Thèse numérisée par la Direction des bibliothèques de l'Université de Montréal.

Este trabalho identificou e analisou as principais inovações observadas ao longo do tempo nas práticas de Avaliação de Impacto Ambiental (AIA) de projetos de mineração no estado de São Paulo. Dentre os 322 casos disponíveis nos arquivos da Secretaria do Meio Ambiente do Estado de São Paulo, foram feitas análise documental e de conteúdo de seis processos de licenciamento ambiental prévio, escolhidos intencionalmente de forma a cobrir o maior espectro temporal possível, abranger diferentes regiões do estado e considerar os bens minerais brita e calcário. Roteiros de coleta de dados foram desenvolvidos com base na literatura e utilizados na análise documental dos principais documentos do processo de AIA: Termos de Referência (TR), Atas de audiência pública, Estudos de Impacto Ambiental (EIA) e Complementações e Pareceres Técnicos emitidos pelo órgão ambiental. Os dados coletados foram comparados entre si, visando detectar a presença ou ausência de inovações na prática. Com base nos dados encontrados em literatura, foi possível determinar o panorama da evolução técnica e temporal da AIA em São Paulo. Como principais resultados foram identificados: (1) inserção da etapa de scoping e aumento do nível de detalhamento dos TR; (2) inclusão da etapa de participação pública e melhor consideração das informações obtidas em audiências públicas; (3) EIAs mais longos, com diagnósticos ambientais mais abrangentes e com maior quantidade de dados primários, maior uso de recursos gráficos, proposição de programas ambientais e maior nível de detalhamento geral; (4) pareceres técnicos mais longos e detalhados, com mais exigências técnicas e que consideram as etapas posteriores de licenciamento e a fase de acompanhamento. Também foram identificadas lacunas como: (5) TRs com orientações genéricas; (6) baixa participação de outros órgãos reguladores no processo de AIA; (7) participação pública tardia; (8) deficiente consideração de alternativas locacionais e tecnológicas; (9) diagnósticos ambientais descritivos e sem abordagens analíticas; (10) ausência de guias de orientação; e (11) necessidade de capacitação dos profissionais envolvidos, para novos conteúdos e abordagens. Uma vez verificadas as inovações ausentes ou presentes, as hipóteses sobre os motivadores que as desencadearam foram extraídas a partir da literatura e de documentos de referência internacional. Os principais fatores foram: (i) melhorias em legislação, (ii) aumento do rigor do órgão ambiental, (iii) melhor orientação para os estudos ambientais, (iv) acúmulo de experiência. Baseando-se nas deficiências observadas e nos fatores de motivação identificados para inovações, foram identificadas possibilidades de melhorias, relativas à adoção de novas metodologias; alterações de procedimentos do órgão ambiental; atualização de legislações; adoção de guias de orientação; e inclusão de novos conteúdos a serem abordados. As melhorias propostas são apresentadas na forma de uma carta de propostas e recomendações / This research has identified and reviewed the main innovations over time in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) of quarry projects at São Paulo state, Brazil. Among the 322 studies available at Environmental Secretary of São Paulo, it was done contents analysis on documents of six studies of quarry projects, intentionally chosen in order to cover the longest time spectrum possible, comprise different regions and settings of the state and consider different ores (granite, basalt and limestone). Scripts containing questions for analysis were developed based on literature and were used for the review of the main EIA documents: Terms of Reference (ToR); Public Hearing records; Environmental Impact Statement (EIS); its Supplements; and Review Report. Data gathered were compared, aiming to find innovations on IA practice. Based on data from literature, it was possible to set the technical and temporal evolution of EIA at São Paulo. The main results found were: (1) insertion of scoping phase and increase of detailing on ToR; (2) inclusion of public participation and consideration of inputs from public hearings in review reports; (3) longer and more detailed EISs, with more detailed baselines, more primary data, improved cartography and comprising environmental programmes; (4) longer and more detailed Review Report, comprising more commitments to the proponent and considering later phases (installation and operation) and follow-up. Shortcomings were also identified: (5) generic guidelines on ToR; (6) low participation of other regulatory bodies on EIA process; (7) late public participation; (8) poor consideration of technological and locational alternatives; (9) descriptive baselines with no analytical approaches; (10) lack of guidelines for review; and (11) need of training for EIA experts, for new contents and approaches. After the innovations were found, the hypotheses of its drivers were extracted from literature and international documents. The main drivers were: (i) improvements on legislation; (ii) more rigorous review by Environmental Agency; (iii) better guidance for EIS; and (iv) experience accumulation. Based on the shortcomings found and on the innovation drivers; improvements were identified regarding to new methodologies adoption; changes on Environmental Agency procedures; legislation update; guidance adoption; and inclusion of new issues to be considered. The improvements proposed are presented in a recommendation letter

