Environmental Impact Assessment Flashcards

Which monitoring approach is most appropriate for verifying EIA predictions about turbidity impacts during an active hydrographic survey?

Answer: Real-time nephelometer or turbidity sensor deployment during survey operations

Real-time turbidity monitoring with nephelometers during operations allows immediate comparison against predicted values and adaptive management response.

The 'Rule of Reason' in NEPA EIA preparation means agencies must:

Answer: Analyze a reasonable range of alternatives, not every conceivable option

The rule of reason requires agencies to analyze a reasonable but not exhaustive range of alternatives that meet the purpose and need of the proposed action.

A hydrographic project EIA identifies seagrass beds in the survey corridor. The most appropriate mitigation measure would be to:

Answer: Reroute survey lines to avoid seagrass beds or use non-contact survey methods

Avoiding seagrass beds entirely or using acoustic methods that don't physically disturb the bottom follows the mitigation hierarchy's 'avoid' first principle.

Environmental baseline studies for an EIA should ideally be conducted:

Answer: During the same season as the proposed survey to capture representative conditions

Baseline studies should reflect conditions during the time of the proposed action to ensure the impact assessment compares equivalent seasonal states.

Which international framework provides guidelines for EIA of activities on the high seas beyond national jurisdiction?

Answer: UNCLOS and emerging BBNJ Agreement provisions

UNCLOS provides the foundational framework, and the BBNJ (Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction) Agreement establishes EIA requirements for high seas activities.

In an EIA, 'adaptive management' refers to:

Answer: A framework for adjusting mitigation measures based on monitoring results during project implementation

Adaptive management uses real-time monitoring data to trigger pre-defined management responses when environmental thresholds are approached or exceeded.

Which element distinguishes a 'programmatic EIS' from a standard project-level EIS?

Answer: It evaluates broad policies, plans, or programs rather than a single site-specific project

A programmatic EIS addresses broad-scale actions like national survey programs, with site-specific tiered EAs or EISs prepared for individual projects under the program.