Statement of Environmental Effect - Research Proposal Example

? ment of Environmental Effect] By Insert Presented to Location Due A ment of Environmental Effects (SEE) is a basic requisite in project implementation. This is essentially a documentation that providesthe relevant plans, a completed application form, and a statement of environmental effects. The SEE is in a position toaddress the matters that are of importance and provide additional information if required, by say a development control plan which forms part of the body of the SEE or may be included towards the end of the SEE. The size of the SEE varies from one development plan to the other and depending on its intended purpose on the natural and built environments. This article’s main aim is tooutline a few things such as how the development is likely to impact on the environment; ways in which the impacts could be identified and measures that would be put in place to mitigate the social and economic impacts of the project on the environment.Within the SEE, a suitable location for the development of the project should be suggested and details outlined. Background The development plan featured here is the setting up of POP (Persistent Organic Compound) storage and treatment facility is which is to be built near Mortlake, Victoria. The purpose of building this facility is to dispose Australia’s 500,000 tonne stockpile of organ chlorines such as DDT, Dieldrin and Endrin, polychlorinated biphenyls, hexachlorobenzene, dioxins and furans. The company that has proposed the storage and treatment facility received information that they will have to go through the environmental effect process before approval could be given for this project. With the support of both the State and Federal Governments the process will be heard under Victoria’s Environmental Effects Act (1978) and the Federal Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act (1999). Body The Queensland Environmental act protection act 1994 is a statute that provides legislations, standard procedures, codes and control approvals when setting up projects so as to monitor and manage operations on site. Given the size of the project, a lot of organisation should be done and clear-cut strategies be put in place. Some of the things the project managers should outline include how to relocate or compensate owners of the 1000 acres of land where the project is going to be built and the cost implications it will have on the stakeholders of the project. Operations involved and the estimated period of time required for setting up the project is also vital. Scrutiny of the site should also be done to verify whether there are any hindrances to the project such as underlying mining tenements. The numbers of people required to provide labour should outlined (BERTRAM, 2005, p201). There are a number of implications; either social or economic, that could arise as a result of setting up the project. For instance, looking at the topography of the land, excavators will have to dig deeper into the ground which could result in for example release of air emissions from underneath that may be hazardous to humans. It is important that both personnel working on the site and other nearby residents be informed on such dangers and protective clothing be distributed so as to mitigate the effects such dangerous chemicals could have on individuals. The dug up soil could also contain dangerous chemicals leading to contamination and it is recommended that it is disposed in the right manner. The proposed construction for all temporary landforms is also likely to cause possible erosion as the area is cleared of vegetation. Clearing or demolishing of the houses within the site may likely lead to stockpiles and limit access to certain pathways. In the wake of the construction, it is also likely that some parts of the neighboring land’s fertility or productivity be constrained.“JOUMARD, p34,” argues that in order to ensure that the land remain fertile or at least a little productive, the waste dumps should be contained in a certain are so as not to expose too much land to the adverse effects.Additionally, in order to ensure project completion most of this projects use lighting even during the night and this could have implications on animals living in the lake or people who live around. This effect caused by lightning can be controlled by ensuring that the site under construction is surrounded entirely by a fence or perimeter wall so as to contain the light within. This would also prevent attraction to dangerous animals during the night. During construction, building material and other goods are supposed to be transported. There are several impacts that could arise from transportation, for instance, the types of vehicles used for transportation of waste may produce a lot of noise pollution. The amount of materials transported may also require additional space or accidents could occur during the transportation. It is therefore important that caution is exercised while transporting the materials in order to reduce the no of accidents incurred(JOANNES, 2008, p231). A bigger piece or section of land should also be set aside for storage. In order to reduce noise pollution, it is important the earmuffs be distributed to the people working or people around the neighborhood be informed to vacate. It is also likely that there may be spills of products or harmful material during transportation. During transportation, there may be interruptions to operations or setting up of alternative routes. It is therefore important that the safety, efficiency and road condition operations be assessed. The vehicles used for transportation should also be in good working condition and driver fatigue could be reduced by ensuring that enough drivers are employed in shifts. If water transport is used, spillage into the lake could harm animals living within the habitat. This can be avoided by using alternative means or reducing overflows (TABB, 1998, p923). The transport authority