A AIA é um instrumento de política ambiental que surgiu há mais de 40 anos nos EUA e disseminou-se em diversos países, tendo se tornado alvo de muitas críticas. Recentemente, estas têm se consolidado em todo mundo, por meio de revisões sistemáticas dos quadros de AIA. No Brasil, algumas propostas vêm sendo discutidas e até implementadas em alguns contextos. Ao mesmo tempo em que esse processo apresenta-se como uma oportunidade de melhoria, na contramão, existe uma ameaça de racionalização (streamlining) da AIA, com o risco de levar a uma simplificação desse instrumento e consequente perda de qualidade. Assim, este estudo se propôs a identificar e analisar algumas das propostas de alteração do processo de Licenciamento Ambiental no Brasil (apresentadas pela CNI e ABEMA), considerando as experiências internacionais. Cada proposta foi analisada a partir de um sistema de pontuação desenvolvido com base em critérios extraídos da literatura internacional, de modo que puderam ser excluídas aquelas que caracterizaram-se como propostas de simplificação ou racionalização (streamlining) da AIA e mantidas as que apresentaram algum aspecto que pudesse contribuir para a melhoria do processo. Tais propostas, apresentaram medidas de aperfeiçoamento das regras existentes, o que se analisou como um caminho mais viável que a criação de novas regras ou o relaxamento das existentes. O discurso predominante é de que a AIA ainda é vista como um fardo que ameaça o progresso econômico, embora haja tentativas de alinhar as agendas de desenvolvimento e ambiente. Há um longo percurso de enfrentamentos a ser cumprido, tanto para manter as boas regras, quanto identificar propostas que consigam melhorar a prática existente. Mas, acima de tudo, para evitar a perda da qualidade ambiental e da contribuição para a política ambiental que a AIA traz / The EIA is an environmental policy instrument that has been established over 40 years in USA and it has since spread to different countries, currently receives a many of criticisms, which is natural after decades of implementation. Recently, they have been established worldwide, through systematic reviews of EIA frameworks, and in Brazil, some proposals have been discussed and even implemented in some contexts. Although, this process can be an opportunity for improvement of the EIA, you can also configure a threat rationalization (streamlining) of the EIA, with the risk of leading to a simplification that weakens the instrument. Thus, this study aimed to identify and analyze the proposed amendments to the Environmental Licensing process in Brazil (presented by the CNI and ABEMA), taking into account international experience. Each proposal was analyzed from a scoring system developed. After analysis they were excluded those characterized as proposals for simplification and rationalization (streamlining) of the EIA and kept those that demonstrated that they can contribute to process improvement. Such proposals showed measures of the existing rules, which was analyzed as a more coherent way than to create new rules or a relaxation of the existing. The EIA, is still seen as a \"burden that threatens economic development\" and although there are attempts to align the development and environment agendas, the first continues to dominate the discourse. We have a long way to confrontations to overcome, trying to maintain good rules, select the proposals they can improve existing practice, but, above all, to prevent the loss of environmental quality and contributing to environmental policy, than the EIA provides

A AIA é um instrumento de política ambiental que surgiu há mais de 40 anos nos EUA e disseminou-se em diversos países, tendo se tornado alvo de muitas críticas. Recentemente, estas têm se consolidado em todo mundo, por meio de revisões sistemáticas dos quadros de AIA. No Brasil, algumas propostas vêm sendo discutidas e até implementadas em alguns contextos. Ao mesmo tempo em que esse processo apresenta-se como uma oportunidade de melhoria, na contramão, existe uma ameaça de racionalização (streamlining) da AIA, com o risco de levar a uma simplificação desse instrumento e consequente perda de qualidade. Assim, este estudo se propôs a identificar e analisar algumas das propostas de alteração do processo de Licenciamento Ambiental no Brasil (apresentadas pela CNI e ABEMA), considerando as experiências internacionais. Cada proposta foi analisada a partir de um sistema de pontuação desenvolvido com base em critérios extraídos da literatura internacional, de modo que puderam ser excluídas aquelas que caracterizaram-se como propostas de simplificação ou racionalização (streamlining) da AIA e mantidas as que apresentaram algum aspecto que pudesse contribuir para a melhoria do processo. Tais propostas, apresentaram medidas de aperfeiçoamento das regras existentes, o que se analisou como um caminho mais viável que a criação de novas regras ou o relaxamento das existentes. O discurso predominante é de que a AIA ainda é vista como um fardo que ameaça o progresso econômico, embora haja tentativas de alinhar as agendas de desenvolvimento e ambiente. Há um longo percurso de enfrentamentos a ser cumprido, tanto para manter