Field Of Environmental Impact Assessment Research Articles

Air quality forecasting of along-route ship emissions in realistic meteo-marine scenarios

This study introduces a novel framework of metocean prediction and ship performance models that integrate multiple layers of modeling to evaluate the environmental impact of ship emissions. It enables scenario simulations that assess a ship’s performance, estimates pollutant emissions, and simulate the fate of these pollutants in the atmosphere. The study analyzes the fate of NOx, SO2, and PM10 pollutants in the atmosphere using spatially distributed concentration maps. It provides a comprehensive approach to assessing the environmental effects of ships and their emissions and contributes to the field of environmental impact assessment. Case studies are presented to demonstrate the framework’s functionalities, evaluating the interrelationships between adverse meteo-marine conditions, pollutant emissions, and resulting atmospheric diffusion characteristics.

Assessment of selected environmental and economic factors for the development of electro-mobility in Poland

AbstractElectromobility is now widely recognized as a remedy for the growing level of greenhouse gas emissions from the transport sector. The result of this approach is the agreement of the European Commission with the member states regarding the achievement of CO2-free emission of the new fleet of passenger cars by 2035 through the use of battery electric vehicles. However, it should be emphasized that currently, not every country in the European Union has electricity sources with low CO2 emission (Proposal for a REGULATION… (EU) 2019/631), which in fact can contribute to a lower environmental effect than expected. The amount of environmental impact of a battery electric vehicle depends mainly on the type of energy mix of the country in which it is used. In view of the above, the first scientific objective of the article is a comparative assessment of environmental impact, using the LCA (Life Cycle Assessment), the phase of use of passenger cars with conventional drive in relation to battery electric vehicles consuming electricity from the power grid in Poland and in Italy. The results of the LCA analysis, phases of BEV use in Poland indicate a higher level of environmental impact in relation to ICE due to the generation of electricity, for the most part from hard coal. Nevertheless, in Poland, as in other EU countries, an electromobility support system is being implemented. The successful implementation of electromobility depends on the environmental awareness of BEV users. The scientific cognitive aspect of the BEV purchase decisions of the Polish society is carried out using a survey questionnaire with the use of a non-random selection of the research sample (convenient selection). The aim of this cross-sectional survey was to confront the results of the environmental impact of the BEV use phase with the knowledge of the Polish society, as well as to learn about purchasing factors (future and current users). The results of the survey questionnaire demonstrate the low level of knowledge of the Polish society on the impact of the BEV use phase in Poland. This can be the result of media coverage in which BEV is presented as ecological transport. The aim of the article is not to depreciate the environmental performance of BEVs, but to draw attention to the fact that, to a large extent, the environmental impact of the BEV use phase depends on the place of use (country), and precisely the type of energy mix of a particular country. The literature on the subject lacks the confrontation of the results of scientific research in the field of environmental impact assessment of the BEV use phase with the knowledge of the public on this subject. The research results can be used by decision makers to properly target the support for the development of electromobility in Poland, consisting primarily in increasing the availability of infrastructure for charging BEV and changing the energy mix to energy sources with a lower environmental impact.

Challenges in Implementation of Environmental Impact Assessment Among Islamic Countries

Environmental destruction caused by development activities has become a major concern among the global community. To overcome the problem, environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been introduced as a tool that can help manage the environment in the development activities. EIA has been implemented in more than 100 countries around the world including Islamic countries. However, the implementation of EIA among Islamic countries has not been comprehensively understood. The objective of this study is to identify the implementation of EIA among Islamic countries and identify the challenges faced in implementing EIA. This study looks at the implementation of EIA from the point of EIA policy and legislation. As well as challenges from an enforcement perspective, the quality of EIA reports, awareness related to EIA and the adequacy of experts in the field of EIA. This study uses scoping literature review approach to evaluate past and recent studies in the implementation of EIA. The results of the study found that Islamic countries, which are categorized as high and middle income, already have laws, policies and regulations related to EIA. The study found that there are four main challenges faced in the implementation of EIA among Islamic countries, there are weaknesses in terms of enforcement of EIA-related laws, low quality of EIA reports, low awareness of project proponents on EIA and lack of Islamic experts in perform EIA-related studies. This study has identified the gaps on the EIA implementation in Islamic countries. To overcome the challenges cooperation among Islamic countries to share experiences and enhance mutual capabilities is urgently needed.

