Because of the potential for development to have negative environmental impacts, one of the most important questions addressed by environmental law and policy is whether and how to allow development to proceed. In Canada this question is answered primarily through environmental impact assessment ("EIA"). At the federal level, EIAs are required under the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act, S.C. 1992, c. 37 ("CEAA") for certain types of proposed projects and activities. Although CEAA's purposes include fostering both a healthy environment and economy, the Act does not provide any instruction on how to balance or choose between these goals in situations where both goals cannot be served. In 1999 Professor Daniel Farber developed a methodology he refers to as 'eco-pragmatism' in an attempt to create a means by which society's competing (and often contrary) values can be balanced and satisfactory trade-offs arrived at. In this thesis the differences between CEAA and eco-pragmatism are explored and consideration is given to whether eco-pragmatism might assist in resolving the value conflicts that often characterize EIAs. Of particular interest is whether Farber's approach might improve the CEAA framework and assist CEAA decision-makers in determining whether proposed projects should be approved. It is argued that although eco-pragmatism is useful, it is not adequate if the ultimate goal is environmental protection that is sustainable into the future. Both CEAA and eco-pragmatism focus on the mitigation of negative environmental effects, rather than on achieving long-term environmental gains or observing a minimum environmental standard. Accordingly, both arguably have the effect of slowing the erosion of environmental quality, but each fails to observe some sort of environmental 'bottom line' that would impose an ultimate limit on negative impact. It is suggested that an ultimate limit is a necessary (albeit difficult) element of environmental law. / Law, Peter A. Allard School of / Graduate

Antropogena utsläpp av klimatpåverkande gaser är enligt IPCC med 95 % sannolikhet anledningen till de klimatförändringar vi nu står inför. För att klimatförändringarna inte ska bli för omfattande finns det nu ett mål att försöka hålla den globala medeltemperaturökningen under 2 °C. Detta mål kräver bidrag ifrån flera sektorer och ett gemensamt ansvar för att lyckas, eftersom klimatpåverkan är ett globalt problem. Inom byggindustrin fanns tidigare en uppskattning att större delen av en byggnads miljöpåverkan uppkommer under driftskedet, till följd av energianvändning för uppvärmning.  Tack vare nya standarder på klimatskal för byggnader bidrar numera byggprocessen till den större miljöpåverkande delen i en byggnads livscykel. För att ytterligare minska byggsektorns miljöpåverkan behöver miljövänligare byggnadsmaterial användas. En byggmetod som på senare tid blivit intressant är konstruktion med korslimmat trä, så kallat KL-trä. KL-trä är ett byggmaterial av trä med god bärighet och styvhet, vilket gör att det lämpar sig som bärande och stabiliserande material i byggnader. Det vanligaste bärande och stabiliserande materialet i byggnader idag är betong, men KL-trä har visat sig vara ett konkurrerande alternativ. När miljöbedömningar genomförts över byggnaders livscykler har det visat sig att byggnader med en högre andel biobaserade material resulterar i lägre miljöpåverkan jämfört med byggnader med lägre andel biobaserat material. Syftet med arbetet är att undersöka skillnaden i miljöpåverkan och energianvändning mellan två flerbostadshus genom att göra en miljöbedömning. Flerbostadshusen kallas i studien för Klippan och Klippan-KL. Byggnaderna är likvärdiga utifrån funktion och användningsyta men konstruerade med betong respektive KL-trä som bärande och stabiliserande material. Miljöbedömningen redovisas i form av klimatpåverkan, försurnings- och övergödningspotential samt energianvändning.  Resultatet från miljöbedömningen visar skillnad i miljöpåverkan beroende på om man väljer byggnation med KL-trä eller betong. Miljöbedömningen visar också skillnad i energianvändning mellan de två flerbostadshusen, om deras klimatskal utformas enligt studien. Baserat på de undersökningar som gjordes i studien så är den samlade bedömningen att flerbostadshuset som undersöktes ska utformas med KL-trä och inte betong, för att minska på miljöpåverkan från byggprocessen. / Anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases are according to IPCC with 95 % probability the reason to the climate changes we now are facing. For climate change to not be too extensive, there is now a goal to try to keep the global average temperature increase below 2 ° C. This goal requires contributions from several sectors and a shared responsibility for success, since climate change is a global problem. In the construction industry, there was earlier an estimate that most of a building's environmental impact arises during the operational process, due to energy use for heating. Thanks to new standards on building envelope, the construction process now contributes to the major environmental impact of a building's life cycle. To further reduce the environmental impact from the construction sector, environmentally friendly building materials need to be used.  