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diff --git a/assignment3/intro.tex b/assignment3/intro.tex new file mode 100644 index 0000000..7c52a7f --- /dev/null +++ b/assignment3/intro.tex @@ -0,0 +1,47 @@ +\section{Introduction} + +According to the International Association for Impact Assessment, +public participation and transparency are two of the basic principles +applying to all stages in the impact assessment +process \parencite{principles}. As the ultimate purpose of +environmental impact assessment (EIA) is to inform decision-making in +a way that promotes `sustainable development'\footnote{The actual +meaning of the fuzzy term \emph{sustainable development} is the +subject of continuing debate. In this essay it is used to describe +economic development that neither compromises ecosystem services nor +discounts shared community values. For a discussion of the term +\emph{sustainable development} see +\url{http://elephly.net/ecology/TODO}.}, it must ensure that the +public has access to all information relating to a proposal and ought +to allow the public to participate in the decision-making process. + +In New Zealand, EIA is performed through the Resource Management Act +1991 (RMA), a comprehensive environmental management framework +governing the allocation and utilisation of natural resources and +controling adverse effects on the social, natural and constructed +environment. According to \textcite{sadler}, environmental assessment +under the RMA ``operates within the statutory planning and consent +system rather than as a separate procedure [and] applies explicitly to +projects'' \parencite[p 31]{sadler}. The consent system requires +project planners to submit an environmental impact statement (in New +Zealand this is called an Assessment of Environmental Effects or AEE) +in order to be able to obtain the resource consents needed for the +implementation of the project. As the AEE is prepared by the project +proponents (or assessors hired by them), the review of the scope, +accuracy and level of detail of a given AEE is of great importance to +ensure that decision-makers in the council have sufficient information +to make decisions that are sound from a socio-economic and +environmental point of view. + +% TODO: introduce Grinlinton; where did he make this statement? + +\begin{quote} + Councils often do not have the inclination to challenge an AEE, + particularly if the development may bring benefits to the region. It + therefore often falls to individuals or public interest groups to + grasp the thorn and challenge + them. \parencite[][pp. 110-111]{grinlinton} +\end{quote} + +% TODO: +% - provide outline for the essay diff --git a/assignment3/references.bib b/assignment3/references.bib index 7689e90..4adeeb8 100644 --- a/assignment3/references.bib +++ b/assignment3/references.bib @@ -21,6 +21,20 @@ url={http://www.mfe.govt.nz/publications/rma/everyday/consent-consultation/} } +@report{principles, + title={Principles of {E}nvironmental {I}mpact {A}ssessment best practice}, + author={{International Association for Impact Assessment in cooperation with Institute of Environmental Assessment}}, + year={1999} +} + +@techreport{sadler, + title={Environmental assessment in a changing world: evaluating practice to improve performance}, + author={Sadler, B.}, + type={International study of the effectiveness of environmental assessment}, + year={1996} + %notes={EAE_10E.pdf} +} + |