Identifying and Evaluating Impacts - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 415

Simple Checklist Matrix - The simple checklist matrix (Leopold 1971) can be used to
identify impacts by systematically checking each project activity against each environmen-
tal component. If a particular activity is considered to have the potential to affect a par-
ticular environmental component, a mark is placed in the cell at the intersection of activity
and environmental component, highlighting the need for further studies ( Figure 9.7 ).
Descriptive information on the nature and magnitude of impacts may replace the mark,
providing information rather than just identifying whether the impact would occur or
not. Patterns in completed matrices, for example columns or rows with numerous impact
strikes, help to illustrate cumulative impacts on a particular environmental receptor.
Likely impact interactions can also be identii ed.
Weighted matrices - Some matrix applications allow the matrix to be weighted to rel ect
factors such as duration, frequency and extent of impacts, or to score or rank impacts.

Patterns in completed matrices,
for example columns or rows
with numerous impact strikes,
help to illustrate cumulative
impacts on a particular
environmental receptor.

Environmental
effects

Social environment Physical environment Biological environment

Development

Prospecting Surveys
Drilling
Sampling
Overburden stripping
Blasting
Dewatering
Crushing
Methods used
Ventilating system
Dewatering
Floating plant
Pond formation
Water supply
Washing plant
Process used
Stockpiling
Wastewater treatment
Wastewater disposal

Opencast
mining

Under-
ground
mining

Dredging

Ore
Processing

Tailings

Tailings dam
Runoff control
Contour shaping
Planting
Overburden use

Rehabilita-
tion

General

Surface infrastructure

Access road
Energy source

FIGURE 9.7
Leopold Matrix

This simple checklist matrix can be used to identify impacts by systematically checking each project activity against each environmental component.