Handbook of Environmental Impact Assessment, 2 Volume Set

by Petts, Judith

• ISBN13: 9780632047734
• ISBN10: 0632047739
• Edition: 1st
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 1999-06-18
• Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell

Summary

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a significant, anticipatory, environmental management tool. International debate focuses on its enhancement to meet the challenges of sustainable development, as well as facilitating scientifically robust, integrated and participative decision-making. This handbook hopes to contribute an international, multidisciplinary, ready-reference source to this debate. This first volume addresses EIA principles, process and methods. Part 1 maps the EIA process and its impact on decision. It positions EIA in the context of sustainable development and relative to other decision tools, including economic valuation. It also positions strategic environmental assessment (SEA) in a similar way. Part 2 addresses the elements of the EIA process and significant impact assessment topics--air, water, ecological, social, risk, landscape and visual--not only in terms of good practice but also methodological evolution. This volume concludes by addressing cumulative impact assessment and SEA methods. Volume 2 provides a unique consideration for EIA implementation and practice in Europe, Africa, the Far East, South America and North America. It uses a number of project types to provide 'how to do' guidance and addresses practice in policy and plan assessment. This volume should be read by legislators, decision-makers, economists, developers, industrial managers and consultants involved in this significant field.

Author Biography

Judith Irene Petts CBE is the Vice-Chancellor of Plymouth University. She graduated from the University of Exeter and Loughborough University.

