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diff --git a/assignment1/discussion.tex b/assignment1/discussion.tex index 83ab131..cd6695a 100644 --- a/assignment1/discussion.tex +++ b/assignment1/discussion.tex @@ -45,12 +45,16 @@ action. It is clear, however, that this approach not only delays the processing of resource consents, but also increases the likelihood of poor quality applications slipping through. - -\textcite{practitioners} -- according to survey of practitioners checklists are most often used, matrices and expert EIA systems are not; checklists are overly simplistic. - -- poor environmental models / baseline => precautionary principle - +According to \textcite{retrospect}, ``EIA generally continues to bring +about only relatively modest adjustments of development proposals.'' +Given the tendency of councils to accept subpar assessment reports and +the fact that only a little more than half a percent of all resource +consent applications are eventually declined \parencite{rma-survey}, +and considering that AEE practitioners rarely employ more advanced +means of assessing impacts than overly simplistic +checklists \parencite{practitioners}, it seems very likely that this +statement applies to assessments in resource consent applications as +well. \subsection{Participation of the public} @@ -66,26 +70,26 @@ EIA process calls for the participation of the general public, in particular the participation of affected individuals or interest groups \parencite{wilkins}. -It is therefore rather disappointing that even in recent reviews of -international EIA practise, public participation remains on a fairly -low level \parencite{eia-state-of-the-art}. Some of the main barriers -to public participation cited by \textcite{eia-state-of-the-art} are: +% TODO: need better sources for this statement It is therefore rather +disappointing that even in recent reviews of international EIA +practise, public participation remains on a fairly low +level \parencite{eia-state-of-the-art}. Some of the main barriers to +public participation cited by \textcite{eia-state-of-the-art} are: poor knowledge of the public about the process; poor provision of information; failure to influence the decision-making process; poor -execution of participation methods; and regulatory constraints. As a -review of resource consent processing performance in New Zealand -indicates, especially the latter three are significant obstacles to -public participation in New Zealand \parencite{TODO}. % TODO +execution of participation methods; and regulatory +constraints. According to the 2010/11 survey of local authorities the +New Zealand Ministry for the Environment carries out every two years, +only about 6 per cent of all resource consents in the two-year period +were notified in some way, with only 4 per cent being publically +notified \parencite{rma-survey} (``poor provision of +information''). Hence, there is limited opportunity for the public to +participate in the decision-making process which may result in reduced +participation in areas where it is still possible (``failure to +influence the decision-making process''). % - opportunities for public involvement? -According to the 2010/11 survey of local authorities the New Zealand -Ministry for the Environment carries out every two years, only about 6 -per cent of all resource consents in the two-year period were notified -in some way, with only 4 per cent being publically -notified \parencite{rma-survey}. - -- limited opportunity for the public to influence decisions On the other hand, public participation ... leads to abuse, slow process miller2010implementing @@ -130,7 +134,8 @@ same survey, however, only 68 per cent of those activities that required both resource consents and monitoring were monitored by regional and territorial councils. As a result, it is difficult to evaluate the accuracy of the predictions of a considerable number of -AEE and the effectiveness of local plans and policies. +AEE and the effectiveness of local plans and +policies \parencite[p 49]{sadler}. % This is one of the reasons for the birth of Strategic Environmental Assessment. @@ -149,14 +154,11 @@ consents'', due to slow implementation of the RMA ``local governments still rely on project EIA rather than undertaking policy and plan-level assessments'' (p 146). The relative lack of guiding constraints on local plans favours regional differences in the -implementation of environmental management practices \parencite{TODO}. +implementation of environmental management +practices \parencite[see]{discussion}. \subsection{TODO: Effective? Does EIA bring about sustainable development?} -\textcite{retrospect}: -``EIA generally continues to bring about only relatively modest adjustments of development proposals.'' - also seems to apply for NZ resource consents: - - only a little more than half a percent of all resource consents are declined \parencite{rma-survey} - failure to predict important impacts - poor communication |