as boas regras, quanto identificar propostas que consigam melhorar a prática existente. Mas, acima de tudo, para evitar a perda da qualidade ambiental e da contribuição para a política ambiental que a AIA traz / The EIA is an environmental policy instrument that has been established over 40 years in USA and it has since spread to different countries, currently receives a many of criticisms, which is natural after decades of implementation. Recently, they have been established worldwide, through systematic reviews of EIA frameworks, and in Brazil, some proposals have been discussed and even implemented in some contexts. Although, this process can be an opportunity for improvement of the EIA, you can also configure a threat rationalization (streamlining) of the EIA, with the risk of leading to a simplification that weakens the instrument. Thus, this study aimed to identify and analyze the proposed amendments to the Environmental Licensing process in Brazil (presented by the CNI and ABEMA), taking into account international experience. Each proposal was analyzed from a scoring system developed. After analysis they were excluded those characterized as proposals for simplification and rationalization (streamlining) of the EIA and kept those that demonstrated that they can contribute to process improvement. Such proposals showed measures of the existing rules, which was analyzed as a more coherent way than to create new rules or a relaxation of the existing. The EIA, is still seen as a \"burden that threatens economic development\" and although there are attempts to align the development and environment agendas, the first continues to dominate the discourse. We have a long way to confrontations to overcome, trying to maintain good rules, select the proposals they can improve existing practice, but, above all, to prevent the loss of environmental quality and contributing to environmental policy, than the EIA provides

Measuring hormonal changes is vital for understanding how the social and physical environment influences behaviour, reproduction and survival. Various methods of hormone measurement exist, potentially explaining variation in results across studies; methods should be cross validated to ensure they correlate. I directly compare faecal and plasma hormone measurements (Chapter 2), and use the most suitable endocrine measure to test the Darling hypothesis (Chapter 3) - that breeding is hastened and synchronized in larger colonies due to increased social stimulation (mediated by the endocrine system). Blood and faecal samples were simultaneously collected from individual Adelie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) for comparison, and assayed for testosterone and corticosterone (or their metabolites). Sex differences and variability within each measure, and correlation of values across measures were compared. For both hormones, plasma samples showed greater variation than faecal samples. Males had higher corticosterone levels than females, but the difference was only significant in faecal samples. Plasma testosterone, but not faecal testosterone, was significantly higher in males than females. Correlation between sample types was poor overall, and weaker in females than in males; perhaps because measures from plasma represent hormones that are both free and bound to globulins, whereas measures from faeces represent only the free portion. Faecal samples also represent a cumulative measure of hormones over time, as opposed to a plasma 'snapshot' concentration. Faecal sampling appears more suitable for assessing baseline hormone levels. In the second study I examined, over two seasons, whether the timing of breeding varied with colony size; larger colonies present occupants with higher levels of social stimulation and are predicted to show earlier, more synchronous breeding. Baseline faecal hormone levels throughout the breeding season, and survival, were measured to investigate possible proximate and ultimate mechanisms for the results. The influence of environmental variability was examined, by relating the timing of breeding, survival, and endocrine changes to sea ice conditions. Colony size did not influence the timing or synchrony of breeding, survival, or hormone levels within years; perhaps because colonies in an Adelie rookery are not independent from the 'social environment' of adjacent colonies. Across years, synchrony in the smaller rookery was higher than in the larger rookery. The scale of these comparisons may exceed the applicability of the Darling hypothesis. Therefore, no support was found for the Darling hypothesis, at the colony or rookery level, in this species. Higher corticosterone metabolite and lower sex hormone levels in the first season correlated to later breeding and lower survival compared to the second season. This is likely due to the persistence of extensive sea ice conditions late into the first season. Researchers should take care in selecting the most appropriate method of hormone measurement for their question. Future studies testing the Darling hypothesis must carefully select their definition of a colony (i.e. a truly isolated social unit) and the scale at which the hypothesis is tested. Combining endocrine measurements with behavioural, survival, and environmental information allows for a more comprehensive interpretation of animal ecology.

