Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA)

Preparation of a Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA) (also known as an Initial Environmental Examination IEE) for an actual, proposed, real-world project, that has not yet proceeded to the EA stage

The immediate objective is for students to gain practical insights into the substance that must be covered in an EIS. In the course of carrying out the exercise students should also gain the capacity to apply the basic principles of environmental assessment, to identify the key risks faced by projects and to discuss how they might be managed, to weigh up the purpose and need for a development, the baseline data and background, and the grounds for development options, to identify the key elements of a public consultation strategy for a particular context, and to present the rationale for the particular approach taken in the proposed project.

The PEA outline

A Preliminary Environmental Assessment?? (PEA) [also known as an Initial Environmental Examination, IEE] is ??prepared to provide early information on likely environmental issues, constraints and/or risks applying to a proposed activity??. Its purpose is ??to assist in later project development, agency and community involvement and more formal environmental impact assessment documentation??. A PEA/IEE is prepared early in the project development process, usually at the strategic or concept stage and before the selection of options. The focus of the PEA is on constraints, issues and risks, setting out how they will be addressed in the EIS that would follow. The EIS is influenced by, and builds on, a Preliminary Environmental Assessment.

Students are to prepare a Preliminary Environmental Assessment (PEA). It is not expected that the PEA will have a high level of detail, however it is expected that students will undertaken the following:

Describe why the project is needed and what is driving the need to undertake Environmental Assessment;
Gain a basic understanding of the proposed project site??s environmental values, conditions and assets through the use of publically available information;
Document the key risks and potential environmental impacts of the proposed project;
Provide an overview of the scope of specialist studies that should be undertaken;
Prepare a public consultation strategy and describe the rationale behind the strategy.
INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Identify and conduct background research your real world case study project, that has not yet proceeded to the EA stage. Consult the news media for ideas on proposed projects. Consult with your professor well ahead of time to make sure your project idea is suitable.

2) Undertake a screening exercise. State the reason for preparing the EIS.

3) Collate the background information on environmental conditions at the site and undertake scoping to determine higher risk and lower risk impacts. Use the Risk Management Framework discussed in class.

4) Determine what specialist studies you will undertake and provide an overview of the scope of work that would need to be undertaken.

5) Prepare the PEA:

This will include brief points giving descriptions of the information to be included in sections/subsections. A description of the rationale for content in each of the main sections.
Dot points are acceptable for the main section of the PEA.
Please also attach an extra page specifying your references. You are advised to clearly cite your sources throughout the assignment.
6) Prepare an appropriate public participation strategy, clearly outlining at what stages of the EIA process stakeholders will be involved and how they will be involved.

A brief rationale for each of the main participation strategies should be given. This brief description of the strategy to be followed for public consultations will include the rationale (a couple of sentences) for each of the main stages. Reference to good practice as raised in the literature should be noted.
You may want to consult key websites such as the International Association for Public Participation or International Association for Impact Assessment or relevant agencies which produce guidelines for IA such as the World Bank.
7) Explain key aspects of your proposed community consultation strategy.

Outline priority issues of consideration for the PEA in your professional opinion (eg. waste management, traffic management, public education, run-off control, etc).