Browsing by Subject "Environmental Impact Assessment"

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    Assessing the effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment as a safeguard to biodiversity in the Cape Floristic Region of South Africa
    (2017) Nortje, Griffin; Hill, Richard
    Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is subject to challenges that undermine this process as an effective safeguard to biodiversity. Internationally, effective EIA is hindered by the following issues: a low priority assigned to the consideration of biodiversity and a limited capacity to carry out assessments; a lack of formalised procedures and inconsistent methodologies to address biodiversity within the EIA framework; and a lack of formal requirements for post-project monitoring of biodiversity aspects. Traditionally effectiveness studies in this regard have focused on evaluating the procedural aspects of EIA, and have focused less on the substantive outcomes of the post-authorisation phase of a proposed project. While South Africa has a considerable body of literature pertaining to the procedural aspects of EIA, there remain two substantial gaps in the literature. Firstly, there is an evident absence of effectiveness studies in South Africa that focus primarily on biodiversity-specific procedure. Secondly, almost no research has been conducted in South Africa which investigates the outcomes of mitigation measures, mandatory monitoring, reporting and compliance with biodiversity aspects of EIA. This research therefore aims to fill these gaps by investigating the quality of information generated in five EIAs in the Western Cape. It also examines the implementation success of mitigation measures aimed at managing unavoidable impacts in the post-authorisation phase of these projects. This research has adopted a case study methodological approach. Five EIAs were selected from a sample of 9. In no order of significance, the variables considered most important in the sampling protocol were: the presence of a biodiversity-related specialist report; availability of environmental assessment documentation; overall cases to represent at least two different local jurisdictions; and the uniqueness of adopted biodiversity-related mitigation measures. The primary method used to evaluate the quality of biodiversity-related information is a Key Performance Indicator analysis, whereby the performance of cases is measured against legal and best-practice reporting principles. The substantive outcomes of EIA have been investigated by means of site inspections and interviews with key stakeholders. This research has found that the five cases performed well with complying with best-practice EIA procedure, indicating a 53% full compliance, 29% partial compliance and 18% of best-practice principles were not complied with at all. This research has shown that direct impacts on biodiversity (such as the physical removal of indigenous vegetation) are adequately identified, and indirect impacts (typically those impacting off-site and on ecological processes) are poorly identified in EIA. Therefore, the information required to avoid impacts on biodiversity is available, but this research has found that it is underutilized in this regard. Notably, avoidance of impacts was undermined inadequate site and layout alternatives and poor decision making in terms of the regular authorisation of irreversible impacts on biodiversity. Conversely, only 18% of mitigation measures were fully complied with, 36% were partially complied with, and 45% of mitigation measures were not complied with. These results indicate a poor performance of EIA in the implementation stage of a project lifecycle. This research has concluded this is most likely due to a poor conversion of recommended mitigation measures into conditions of authorisation and a limited capacity of the competent authority to perform compliance monitoring.
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    An environmental evaluation methodology for improving resource allocation decisions : a treatise with selected South African case studies
    (1989) Stauth, Roy Bryan; Fuggle, Richard Francis
    This dissertation addresses the problem of how to manage environmental resources to improve the prospects that resource allocation activities will make the greatest possible contribution to social well-being. The study had two major aims. One aim was to provide a rational philosophical framework for guiding resource evaluation and decisionmaking processes. The second - and principal - aim was to develop a reliable and practical method for evaluating those resource allocation proposals which are particularly controversial. As part of the philosophical framework, a modification of the social welfare function is specified which explicitly addresses the well-being of future generations. This form of the social welfare function is based on certain a priori premises, which are used to define the goal and objectives of resource allocation, and to identify appropriate evaluation criteria. These evaluation criteria are then used to devise a resource management strategy and to develop an environmental evaluation methodology to serve that strategy. The methodology consists of both formal and informal methods of evaluation, but special attention is given to developing a formal method of evaluation that is simple and inexpensive to apply, and therefore particularly suited for Third World conditions. The principal research objective was to develop a useful method for evaluating those resource allocation proposals which are especially controversial. The method that has been developed - the Panel Evaluation Method - utilizes a cost-benefit framework and employs procedures modeled on the Delphi Method. The Panel Evaluation Method features three techniques for accomplishing a formal evaluation of competing proposals: the Impact Identification Technique is used to identify and define all the impacts of concern; the Significance Measurement Technique is used to judge the relative significance of the impacts; and the Criteria Trade-off Technique is used to determine which proposal best satisfies specified evaluation criteria. The Panel Evaluation Method was applied to several case studies with positive results. For example, the central feature of the method - the Significance Measurement Technique - was found to be capable of producing reasonably replicable results, and so is considered to provide an acceptable way to determine whether the costs of a proposal would exceed its benefits. The method thus serves to extend the capabilities of both Environmental Impact Assessment and Cost-benefit Analysis, and to link these two widely-used tools for guiding resource allocation decisions into a more powerful and versatile decisionmaking tool.
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    An environmental evaluation system in the planning process of quarries in South Africa
    (1985) Hoogervorst, Arend; Fuggle, Richard Francis
    The historical framework and background to the process of approving quarries for construction materials in South Africa is examined in depth. In order to produce a proposed Environmental Evaluation System for the assessment of quarries in South Africa, the interrelationships of Quarries and the Environment are briefly examined philosophically. Environmental Impact terminology and Environmental Impact Assessment methodologies, techniques and procedures are also discussed.
