Impact assessments evaluation

Site Selection Factors that must be considered in evaluating potential solid-waste-disposal sites are summarized in Table 25-71. Final selection of a disposal site usually is based on the results of a preliminary site survey, results of engineering design and cost studies, and an environmental-impact assessment. 

Is there a concern that untreated wastewater effluent could be creating adverse impacts to public health or the environment If yes, was an impact assessment (for example, through a paper study or actual monitoring of the receiving water) conducted to eliminate the concerns or to evaluate the impacts ... 

Chapter 5 describes simplified methods of estimating airborne pollutant concentration distributions associated with stationary emission sources. There are sophisticated models available to predict and to assist in evaluating the impact of pollutants on the environment and to sensitive receptors such as populated areas. In this chapter we will explore the basic principles behind dispersion models and then apply a simplified model that has been developed by EPA to analyzing air dispersion problems. There are practice and study problems at the end of this chapter. A screening model for air dispersion impact assessments called SCREEN, developed by USEPA is highlighted in this chapter, and the reader is provided with details on how to download the software and apply it. 

Life cycle assessment is defined by ISO 14040 as compilation and evalu ation of inputs, outputs and the potential environmental impacts of a product system throughout its life cycle. The ISO standards regulate the procedural aspects of LCA. They do not, however, provide all the information required for carrying out an LCA study. The main phases of LCA are goal and scope definition, inventory, impact assessment, and interpretation. The various applications of LCA are not regulated by the standard (Fig. 15.1). 

Environmental impact assessment (ElA) is normally used to evaluate the possible environmental constraints for an industrial plant or project. In some cases it is u.sed as part of a permit process for an industrial plant, road, or other project. The owner has to show that no major environmental impacts are caused by the plant or road, or if there are such impacts, to take remedial measures necessary to decrease and monitor the impacts or relevant indicators. 

Brunner, N. St Starkl, M. (2004) Decision Aid Systems for Evaluating Sustainabihty A Critical Survey. Environmental Impact Assessment Review, 24, 441 69. 

The life cycle impact assessment (LCIA) is used to assess the results of the LCA and evaluate the impact on the environment in the various impact categories. These impact categories include, for example, human health, GWP, energy, water use, eutrophication, ozone depletion, aquatic toxicity, and land use (ISO, 2006b). LCA may focus on one or more impact categories. The results may be normalized, weighted, and aggregated in optional steps of the LCIA for comparison to political objectives, for example. In addition, sensitivity analyses are often conducted over the entire LCA to evaluate the variation in the results due to selected factors. 

With the LCA analysis, the impact categories - the impact on climate, water pollution and air pollution - are mostly evaluated. Whereas, impacts such as biodiversity or pesticide toxicity are seldom evaluated because of methodological problems [34]. The LCA study consists of four basic stages Definition of objectives and the scope, Inventory, Impact assessment and Interpretation [32]. 

The aim of the Life Cycle Impact Assessment (LCIA) is to facilitate the interpretation of the results of the inventory analysis. The result of the inventory analysis is an emission profile for each alternative system. In this study the emission profile is the total of all emissions to air, water and soil from the grave-to-cradle chain for the use of cushion vinyl floor covering, including the up chain processes, like electricity production and the down chain processes, like the incineration and landfill of the waste. Such an emission profile may consist of hundreds of emissions and extractions. In LCA impact assessment the total of interventions (emissions, extractions) of a process chain is evaluated in terms of environmental problems (impact categories). 

EMEA, European Agency for the Evaluation of Medical Products. Guideline on environmental impact assessment (EIAS) for veterinary medical products-phase I. CVMP/VICH/592/98-Final London 2000... 

Over the last decades direct and indirect environmental effects of human activities has become a focus of special attention of the general public, state authorities, and international organizations. A number of approaches to predict, evaluate, and mitigate human-induced alterations in the biophysical environment have emerged including environmental impact assessment (EIA). EIA has become a powerful tool to prevent and mitigate environmental impacts of proposed economic developments. 

ERA in general is a process, as is EIA (Environmental Impact Assessment), and not the occasional report or document that is published at various steps. The framework for the orderly process, which has been developed for various environmentally sound projects can be applied also for acidification oriented projects and especially for an evaluation of ecosystem sensitivity to acid deposition and critical load calculations. Central management of the process is an essential feature. 

NATO/CCMS (North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Committee on Challenges to Modern Society) (1997). Introduction to the Themes of the Workshop. In Integration of Risk Assessment and Health Impact Assessment. Report of the Twelfth Workshop on Methodology, Focalisation, Evaluation and Scope of Environmental Impact Assessment in Reykjavik, Iceland, May 14-18, 1997. North Atlantic Treaty Organisation, Committee on Challenges to Modem Society (NATO/CCMS) Pilot Study, co-ordinated by E, F. Verheyen, K. Nagels, and M. Coenen, Antwerpen University of Antwerpen, pp. 49-53... 

