The Baseline - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 356

FIGURE 8.4
Scoping in the Project Design Cycle

CONCEPT PLANNING DESIGN CONSTRUCTION

Solution
Space

Solution space decreases over time.

Problem
Identified

Level of
Attention

Time

consideration. Thus, a proper analysis of the scope of the project will allow limitations on
what has to be analyzed later. In this way, scoping ensures that EIA studies are focussed
on signii cant issues and the environmental components involved in their evaluation, so
that time and money are not wasted on unnecessary studies.
While environmental scoping usually requires speed, it can be expensive. Costs will
increase when visiting remote areas or large areas, involving difi cult terrain, and/or a
large number of sensitive or important environmental features. Undertaking scoping
can also mean a higher cost owing to the need, for example, to mobilize a qualii ed team
rapidly and to work long hours. Use of helicopters, although expensive, can considerably
reduce i eld time and is therefore likely to be cost effective for large sites with limited
accessibility.

Scoping Planning and Assessment Context

In practice the actual scoping process is determined by project type and its context, more
specii cally by the institutional setting of the mine and by available resources. Therefore,
there is the need in scoping to elaborate on regulatory and project-specii c requirements
for planning and executing the project environmental assessment. These contextual con-
siderations are fundamental, and should be the subject of a shared understanding between
EIA compiler and mine proponent as to what constitutes a satisfactory assessment for the
project. Lee (2006) groups the contextual considerations into the following four categories:
●

Regulatory and institutional context including (1) the key requirements and con-
straints which the regulatory framework imposes on the project and assessment (e.g.
formal stages and procedures in project implementation, provisions for public consul-
tation, time schedules, and applicable standards); (2) the main authorities, other agen-
cies and stakeholders likely to be involved in the preparation and approval of the EIA;
and (3) environmental approval process of similar projects within the same jurisdiction
which may provide useful information on environmental approval process.

●

Environmental context including (1) the environmental setting of the project and access
to the project site; (2) affected communities and Indigenous Peoples likely to be affected,
positively or negatively, by mine development; (3) sensitive ecosystems and endangered
or threatened species encountered at the project site; and (4) natural hazards.

●

Characteristics of the mining project including (1) size of mine and key project com-
ponents (e.g. mineral processing, power generation, and harbour, deciding whether the
project is a single or multi-sector project); (2) project and environmental assessment
timelines; and (3) geographic extent of the area likely to be impacted and the extent of
expected environmental changes.