Magnitude Matrix, Justification for Grading and Environmental Assessment Process - Report Example

By Your Name Unit/Subject Name and Code Instructor’s Name Institution’s Name Magnitude matrix is a qualitative environmental impact assessment method; it mainly used to identify the potential impact of a project on the environment. Using the Magnitude matrix a in this study the Magnitude matrix will be used to address the scooping to analyse the impact in the environment for the proposed Wakefield waters marina (Štiga 2000). The Magnitude matrix was developed through classification of different expected impact on the scooping procedure so (Helbron 2005). Both positive and negative adverse effect on the environment shall be witnessed, the matrix categorise the different impacts into four distinct categories that include minor adverse impact, moderate adverse impact, substantial adverse impact and beneficial impact. The aim of the study is to identify all social economic and environmental impact of the proposed Wakefield water marina (Štiga 2000). Magnitude matrix The system consists of a matrix with columns that represent the various activities of the projects the activities include the air quality that will be negatively impacted by the project. Noise pollution shall also be analysed, traffic safety landscape and visual waste, contamination cultural heritage, employment related and hydrology (Fischer 2007).. The second columns will have the construction impact, the third will have the operation column and lastly the third column will have the decommissioning column. Dots will be used to indicate the degree of impact on the environment while a tick is used to show the beneficial impacts. One dot shall be used to indicate minor adverse effect two dots shall be used to indicate moderate adverse impact while three shall be used to indicate an adverse impact. Project phase Construction Operation Decommissioning Parameter ●● ●●● ●● Air quality ●● ●●● ● Traffic ●●● ●● ● Hydrology ●● ●●● ● Employment related Cultural heritage ● Safety ● Landscape and visual ●● Waste & contamination ● ●● Ecology & nature conservation ● Justification of the Magnitude matrix The choice of this method was influenced since the method used qualitative assessment on the environment the system used and show better statistical analysis that can be explained at a glance. Connectively, magnitude can also be shown by used of a number line where the negatives show adverse effect to the negative side while positive numbers show impact to the positive side (Belčáková 2000). In Magnitude matrix the measurement of magnitude and their importance tend to be related but do not correlate directly. The method can also utilise the, method can also be used in establishing how much an area is affected by the development and the degree of harm implicated in a given environment (Fischer 2007).. The method also separates the effects it causes and the significant it has on the environment however the impact of the significant magnitude may not be important to the environment in the study. Visually description of relationship between two diverse factors is well represented in the matrix. Additionally, it also identifies impacts of different phases of projects, construction and other operations. The Magnitude matrix also help separate site –specific impact from impact affecting the environment (Leopold et al. 1971). Justification for grading The grading system applied in this method in assessment of the Wakefield waters project marina n gives a clear pictorial representation. It is conventionally known that a tick means something positive; therefore the study uses a tick to indicate positive impact on the project. By merely counting the number of dots in the matrix, a person it able to decode the information from the matrix. The higher the number the greater the degree of impact to the environment caused but the Wakefield waters marina proposal project. The grading system also answers many questions that deal difference of contravening factors in the environment showing their separate contribution to the environment. In the matrix different levels of information are displayed in the network diagram to the study (Fischer 2007). Part two Environmental assessment process In any environmental assessment, there should be a sustainable development that does not have adverse impact on the environment. Such a project should not have any negative impact n the environment according to the millennium development goals, every project should integrate the principles of sustainable development into country policies and programme and reverse any loss of environmental resources. The study will investigate the process of carrying out a baseline study report (Leopold et al 1971). The study will also include the function of the EIA with the aim of protecting the environment from predicted impacts and their effects in the environment. Therefore there is a need to familiarize ourselves we the existing environment, its value, significance and complexity. Connectively, the study will also carry out a comparison on before and after the construction (Štiga 2000). Air quality Air is part of environment, it is an important and vital component of the environment as people breath it for excretion, machineries use air to burn fuel and in turn they give our harmful air that degrades the quality of air in the environment In the construction phase air quality is impacted negatively this is due to the fact that dust and smoke are released into the environment this dust caused inhalation problems to those inhaling the contaminated air. Moderate adverse impact is experienced in this stage as there are no huge movements and use of air hence has the moderate adverse impact. During the operation stage there are heavy movement of machineries and other activities. During this period, air is heavily polluted therefore having a substantial adverse impact. In the decommissioning stage there is just a minor adverse impact on the environment