Air Quality Assessment AQA

1. Air Quality Assessment AQA • Assessment Methodologies for AQA: • AQA involves; • Identification, predication and evaluation of critical variables such as source emission and meteorological conditions etc, Potential quality of as a result of emission from proposed project and ultimately an assessment to ensure compliance with Ambient Air Quality Standards ( AAQS) • To quantify and quantify the impacts on air quality through project design, planning and mitigate them. • Canter identified six steps for AAIQA • Identification of impact • Description of existing environmental conditions • Procurement of relevant AQS or guidelines • Impact predication • Identification and incorporation of mitigation measures.

2. 1. Analysis of the exiting situations. • This will include: • Ambient Air pollution concentrations • Pollutant source and specific location • Meteorology • Local topography • Physical conditions affecting pollutant dispersion • Sensitive receptors and their location 2. Characteristics of emission sources: • Nature of pollutant and its rate of emission. • Efflux velocity • Efflux temperature • Source morphology etc.

3. 3. Assessment of impacts: • Comparison of AAQS and cumulative concentration of pollution. • Computer simulation models are used. • Short term models for predicting the concentrations for few minutes days or months. • Long term models for seasonal annual average concentrations. • Mathematical models are used such as Gaussian Equation • Many countries have their own standards and guidelines. • Pakistan Air Quality Standards ( PEPA)

4. Noise Assessment • Procedure for noise assessment: • Identify the noise levels of the alternatives during project construction and operation • Determine the existing baseline noise levels and identify the unique noise source before the project. • Obtain applicable noise standards • Determine the micro scale impact of predicting anticipated level for each alternative. • Compare the predicted level with the standards • Consider Noise Abatement strategies if the anticipated level exceeds the standards

5. Landscape and Visual Impact Assessment • Scoping: • Size and duration of the facility • Local Environmental setting • Landscape resources. • The quality of views • Components of the landscape which are protected ( Cultural and historical) • Proposal for development in local plans. • Local community involvement • Description of the development. • The appearance and layout of the main elements of the facility. • Size, material, color, form and non visual characteristics • Non visual characteristics of the project • Nose, emission etc

6. Baseline Assessment: • Rivers, mountains, woodland and designated areas. • Study of existing data or filed study • Impact Predication and significance: • The area of landscape • The zone of visual influence of structure • The number of ways in which the visual or functional landscape are affected. • The overall effect of project on the landscape.

7. Evaluation of the baseline quality. • Visual Impact Assessment ( VIA) • Visual intrusion • Visual obstruction • Techniques for VIA • Low tech plans. • Perspective sketches • Physical plans. • Photography • High tech Models; • Use of Digitized data • GIS etc • Nature of visual Effects • Minimal Effect: • The project occupies very small part of the area overall view • Slight Effect: • Minor portion of the site changes for a short duration • Moderate Effect: • Some changes occur but not for substantial length of time or area. • Substantial Effect: • Where the overall scene is altered for substantial length and time • Sever Effect • Where the overall view are altered for much of the operation period

8. Ecological Assessment. • Effect on natural environment • Change in habitat • The composition and population density of plants and animals. • Habitat damage • Displacement of flora and fauna • Assessment Methodology: • Review of maps, aerial photographs, local authority plans, previous ecological maps, • Local Standards and data bases. • Ecological Impact prediction and evaluation: • Difficult to assess • Use of overlay technique • Different terminologies used • Beetle Rarity Total ( BRT) • Species Rarity Total ( SRT) • Beetle Quality factor ( BQF) • Specie Quality Factor ( SQF) • Rarity Quality Factor ( RQF)

9. Water Assessment • Surface water Assessment • Ground water Assessment • Pollutants in water alter aquatic ecosystem in three ways; • Reduce Concentration of dissolved Oxygen • Reducing re-production capacity or causing deaths directly • Alteration of habitat or interfere with food webs.

10. Surface Water Assessment • Conceptual framework required for • Accurate assessment of the concentration of pollutants and time period during which it will be in contact with the water. • Effects of these concentrations on the aquatic life • Types of pollutants • Developed and emitted • Relation of proposed effluents to quality standards • Prediction of water pollutants

11. Groundwater Pollution: • Determine water quality and quantity impact from the proposed development • Describe existing groundwater conditions • Describe unique groundwater resource conditions • Identify applicable groundwater standards • Document existing potential source of groundwater pollution • Consider phase impact • Describe meso-scale ( Large scale) impact • Determine micro scale impact • Consider mitigation and control measures • Consider other related impact issues

12. Archeological and Cultural heritage impact assessment • The absence of evidence of archeological assessment doesn't constitute evidence for absence. • Techniques may include • Remote Sensing • Geographical surveys • Filed walking • Data gathering may include; • Consultation of the statutory lists , registers, records. • Detailed research of existing secondary data • Detailed Walkover surveys • Structural surveys

13. Social Impact Assessment ( SIA) • The process of assessing or estimating in advance the social consequences from a project. • Assessment Methodology; • Health and Safety • Crime level • Public risk and injury • Psychological environment • Economy • Employment • Housing • Commerce • Cost of living • Cultural and Urban resources; • Religions and belief system • Identification • Recreational and Scientific resources

14. Regional Growth and infrastructure • Provision of social services • Changes in land use • Government laws and policies • Population Characteristics • Birth and death rates • Density and distribution • Immigration and Emigration • Age structure • Sex ratio

15. Key stakeholders • Local people affected by a proposal. • Proponent and project beneficiaries. • Government agencies. • NGOs. • Others, e.g. donors, the private • sector, academics

16. Principles of public involvement • The process should be inclusive – covers all stakeholders • Open and transparent – steps and activities are understood • Relevant – focused on the issues that matter • Fair – conducted impartially and without bias toward any stakeholder • Responsive – to stakeholder requirements and inputs • Credible – builds confidence and trust

17. Public involvement in key stages of the EIA process • Screening • determining the need for, and level, of EIA • Scoping • identifying the key issues and alternatives • Impact analysis • Identifying the significant impacts and Mitigating measures • Review • commenting on/responding to the EIA report • Implementation and monitoring • Checking EIA follow up

18. Developing a public involvement program typically involves: • determining its scope • identifying interested and affected Public • Selecting appropriate techniques • Considering the relationship to decision-making • Providing feedback to stakeholders • Undertaking the analysis of stakeholder inputs • Keeping to budget and time lines • Confidentiality

19. Principles for successful application of public involvement techniques • Provide the right information • Allow sufficient time to review and respond • Provide appropriate opportunities/means for stakeholder involvement • Respond issues and concerns raised • Feed back the results of public input • Choose venues and times of events to suit stakeholders

20. Levels of public involvement • Information • One way flow from proponent to public • Consultation • Two way exchange of information • Participation • Interaction with the public • Negotiation • Face to face discussion

21. Principles for minimizing Conflict • Involve all stakeholders • Establish communication channels • Describe the proposal and its objectives • Listen to the concerns and interests of affected people • Treat people fairly and impartially • Be empathetic and flexible • Mitigate impacts and compensate for loss and damage • Acknowledge concerns and provide feed-back

22. Common reasons given for avoiding public involvement • It’s too early • It will take too long and will cost too much • It will stir up opposition • We will only hear from the articulate • We’ll raise expectations • People won’t understand

23. Factors affecting the effectiveness of public involvement • Poverty • Remote and rural settings • Illiteracy • Culture/local values • Language • Legal systems override traditional systems • Dominance of interest groups • Proponent confidentiality