% 530 words
% Discuss the importance of mitigation in EIA and possible measures
% to address the potential impacts of the proposed development

\section{Mitigation}

In the process of applied EIA, actions relating to the avoidance,
minimisation or reduction of project impacts as well as the
compensation for an impact on a particular component of the
environment are referred to as mitigation measures.  Keeping in mind
that EIA is a tool to weigh negative and positive impacts against each
other, mitigation may also include actions that promote or increase
the benefitial effects of a proposed
development \parencite{mitigation}.

% TODO: more on the importance of mitigation
reading 3.5
- mitigation is not only reducing impacts but also:
  - avoidance
  - preservation (prevent future actions through legislation)
  - minimisation (most common; technical approach)
  - rehabilitation / restoration (problem: if a project approval is
    coupled to clean-up works, it's a bit unfair)


\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

  - Minimise the use of water in any existing plant.
  - Reuse water where possible without treating it first.
  - Treat wastewater to allow its reuse.
  - Optimise the use of reused water.
  - Reduce the use of chemicals or use less harmful ones.
  - Recycle chemicals.
  - Recover and reuse spilled raw materials and products.
  - Process by-products into higher value products instead of waste.
  - Design or select new plant to use less water.

NZ water problems \parencite{cullen}:
- set national priorities for water
- assist regional councils in completing plans


An alternative to discharging wastewater in rivers is the application
to soils, such as pasture or farm land, thereby recycling nutrients.
Dependent on the amount of nutrients removed by plants or other means,
nutrients can be lost to groundwater or be washed into open water
bodies where they accelerate the process of
eutrophication \parencite{chemical}. Hence, this attempt at
minimisation will itself be in need of an impact assessment.