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Overview

An introduction to the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) covering the

i Definition of impacts

ii Physical processes causing impacts (erosion, sedimentation)

iii Chemical processes causing impacts (hypernutrification)

iv Preparation of environmental documents

v Environmental attributes, scoping and baseline procedures

vi EIA methodology

vii Procedure for developing an EIS

viii Procedures for reviewing an EIS

The EIA provides an opportunity to conduct a desk study of the expected environmental consequences of a plausible but generally hypothetical development project. The document will be presented to a public meeting of academic staff and course students.

Assessment Strategy

Threshold - (Pass 50%>) Basic report with acceptable layout and presentation but missing detail. Survey design acceptable but not the most appropriate and implemented to produce the bare minimum of acceptable results. Discussion of results minimal with limited insight into the ecology of the habitat surveyed.

Good - (Merit - 60%>) Report with generally good layout and presentation. Survey design well suited to the habitat and well implemented with attention to detail and effective work in the field. Methodology described well in a concise scientific fashion with important relevant details. Results described clearly with good tabulated and graphical presentation of data and appropriate statistics. Pertinent discussion giving insight into the habitat surveyed with some appropriate references. Good appreciation of the pros and cons of techniques utilised.

Excellent - (Distinction - 70%>) Outstanding report of a well designed thoroughly implemented survey. Report having a concise introduction covering all relevant aspects of the study and giving full references. Materials and methods fully and succinctly described, data well presented in tabular and/or graphical format, data fully analysed using the correct analytical methods for all data sets. Discussion focused, critical and concise, covering all aspects of the study, and fully referenced. Design and layout of report exceptional.

Learning Outcomes

• Students will be able to compile information from a variety of sources in the context of an Environmental Impact Assessment exercise, quantifying evidence for each section of a standard EIS template.

• Students will be able to evaluate impacts of the planned project and its alternatives, identify and present mitigation measures.

• Students will be able to identify and analyse the nature of impacts, environmental attributes, scoping, consequences and monitoring procedures.

• Students will be able to plan, design and compose an Environmental Impact Statement in template form and present key elements to a ‘public’ meeting acting the role of a consultant for the developer.