Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
10
Emphasizing Environmental
Management and
Monitoring
Managing what Matters
'I need only to stand in the midst of a clear-cut forest, a strip-mined hillside, a
defoliated jungle, or a dammed canyon to feel uneasy with assumptions that could
yield the conclusion that no human action can make any difference to the welfare
of anything but sentient animals' (Rodman 1977).
There are many ways in which mining impacts can be reduced and collectively these are
referred to as mitigation. Mitigation also refers to delivering benei t but in this context
the term enhancement is more commonly used. Mitigation is essentially about answering
the basic question 'What can be done about it?' What to do about recognized impacts is
becoming increasingly emphasized, and the Environmental Action Plan (EAP, sometimes
also referred to as Environmental Management Plan or EMP) has evolved into the single
most important document of any environmental impact assessment. In fact one can con-
sider the EAP as the main document, with the prediction of impacts as an annex to explain
why impact mitigation or enhancement is necessary.
The EAP should budget for three priorities: mitigation/enhancement; monitoring; and capac-
ity strengthening (World Bank 1991). In some jurisdictions, impact management and moni-
toring of management success (or failure) is developed in two separate but closely interrelated
documents (referred to as environmental management (EMP) and monitoring (EMoP) plans).
Once the project is dei ned and signii cant impacts are identii ed, the EAP outlines
protection, mitigation, and, for positive impacts, enhancement measures. Mitigation and
enhancement measures, of course, vary widely, and in the case of mining projects include
one or a combination of the following generic measures (see also Figure 10.1 ):
In fact one can consider
the EAP as the main document,
with the prediction of impacts as
an annex to explain why impact
mitigation or enhancement is
necessary.
Final changes to mine infrastructure, mine waste placement, and material management.
Pollution controls such as wastewater or l ue gas treatment plants, sediment retention
ponds, encapsulation of acid forming materials, or back i lling of mine wastes.
 
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