since there are no any major movements or use of heavy machineries however after the completion of project the air will go back to the initial quality as there will be no other contamination of the air (Belčáková 2000). Climatic condition may change due to increase in dust and smoke particles in the air. Such particles may act as hydroscopic particles that attract water in the atmosphere therefore making the place to be more humid. Additionally dust from the construction site is said to have high cement depots since cement has high carbon particles the soil around may also be negatively affected making the soil to be less. The communities in the area may also have respiratory problems as a result of breathing contaminated air. However, the contamination may be reduced by using wet ingredients since all dust shall be trapped by the wet ingredients. Use of machineries with regulated exhaust fumes that ensure minimum release of smoke in the air may also help. This measure may reduce the magnitude of the adverse impact caused to the air quality (Belčáková 2000). Noise In every construction site noise must be produced due to movement and use of machineries that make sound, in Wakefield waters marina the noise from machineries causes disruption in communication within the construction site and the area. Since noise is part of construction as seen in the magnitude matrix where it is maximum during the operation time as opposed to construction time this is because during the construction time there are relatively less activities involved while during operation period all activities are at their maximum. Alternatively, during the decommissioning time activities are less hence low noise as per the EPP. Noise during the night should be limited or totally avoided to give people in the neighbourhood some time to rest therefore no construction or any other operation should be conducted at night to ensure a conducive environment for the people within the area (Leopold et al 1971). Traffic Traffic and congestion is also depicted as an environmental hazard this is because of the much gas released when such cars are in the traffic. The project also contributes to creation of the huge traffic due to movement of material in and out of the site. As depicted by the magnitude matrix, more traffic was created in the initial construction time this is due to the fact that it was this time that all materials were being shipped into the site. Since heavy trucks and Lorries will be used (Štiga 2000). The community is highly affected as they are much delayed in making to their desired destinations connectively due to high influx of people in the region for either business reason of tourist will all be influenced. Traffic also contributes to air pollution and noise due to the movement of vehicles and the release of smoke from the exhaust pipes. The traffic has no any noted beneficial impact in the region (Štiga, 2000) Hydrology Water is life, in any construction water is need for many reasons however, and during such construction activities, water tend to be contaminated people in the region were some against the establishment of the building in the area since their water would be contaminated. As seen from the magnitude matrix the project would lead to killing of hundreds of mangroves in the area and the Wakefield region (Belčáková 2000). Water can be taken direct from the sea and be used in the construction site however, people within the region complain of their water being polluted therefore tend to oppose the construction. Due to the substantial adverse impact on the flora and fauna in the region then, the cultural heritage will be disrupted as new people from diverse cultural backgrounds will come to occupy the newly built house Belčáková, 2000) Safety and also waste contamination will also increase since many people occupying a given region translates to more waste and contamination as they will interfere with the ecology and the nature preservation with an aim to get more space for their undertakings (Leopold et al 1971). Nevertheless the project will also bring about positive impact in the region; there will be more tourists in the area hence more jobs to the dwellers. Connectively, there will be more jobs created in the construction site for the workers (Štiga 2000). Remedy to the adverse impact Measures should be put in place to facilitate and ensure that the ecology in the area is well preserved as per the requirement. Cutting down of trees should be avoided connectively; waste and contamination should be treated and also not be dumped into the sea. Use of better advanced tools and apparatus could lead to more and better environmental saving the substantial adverse impact would be reduced up until minor adverse impact (Fischer 2007). Data used Data from local publication is used in the assessment additionally data from the government is also vital in the mission as it shows what to expect in the hand so (Helbron 2005) Reference Fischer , T 2007, Theory and Practiceof StrategicEnvironmental Assessment, Earthscan, London. Gal, P. & Belcakova, I 2000, Current legislation and standards of spatial planning in social transformation and European integration, F ASTU Bratislava. Helbron ,H., Schmidt, M., & Storch, H 2005 Transnationally Approved Indicator Set:The Core Module in SEA for Regional Planning. Presentation at the IAIA Conference on International Experience and Perspectives in SEA, IAIA,Prague Belčáková,I., & Finka, M 2000 Strategic Environmental Assessment ofland use/spatial plans in EU and SR Leopold, Luna B.; Clarke, Frank E.; Hanshaw, Bruce B.; Balsley, James R. 1971. A Procedure for Evaluating Environmental Impact. Geological Survey Circular 645. Washington: U.S. Geological Survey Seht, H. von 1999, Strategic Environmental Assessment - requirements of a comprehensive systém, Landscapeand Urban Planning, 45(1): 1-14 Štiga, M. 2000, An antropogene Soil in the Cities and its a Revitalisastion in the Areas of City Greenery , workshop IP Read More