TRL (2007). Technical Assistance and Economic Analysis in the Field of Legislation Pertinent to the Issue of Automotive Safety Evaluation of the Impact (Extended Impact Assessment) of the Introduction of Hydrogen as a Fuel to Power Motor-vehicles Considering the Safety and Environmental Aspects. Final Report for Enterprise Directorate-General, European Commission. TRL Limited. 

Ensuring that all activities are based on all available, evaluated, transparent evidence and include powerful tools for feedback, impact assessment and review, for shared, global use. 

This thesis focuses on the applicability of in vitro, in vivo bioassays and bioindicators as tools for evaluating the effects of complex chemical mixtures in the process of deciding whether dredged harbour sediments can be disposed of at sea without serious adverse effects on marine ecosystem and human health. It considers the North Sea delta area in order to determine a comprehensive approach for the application of both in vitro and in vivo bioassays for hazard assessment, advanced risk assessment, and location-specific ecological impact assessment for dredged harbour sediments. To aid in the selection of appropriate, robust and reliable in vitro and in vivo bioassay and bioindication methods for these specific purposes, the uneertainty, predictability and specificity of the bioassays have been explored and the applieability in eombination with other analyses is discussed. The focus of the chosen examples is on bioassays and bioindicators for the relatively well studied dioxin-like contaminants and TBT. 

The extraction of raw materials, manufacturing processes, use/reuse, and disposal represent the basic stages of a solvent s life cycle. Each stage of a solvent s life cycle generates a variety of environmental burdens. Environmental-impact evaluation qualitatively assesses the life-cycle stages for chemical solvents. The goal of this evaluation is to select environmentally preferable solvents that can best minimize these life-cycle impacts. 

In reality, the performance of the LC system will deteriorate over time, especially for noise and drift. If the performance verification tests do not pass the predetermined acceptance criteria, an impact assessment should be made to evaluate the effect of the failure on the quality of the data generated by the system. The impact assessment should cover all the analyses done on the system since the last performance verification, as there is no effective way of determining when the failure occurred. The system suitability data generated together with the analyses will be very useful in demonstrating that system performance is adequate for the application at the time of analysis, so that any data generated are reliable [19]. 

The Texas Transportation Institute has just completed a very extensive two year FHWA sponsored program to look into other aspects of safety and environmental impact of sulfur-asphalt construction [53]. A number of typical sulfur-asphalt and sulfur-concrete paving systems were evaluated to assess their potential environmental impact and establish safety considerations relative to their formulation, construction and maintenance. The environmental impact was investigated from the formulation stages, through weathering, and included considerations of simulated fires and chemical spills. 

API material characterization before manufacturing for potential impact assessment. Process understanding and evaluation of specialized technologies [twin-screw wet granulation (TSWG), extrusion, solid dispersion, etc.] for long-term resolution... 

Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) has evolved as a comprehensive approach to project evaluation, in which environmental factors, as well as economic and technical considerations (e.g. Cost Benefit Analysis), are given appropriate consideration in the decisionmaking process. The purpose of an EIA study is to determine the potential environmental, social and health effects of a proposed development. It attempts to define and assess the physical, biological and socio-economic effects, so that logical and rational decisions are made. The identification of possible alternative sites and/or processes may assist in the reduction of potential adverse impacts. 

The focus of this chapter is the response of microbial cultures to dc fields. The results showed that dc electric field intensity tends to have a complex effect on the activity of mixed microbial cultures. Anaerobic cultures seem to experience an "environmental shock" when exposed to electric field intensities greater than 1.5 V/cm. However, these cultures are able to recover their activities once the electric currents are switched off. Aerobic cultures did not seem to be affected by exposure to field intensities less than 0.28 V/cm. Higher dc field intensities, up to 1.14 V/cm, seem to stimulate aerobic cultures during the first 24 hours of exposure. However, continuous exposure to dc fields (in the range of 1.14 V/cm) following the first 24 hours seems to retard the growth of aerobic cultures. The authors identify the need for further evaluation and assessment of the impact of dc fields on the physicochemical and biochemical interactions in porous media. 

Normalization is an optional step in impact assessment. The impacts are now compared on a scale of inhabitant equivalents rather than that of 100%. Normalization only reveals which effects are large and which effects are small in relative terms. A weighting procedure (Figure 18.7) can be applied to the normalization results. This scales the results to a certain level of seriousness. Weighting is a subjective step. According to ISO 14042, weighting may not be used in the case of public comparisons between products. In the final step, SimaPro can add up all the evaluation scores to give a total impact score for each subassembly element. 

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