should therefore plan effectively on the project and employ responsible parties for the work. This way the right costs budgeted for the project will be used, correct timing of the works is done and relevant stakeholders be notified in the event of an emergency. Another implication that the project could have on the environment is waste. The extraction and construction process leaves a lot of waste behind. Measures such as operational handling, treatment, storage and disposal of wastes should be employed. The impact the wastes will have on the environment should also be addressed so as to set up prior preventive measures. When discharging liquid and solid wastes, it is also important that the waste be treated. Measures that would prevent contamination of surface water and seepage from waste storage should also be employed. Since there is market demand for recyclable waste, it is a good measure to recycle some or most of the waste and put it to good use. There should also be measures to ensure that the wastes do not cause diseases or reproduce pests(JAMES, 1973, p175). Mortlake provides not only a source of water and other amenities such as recreation, agricultural and industrial use but also serves as a natural habitat for several animals. The lake is of great importance and this should be considered when setting up the project. The environmental water policy (2009) provides a few guidelines that should be employed when such a project is to be set up. Due to extraction, there could be damage of the water table which may result in seasonal changes of the water levels. The lake water is most likely to be faced with a danger of pollution due to spillage, air chemicals or inappropriate dumping. This will affect the quality of the water and control measures need to be put in place. For instance release of hazardous chemicals should be avoided. Excavating too close to the lake should also be disallowed. It is important to assess other potential implication that the project could have and address the matter effectively. Preventive measures, objectives and practical measures should also be set up to promote water resource environmental values. Describing how the objectives will be achieved audited, monitored and managed could also provide insights into environmental conservation. Conducting a risk assessment exercise based on conservative water quality estimates for managed discharges to water as a result of catastrophic failure could also help assess the impacts of the emissions on human health and natural ecologies. Moreover, assessing the risks on local groundwater resources could also provide intuitions on the extent of the area affected (TURNBULL, 1992, p121). Air pollution would not go unmentioned during the excavation process. These effects could range from carbon emissions, greenhouse effects and natural gas emissions. These effects could by assessing how the measures will work towards minimizing the emissions to accomplish energy efficiency. The measures would include use of less carbon-emitting fuels, use of renewable sources of energy and minimizing clearing at the site. It is also important to relocate coal seam methane use for production of energy with extraction of coal. Modules that are effective in reducing greenhouse effects such as use of renewable energy sources and use of new technologies that reduce emissions and use energy efficiently should be included. Noise pollution and ecological effects are some of the other environmental effects that could arise. Noise-sensitive receptors are some of the audile objectives that could be adopted to help cope with noise pollution. There should also be suitable indicators that would be suitable in measuring the noise and vibration impacts. Assessing the noise impacts on the nearby environment and animals for instance could be a useful indicator in knowing what exactly should be put in place to reduce the pollution.(WELCH, 1992, p124). Conversely, the impacts on say nearby vegetation could also provide insights on the severity of the matter and allow environmentalists to put in stringent measures to mitigate this. Other harmful effects caused on the natural habitat should also be describe and measures that would reduce the effects be set up. Conclusion Once a suitable location has been established, it is important that these environmental measures be followed to the later in order to mitigate the effects that may arise once implementation of the project begins. This will not only serve to safeguard the safety of the environment but also guarantee the welfare of the citizen. This way the harmful chemicals in which this project is set to dispose:Australia’s 500,000 tonne stockpile of organ chlorines can easily be implemented with minimal harm to the environment. The paper has been able to provide a number of environmental implications that could arise due to excavation and implementation of the project. The main aim is to ensure that these risks are mitigated on the site as well as the neighborhood. References list BERTRAM, N, (2005)., eds. Thirty-eight South: Urban Architecture Laboratory 2002-2004. RMIT Publishing, p201 D'AMATO, A, & JAMES H. B (1973). "Impact of Impact Statements upon Agency Responsibility: A Prescriptive Analysis,The." Iowa L. p195. EYRES, P, & FIONA R. (2006) eds. Sculpture and the Garden.Ashgate Publishing, p167 JOUMARD, R. (2010).. "Indicators of environmental sustainability in transport."p34 QUAK, H. JOANNES.(2008)Sustainability of urban freight transport: Retail distribution and local regulations in cities. Erasmus University Rotterdam, p231 TABB, M (1998). "Environmental Impact Assessment in the European Community: Shaping International Norms." Tul.L.p923. TURNBULL, R.H, (1992) ed. Environmental and Health Impact Assessment of Developmental Projects: A Handbook for Practitioners. Taylor & Francis, p121 WEGNER, "Planning Level and Program Impact Statements Under the National Environmental Policy Act: A Definitional Approach." UCLA L. Rev. 23 p124. Read More