A building method which has recently become interesting is the construction with cross laminated timber, so-called CLT. CLT is a building material made of wood with good bearing and stiffness, which makes it suitable as the load-bearing and stabilizing material in buildings. The most common load-bearing and stabilizing material in buildings today is concrete, but CLT has proven to be a competing alternative. When environmental assessments have been carried out over building life cycles, buildings with a higher proportion of bio based materials have resulted in lower environmental impact compared to buildings with a lower proportion of bio based materials. The purpose of the study is to investigate the difference in environmental impact and energy use between two multi-family houses by making an environmental assessment. The multi-family houses in the study are called Klippan and Klippan-KL. The buildings are equal in function and usable space but are constructed with concrete or CLT, as load-bearing and stabilizing material. The environmental assessment is presented in terms of climate impact, acidification and eutrophication potential and energy usage. The result of the environmental assessment shows a difference in environmental impact, depending on whether a building is chosen with CLT or concrete. The environmental assessment also shows a difference in energy usage between the two multi-family houses, if their building envelope is designed according to the study. Based on the studies conducted, the overall assessment is that the multi-family house surveyed should be designed with CLT and not concrete, in order to reduce environmental impact from the construction process.

This thesis advances a conceptual model of adaptive impact monitoring that is designed to overcome many of the criticisms plaguing conventional monitoring strategies. The potential for applying the adaptive model is demonstrated for the Peace River Site C dam proposed for northeastern British Columbia. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) has progressed considerably from its early biophysical orientation to a more comprehensive, interdisciplinary process concerned with the breadth of environmental and socio-economic impacts of development. Impact monitoring, an essential EIA component, has also progressed but in a less innovative fashion. Consequently, conventional monitoring strategies often contain significant deficiencies including insufficient use of past experience, poor monitoring design, and failure to recognize the learning opportunity offered by each project. Adaptive impact monitoring offers significant advantages over traditional strategies. An adaptive strategy is based on a series of impact hypotheses established and tested by an interdisciplinary design team and has two fundamental stages: design and evaluation. A review of the potential environmental impacts of hydroelectric production indicates that the reservoir impact paradigm is beginning to provide a comprehensive basis for assessing development effects. Although the Site C EIA adequately reflects the reservoir impact paradigm, it has three significant weaknesses. First, the potential impacts on downstream ecology and distant downstream users are ill-considered. Second, the potential for increased Site C fisheries parasitism is neglected. Finally, estimates of maximum sustainable yield for the Site C reservoir and Peace River fisheries are unreliable. While opportunities for future impact monitoring were recognized through the Site C panel hearings, they lacked flexibility. The potential impacts on downstream water temperature and fisheries resources are used to illustrate the applicability of the adaptive strategy and the advantages derived from collecting only relevant, statistically credible data to permit testing impact hypotheses in a cost-effective manner. On the basis of these findings, six major policy recommendations are provided for improving the effectiveness of impact monitoring and management for future resource developments. / Graduate and Postdoctoral Studies / Graduate

M.Comm. / The Randburg Waterfront which was built in a residential area in Randburg, officially opened it's doors to the public on the 1st of March 1995. Shortly thereafter complaints and affidavites from unhappy residents started to stream to the management of the Waterfront, Randburg Town Council, as well as police stations and newspapers. Committees were also established by concerned residents to fight their cause. Unfortunately all socio-economic activities of man have both a social and and physical impact on the environment. For this reason, social and environmental impact assessments have become a measuring rod in the twentieth century, whereby the effect of man's socio-economic activities on human beings as well as the environment, can be determined. With the