Undertake an environmental impact assessment for the following scenario, using the provided checklist of items to be described. Then, in ca. 1000 words (two sides of A4 single-spaced) write-up your findings in the form of an environmental impact statement appropriate to your audience (a local but lay community of interest). A marking matrix for the structure and assessment of your statement is provided. Note that considerations of the environmental impact checklist should be detailed in an Appendix to your report and should not be included in the word count.
Scenario
A new wastewater treatment facility is proposed to be constructed in land lying less than 1000 m away from your home. This installation will deal with the disposal of both domestic and industrial wastewater. This plant will treat the wastewater corresponding to all of the homes in your local community (at ca. 150 L of wastewater per day) and the surrounding industry (at 100-500 m3 per day, depending on the particular season of the year). As a responsible member of the local domestic community, you, as an identified Chemical Engineer, have volunteered to provide the local community leadership with a written assessment of the environmental impact of the proposals. You are keen to try to balance the positive impacts of wastewater treatment with potentially negative impacts such as (1) health hazards through biotic factors; (2) visual and landscape impacts; and (3) nuisance of odour, vermin and traffic. Accordingly, you have drawn-up the following checklist, and will write a short report based on the results from the checklist.
Environmental Impact Checklist for a Wastewater Treatment Project
1. Project description
Checklist of items to be described.
1. a) Construction (access; traffic; site preparation; landscaping).
2. b) Operation – including available alternatives (hours of operation;
capacity of facility; safety and hazard control; pest and odour control; perimeter security; monitoring facilities; quality of waste; management procedures; transportation of sludge; removal of paper and plastic in the initial stages; personnel).
3. c) Decommissioning (if applicable).
4. d) Growth (phases of expansion).
5. e) Associated developments.
2. Environmental effects
Typical significant impacts likely to affect the following.
1. a) Human beings (health and safety; disposal of sludges; handling of sludges; transportation of sludges; nuisance; residential amenity; overall benefit of treatment of wastewater: higher quality of water entering outfall area with little risk of polluted waters).
2. b) Flora.
3. c) Fauna (attraction of pests: insects, rodents, etc.).
4. d) Water (improvement in quality of water discharged into outfall area; contamination by uncontrolled surface run-off: water pollution if not properly treated and disposed; pathogens released with water.
5. e) Air (odours; noise of machinery such as agitators and transportation trucks; greenhouse gas emissions).
6. f) Climate (odour dispersal/concentration).
7. g) The landscape (perimeter fences; access roads/entrances;
exposed waste; site structures).
8. h) The interaction of the foregoing (climatic effects can concentrate
or disperse airborne impacts and nuisances).
9. i) Material assets (diminution of amenities for residential and
leisure land uses).
10. j) Cultural heritage.
3. Possible mitigation options
1. a) Site alternatives.
2. b) Site layout to minimise proximity to sensitive receptors.
3. c) Landscaping.
4. d) Monitoring.
5. e) High standards of site management including control of waste acceptance.
Structure of your environmental impact statement and its marking matrix
Environmental Impact Statement Report (maximum 70 marks) 1. Executive Summary (maximum 5 marks)
Marks to be awarded
4-5: Concise overview of important points and main
conclusions/recommendations.
2-3: Overview of some important points and some
conclusions/recommendations. 1: Limited overview.
2. Introduction (provision of an overview of the scenario, maximum 5 marks)
Marks to be awarded
4-5: Clear and appropriate description of the scenario
and of the activities occurring in the area; vulnerable receptors around the area and potential number of employees.
2-3: Description of the scenario and activities in the area; limited information on vulnerable receptors.
1: Limited description of the scenario; lack of details on the activities taking place in the area; no information of vulnerable receptors.
3. Main Findings (quality of the interpretation of the review findings including significant issues, maximum 15 marks)
Marks to be awarded
11-15: Logical progression from the environmental impact checklist (provided in an appendix); no new issues identified that are not identified in the appendix; three or more significant issues identified in the environmental impact checklist in the appendix have been properly discussed.
6-10: Logical progression from the environmental impact checklist (provided in an appendix); no new issues identified that are not identified in the appendix; two significant issues identified in the environmental impact checklist in the appendix have been properly discussed.
1-5: Limited progression from the environmental impact checklist (provided in an appendix); new issues identified that are not identified in the appendix; only one significant issues identified in the environmental impact checklist in the appendix has been properly discussed.
0: Environmental impact checklist has not been included in the appendix.
4. Findings Critique (clear references to strengths and weaknesses in the management of controls, maximum 15 marks)
Marks to be awarded
11-15: Strengths and weaknesses in management controls clearly identified and reviewed properly; more than one strength and two weaknesses.
6-10: Some identification of strengths and weaknesses in the management controls; some are reviewed appropriately; at least one strength and one weakness.
1-5: Limited identification of strengths and weaknesses in management controls; limited review; no strengths and one weakness.
5. Conclusions (clear and concise conclusions which are clearly related to the review findings and are effective in convincing scenario leadership to take actions, maximum 15 marks)
Marks to be awarded
11-15: Findings identified in environmental impact checklist in appendix and report summarised clearly and concisely; relevant and appropriate information provided to convince management to take actions; no new issues introduced.
6-10: Logical progression from the environmental impact checklist in appendix; some significant issues identified in the appendix have been appropriately discussed; some attempt at convincing management to take actions; no new issues introduced.
1-5: Limited progression from the appendix; limited discussion of the significant issues identified in the appendix; no attempt to convince management to take actions; new issues identified.
6. Recommendations (these must present realistic actions to improve the environmental standards for the scenario, maximum 15 marks)
Marks to be awarded
11-15: Recommendations based upon conclusions; realistic recommendations; appropriately prioritised recommendations; appropriate cost estimations for all recommendations.
6-10: Most recommendations follow on from the conclusions; most recommendations are realistic; some attempt at prioritisation; appropriate cost estimations for most recommendations.
1-5: Limited progression from the conclusions; recommendations not all realistic; limited cost estimations; no attempt to prioritise.
