ESP 179- Winter 2013

Environmental Impact Assessment

Instructor: Trevor MacenskiTeaching Assistant: Kevin Fang

Waitlisted Students

Capacity for 85 students in class.

Come see me after class to add.

CONTACT: Melissa Whaley for PTA NumbersStudent Affairs OfficerEnvironmental Science & Policy2134 Wickson Hall - 530-752-7183

Introductions

Trevor Macenski B.S. Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning- UC Davis M.Sc. Environmental Science- Johns Hopkins University Board of Directors- Association of Environmental Professionals

Education Group: Teach CEQA Basics, Advanced CEQA, EtcImmerging Issues CommitteeAg and Land Use Committee

Certified Wetland Delineator Director of Environmental Services, FirstCarbon Solutions

IntroductionsKevin FangB.A. Integrative Biology- UC BerkeleyM.S. City and Regional Planning- CalPolyM.S. Transportation Engineering- CalPolyPhd Candidate-Transportation Technology

and Policy- UC Davis

Course Objectives Develop an understanding of Environmental

Impact Assessment (EIA) Provide practical skill set for preparing CEQA

documents Introduce EIA Methodologies related to

CEQA/NEPA Teach you skills that will help you get a job.

“The objective of the course is for students to acquire a understanding of the California Environmental Quality Act and the Environmental Impact Assessment methodologies that are used with respect to law, policy, and practice.”

How it will work ?The quarter divided into two parts:

1) Introduction to theories, concepts, and methods

2) Development of practical skills and impact assessment methodologies with CEQA.

Rules of the game… Facebook Page:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/UC-Davis-ESP-179-Winter-2013/304185409602566

Questions will be posted for discussion Articles and websites

Assumptions: Land Use and Planning Concepts General Environmental Understanding Strong writing skills

Syllabus: Read the websites and articles Yes you have to read the course reader

Class and Discussion: Take notes or not your call I will provide the lectures usually 2-3 days after the class Ask questions and get involved

Assignments and Grading

The approximate breakdown of the grading evaluation is as follows: EIR/EIS Analysis Paper 10% Threshold Identification Matrix 5% Mid-Term Exam 20% CEQA Document/Presentation 30% Final Exam 30% Class Participation 5%

Small extra credit assignments will be provided during the lectures….

Questions

Introduction to Environmental Impact

Assessment

Environmental Impact Assessment

EIA- An environmental impact assessment is an assessment of the possible positive or negative impacts that a proposed project may have on the environment, together consisting of the natural, social and economic aspects.

EIA PurposeEnsure that decision makers consider the

potential environmental impacts when deciding whether to proceed with a project.

Requires decision makers to account for environmental values.

Origins of EIAPublic Health

Policy had long been concerned with cause-effect relationships, but, other than sanitary protection from infectious disease, medical diagnosis tended to regard the environment as largely neutral.

Going to War After World War II, direct and indirect

consequences of new and unfamiliar industrial and biomedical technologies stimulated research into their impacts upon individuals, societies, and nature.

Origins of EIACost-benefit Analysis

Cost-benefit analysis had been used to establish an appropriate balance between the monetary costs of a project and its alleged benefits.

Technique has frequently fallen short of real impact analysis. Costs and benefits have often been narrowly construed and monetized—whatever couldn’t be measured and priced being omitted from the calculations. It has been relatively easy to skew the inputs and

outputs to obtain a “politically preferred” ratio.

Origins of EIA Blame it all on NEPA

The development of environmental impact analysis and assessment pursuant to NEPA greatly expanded the scope and content of cause-effect analysis.

Other analytic techniques such as technology assessment and risk assessment were developed to inform—but not necessarily to determine—policy.

Environmental impact assessment mandated by NEPA was specifically intended to influence policy and to force action on the principles enumerated under Title I of the Act. It was intended to bring ecological rationality to the policy process

EIA in the US at the Federal Level 1960- Environmental Enlightenment

Resulted in the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969.

NEPA’s purpose: "To declare a national policy which will encourage productive and enjoyable harmony between man and his environment; to promote efforts which will prevent or eliminate damage to the environment and biosphere and stimulate the health and welfare of man; to enrich the understanding of the ecological systems and natural resources important to the Nation; and to establish a Council on Environmental Quality."

NEPA First national statute to mandate an assessment of the

environmental impact of proposals for legislation and other major governmental action significantly affecting the quality of the human environment.

Provisions: The environmental impact of the proposed action Any adverse effects which could not be avoided should the

project be implemented. Alternatives to the proposed action The relationship between local short-term uses of man’s

environment and the maintenance and enhancement of long-term productivity, and

Any irreversible and irretrievable commitments of resources which would be involved in the proposed action should it be implemented.

NEPAIn addition to the impact statement, NEPA

(PL 91-190 §102 2[a]), required the federal agencies to: “utilize a systematic, interdisciplinary approach

which will insure the integrated use of the natural and social sciences, and the environmental design arts in planning and in decision making which may have an impact on man’s environment.”

The agencies were also required to give appropriate consideration to unquantified environmental amenities and values.

CEQA NEPA passed shortly after the California Environmental

Quality Act (CEQA) passed in 1970

CEQA’s Purpose: “To institute a statewide policy of environmental protection. CEQA does not directly regulate land uses, but instead requires state and local agencies within California to follow a protocol of analysis and public disclosure of environmental impacts of proposed projects and adopt all feasible measures to mitigate those impacts. Because CEQA makes environmental protection a mandatory part of every California state and local agency's decision making process, it has become a model for environmental protection laws in other states. It has also become the basis for numerous lawsuits concerning public and private projects”

CEQAInform government decision makers and

the public about the potential significant environmental impacts of proposed activities

Identify ways that environmental impact(s) can be avoided or significantly reduced

CEQA Prevent significant avoidable damage to

the environment by requiring changes in the project through the use of feasible alternatives and mitigation

Disclose to the public the reason that an agency approved a project notwithstanding its unavoidable, significant environmental impacts [Decisions made in the light of day]

Overview: CEQA & Entitlement CEQA- 1970

Checks and balances for land-use development and management.

Revolves around a EIA document called and Environmental Impact Report or EIR.

Other laws matter Clean Water Act, Endangered Species Act, Permit Streamlining Act,

ETC. Cities and Counties

Regulate by planning, zoning, and subdivision controls. State Agencies

Regulate the private use of state land, resources, and certain activities

Federal Agencies Have authority over activities on federal lands and over certain

resources

A Global Perspective Australia

Environment Protection Act 1974 which was superceded by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act of 1999

Canada Canadian Environmental Assessment Act 1995

China Environmental Impact Assessment Law since 1972 but

adopted in 2006

Egypt Law 4/1994 for the Protection of Environment, the

Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency 1982

A Global Perspective European Union

European Uniuon Directive (85/337/EEC) on Environmental Impact Assessments of 1987

The Netherlands Wet mileubeheer, Dutch legislation 1987

Hong Kong Environmental Impact Assessment Ordinance 1997

India Resouce Specific Laws (Water Act, Wildlife, etc.)

Malaysia Section 34A Environmental Quality Act 1974

Sample FlowchartsCity of Woodland Example:

http://www.ci.woodland.ca.us/civica/filebank/blobdload.asp?BlobID=2540

Reading Assignmentshttp://ceres.ca.gov/ceqa/guidelines/intro.ht

ml

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Environmental_impact_assessment

Questions?

Thank You