above-mentioned in mind, a study was undertaken in 1995, which was aimed at investigating the positive and/or negative impact of the Randburg Waterfront on the surrounding residential area. The aim of this follow-up study, is to determine the positive and/or negative impact of the Randburg Waterfront on the surrounding residential area, by comparing the results of the 1995 and 1996 data. Questionnaires were used as data gathering method. In 1995, 160 questionnaires were distributed in the testsample area of a 250m radius around the Waterfont, of which 108 (67,5%) were received back. To ensure meaningful comparisons between the data sets of 1995 and 1996, questionnaires, in 1996, were only distributed amongst the 108 residents who responded in 1995. Of these 108 questionnaires, 82 were received back, with a resulting response rate of 75,9%. In chapter 1 of this mini-thesis, background in connection with the Waterfront Development is given. In chapter 2 the potential impacts of the Waterfont on the surrounding residential area are discussed, and the study problem and study methodology are defined. The property on which the Waterfront was developed, as well as the surrounding residential area are dicussed in detail in chapter 3. All information regarding the data gathering process, as well as graphic presentation of the 1995 and 1996 data for visual interpretation, are presented in chapter 4. Chapter 5 entails the analysis of the gathered data, and comparisons are made between the data sets of 1995 and 1996. In closing, a summarised synthesis is given and recommendations are made in chapter 6. The synthesis shows that the Randburg Waterfront, although aesthetically attractive and economically viable to Randburg, has an adverse effect on the surrounding residential area, which has worsened during the past year. The importance of this study is that the results can be used to determine methods whereby the negative impacts of the Waterfront on the surrounding residential area and individuals, can be minimised. Lastly, recommendations are made from an environmental management perspective, in order to mitigate present problems, as well as to prevent potential problems associated with similar development in the future.

M.Sc. / The transmission system of Eskom occupies approximately 28 000 km of servitude that crosses a number of biomes in South Africa. The management of these servitudes, with respect to the impacts that the system has on the surrounding environment, as well as the effect of biotic, social and natural phenomena on the electrical system, needs to be carefully managed. This study investigates these bi-directional influences to determine which are pertinent to the management to the transmission line servitudes. This study also derives a number of strategic actions and accountabilities for all participating departments in the Transmission Division of Eskom, who are involved in the management of one or more phases of the life cycle of the servitude.

Orientador: Gisleiva Cristina dos Santos Ferreira / Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Tecnologia / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-26T17:24:55Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Domingues_LucieneGachetFerrari_M.pdf: 2343160 bytes, checksum: d94ee8fa2a1db00758930c4259251ab1 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2015 / Resumo: Do processo de fundição de metais é gerado um resíduo chamado de areia descartada de fundição (ADF), o qual é prioritariamente destinada para aterros sanitários, tornando-se um passivo ambiental de grande proporção. O Brasil gera cerca de 3 milhões de toneladas de ADF por ano, o que propiciou a criação de normas para gerenciamento e aplicação deste resíduo em outras atividades, principalmente na construção civil. O objetivo desta pesquisa foi de verificar a viabilidade ambiental e econômica na utilização de misturas de solo + ADF em teores de 30%, 50% e 70%, na cobertura de resíduos sólidos urbanos em aterros sanitários. A mistura de solo + 70% ADF foi a que apresentou funcionalidade na cobertura das camadas intermediárias de resíduos sólidos, nos aspectos físico (permeabilidade), mecânico (resistência ao cisalhamento), ambiental (classe II-A e não tóxico) e econômico (menor custo). Portanto, este estudo comprovou a viabilidade ambiental e econômica deste inovador modelo de operação e gestão proposto para maciços de aterros sanitários / Abstract: From the metal casting process is generated the waste foundry sand (WFS), which is primarily discarded in landfills, becoming an environmental liability of large proportions. The Brazil generates about 3 million tons per year of WFS, which led to the creation of standards for management and implementation of this residue in other activities, especially in construction. The objective of this research was to verify the environmental and economic viability in the use of soil-foundry sand mixtures in 30%, 50% and 70% level of substitution, in the coverage of solid wastes landfills. The soil + 70% WFS mixture presented the feature in the intermediate layers of solid waste landfills coverage, in the physical (permeability), mechanical (shear strength), environmental (II-A class and non-toxic) and economic (lower cost) aspects. Therefore, this study proved the environmental and economic feasibility of this innovative operating model and management proposed for massive landfills / Mestrado / Tecnologia e Inovação / Mestra em Tecnologia

