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diff --git a/assignment2/mitigation.tex b/assignment2/mitigation.tex index 092edce..448a369 100644 --- a/assignment2/mitigation.tex +++ b/assignment2/mitigation.tex @@ -17,7 +17,8 @@ addressed in a cost benefit analysis, mitigation is also a way by which the proponents are made to take responsibility for adverse effects and pay for measures to reduce or avoid them altogether, rather than externalising the costs to affected communities or the -general public \parencite{rmit}. +general public \parencite{rmit}. This issue remains a challenge with +higher-order social impacts that are difficult to quantify. Any mitigation measure must be matched by a monitoring measure to ensure that an activity designed to reduce an adverse impact has the @@ -28,24 +29,51 @@ biophysical environment (e.g. nutrient load of a river, water temperature, air pollution, generation of greenhouse gases), there is no standard method to proactively measure the many potential unintended side-effects of a mitigation -measure \parencite[compare][]{mitigation}. +measure \parencite[compare][]{mitigation}. As a mitigation measure and +associated monitoring can be very expensive, the project planners have +to consider alternatives to proposed activites early on in the +planning process. The requirement for listing mitigation measures in +the EIA process hence encourages an inclusive, open approach to +development. \subsection{Measures to address potential impacts of the proposed project} -from NIWA: -%http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/freshwater/tools/kaitiaki_tools/land-use/meat-processing/impacts/chemical-contaminates-and-meat-and-dairy-processing/mitigation +% http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/freshwater/tools/kaitiaki_tools/impacts/sediment/mitigation +The temporary effects of construction work on the river, such as +sedimentation from earthworks, could be minimised by establishing +permanent vegetated riparian buffers or by using temporary filtering +devices such as hay bales or mesh fences to reduce the amount of +sediment polluting the water \parencite{niwa-sediment-mitigation}. A +permanent vegetated buffer zone would not only be a minimisation +measure for the effects of construction work, but also reduce the +impacts due to leakage from dairy farms. + +% http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/freshwater/tools/kaitiaki_tools/land-use/water-take,-dam,-divert2/water-take/mitigation - - Minimise the use of water in any existing plant. - - Reduce the use of chemicals or use less harmful ones. - - Design or select new plant to use less water. +The adverse effects of water take cannot easily be mitigated unless +the abstracted amount is reduced. The cumulative allocations of water +in the region should stay well above the maximum amount that may be +taken while maintaining minimum flows that are required to sustain +aquatic ecosystems and existing fish and invertebrate populations. A +new factory should be designed to use less water; this could be +accomplished by reusing water where reuse does not have sanitary +implications (e.g. using grey water for cooling). To prevent serious +problems associated with temporary overallocation (such as hostile +rises in water temperatures due to low flow or water levels), key +indicators near the factory site need to be monitored constantly. +%http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/freshwater/tools/kaitiaki_tools/land-use/meat-processing/impacts/chemical-contaminates-and-meat-and-dairy-processing/mitigation + +The generation of wastewater is closely linked to the amount of water +that is abstracted from the river. Reducing water consumption would +equally reduce the amount of wastewater to be discharged. When the +adverse effects on river water outweigh the effects of energy +consumption, wastewater could be treated internally to allow its +reuse. Treating wastewater before discharge is also a way to reduce +the contamination of waterways with excess nutrients, harmful +bacteria, as well as organic and inorganic compounds. - - Reuse water where possible without treating it first. - - Treat wastewater to allow its reuse. - - Optimise the use of reused water. -% treat wastewater before discharge -- ensure that the impact of residual contaminants is sufficiently low - - Recycle chemicals. - Recover and reuse spilled raw materials and products. - Process by-products into higher value products instead of waste. @@ -57,30 +85,6 @@ bodies where they accelerate the process of eutrophication \parencite{chemical}. Hence, this attempt at minimisation will itself be in need of an impact assessment. - - -construction: - -% http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/freshwater/tools/kaitiaki_tools/impacts/sediment/mitigation - Create and maintain a vegetated riparian buffer that can greatly reduce the damaging effects of sediment. - Create a buffer zone of long grass from 5 to 10 m width to filter overland flow of sediments to waterways. - During earthworks activities incorporate devices such as riparian buffers, mesh fences, sediment retention ponds, sediment traps, or hay bales in drainage runoff zones to reduce sediment pollution. - -water take: -% http://www.niwa.co.nz/our-science/freshwater/tools/kaitiaki_tools/land-use/water-take,-dam,-divert2/water-take/mitigation - - -% When there is very high demand to take water from a particular waterway the following options should be considered: -% -% Identify minimum flows that can be sustained by a waterway. -% Calculate the maximum amount of water that can be taken from a waterway based on minimum flows. -% Allocate only a proportion of this amount to account for and ensure against overallocation. -% Review and adjust allocations when needed. -% -% The following need to be considered as minimum requirements to maintain natural water flows: -% -% Regulate minimum and maximum flow levels in waterways so that there is sufficient habitat for fish and invertebrate life. -% Prevent temperatures from reaching lethal or extreme levels due to low flow or water levels. % Facilitate up and downstream passage for fish migration where these may be blocked at the water intake - using ramps, ladders and spillways. % Divert fish away from intake screens and outlet pipes. % |