Environmental Impact Assessment Flashcards

What is 'soil compaction' and why is it an environmental concern in agricultural impact assessments?

Answer: Dense soil layers caused by heavy equipment that restrict water infiltration and increase runoff

Soil compaction from heavy machinery reduces pore space, limiting water absorption and increasing surface runoff that carries sediment and nutrients into waterways.

Which monitoring strategy best supports ongoing environmental impact assessment of a farm's water quality?

Answer: Collecting and testing water samples from key locations at regular intervals throughout the growing season

Regular sampling at multiple locations throughout the season detects changes in water quality that may correlate with specific farm activities or weather events.

What is the environmental advantage of no-till or reduced-tillage farming practices?

Answer: Reduced soil erosion, improved water retention, and decreased carbon release from soil

No-till practices keep soil structure intact, reduce erosion, improve infiltration, and sequester carbon by minimizing soil disturbance and organic matter decomposition.

Which pollutant from livestock operations is most associated with creating 'dead zones' in coastal waters?

Answer: Nitrogen from manure runoff causing hypoxic conditions

Excess nitrogen from manure runoff causes algal blooms that deplete oxygen when they decompose, creating hypoxic dead zones that cannot support aquatic life.

What does a 'Spill Prevention, Control, and Countermeasure (SPCC) Plan' address in agricultural operations?

Answer: Prevention of oil and fuel spills that could contaminate soil and water

SPCC plans are required by the EPA for facilities storing significant quantities of oil and fuel, outlining measures to prevent and respond to spills that could reach navigable waters.

Which assessment approach evaluates the long-term sustainability of agricultural land by examining trends in soil organic carbon levels?

Answer: Soil carbon sequestration monitoring

Monitoring soil organic carbon trends reveals whether farming practices are building or depleting long-term soil health and the land's capacity to sequester atmospheric carbon.

Which condition would trigger the need for a formal Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) rather than a simpler Environmental Assessment (EA)?

Answer: A large-scale agricultural project with significant, uncertain, or controversial environmental effects

An EIS is required under NEPA when a project may significantly affect the human environment, requiring a more detailed and public analysis than a basic EA provides.