Legislative regulation of powers of local government bodies in the field of environmental protection

The article is devoted to the study of legislative regulation of the powers of local governments in the field of environmental protection and the development of proposals for their improvement.
 It is noted that local governments occupy an separate and independent place in the mechanism of public administration, which indicates their special administrative and legal status.
 It is emphasized that local self-government bodies should be endowed with a sufficient amount of powers that would allow them to protect the interests of the administrative-territorial community in the field of environmental protection as effectively as possible.
 It is stated that the Constitution as the Basic Law of the state, taking into account the global importance of the issue of environmental protection should clearly and without any ambiguity in interpretation contain an article according to which local governments will be empowered to exercise primary control over environmental protection. natural environment at the local level and bringing perpetrators to justice.
 It is proposed to supplement Article 15 of the Law of Ukraine «On Environmental Protection», which defines the powers of local councils in the field of environmental protection, paragraph «й» of the following content: "decide to bring to administrative responsibility those guilty of violating legislation in the field of environmental protection environment of individuals and / or legal entities ".
 It is highlighted that based on the analysis of Part 4 of Art. 42 of the Law of Ukraine «On Local Self-Government in Ukraine», village, town, city mayor have a wide range of powers, but among these powers there are no ones that would give them the right to monitor compliance with environmental legislation in the region and bring perpetrators to justice.
 It is emphasized that local governments are given broad powers in terms of controling the activities of economic entities and they should be included as a subject of a lawsuit in accordance with Art. 16 of the Law of Ukraine "On Environmental Impact Assessment" in case of violations in the field of environmental impact assessment.

Перспективи та основні аспекти застосування ГІС-технологій для моніторингу біологічного різноманіття (на прикладі Чорнобильського радіаційно-екологічного біосферного заповідника)

We developed the conceptual model of the use of GIS technologies in the activity of natural reserve fund objects on the example of the Chornobyl Radiation-Ecological Biosphere Reserve. The GIS technologies is highly demanded due to the large area of the object, the complexity of the technogenic environment (radiation pollution), and the lack of a single database for the years preceding the creation of the Reserve. Therefore, the creation of the Reserve's geoportal is an important prerequisite for integrated dynamic monitoring of the environment and biodiversity. The functional diagram of the formation and usage of the Reserve spatial database components consists of three units. They are the unit of data filling (attribute information), the received information processing unit (filling layers), and the unit of information usage (cartographic material). At present, we have created the basis for the Chornobyl Radiation-Ecological Biosphere Reserve geoportal. The further filling of the geoportal is provided by the established process of data collection in frameworks of the main proposed thematic blocks: geological structure, topography, climate, water bodies, soils, flora, fauna, ecology, and landscapes’ diversity. The geoportal is the central platform of natural geographic and related information, which will be the key driver and the basis for management decisions in the field of environmental impact assessment, in the allocation of functional zones, zones of special control, delineation of areas of special scientific, security or other interest, planning of monitoring objects, test sites, wildlife migration corridors, etc.

Life Cycle Assessment of Upgrading Primary Wastewater Treatment Plants to Secondary Treatment Including a Circular Economy Approach

Although significant progress has been achieved in the field of environmental impact assessment in many engineering disciplines, the impact of wastewater treatment plants has not yet been well integrated. In light of this remarkable scientific progress, the outputs of the plants as treated water and clean sludge have become potential sources of irrigation and energy, not a waste. The aim of this study is to assess the environmental impacts of upgrading the wastewater treatment plants from primary to secondary treatment. The Lifecycle Assessment Framework (ISO 14040 and 14044) was applied using GaBi Software. Abu Rawash wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) has been taken as a case study. Two scenarios were studied, Scenario 1 is the current situation of the WWTP using the primary treatment units and Scenario 2 is upgrading the WWTP by adding secondary treatment units. The study highlighted the influence and cumulative impact of upgrading all the primary WWTPs in Egypt to secondary treatment. With the high amount of energy consumed in the aeration process, energy recovery methods were proposed to boost the circular economy concept in Abu Rawash WWTP in order to achieve optimal results from environmental and economic perspectives.