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    An evaluation of environmental impact assessment procedure in the Lesotho Highlands Water Project : Phase 1
    (1997) Nkopane, Setenane; Fuggle, Richard
    Environmental Impact Assessment is a procedure that ensures that the environmental consequences of development proposals are understood and adequately considered in the planning process. This important project planning requirement is often inadequately addressed in many developing countries - especially with regard to dam projects. Lesotho is a small developing country in Southern Africa which is currently engaged in a multi-phased dam project - the Lesotho Highlands Water Project (LHWP) - in order to utilize its most abundant natural resource - water. Planning for the LHWP incurred some irregularities, particularly with regard to environmental implications. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the environmental impact assessment procedures of the LHWP, Phase lA. This includes review of the environmental studies that were carried out and the findings of these studies; assessment of the familiarity of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority (LHDA) staff with EIA procedures; and examination of the extent to which the communities in the project area were consulted regarding this project. The study is based on two surveys: firstly, within the Environment Division of the Lesotho Highlands Development Authority to assess the familiarity of staff members with proper EIA procedures. In this survey 28 self-administered questionnaires were issued, and 23 were collected. Secondly, structured interviews and unstructured group discussions were carried out in 14 villages to examine the extent to which the communities affected by the LHWP had been involved in the environmental impact assessments of Phase lA; and whether the impacts they experienced and the subsequent. Mitigation efforts had been considered comprehensively by the project proponents. Eighty interviews were conducted in six of the 14 villages selected in the study, in the remaining villages data was collected through group discussions. The groups consisted of 10 - 12 members (usually prominent persons) from the community. The study revealed that EIA for Phase 1 A of the LHWP was not carried out according to recognized standards. Environmental studies that were undertaken were done too late in the EIA process, and did riot facilitate the project planning. The study also found that the majority of LHDA staff members are not familiar with the details of the EIA process, and did not participate in Phase lA project planning. The communities affected by the LHWP were not given the opportunity to raise their concerns about the project. This is manifested by the magnitude and type of impacts which they have incurred because of the LHWP. Members of these communities therefore regard their livelihoods as being worse than before the project. It is thus recommended that LHDA should revise and significantly improve its project planning approaches - especially for the subsequent phases of the project. It is imperative· to incorporate public participation in the EIAs of these phases. Formulation of guideline sand legislation - in Lesotho as a whole - will ensure enforcement and compliance with sound environmental assessment procedures, and improve on LHDA's manpower capabilities with regard to EIA and environmental management. This in turn will enhance an environmentally sustainable development.
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    LHDA 1000 impact assessment : impact assessment report
    (1993) Avis, Jeremy Estrup; Fuggle, Richard Francis
    The purpose of this report is to present an impact assessment of two possible access routes to the Mohale Dam in Lesotho, namely the Western Access Road and the Least Cost Alternative Route. It is an academic work to demonstrate an adequate grasp of principles, methods and techniques appropriate to the assessment, termed LHDA 1000. The water resources of Lesotho are being exploited to augment the current supply to the PWV industrial area of the Republic of South Africa, in terms of the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. This project is being implemented in phases. Phase lA, currently being constructed, involves the damming of the Malibamatso River at Katse in the Maluti Mountains (Figure1), a transfer tunnel through the mountains, a hydroelectric power station at 'Muela in Lesotho, and a delivery tunnel under the Caledon River to the Ash River (a tributary of the Vaal River which feeds the primary PW impoundment, the Vaal Dam) in the South Africa.
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    A socio-economic impact assessment of the future closure of a diamond mine in Namaqualand, South Africa : planning for mine closure a decade in advance
    (1992) Mackenzie, Andrew G; Hill, Richard; Fuggle, Richard Francis
    De Beers Namaqualand Mines (DBNM) have appointed the Environmental Evaluation Unit to undertake an impact assessment of mine closure. According to recent estimates DBNM anticipate that their diamond mining operations in Namaqualand will have to be closed in approximately ten years time. DBNM requested that the study focus on the socio-economic implications of mine closure within the regional context of Namaqualand and not the broader context of South Africa. It is anticipated that the results and recommendations of the study will be used by DBNM in planning for mine closure. The aims and objectives of the study are: 1) To assess the socio-economic consequences of future mine closure. 2) To recommend actions that will mitigate the impacts of mine closure. The aims and objectives of this report are to: 1) Fulfil the academic requirements of the degree. 2) Assess and evaluate information collected during the data collection phase of this project (contained in the Baseline Information Report) and to present these findings clearly and concisely, highlighting significant impacts and options for mitigation. 3) To communicate these findings in a way as would make them useful to both the client as the decision-maker and the interested and affected parties.
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    Socio-economic impact assessment of the proposed closure of De Beers Namaqualand diamond mines by the year 2005 : main report
    (1993) Greeff, Karen Liane; Hill, Richard; Archer, Fiona; Raimondo, John; Lane, Sue
    In 1991 the Environmental Evaluation Unit (EEU) of the University of Cape Town was appointed by DBNM to undertake a socio-economic impact assessment of the proposed closure of DBNM by the year 2005. According to De Beers, the source of viable diamond ore is finite and unless technological advances or market fluctuations make the reserves economically viable, the mine has no option but to shut down its operations. This is anticipated to have major social and economic impacts on the region and DBNM. The emphasis is on regional impacts i.e. the Namaqualand Magisterial District. However, due to the concentration of employees originating from the Herschel District in the Transkei, special cognisance is taken of impacts likely to occur there. Therefore, the two main purposes of this report are to: * identify and evaluate the potential major socio-economic impacts arising out of the closure of De Beers Namaqualand Mines (DBNM), * determine mitigatory action which will reduce negative impacts and optimize positive impacts.