Identifying and Evaluating Impacts - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 395

9

Identifying and Evaluating
Impacts

Linking Cause and Effect

'How does society weigh the benefi ts of jewellery, which in most cases is a luxury item
like a fur coat, against the potential environmental, community and landscape impacts
of new large-scale gold mines?'

Steve D'Esposito
President of the Minerals Policy Center
May 2002

This chapter introduces some common methodologies for analyzing impacts and design-
ing mitigation measures. Analyzing impacts combines two activities, identifying impacts
and evaluating their signii cance. Mitigation measures also involve two activities, man-
aging impacts and monitoring management success. The term 'methodology' refers
to a structured approach to accomplish these activities. Methodologies are not meant
to be 'cook books' in which successful outcomes are guaranteed by adhering to dei ned
approaches. Most, if not all, methodologies require assumptions to be made, introducing
elements of uncertainty, potential errors, and risk.
Additionally, this chapter discusses the various ramii cations of these assumptions, and
embedded uncertainties and risks. Differentiation is made in discussing impacts on the
physical-chemical and biological environment, and on the human and economic environ-
ment of mining projects.

9.1 DEFINING THE CHALLENGES

Change is sometimes benefi cial
to some people while at the
same time harmful to others.

In this text, impact analysis, or impact prediction, is dei ned as identifying project-induced
environmental changes and evaluating their signii cance. A number of terms are used to
distinguish between natural and project-induced environmental changes; and between