LEGAL NATURE OF THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT

The main components of the legal nature of environmental impact assessment are considered as management functions in the field of environmental protection, rational use of natural resources and ensuring environmental safety due to the fact that the reasons for the current unsatisfactory state in the industry of natural resource use, environmental protection are ambiguous. It was determined that the legal regulation of environmental impact assessment should be considered an important step towards the harmonization of Ukrainian legislation with EU legislation in the field of environmental impact assessment. The procedural and rocedural aspects of environmental impact assessment are determined and reviewed, which are determined by a number of legislative and subordinate legal acts. It has been established that environmental impact assessment should be carried out in compliance with certain principles based on the provisions of current legislation on nature protection. The principle of the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment is analyzed through the prism of prohibiting or terminating the activity of an enterprise in case of violation of the legislation on environmental impact assessment. Attention is drawn to the legal requirements of the principle of reliability of information in relation to environmental impact assessment. The compulsory provision of the principle of publicity in the process of impact on the environment, aimed at timely, adequate and effective informing of citizens, has been established. It is proved that the publicity and reliability of environmental information on environmental impact assessment act as two interrelated legal categories. It has been determined that the legal nature of the environmental impact assessment is based on the provisions of the current legislation of Ukraine and is aimed at observing law and order in the field of environmental protection.

Некоторые вопросы реализации процедуры оценки воздействия на окружающую среду в арктическом регионе

There is a trend that recently the effectiveness of the Environmental impact assessment (EIA) has been called into question throughout the world, and this is especially evident in the Arctic region. We identify, reveal and actualize the priority areas in the field of Arctic EIA. To one of the areas under consideration we assign the development of more meaningful and re-gionally specific social and economic indicators to support the practice of EIA. In addition, we indicate the need for increased attention to the direction consisting in a thorough study of the working and administrative relations between agreements concluded privately (for example, agreements on the benefits of exposure) and the processes governing EIA. We state that despite the fact that the eight arctic states adopted the Guidelines for EIA, they were not fully integrated into the national EIA systems. A separate area should be the study of the consequences of recent changes in the processes, regulations and legislation in the field of EIA. We conclude that environmental assessment should play a key role in planning the impact of environmental, social, and economic changes and in developing response measures that will allow Arctic communities in the best way take into account new opportunities and deal with the inevitable major changes.

QUALITY REVIEW OF AN ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STUDY ON THE DUPLICATION OF A STRETCH OF BR 153 HIGHWAY IN THE STATE OF SÃO PAULO - BRAZIL

The field of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has been studied for decades and applied in several countries, including Brazil, since its regimentation in 1986. In this research, EIA study approach focused on the analysis of procedural issues concerning, specifically, the quality of the Environmental Impact Study (EIS). The general objective of this inquiry was to assess the quality of the EIS on the duplication of Transbrasiliana Highway, BR 153, on the stretch of the city of São José do Rio Preto, state of São Paulo - Brazil, identifying its gaps and best practices by means of the application of the European Community checklist created to review environmental impact studies, the Guidance on EIA - EIS Review. This study is qualitative in nature and had its data collected by means of public documents obtained from DNIT (National Traffic Department) and of information available in several websites. The process of data generation occurred through a questionnaire sent to a regional environmental expert. The analysis of the data showed that the referred EIS had gaps especially in areas such as description of the project, mitigation and alternatives - fields whose marks coincide with the ones found in studies done using the same guidelines in countries such as Spain, Portugal and Estonia. Besides, it was possible to identify new information about the project and about environmental impacts through the questionnaire sent to the environmental expert.

Improving the Effectiveness of Environmental Impact Assessment in Indonesia Regarding the Protection of the Marine Environment from Industrial Pollution

The aim of this paper is to evaluate the effectiveness of environmental impact assessment (EIA) in Indonesia regarding the protection of the marine environment from industrial pollution and identify the important factors for improving the effectiveness of marine EIA. This has been achieved by reviewing secondary literature and providing a synthesis of the ideas used in existing studies of EIA. The paper demonstrates that there are significant issues in the field of EIA in Indonesia particularly in reviewing the failure in protecting the marine environment. A list of important factors for effective marine EIA is presented, allowing practitioners — government officers and stakeholders — to check whether their initiative will contribute to effective marine EIA.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT RESEARCH IN THE UK

In this paper we briefly review the state of academic research in the UK in the field of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Through consideration of the number of articles related to EIA and SEA published in academic journals and the contribution of post-graduate students' (PhD and master level) dissertation theses we aim to understand where activity has occurred in the field over recent decades. Simple literature and database searches reveal that the UK is an active environment for researchers and students in the field with numerous universities engaged in research and teaching (although not always both activities). However, we have also collected evidence to suggest that research funding is lacking and that there is variation over time in the number and scale of research projects being funded in the UK.

