Environmental Impact Assessment

This course introduces the methodology of environmental impact assessment (EIA) as a vital tool for sound environmental decision-making. It set forth a broad and holistic approach to understanding the environment and has been emulated at state and local levels in more than 100 countries. It provides an introduction to the concepts, methods, issues and various stages of the EIA process. The various stages and methodologies of the EIA process, such as screening, scoping, EIA document preparation, public involvement, review and assessment, monitoring and auditing, appeal rights and decision-making are examined. Some contemporary international and Polish case studies are presented and analysed

EIA is a planning process that aims to predict, evaluate and mitigate the impact on the environment of a proposed project, program or policy prior to its commencement, and to approve only environmentally acceptable undertakings. EIA process is strongly related to building of infrastructure potentially or always affect the natural and/or human environment. However, its applications are broader, extending to transportation planning, environmental health, brownfields and urban retrofits, landscape design and forest restoration, among others. While focus on the EIA as required and outlined by the most Environmental Agencies and state policies, we will also explore other applications of assessments, including those by cities, counties, and internationally. Consideration the various components that go into creating an EIA, including the environmental, ecological and social contexts in which environmental assessments occur, their value and effectiveness in these contexts. The focus will be put to some of Environmental Agencies weaknesses and gaps, including greenhouse gas and climate change considerations, environmental health and justice issues, analysis of cumulative impacts, and visual presentation and communication of information.

Scope of the lecture:

• The EIA process

• History of EIA

• Screening

• Scoping

• Alternatives in EIA

• Impact prediction

• Mitigation measures

• Preparing EIA reports

• Quality and Review of EIA reports

• Consultation and participation

• EIA and decision-making

• Monitoring and auditing

• The future for EIA

Therivel, R. and Wood, G. 2017 Methods of Environmental and Social Impact Assessment, Routledge, 4th edition.

Canter, Larry W., 1996, Environmental impact assessment, McGraw-Hill, Inc.

Harvey, N and Clarke, B 2012 Environmental Impact Assessment, Oxford press.

Other suggested readings: Elliot, M. and Thomas, I. 2009. Environmental Impact Assessment in Australia, The federation Press

Wood, C. 2003. Environmental Impact Assessment: A Comparative Review, Pearson Hall press.

The journal called Environmental Impact Assessment Review.

European Commission 2001. Guidance on Screening and Scoping. EC, Brussels

On completion of this course students should be able to:

1. Explain the major principles of EIA

2. Understand the different steps within EIA

3. Discuss the implications of current jurisdictional and institutional arrangements in relation to EIA

4. Communicate both orally and in written form the key aspects of EIA

5. Understand how to liaise with and the importance of stakeholders in the EIA process

6. Be able to access different case studies/examples of EIA in practice

Effect Knowledge:

Student has structured knowledge of formal and legal environmental assessment procedures in spatial and sectoral planning on a national and regional scale, as well as in the processes of designing and implementing projects and operating facilities. Has knowledge of environmental hazards related to the implementation of plans and programs and projects. Has extensive and structured knowledge of preliminary and detailed methods of EIA.

Effect Skills:

Student can define the formal and legal procedures related to obtaining a decision on environmental conditions. Student is able to assess the risks of individual components of the environment related to the implementation of projects. Student has the ability to prepare assessments of the impact of projects on selected components of the environment.

Effect Social competence:

Student has the ability to work in a team, he can perform various functions in it (including managerial) and is aware of the responsibility for the tasks performed jointly. Student can formulate opinions on the impact of projects on the environment and argue in favour of them both in the environment of specialists and non-specialists.

K_W02, K_W03, K_W04, K_W05, K_W07, K_U01, K_U02, K_U03, K_U04, K_U05, K_U10, K_K01, K_K03, K_K06, K_K09

Active participation in classes, current assessment - 20 points, the project preparation - 70 points, presentation of the project 30 points.

Passing threshold 60 points