In a second article on EIA titled, "System Based Assessments – improving the confidence in the EIA process" we elaborate on the practical side of impact assessment studies. The lead author, Jeff Wilson (Gravity Marine), develops a constructive criticism of the actual state of EIA in marine and aquatic environments. It is intended as a companion to our earlier article where we proposed a theoretical framework that reconciles statistical impact assessments with ecosystem modelling.
Wilson et al. begins with a discussion on how accepted practices in EIA work to prevent quantitative, comparative studies from being realised. For example, the absence of global standards in how EIA are planned and executed, lack of minimum training requirements and certifications for practitioners, and opacity in how information in EIAs is used have led to repeated failures to make real improvements. This situation suggests that EIA does not actually fulfil its ostensible purpose with regards to informing stakeholders, decision-makers and the general public of the effects of development projets. After half a century of EIA studies using receptor-based methods and qualitative rankings of relative impacts, evaluating the full measure of project risks and cumulative impacts still remains an elusive goal.
Re-thinking the role of quantitative tools in a new operational framework for Environmental Impact Assessment projects. From Wilson et al. 2017, Figure 2.
In consequence, we propose to modify the typical EIA workflow with a new operational framework. We call this a System-Based EIA. The aim is to ensure full lifecycle assessment of impacts applicable at any scale and at any phase of the EIA process. At the center of the new framework are instrumentation quantitative modelling tools that can provide detailed records of site conditions and and projections of the ecosystem response over a project lifetime. This would enable EIA practitioners to furnish quantified values of impact and risk, compatible with evidence-based decision-making and independent evaluations. Finally, this could transform the practice of EIA from an information gathering exercise into a predictive planning tool for all project stakeholders.
CITATION
Wilson, J., Hinz, S., Coston-Guarini, J., Mazé, C., Guarini, J.-M. and Chauvaud, L. 2017. System Based Assessments – improving the confidence in the EIA process. Environments. v. 4(4) 95; doi:10.3390/environments4040095