Este trabalho propõe uma metodologia inovadora de seqüenciamento de lavra em minério de ferro a qual, além de considerar os parâmetros operacionais e econômicos das técnicas tradicionais, permite uma abordagem ambiental proativa para sequenciar a lavra de forma a antecipar a exaustão de parte da cava para disposição do estéril dentro da cava final. A metodologia proposta de seqüenciamento ordenado de lavra permite reduzir a área degradada a ser reabilitada na mina, com significativos benefícios associados à reducão do impacto ambiental, sem comprometer as metas de produtividade e competitividade econômica da lavra. A metodologia de seqüenciamento ordenado de lavra foi aplicada em um estudo de caso de projeto de lavra de minério de ferro, e os resultados alcançados comprovaram os benefícios esperados com a aplicação da metodologia proposta. / This paper presents a innovative approach for an environmentally pro-active mine scheduling process. The proposed methodology has been developed for identifying a mine sequence that meets all operational and economical constraints in iron-ore mining, and takes into account a pro-active approach for scheduling the mine according to environmental criteria. The proposed methodology allows a significant reduction of the environmental impact related to the mining operation without compromising productivity and the economical feasibility of the mine. The methodology has been applied to a case study of iron ore mining in Brazil, where the expected benefits have been proven.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-05-02T13:53:50Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Otavio Henrique DomingosDissertacao.pdf: 2673000 bytes, checksum: 01a30079ceaac35d6157c620427cec75 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2013-07-08 / Due to the increase in world population and, consequently, the growing demand for food, agriculture is becoming increasingly essential for the maintenance of life and for the eradication of hunger. Seeking to meet these demands, agriculture has acquired larger proportions, which often culminate in negative environmental impacts resulted from this activity. A natural resource most affected by the disorderly expansion of agriculture are water resources. This paper makes a diagnosis on agricultural activities and environmental impacts from this activity on Muzambo River basin in the town of Muzambinho - Minas Gerais, assessing descriptively the intensity of the impacts whose data are analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively. In this context, we evaluate the anthropogenic influence on the local environment through the characterization of agricultural and domestic activities accomplished in the region, and similarly, we characterized the impacts caused by these activities. It was observed that environmental degradation affected both agricultural areas and areas with natural vegetation, and that there is no adoption of mitigating measures of impacts in the studied area. The control of rainfall runoff, revitalization of riparian forests and proper disposal of solid waste and wastewater are practices that are essential to promote the development of a sustainable agriculture. / Devido ao aumento da população mundial e, consequentemente, à crescente demanda por alimentos, a agropecuária vem se tornando cada vez mais imprescindível para a manutenção da vida e para a erradicação da fome. Buscando atender essas demandas, a agropecuária vem ganhando maiores proporções, que muitas vezes culminam em impactos ambientais negativos oriundos dessa atividade. Um dos recursos naturais mais afetados pela expansão desordenada da agropecuária são os recursos hídricos. Este trabalho faz um diagnóstico acerca das atividades agropecuárias e dos impactos ambientais causados por essa atividade na bacia hidrográfica do Rio Muzambo no município de Muzambinho - Minas Gerais, avaliando, de forma descritiva, a intensidade dos impactos, cujos dados são analisados qualitativa e quantitativamente. Nesse contexto, avalia-se a influência antrópica no meio ambiente local por meio da caracterização das atividades agropecuárias e domésticas realizadas na região, e, da mesma forma, caracterizaram-se os impactos ocasionados por essas atividades. Foi observado que a degradação ambiental atingiu tanto as áreas agricultáveis como as áreas com vegetação natural, e que não há adoção de medidas mitigadoras de impactos na região estudada. O controle do escoamento superficial da água das chuvas, a revitalização das matas ciliares e a destinação correta dos resíduos sólidos e efluentes são práticas imprescindíveis para que se promova o desenvolvimento de uma agropecuária sustentável.