The Role of Environmental Accidental Risk Assessment in the Process of Granting Development Consent

Environmental impact assessment (EIA) is a procedure that must be followed for certain types of development before they are granted development consent. The procedure requires the developer to compile an environmental impact report (EIR) describing the likely significant effects of the project on the environment. A regulatory requirement in Slovenia is that an accidental risk assessment for a new installation should be a part of an EIR. The article shows how risk assessment (RA) related to accidental release of methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) or a polyvalent alcohol mixture from a new planned unit of a chemical factory in the Alpine region of Slovenia was performed in the framework of an EIA for the purpose of obtaining a construction permit. Two accidental scenarios were considered: (a) a spill of 20 m(3) of MDI or polyvalent alcohol mixture into the river Soca (the river runs close to the chemical factory) and (b) a fire in the warehouse storing the raw material, where emission of toxic gases HCN, NO(x), and CO is expected during combustion of MDI. One of the most important results of this case is the agreement among the developer, the competent authority, and a consultant in the field of EIA and RA to positively conclude the licensing process despite the absence of formal (regulatory) limit values for risk. It has been approved that transparent, reasonably uncertain, and semi-quantitative environmental risk assessment is an inevitable component of an EIA, and an essential factor in informed, licensing-related decision making.

Health Impact Assessment: A Tool to Help Policy Makers Understand Health Beyond Health Care

Health impact assessment (HIA)--a combination of methods to examine formally the potential health effects of a proposed policy, program, or project--has received considerable interest over the past decade internationally as a practical mechanism for collaborating with other sectors to address the environmental determinants of health and to achieve more effectively the goals of population health promotion. Demand for HIA in the United States seems to be growing. This review outlines the common principles and methodologies of HIA and compares different approaches to HIA. Lessons learned from the related field of environmental impact assessment and from experience with HIA in other countries are examined. Possible avenues for advancing both the field and the broader goals of population health promotion are outlined.

Planning Environmental Impact Assessment Orienting Sustainable Development: Opportunities and Challenges

Strategic Environmental Assessment is a frontier subject in the field of Environmental Impact Assessment. In rise past two decades, especially in recent years, much more importance has been attached to Strategic Environmental Assessment. The Envinmental Impact Assessment Law of the P.R. China which was promulgated provides a great opportunity for the development of Planning Environmental impact Assessment and brings great challenges for the development of traditional Project Environmental Impact Assessment and Planning Environmental Impact Assessment at the same time. In order to promote the implementation of ”The EIA Law”, the inherent limitations of Project Environmental Impact Assessment must be identified sufficiently and the theory research and practice of Planning Environmental Impact Assessment should be strengthened as well. Measures should be taken currently to enforce the operation system. The authors wish to offer a few references to the progress and implementation of Planning Environmental Impact Assessment in China.

Construction of Plan Environmental Impact Assessment System in China

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a frontier subject in the field of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), which means the environmental assessment process for strategic actions: policies, plans or programs (PPPs). At present, Plan Environmental Impact Assessment (PEIA), the plan level of SEA, is legally required in China and the government has published a recommended technical guideline for it. This paper introduces the progress of PEIA in China and summarizes three developing phases and introduces their characteristics. According to Environmental Impact Assessment Law of the People's Republic of China (EIALPRC), the article describes the current PEIA system in China, mainly focusing on assessor, assessment targets, assessment requirements, assessment contents, assessment methods and working procedure of PEIA etc. Finally, some recommendations are proposed by the authors in order to improve PEIA in China as follows: conforming to the principle of intervening in early stage, achieving synchronous EIA of all plans; implementing classification management on PEIA according to the degree of environmental impacts of plans; and enhancing efficiency of alternative schemes in the process of planning.

Prospects for Health Impact Assessment in the United States: New and Improved Environmental Impact Assessment or Something Different?

Health impact assessment (HIA) has been advanced as a means of bringing potential health impacts to the attention of policy makers, particularly in sectors where health impacts may not otherwise be considered. This article examines lessons for HIA in the United States from the related and relatively well-developed field of environmental impact assessment (EIA). We reviewed the EIA literature and conducted twenty phone interviews with EIA professionals. Successes of EIA cited by respondents included integration of environmental goals into decision making, improved planning, and greater transparency and public involvement. Reported shortcomings included the length and complexity of EIA documents, limited and adversarial public participation, and an emphasis on procedure over substance. Presently, EIAs consider few, if any, health outcomes. Respondents differed on the prospects for HIA. Most agreed that HIA could contribute to EIA in several areas, including assessment of cumulative impacts and impacts to environmental justice. Reasons given for not incorporating HIA into EIA were uncertainties about interpreting estimated health impacts, that EIA documents would become even longer and more complicated, and that HIA would gain little from the procedural and legal emphasis in EIA. We conclude that for HIA to advance, whether as part of or separate from EIA, well-formulated methodologies need to be developed and tested in real-world situations. When possible, HIA should build on the methods that have been utilized successfully in EIA. The most fruitful avenue is demonstration projects that test, refine, and demonstrate different methods and models to maximize their utility and acceptance.

