
The information and guidance presented below may be helpful to those involved in the preparation of documentation, e.g. the EIA report at the stage of option selection, analysis and comparison of locations or technical solutions (construction project drawing). The EIA work should in each case focus on a sequence of structured activities related to predicting and assessing the impacts of the compared alternatives. The content presented here does not provide detailed guidance or advice on methods, techniques of predicting and assessing impacts. Instead, it presents some general issues to help understand the framework that is specific to the EIA procedures.
The significance of the environmental impacts of a planned project is determined by comparing the change, anticipated implementation and operation of the investment with the state of the same environmental element without the investment. Such examples of environmental elements could be air or noise pollution in relation to the extension of a transport route in a city or the construction of a new expressway (motorway) between cities. By comparing the level of noise or traffic pollutants (NOx, hydrocarbons and others) before the decision is made and at the assumed level of vehicle traffic, we can estimate the change in the intensity of road noise and the aerosanitary condition in the surroundings of the planned investment.
However, such an obvious representation of how to estimate changes in the instantaneous 'background' does not ensure a correct assessment result. An instantaneous measurement of noise levels or air pollution concentrations does not reflect all aspects caused by different factors. Noise levels and air pollution can change, for example, as a result of an increase in the number of vehicles, changes in development, spontaneous urbanisation or the location of industry. Therefore, it is necessary to be sure that, after the implementation of the development for which we are performing an EIA, the new noise and pollution levels will correspond to the applicable standards, which can also change (e.g. to improve the living conditions of residents, the immission standards can be tightened).
To be sure of meeting the relevant standards, all information on the state of the environment must be analysed as thoroughly as possible, from the planning of the investment to its full-scale operation. To do this, the following factors should be taken into account:
As can be seen, there are many uncertain factors when determining the state of the environment.
They occur at the time of the decision on the planned project, but as the process of preparation and implementation of the project advances, the level of uncertainty usually increases. Thus, the EIA report should communicate both the magnitude of the uncertainty factor as well as explain the rationale behind the reasoning adopted.
An essential part of the EIA report is the prediction and assessment of the impacts of the considered investment alternatives. It is important to address the most significant impacts as accurately as possible. Where possible, impacts should be quantified. This will enable the variants to be compared with each other and with the baseline (before the investment).
Quantification of impacts is not always possible; in these cases qualitative characterisations are used (e.g. with regard to landscape change). Impacts are characterised/described in relation to the implementation, operation and decommissioning phases - with similar characteristics.
These include:
Depending on the type and scale of the planned development and its location, there may be adverse interactions of the development with the environment, e.g. the hydrotechnical development of a harbour may disrupt the movement of debris over time, resulting in coastal erosion. Many new developments are accompanied by other developments that condition their implementation or operation. The construction of a motorway may require a gravel mine, and the construction of a fertiliser factory may require the implementation of a gas pipeline, power lines and an access road.
Depending on the type of project, the potential social, health and economic impacts must be considered and assessed.
The preparation of the report and the EIA process are long-term in nature, sometimes even stretching over many years. This includes mitigation measures, which the authors of the EIA report may consult with the designers or developer from an early stage. The identification of significant adverse impacts should lead to their reduction to an acceptable level. In advancing the EIA report, various ways of mitigating adverse impacts during the construction and operational phases of the project can also be considered when comparing alternatives. The mitigation measures undertaken should focus on significant impacts. The main mitigation measures can be grouped as follows:
Monitoring is particularly important if a development is allowed to proceed because of its expected benefits, and there is always some level of uncertainty about the scale and significance of one or more harmful impacts.
There are three monitoring functions for the existing development:
In the OOS process, impact monitoring and mitigation monitoring, checking the effectiveness of the measures applied, are the most important.
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