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has become recognised as an improvement on the existing, limited system of project-based EIA. It aims to integrate environmental considerations into government policies, plans and programmes, and provides a basis for arriving at better-informed decisions at broader strategic levels. However, the compatibility of this new environmental planning tool with other planning systems such as transport, holds the key to successful integration of environmental concerns into existing planning approaches. This study investigates whether SEA can influence and integrate with transport planning and policy development processes through a survey of attitudes and opinions of planners on transport SEA in Taiwan. Transport planning has been criticised for considering too few alternatives, and for basing evaluations solely on technical and economic grounds. The emerging SEA seems theoretically feasible and potentially beneficial in allowing the integration of environmental concerns into strategic transport planning. Though many countries or regions have transport SEA provisions, practical transport SEA applications remain limited, mostly in Western developed countries with high environmental awareness. SEA applications are also limited in their strategies, focusing mainly on infrastructure-related projects. Moreover, most current transport SEA practices lack strategic focus and thus fail to fulfill SEA principles. This suggests that many planners are unfamiliar with the nature and techniques of SEA, and the conceptual impediments are still critical, which may result in significant barriers to transport SEA application. The EIA Act promulgated in 1994, together with its relevant provisions, have provided an applicable mechanism and a legal basis for SEA application in Taiwan, however, no transport SEA cases have been conducted. Many technical and non-technical barriers have been identified by the interviewees, indicating that most of the planners in Taiwan believe that transport SEA is conceptually and practically immature, and planners are not yet ready for it. The conceptual barriers seem more critical at this stage because practical barriers can only be identified and overcome when planners and decision-makers have a clear and proper concept of SEA. This narrowly-viewed application has limited the benefits of SEA, and has resulted in a rigid and incorrect idea that SEA was a passive impact-reducing mechanism; this may mislead the attitudes of planners to transport SEA. In fact, the emerging SEA is a re-engineered planning system framework that serves to remind planners that they are able to improve their efforts. It is a paradigm revolution, as the way in which planners think can make a vast difference. Thus, the potential for the emerging SEA concept to influence and integrate with transport planning and transport policy development processes depends not only on practical feasibility but also on a fundamental conceptual recognition of transport SEA. SEA could influence and integrate with transport planning and transport policy development processes if planners and decision-makers changed their ways of thinking. This study also found that a tiered and integrated transport SEA, embedded in the main transport planning process at different strategic levels, has great potential to embody the environmental and sustainable concerns in transport planning and decision-making. This finding is based on several contentions supported by the recent SEA studies showing that it should not be detached from the main planning process. SEA needs to be flexible in order to meet various policies, plans and programmes (PPP) demands, and it must be value-driven, not impact-oriented. A tiered, integrated transport SEA provides ways to overcome identified transport SEA application impediments. This two-in-one planning system is a simple solution which allows transport SEA to be conducted without involving complex legal processes. It improves institutional coordination and integrates not only with planning processes but also with values and resources.

<p><strong>Sammanfattning</strong></p><p>En uppföljning av betydande miljöpåverkan ska genomföras för miljöbedömda planer och program. Forskning visar att uppföljningen är eftersatt, både praktiskt och teoretiskt. Denna studie bidrar med erfarenheter och bygger upp kunskap om miljöuppföljning av de kommunala planerna, översiktsplan och detaljplan. Uppföljning är viktigt för en erfarenhets-återföring och miljöhänsyn i den kommunala planprocessen. Utifrån undersökningens mål ställdes fyra frågeställningar upp som behandlar: förekomsten av uppföljningar av miljöbedömda planer i kommuner (1), hur organisations- och ansvarsfrågor är fördelat (2) hur väl lämpade kommuners miljöövervakning är för uppföljning (3), samt vad som är centralt vid genomförande av uppföljning (4). Inom ramen för undersökningen har olika aktörer intervjuats, där kommuner utgjorde den största källan. Studien kom fram till att uppföljningsarbetet fortfarande bara är i sin linda i undersökta kommuner samt att vissa justeringar av befintliga miljöövervakningssystem behövs för att använda dessa för uppföljning av planer. Befintliga problem utgörs främst av oklarhet i fråga om ansvar inom kommun och/eller mellan kommunen och exploatörer samt att det råder brist på uppföljningsmetoder. Viktiga förutsättningar är därför att klargöra ansvarsfördelning och bestämma avstämningstillfällen där uppföljningen ska behandlas. Ett annat verktyg är utvecklandet av ett uppföljningsprogram. Ett sådant program föreslås också kunna omfatta miljöåtgärder och tillsynsaktiviteter i byggskedet. Ett gemensamt miljö- och uppföljningsprogram kan ge möjlighet att säkerställa en enhetlig hantering av miljöhänsyn i det kommunala planarbetet.