Environmental Impact Assessment - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 94

future changes that are expected to occur in the absence of the project. Establishing the
environmental baseline commands considerable commitment in term of human resources,
time, and i nances, and is further discussed in Chapter Eight.

Identify Potential Impacts

The variety of environments is matched by the variety of impacts that can be termed 'envi-
ronmental'. The environmental impact assessment study attempts to identify changes to the
environments of host communities and existing fauna and l ora that can arise as direct or
indirect consequences of the mining project, considering economic, social, and environmen-
tal aspects. Chapter Nine elaborates on identifying and evaluating environmental impacts.
A common mistake in environmental impact assessment is focusing on negative effects
rather than elaborating on unbiased positive and negative project consequences. The sec-
ond common mistake is to emphasize physical chemical and biological changes (say change
of total dissolved solids in streams, dust concentrations, or how many hectares are cleared),
and to address social and economic effects only briel y (say changes to quality of life of host
communities, cultural changes, induced development, economic growth opportunities or
the distribution of economic benei ts).
Effects of course depend on the place where they occur and the people who are affected.
Environmental effects can be quite local, like water erosion at the mine site. They can also be
far reaching, such as with emissions from a roaster or smelter. And, at the extreme, they can
be global in extent like the effects on the Earth's atmosphere of the emissions of carbon diox-
ide due to say, power generation to operate a mill, or due to the release of coal bed methane.
Some negative effects on communities and fauna and l ora in the host region are unin-
tentional and may be difi cult to predict. The act of land clearing and mining is intentional
but the indirect consequences are not intended, or even foreseen. The effects on the environ-
ments of men, women, children, and minority groups of the society differ and, therefore,
should be presented separately, whenever relevant. Special consideration should be given to
vulnerable groups and to future generations. Similarly, special attention should be given to
sensitive receptors such as protected or pristine ecosystems, and endangered species.
Most positive effects on host communities and fauna and l ora, however, are intentional.
In the past there has been the tendency to concentrate on whether mine-induced changes
result in harmful effects on humans (or non-human environmental components), and
whether the mine developer can do something about these effects. Today, the focus of envi-
ronmental impact assessment has shifted to include the opportunities for betterment that
a mining project offers. Both mining companies and governments have become increas-
ingly aware and supportive of the many ways mine development can support improving
the quality of life of host communities, and improvement of other environmental values.
The adoption of the Equator Principles by i nancial institutions and the mining sector in
recent years is proof of this increasing awareness.

A common mistake in
environmental impact assessment
is focusing on negative effects
rather than elaborating on
unbiased positive and negative
project consequences.

Today, the focus of environmental
impact assessment has shifted
to include the opportunities for
betterment that a mining project
offers.

Quantifying Signifi cant Impacts

Quantifying signii cant impacts - both positive and negative - is a central element of the
environmental impact assessment process. In a sense, the process of quantifying impacts is
similar to the mine project proposal screening process, in that impacts with minor effects
are cleared, enabling greater focus of management efforts on impacts that are signii cant.
In quantifying impacts, it is important that stakeholders are permitted to give their views;
this is a main objective of public consultation and disclosure.