Submitted by Nadir Basilio (nadirsb@uninove.br) on 2016-06-21T18:51:18Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Eliane De Lima Almeida.pdf: 21492587 bytes, checksum: de03d72ae2cf1fbf0de5c21b03a7450d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-06-21T18:51:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Eliane De Lima Almeida.pdf: 21492587 bytes, checksum: de03d72ae2cf1fbf0de5c21b03a7450d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-03-29 / This paper discusses how the EIA was relevant on the decision regarding mitigation of environmental impacts on installation of the Duplication of the Tamoios Highway - stretch Plateau, with the objective of verifying its implications on the local ecosystem, compound by an immeasurable plant biodiversity, located in an area with high ecological significance and big social problems.To discuss the said topic, this thesis analyzed the duplication process of Highway Tamoios, Plateau stretch , linking the cities of São José dos Campos to Paraibuna from São Paulo, being compared to the initial proposal of the project with the final implementation of the road, seeking to know the contributions of procedures for the mitigation of environmental impacts on local biodiversity in relation to removal of vegetation and environmental compensation. / Esse trabalho busca discutir como AIA foi relevante na tomada de decisão em relação a mitigação dos impactos ambientais na instalação da Duplicação da Rodovia dos Tamoios – trecho Planalto, tendo como objetivo de verificar suas implicações no ecossistema local, composto por uma biodiversidade vegetal imensurável, localizada em uma região com alta relevância ecológica e grandes problemas sociais. Para discutir o referido tema, a presente dissertação analisou o processo da duplicação da Rodovia Tamoios, trecho Planalto, que liga os municípios de São José dos Campos a Paraibuna no Estado de São Paulo, SP, onde comparou-se a proposta inicial do empreendimento com a implantação final da rodovia, buscando conhecer as contribuições dos procedimentos em relação a mitigação dos impactos ambientais sobre a biodiversidade local em relação a supressão de vegetação e a respectiva compensação ambiental.

As usinas hidrelétricas são fundamentais na produção energética brasileira, sendo também responsáveis pela geração de importantes impactos ambientais negativos na escala local, os quais acabam tendo efeito no próprio desempenho dos municípios afetados. Com o objetivo de equacionar estes impactos de natureza física, biótica e socioeconômica, instituiu-se a Avaliação de Impacto Ambiental (AIA) por meio da Política Nacional de Meio Ambiente em 1981. A partir de então, este instrumento tem passado por alterações temporais no campo político, legal, institucional e técnico, as quais podem refletir-se na forma como o instrumento equaciona os impactos ambientais e, neste caso, nos próprios desempenhos de desenvolvimento dos locais afetados por hidrelétricas. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a relação entre o desempenho de desenvolvimento nos municípios brasileiros afetados por hidrelétricas e a trajetória da Avaliação de Impacto Ambiental. Nesse sentido, o resultado obtido neste trabalho, é um indicativo de que a AIA quando bem executada pode ser um meio eficaz para gestão de impactos e planejamento ambiental. / Brazilian hydropower plants are fundamental in Brazil\'s energy production, although they are also responsible for generating significant environmental impacts at the local scale, which having an effect on their own municipal development performances. Aiming to solve these physical, biotic and socio-economic impacts, was created the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) by the National Environmental Policy in 1981. Since then, this instrument was temporal changed by political, legal, institutional and technical contexts, which may be reflected in how the instrument solves environmental impacts and, in this case, the municipal development performances affected by hydropower plants. This project aimed to analysis the relationships between municipal development performances and the temporal course of Environmental Impact Assessment. In this sense, the result obtained in this project is an indication that the EIA when well executed can be an effective means for impact management and environmental planning.