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diff --git a/assignment2/help b/assignment2/help new file mode 100644 index 0000000..130558c --- /dev/null +++ b/assignment2/help @@ -0,0 +1,79 @@ +Thanks for this timely question. Here is some advice: + +Step 1. Find a quiet relaxed place or mental space where you can take +Assignment 2. Have a careful read of the assignment and what it asks you +to do. When you're ready, engage in some creative visualisation of what a +new dairy processing plant might look like, in terms of its size, where it +might be located, possible proximity to a river, its likely rural location, +but possible nearness to other dwellings, whether there might be other +rural activities nearby, possibly even another dairy plant. If you've ever +used SimCity or SimTown you should feel right at home! + +Step 2. Start making your list of possible environmental impacts that would +likely need to be considered when assessing the proposal. If you've taken +the RMA course or have an interest in an RMA focus, that's fine, but please +keep your lens fully back, not too close. This is an EIA course, not an RMA +course. It's ok if you keep your knowledge about RMA processes a bit +hazy. You're not expected to know them. For example, you might think that +the plant will need a regional council discharge consent, and definitely a +land use consent, but it's ok if you don't mention these in any specific +way, or refer to any specific sort of rural zoning issues. If they occur to +you in your mind, it's fine to make a note of them. The case study itself +it purposefully a bit hazy on details so as to allow you the freedom to +consider a range of impacts. + +3. As you make your list, start thinking about how you might rank the +effects. There are a couple of key course readings which will be helpful +in this regard, and there is extra advice on the course page for this +assignment. I recently added a list of EIA tools, which you might wish to +run through as a reminder of potential effects. The plant will need to be +constructed, which will produce some short term effects, and then there +will be ongoing effects of one sort or another. Generally speaking, what +might they be? + +4. Benchmark your work by running a Google search. I just ran one on +environmental impacts dairy processing plant and found a lot of information +from around the world. + +5. Narrow your benchmark by restricting your Google search to NZ sites. +As part of your search check out one or two news items to see the kinds of +impacts of a dairy processing operation that might get the local population +or environmental watchdogs a bit riled. Flag these impacts (hint: EIA can +include positive effects. What are some positive effects from a new dairy +processing plant?) and include them in your assignment as possible impact +bottlenecks that might add a weighting/loading in your ranking. Include +them, and any other refs you have found useful, in a final reference +list. + +6. Don't allow yourself to get distracted by trying to be too specific +about particular indicators you might run across in your searches, such as +actual permitted content of discharges, water chemistry, etc. This +course doesn't expect you to be an engineer. Similarly, don't get +distracted by reaching too far. You asked whether you need to consider +the environmental impacts of dairy farming. The short answer is "no". +Having said that, your question is really interesting, but reaches too +far. You might really be asking "In assessing a possible resource +consent for a dairy processing plant, does the RMA include provisions for +considering the impact on the environment of producing the products it is +receiving, as part of the overall decision to grant consent, or as part of +any future consent conditions for the plant?" This question is +interesting but goes beyond this assignment. Organisations like Greenpeace +really push for this sort of power, for example to try to require +reductions in greenhouse gas emissions in order to get consent for a +coal-fired electrictiy generating station. But it's really an RMA issue +that goes beyond this course. + +Having said that, feel free to comment generally on environmental best +practice and how it might play out in terms of consent and monitoring +conditions for the actual activities of the dairy plant once it gets up and +running. This forms part of your assignment. If you're "RMA-keen", you'd be +looking here at something called a 'best practicable option' for minimising +discharge effects. Google the term and you'll find out more. It's over to +you really in terms of how you want to use this course to gain general +knowledge, or as a tool in a quest to become an RMA-savvy environmental +practitioner. We try to be flexible in our marking to cater to different +'angles' of approach. Have confidence that any benchmarking you do in +Steps 4 and 5 will give you any additional support that you may need, or +contact me for more clarity. + +Cheers and good luck with A2. |