integrating environment into higher-order decision making
-Relationships between policies, plans, programs -Idea is to offer a foundation for decision making -Based on specific principles and criteria |
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Definition: SEA: Process Components
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-Responsibility and accountability
-Purpose and objectives -Scoping -Alternatives -Impact Eval -Cumulative effects -Monitoring program -Participation and transparency |
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Definition: SEA: Result Components
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-Decision making
-PPP and project influence -System-wide learning |
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Definition: Screening
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First stage of EA process
- Narrowing of the application of EA to projects that require assessment >Nothing required >Is required >Limited requirement >Further study necessary Three Approaches: 1. Case-by-case 2. Threshold based 3. List based |
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Definition: Screening: Case-by-case
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Discretionary or criterion-based screening
- Evaluate project characteristics against many things >ex. regulations, guidelines |
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Definition: Screening: Threshold-based
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Placing projects in categories
- Project size, level of emissions, population effected |
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Definition: Screening: List-based
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Checklist to see if EA is required
Both inclusion and exclusion lists What would be on an exclusion list? |
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Definition: Kingston REAP Program
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Brownfields Redevelopment Program
Community Improvement Plan Provincial Incentive Program |
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Definition: Impact Significance
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The function of the characteristics of the env effect or impact and the importance or value attached to the affected component
Impact Significance = Impact characteristic + Impact Importance |
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Definition: Valued Ecosystem Component (VEC)
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Any part of environment that is considered important by the proponent, public, scientists and government involved in the assessment process. Importance may be determined on the basis of cultural values or scientific concern
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Definition: Scoping
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Used to determine important issues and parameters that need to be addressed:
- Spatial boundaries - Temporal boundaries - Focus on relevant issues - Scientific or public concern |
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Definition: Scoping: Closed scoping
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Content and scope of RA predetermined by law
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Definition: Scoping: Open scoping
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Content and scope determined by a transparent process of consultation and various interested public
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Definition: Project Description
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Two Purposes:
1. Determine need 2. Facilitate efficiency and co-ordination Must incl.: 1. General Info 2. Project info 3. Site-specific info |
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Definition: Baseline
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Determining present and future state of the environment without the proposed project or activity
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Impact indicators
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Predicting env impacts involves identifying changes in impact indicators of receptors identified in scoping
- Determining initial/reference states & baseline trends - Predicting future state in absence of project development (future baseline) - Predicting future state of development |
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Definition: Accuracy
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Being accurate is not necessarily useful
Dimensions to predictive accuracy: 1. The logical validity 2. Relative severity of actual vs. predictive impact SLIDE 6, LECTURE 10 |
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Definition: Precision
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Precision is more important - how close together the points are
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Mandatory Filing
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EPA contains provisions that prohibit certain changes in property use unless an RSC is filed
Land use types This prohibition makes it mandatory for a property owner to file an RSC before changing use of a property to a more sensitive use This prohibition is commonly referred to as the "Mandatory Filing" provision It is applicable law under the "building code act" |
