Identifying and Evaluating Impacts - Mining and the Environment: From Ore to Metal - page 441

TABLE 9.10
Steps Involved in Applying the Delphi Technique - Delphi uses a group of carefully selected experts who answer
a series of questions. Questions are usually formulated as hypotheses. Each round of questioning (or discussions) is followed by feed-
back on the preceding round of replies
1. Pick a facilitation leader
Select a person who can facilitate, is a recognized mining expert, and is not a stakeholder, at least not an infl uential
stakeholder with preconceived notions. An outsider is often chosen.
2. Select a group of experts
Group members should have an intimate knowledge of the mining project and its potential environmental impacts, or
be familiar with related subject matters that would allow them to prioritize project-induced impacts effectively.
3. Generate a long list of potential impacts
In a brainstorming session, build a list of impacts and signifi cance attributes that all think appropriate to the project at
hand. At this point, there are no 'wrong' contributions from group members.
4. Rank impacts
For each impact, the group ranks it as 1 (very important), 2 (somewhat important), or 3 (not important). Each group
member ranks the list individually and anonymously if the environment is charged politically or emotionally.
5. Calculate the mean and deviation
For each impact on the list, fi nd the mean value and remove all impacts with a mean greater than or equal to 2.0.
Place impacts in rank order and show the (anonymous) results to the group. Discuss reasons for impacts with high
standard deviations. Group members may insert removed impacts back into the list after discussion.
6. Re-rank impacts
Repeat the ranking process among group members until the results stabilize. The ranking results do not have to have
complete agreement, but a consensus such that all can live with the outcome. Two passes are often enough, but more
may be performed for maximum benefi t.
Source:
Based on Cline 2000
lobbying, or 'bandwagonism'. Table 9.10 illustrates the general procedure for applying
Delphi to evaluating mining impact signii cance. Delphi uses a group (called panel) of
carefully selected experts who answer a series of questions (independently and anony-
mously in the traditional approach). Questions are usually formulated as hypotheses.
In a less formal approach, such as a workshop format, hypotheses or relevant subject items
are openly commented on amongst group members facilitated by the moderator. Each round
of questioning (or discussions) is followed by feedback on the preceding round of replies.
Thus the experts are encouraged to revise their earlier answers in light of the replies of other
group members. It is believed that during this process the range of answers will decrease
and the group will converge towards the 'correct' answer. After several rounds the process is
complete and the median scores determine i nal answers.
9.11 REFLECTING ON THE OBJECTIVE NATURE OF
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
Environmental assessment can never be entirely objective. Despite the best intentions of
stakeholders, be they mining company personnel, EIA consultants, approval authorities, or