Strategic Environmental Assessment and its development in China

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a frontier subject in the field of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). This article describes the current situation of SEA in China, discusses major problems with SEA, and then recommends improvements in the system. In the past two decades, but especially in recent years, the inherent limitations of conventional project EIA have come to light. Thus, to pursue a broader course of sustainable development, the Chinese government has attached more and more importance to SEA. Some legislation has been enacted, and some research has been conducted on the topic in China, but most of the research has been focused on the concept, theory, and method of SEA. Comprehensive application of SEA in China has yet to occur, and only a limited number of case studies are available. SEA as applied today in China is confronted with a host of methodological and procedural limitations. Moreover, public participation is often extremely limited, because procedures restrict public participation. Policies and strategies are kept secret from the public. We believe SEA can be improved by the following recommendations: introduction of procedures to ensure the appropriate level of SEA be conducted for strategic proposals, development of strategic evaluation tools and techniques, encouragement of public participation, organization of educational programs, and implementation of SEA “experiments.”

Effects of sense of place on responses to environmental impacts: A study among residents in Svalbard in the Norwegian high Arctic

Rapid changes are occurring in the natural and socio-cultural environments of the polar regions. A multitude of place-related values and meanings are affected by the current resource exploitation and human development of the Arctic. This poses challenges for management as well as research, particularly in the field of environmental impact assessment. The study explores the concept of sense of place among residents of the Svalbard (Spitsbergen) archipelago in the Norwegian high Arctic. Effects of sense of place on perceptions of wilderness, environmental conditions and reactions to potential environmental impacts are analysed to examine whether sense of place can be a useful construct in environmental impact assessments. A typology of Svalbard residents based on the strength of their sense of place was developed. Few differences were found in perception of environmental conditions among these segments, but sense of place discriminates among types of reactions to environmental impacts. Sense of place is treated as a broad, integrated concept which may be useful for tapping comprehensive views of the environment. Environmental impact assessments often do not capture a sufficient breadth of place meanings. Empirical measures of sense of place could contribute to improved assessments as indicators of salient symbolic and emotional meanings of place.

Kuwaiti Oil Fires, by T. Husain

The body of this book relates in detail the technology and construction of oil wells and the fire extinguishing methods used in the aftermath of Gulf Crisis. This topic is not often encountered by air and water specialists and therefore will interest many a reader who do not wish to be camped strictly within their own field. Moreover, substantial background information is provided concerning the historical development of the oil fields, oil reserves and development in Kuwait and Iraq. The framework of the Gulf Crisis is also mentioned, but one cannot say that this complex matter becomes fully translucent after reading the chapter in question. Large space is imparted to the physical and chemical monitoring and characterization of the smoke plume. Besides, it contains also interesting lessons concerning e.g. modeling and predictions. World-known authorities predicted that smoke originating from burning a few million barrels of oil per day will penetrate the stratosphere up to 25 km and induce nuclear winter-like phenomena for several months reaching India. Such prophecies were widely publicized, while more moderate voices went unheard. However, measurements after the catastrophe disproved the doomsday oracles. The smoke never rose beyond the troposphere and there were no noteworthy longrange effects. In the field of environmental impact assessment, the book shows tendencies to stress the sensational points of the aftermath of the Gulf War, even if the specific aspect is only remotely related to the main subject, oil fires and based upon shaky reference. Thus (page 233) ‘Some have suggested that the fatal epidemic of swollen abdomens among Iraqi children is caused by kidney failure resulting from uranium poisoning’ (hypothesis: that children may have played with spent uranium shells). The source is an Indian daily newspaper and the ‘epidemic’ attained ‘at least three children...’. In general, one wonders why a book about Kuwaiti oil fires shall discuss well known air pollution episodes like Chernobyl or Meuse Valley

Community impact evaluation

This is a work summarizing in one volume the pioneering approach of the author to public-interest decision-taking in the field of urban & regional planning. This book is aimed at students, researchers and professionals in planning. Nathaniel Lichfield first introduced in his Economics of Planned Development the concept that, in any use and of land, the traditional development balance sheet of the developers needed to be accompanied by a balance sheet prepared by the planning officer or planning authority. Over the forty years since this work was published, the author has brought to the operational level the balance sheet, with many case studies, primarily for consultancy purposes. The present title reflects the incorporation during the 1970s of the then emerging field of environmental impact assessment.