Mitigation
Mitigation
ensure that residual adverse impacts are kept within acceptable levels.
LINK BETWEEN EIA PROCESS AND MITIGATION
prepare plans for managing impacts so these are kept within acceptable
levels; and
A crucial point to remember is that after safeguards are added to a proposal, the
alternatives may become more attractive (eg cheaper).
MAIN ELEMENTS OF MITIGATION
•address the likely impacts throughout the life cycle of the project, including
decommissioning; and
•identify the best practicable ways and means of mitigating them.
In practice, the elements of mitigation and the measures identified for a proposal will
be tailored to the major impacts and the environment and community affected.
A list of potential impacts for an extensive range of project types and suggested
design measures to mitigate them can be found in Volumes 2 and 3 of the World
Bank Environmental Assessment Sourcebook and its various Updates.
For example, almost all development proposals involve disturbance of the land
surface. This is usually extensive for major linear projects (roads, pipelines), dams
and reservoirs, and large-scale agriculture, forestry and housing schemes.
Environmental impacts of particular concern can include drainage of wetlands,
conversion of natural areas, or expansion into areas that are vulnerable to natural
hazards.
CARRYING OUT IMPACT
MONITORING AND MANAGEMENT
Mitigation measures are implemented as part of impact management.
This process is accompanied by monitoring to check that impacts are ‘as
predicted’.
When unforeseen impacts or problems occur, they can require corrective
action to keep them within acceptable levels, thereby changing the mitigation
measures recommended in an EIA or set out in an environmental
management report
THE MANAGEMENT OF
SOCIAL IMPACTS
The management of social impacts associated with the influx of a
temporary workforce and additional population will require
specific mitigation measures. These include the provision of:
•improved transport, water and sewage infrastructure;
•expanded social and health care services, including measures to target
specific impacts;
•better support and counseling services to cope with socio-economic changes
•additional recreational areas and facilities, including full replacement of any
areas lost to development.
COMPENSATING FOR IMPACTS:
MONETARY COMPENSATION
Traditionally, compensation has meant payment for loss of land or amenity
resulting from a proposal.
This approach can be appropriate in certain circumstances; for example,
when private property must be expropriated to make way for a road or other
public infrastructure project, or land owners are paid rent or lump sum
compensation for access to or use of their property to drill for sub-surface
resources.
In addition, compensation packages, containing a range of offsets, may be
negotiated with affected communities. These may include a direct monetary
payment or a capital investment by the proponent.
SITE REMEDIATION
BONDS
Recently, attention has also focused on problems of contaminated land and the
requirements for site remediation.
Where this is a potential issue, mitigation measures should be directed at both prevention
of contamination and provision for clean up during decommissioning.
Because of the time period, project ownership may change or the proponent may be
unable to complete the mitigation plan for other reasons. As insurance, a bond system
can be used to ensure that sufficient funds will be available for the required mitigation.
RESETTLEMENT PLANS
•Special considerations apply to mitigation of proposals that displace or disrupt people.
•Certain types of projects, such as reservoirs and irrigation schemes and public works, are
known to cause involuntary resettlement. This is a contentious issue because it involves far
more than re-housing people; in addition, income sources and access to common property
resources are likely to be lost.
•Almost certainly, a resettlement plan will be required to ensure that no one is worse off
than before, which may not be possible for indigenous people whose culture and lifestyle is
tied to a locality.
•This plan must include the means for those displaced to reconstruct their economies and
communities and should include an EIA of the receiving areas.
•Particular attention should be given to indigenous, minority and vulnerable groups who are
most at risk from resettlement.
IN KIND COMPENSATION
When significant or net residual loss or damage to the environment is likely,
in kind compensation is appropriate.
As noted earlier, environmental rehabilitation, restoration or replacement
have become standard practices for many proponents.
Now, increasing emphasis is given to a broader range of compensation
measures to offset impacts and assure the sustainability of development
proposals.
These include impact compensation ‘trading’, such as offsetting
CO2 emissions by planting forests to sequester carbon.
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT PLAN AND
MITIGATION MEASURES
It will then form the basis for impact management during project
construction and operation.
THE EMP SHOULD CONTAIN
THE FOLLOWING:
•Summary of the potential impacts of the proposal;
•description of the recommended mitigation measures;
•statement of their compliance with relevant standards;
•allocation of resources and responsibilities for plan implementation;
•schedule of the actions to be taken;
•programme for surveillance, monitoring and auditing; and
•contingency plan when impacts are greater than expected.