Unit information: Environmental Impact Assessment in 2020/21

Unit name	Environmental Impact Assessment
Unit code	EASC30060
Credit points	10
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 4 (weeks 1-24)
Unit director	Professor. Tim Elliott
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	Successful completion of all mandatory units in years 1 and 2 of the Environmental Geoscience degree programme curriculum
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School of Earth Sciences
Faculty	Faculty of Science

Description including Unit Aims

Students are introduced to the essentials of preparing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), including European and UK Legislation, history of the EIA process, content of an Environmental Statement, and obligate consultations. They areprovided with examples of major EIA projects and then assigned the task of individually researching and preparing an EIA for a fictional, but realistic, development in the Bristol area.

Students will be introduced to the use of the Multi-Agency Geographical Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) which is used to prepare an Environmental Constraints Plan. Accompanied by the unit lecturer, they will visit the site of the proposed development to conduct a field survey to verify the contents of their desk study and to compile additional environmental baseline data about the human environment, flora and fauna, soil, water, air, climate and the landscape, material assets and cultural heritage.

Following the site visit students are instructed in the preparation of an assessment matrix, mitigation design and non-technical summary. The exercise will culminate in the submission of their EIA, a hypothetical public meeting and a group feedback session.

Full details of the coursework assignments are provided via Blackboard.

Intended Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the unit, students will:

• Possess a working knowledge of European and UK legislation governing the content and preparation of an Environmental Impact Assessment.
• Know the scope of and methods for consultations essential for preparation of an EIA.
• Be able to access data from the Multi-Agency Geographical Information for the Countryside
• Be equipped to conduct a desk study and field survey to compile baseline information about a project site.
• Understand the structure and content, and be able to prepare an assessment matrix, mitigation design and non-technical summary for an EIA.

Teaching Information

The unit will be taught through a combination of

• asynchronous online materials and, if subsequently possible, synchronous face-to-face lectures
• synchronous office hours
• asynchronous directed individual formative activities and exercises
• guided, structured reading
• practical work in the laboratory
• fieldwork

Students who either begin or continue their studies in an online mode may be required to complete laboratory or field work, or alternative activities, in person, either during the academic year 2020/21 or subsequently, in order to meet the intended learning outcomes for the unit, prepare them for subsequent units or to satisfy accreditation requirements.

Assessment Information

100% course work (the final submitted Environmental Impact Assessment document)

Reading and References

Key information will be provided via Blackboard.

Further reading:

• Design Manual for Roads and Bridges Volume 11: Environmental Assessment
• Multi-Agency Geographical Information for the Countryside (MAGIC) Website