Table of Contents

List of Contributors	ix
Preface	xi
Part 1: Quality and Effectiveness	1	(82)
Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment in Practice: Fulfilled Potential or Wasted Opportunity?	3	(7)
Judith Petts
Diffusion and internationalization	3	(2)
Measuring effectiveness	5	(1)
Experience and practice	6	(2)
Conclusions: fulfilment or wasted opportunity?	8	(2)
Comparative Evaluation of Environmental Impact Assessment Systems	10	(25)
Christopher Wood
Introduction	10	(2)
Trends in environmental impact assessment practice	12	(1)
The environmental impact assessment systems	12	(1)
System evaluation criteria	13	(7)
Performance of the environmental impact assessment systems	20	(4)
Performance of the environmental impact assessment systems against each criterion	24	(7)
Conclusions: improving the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment	31	(4)
Capacity Building	35	(20)
Brian D. Clark
Introduction	35	(1)
Capacity building and capacity development	35	(2)
Capacity development and training	37	(1)
Constraints on training	38	(1)
Environmental impact assessment training: needs and demand in a climate of change	38	(1)
Training provision	39	(4)
Target groups' training requirements	43	(1)
Types of training	43	(3)
The content of training programmes and related issues	46	(1)
Training of developing country personnel in developed countries	47	(1)
Environmental impact assessment networks	47	(3)
Monitoring the effectiveness of capacity development	50	(1)
Partnerships and sustainability	51	(2)
Conclusions	53	(2)
Quality and Quality Control in Environmental Impact Assessment	55	(28)
Karl Fuller
Introduction	55	(1)
Dimensions of quality	55	(1)
Quality assurance in environmental impact assessment--the review	56	(10)
Quality control using other systemic approaches	66	(3)
Quality assurance in environmental impact assessment--foundation measures	69	(4)
Conclusions	73	(10)
Appendix 1 Institute of environmental assessment review criteria	74	(3)
The Netherlands environmental impact assessment commission operational criteria	77	(1)
Checklist for evaluating New Zealand reports	77	(1)
Appendix 2 Checklist for review of environmental assessment process effectiveness	78	(5)
Part 2: Environmental Impact Assessment at the International Level	83	(38)
The Convention on Environmental Impact Assessment in a Transboundary Context	85	(13)
Wiek Scharage
Introduction	85	(2)
Definitions	87	(1)
Field of application	88	(2)
Procedure	90	(4)
Public participation	94	(1)
Effect on international law	95	(1)
Interim implementation	95	(1)
Conclusions	96	(2)
Environmental Impact Assessment and Multilateral Financial Institutions	98	(23)
William V. Kennedy
Introduction	98	(1)
The purpose of environmental impact assessment requirements and procedures	98	(8)
Screening	106	(3)
The project cycle	109	(5)
Public consultation	114	(1)
Experience	115	(3)
Quality	118	(1)
Effectiveness	118	(1)
Conclusions	119	(2)
Part 3: International Experience	121	(128)
Environmental Impact Assessment in Central and Eastern Europe	123	(20)
Urszula A. Rzeszot
Introduction	123	(1)
Characteristics of the region	123	(2)
Background to environmental impact assessment legislation	125	(4)
Environmental impact assessment practice	129	(8)
Strategic environmental assessment	137	(1)
Training, networking and exchange of information	138	(1)
Conclusions	139	(4)
Environmental Impact Assessment in East Asia	143	(25)
Clive Briffett
Introduction	143	(1)
Characteristics of the region	144	(1)
Status of environmental impact assessment	144	(1)
Environmental impact assessment legislation	144	(3)
Environmental impact assessment practice	147	(1)
Hong Kong	148	(1)
Japan	149	(2)
Singapore	151	(1)
Brunei Darussalam	152	(1)
Malaysia	153	(1)
Thailand	154	(1)
Indonesia	155	(1)
Philippines	155	(1)
Problems in implementing environmental impact assessment	156	(4)
Environmental impact assessment procedures	160	(3)
Conclusions	163	(5)
Environmental Impact Assessment in Africa	168	(15)
John O. Kakonge
Introduction	168	(1)
Characteristics of the region	168	(2)
Evolution of environmental impact assessment in Africa	170	(2)
Reasons why environmental impact assessment has not been institutionalized in Africa	172	(1)
The conduct of environmental impact assessment in African countries	173	(2)
Donor agencies and environmental impact assessment	175	(1)
Lessons to be learned from case studies	176	(3)
Institutional framework	179	(1)
Regional cooperation	180	(1)
Conclusions	181	(2)
Environmental Impact Assessment in South and Central America	183	(20)
Elizabeth Brito
Iara Verocai
Introduction	183	(1)
Overview of the region	183	(2)
Evolution of environmental impact assessment	185	(3)
Current status of environmental impact assessment	188	(3)
Environmental impact assessment procedures	191	(4)
Case study--Bolivia	195	(2)
Case study--Chile	197	(3)
Conclusions	200	(3)
Environmental Impact Assessment in North America	203	(20)
Ray Clark
Debra Richards
Introduction	203	(1)
Background	203	(5)
Defining the boundaries of an environmental impact assessment	208	(3)
Scoping	211	(1)
Alternatives	212	(2)
Environmental effects	214	(2)
Public participation	216	(2)
Interagency review	218	(1)
Monitoring	218	(1)
Response to findings--adaptive management	219	(1)
Local and regional environmental impact assessment	219	(1)
Interdisciplinary place-based approach to decision-making	220	(1)
Interagency and environmental impact assessment interjurisdictional coordination	220	(1)
Strategic planning	221	(1)
Summary	221	(2)
Environmental Impact Assessment in the European Union	223	(26)
Alan J. Bond
Peter Wathern
Introduction	223	(1)
Overview	224	(1)
Constraints on environmental impact assessment in the European Union	225	(2)
The 1985 Environmental Impact Assessment Directive	227	(4)
Environmental impact assessment practice in the European Union	231	(12)
Future developments	243	(2)
Conclusions	245	(4)
Part 4: Sectoral Experience	249	(182)
Policy Environmental Assessment	251	(22)
John Bailey
Jennifer E. Dixon
Introduction	251	(2)
Policy environmental assessment: terms, concepts and principles	253	(1)
The emergence of policy environmental assessment	254	(4)
Policy environmental assessment: procedures	258	(5)
Policy environmental assessment: methods	263	(6)
Conclusions	269	(4)
Environmental Impact Assessment of Land-use Plans: Experience under the National Environmental Policy Act and the California Environmental Quality Act	273	(27)
Ronad Bass
Albert Herson
Introduction	273	(1)
National Environmental Policy Act and Federal land-use planning	273	(2)
Procedures and typical methodologies	275	(7)
Environmental impact assessment of plans at the state level	282	(16)
Conclusions	298	(2)
Environmental Impact Assessment and Waste Management	300	(31)
Gev Eduljee
Introduction	300	(1)
Waste management options and impacts	301	(2)
Strategic waste management	303	(3)
Scoping of impacts	306	(3)
Site selection	309	(3)
Baseline assessment	312	(3)
Impact prediction and evaluation	315	(2)
Mitigation	317	(1)
Environmental impact assessment and pollution control	318	(3)
Operation and postclosure	321	(1)
Conclusions and future developments	322	(9)
Environmental Impact Assessment of Road and Rail Infrastructure	331	(20)
Ann Dom
Introduction	331	(1)
Impacts of road and rail infrastructure and use	331	(3)
Effects and limitations of project environmental impact assessment	334	(2)
Strategic environmental assessment of transport infrastructure plans	336	(3)
Impact prediction methods and tools	339	(3)
Evaluation techniques	342	(1)
Multimodal comparisons	342	(2)
Mitigation and compensation measures	344	(1)
Public participation	345	(1)
Institutional and political barriers	346	(1)
The necessity of sustainable transport frameworks and targets	346	(1)
Conclusions	347	(4)
Environmental Impact Assessment for Energy Projects	351	(26)
Thomas Russo
Introduction	351	(1)
Types of energy projects	352	(3)
Characteristics of energy projects	355	(2)
Uncommon issues	357	(12)
Examples of good practice	369	(4)
Conclusions	373	(4)
Environmental Impact Assessment for Mining Projects	377	(27)
Alex Weaver
Paula Caldwell
Introduction	377	(2)
Life cycle and methods of mining	379	(10)
Scoping	389	(1)
Baseline surveys	390	(4)
Evaluation of alternatives and site selection	394	(1)
Prediction and evaluation of impacts	394	(2)
Mitigation of impact	396	(3)
Monitoring and auditing	399	(1)
Value of environmental impact assessment for mining projects	399	(3)
Conclusions	402	(2)
Environmental Impact Assessment for Water Projects	404	(27)
Andrew Brookes
Introduction	404	(1)
Types of projects	404	(2)
Scoping of water projects	406	(6)
Baseline studies	412	(2)
Alternatives	414	(3)
Impact prediction	417	(3)
Public participation in water project environmental impact assessment	420	(1)
Monitoring and post-project appraisal	420	(3)
Sustainable water resource management	423	(3)
Conclusions	426	(5)
Index	431