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Introduction to Environmental Impact

Assessment: A Guide to Principles and Practice,
3rd Edition

Book · January 2015

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http://www.oupcanada.com/catalog/9780199006342.html
 CONTENTS

Part One: Environmental Impact Assessment Principles

1. Aims and Objectives of Environmental Impact

Assessment Introduction Defining Environmental Impact Assessment -
Environmental Change and Effects EIA Theory and Objective - EIA Output
and Outcome Objectives The Origins and Development of EIA - EIA Origins -
EIA Development International Status of EIA - Canada - Australia - European
Union - China - Developing Nations and Development Agencies The Basic EIA
Process - Operating Principles Opportunities for and Challenges to EIA -
Ensuring a Quality EIA Process - Balancing Efficiency and Efficacy - Improved
EIA Governance

2. Overview of Environmental Impact Assessment in Canada EIA in

Canada Canadian EIA Systems - Provincial EIA - Northern EIA Development
of Federal EIA - EARP Origins - Canadian Environmental Assessment Act -
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 - Major Changes under the
Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, 2012 - "Higher-Order"
Assessment - EIA Directions

3. Tools Supporting EIA Practice The Practitioner's Toolkit Tools for

Impact Identification, Interpretation, Organization, and Communication -
Checklists - Matrices - Trends and Associations - Spatial Analysis Tools for
Impact Prediction - Analogue Approaches - Judgment - Systems Modelling -
Scenario Analysis Tool Selection

Part Two: Environmental Impact Assessment Practice

4. Screening Procedures Screening Screening Approaches - Is an EIA

Required? - Hybrid Screening Screening Requirements in Canada -
Requirements for EIA - Determining Whether an EIA Is Required - Type of
EIA Required General Guidance for Screening - Screening and the
Precautionary Principle

5. Scoping and Environmental Baseline Assessments Scoping Scoping

Requisites - Identification of Project Alternatives - Valued Ecosystem
Components - Establish Assessment Boundaries - Conduct the Environmental
Baseline Study Scoping Continuation

6. Predicting Environmental Impacts Impact Prediction Predicting

Impacts on the Biophysical Environment - What to Predict Predicting Impacts
on the Human Environment - What to Predict Characterizing Predicted
Impacts - Order of Environmental Effects - Nature of Environmental Effects
and Impacts - Temporal Characteristics of Effects and Impacts - Magnitude,
Direction - Spatial Extent - Reversibility and Irreversibility - Likelihood of
Effects and Impacts Good Practice Requirements for Impact Prediction -
Accuracy and Precision - Verifiable Impact Predictions - Addressing
Uncertainty

7. Managing Project Impacts Impact Management Managing Adverse

Impacts - Avoidance - Mitigation - Remediation - Compensation Managing
Positive Impacts - Creating Benefits - Enhancing Benefits Measures That
Support Impact Management - Environmental Management Systems -
Environmental Protection Plans - Adaptive Management Strategies EIA and
Impact Management in Canada

8. Determining Impact Significance Impact Significance Determining

Significance - Effect and Impact Characteristics - Impact
Importance Approaches to Significance Determination - Technical Approach -
Collaborative Approach - Reasoned Argumentation - Composite
Approach Toward a Higher Test for Impact Significance - Guidance for
Determining Significance

9. Follow-up and Monitoring Follow-up - Follow-up Requirements - Follow-

up Components Rationale for Post-decision Monitoring - Compliance
Monitoring - Progress Monitoring - Monitoring for Understanding Effective
Follow-up and Monitoring - Objectives and Priorities Identified - Targeted
Approach to Data Collection - Hypothesis-Based or Threshold-Based
Approaches - Combined Stressor- and Effects-Based Monitoring - Control
Sites - Continuity in Data Collection - Ensuring Adaptability, Flexibility, and
Timelines - Socio-economic-Inclusive Monitoring - Participatory
Monitoring Monitoring Methods and Techniques

10. Public Participation in EIA Involving the Publics - Rationale for

Involving the Public Nature and Scope of Public Involvement - Identifying the
Publics - Levels of Involvement - Provisions and Requirements for Public
Participation in Canada Aboriginal Consultation and Engagement - Duty to
Consult - Traditional Ecological Knowledge Methods and
Techniques Meaningful Participation - Basic Principles - Operating Principles

Part Three: Advancing Principles and Practice

11. Cumulative Environmental Effects Assessment Cumulative

Environmental Effects - Definition of Cumulative Effects - Sources of
Cumulative Effects - Types of Cumulative Effects - Pathways of Cumulative
Effects Models of Cumulative Effects Assessment - Effects-Based CEA -
Stressor-Based CEA - Good CEA Framework for the Application of CEA -
Scoping - Retrospective Analysis - Prospective Analysis - Management State
of CEA in Canada - Enduring Challenges and Concerns

12. Strategic Environmental Assessment Strategically Oriented

Environmental Assessment - Characteristics of SEA Systems of SEA - SEA in
Canada - SEA Benefits and Opportunities - Types of SEA SEA Frameworks -
Develop a Reference Framework - Scope the Baseline and Issues of
 Concern - Identify Trends and Stressors - Formulate Strategic Alternatives -
Assess Potential Effects under Each Alternative - Identify a Strategic
Direction - Determine Mitigation or Enhancement Needs - Develop a Follow-
up Program - Implement the Strategy, Monitor, and Evaluate Directions in
SEA

13. Professional Practice and Ethics Professional Practice of EIA - Skills

and Qualifications Ethics and Practice - Ethical Responsibilities The
Practitioner as Honest Broker

Part Four: Environmental Impact Assessment Postscript

14. The Effectiveness of Environmental Assessment: Retrospect and

Prospect Introduction The Substantive Effectiveness of Environmental
Assessment - Environmental Impact Assessment - Cumulative Effects
Assessment - Strategic Environmental Assessment Integrating the Silos of
Environmental Assessment Prospects Glossary Index

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