</p> / <p><strong>Abstract</strong></p><p>A follow-up of the significant environmental impacts is required for plans and programs, which are affected by SEA-regulations. Research shows that follow-up is neglected, both practically and theoretically. This study aims to compile experience and knowledge to build understanding of follow-up of municipal plans, specifically land use plans (översiktsplan, detaljplan). Follow-up is important as feedback and to integrate environmental concerns into the municipal planning process. Based on the aim, four questions were raised concerning: the occurrence of follow-up of plans in municipalities (1), organizational and responsibility issues (2) how well suited the existing environmental monitoring in the municipalities is for follow-up (3), and what is important when working with follow-up in a municipality (4). Various stakeholders were interviewed, in which municipalities were the main source. The study shows that follow-up work is still only in its infancy in the surveyed municipalities, and that adjustments to the existing environmental monitoring systems are needed for use in follow-up of plans. Existing problems are uncertainties in responsibility questions and lack of methods to follow-up. Key conditions are to clarify responsibilities within municipalities and with landowner/developer and decide occasions where follow-up is handled. Another tool is the development of a follow-up program. Such program is also proposed to include environmental measures and other activities in the building phase. A common program could ensure a comprehensive management of environmental concerns in the municipal planning process.</p>

Human activities in the form of land use changes, urbanisation and infrastructure developments are major threats to biodiversity. The loss and fragmentation of natural habitats are great obstacles for the long term preservation of biodiversity and nature protection measures alone may not be sufficient to tackle the problem. Environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment (SEA) play a central role in identifying, predicting and managing the impacts of human activities on biodiversity. The review of current practice suggests that the complexity of the task is underestimated and that new methodological approaches encompassing the entire landscape are needed. Spatial aspects of the assessment and the lack of information on scale-related issues are particular problems affecting the appropriate assessment of cumulative effects. In parallel with the development and establishment of EIA and SEA, spatial modelling is an expanding field in ecology and many derived applications could be suitable for the prediction and assessment of biodiversity-related impacts. The diversity of modelling methods suggests that a strategy is needed to identify prediction methods appropriate for EIA and SEA. The relevance and potential limitations of GIS-based species distribution and habitat models in predicting impacts on biodiversity were examined in three studies in the greater Stockholm area. Distinct approaches to habitat suitability modelling were compared from the perspective of environmental assessment needs and requirements. The results showed that model performance, validity and ultimate suitability for planning applications were strongly dependent on empirical data and expert knowledge. The methods allowed visual, qualitative and quantitative assessment of habitat loss, thus improving decision support for assessment of impacts on biodiversity. The proposed methods allowed areas of high ecological value and the surrounding landscape to be considered in the same assessment, thereby contributing to better integration of biodiversity issues in physical planning. / QC 20100727

Sammanfattning En uppföljning av betydande miljöpåverkan ska genomföras för miljöbedömda planer och program. Forskning visar att uppföljningen är eftersatt, både praktiskt och teoretiskt. Denna studie bidrar med erfarenheter och bygger upp kunskap om miljöuppföljning av de kommunala planerna, översiktsplan och detaljplan. Uppföljning är viktigt för en erfarenhets-återföring och miljöhänsyn i den kommunala planprocessen. Utifrån undersökningens mål ställdes fyra frågeställningar upp som behandlar: förekomsten av uppföljningar av miljöbedömda planer i kommuner (1), hur organisations- och ansvarsfrågor är fördelat (2) hur väl lämpade kommuners miljöövervakning är för uppföljning (3), samt vad som är centralt vid genomförande av uppföljning (4). Inom ramen för undersökningen har olika aktörer intervjuats, där kommuner utgjorde den största källan. Studien kom fram till att uppföljningsarbetet fortfarande bara är i sin linda i undersökta kommuner samt att vissa justeringar av befintliga miljöövervakningssystem behövs för att använda dessa för uppföljning av planer. Befintliga problem utgörs främst av oklarhet i fråga om ansvar inom kommun och/eller mellan kommunen och exploatörer samt att det råder brist på uppföljningsmetoder. Viktiga förutsättningar är därför att klargöra ansvarsfördelning och bestämma avstämningstillfällen där uppföljningen ska behandlas. Ett annat verktyg är utvecklandet av ett uppföljningsprogram. Ett sådant program föreslås också kunna omfatta miljöåtgärder och tillsynsaktiviteter i byggskedet. Ett gemensamt miljö- och uppföljningsprogram kan ge möjlighet att säkerställa en enhetlig hantering av miljöhänsyn i det kommunala planarbetet. / Abstract A follow-up of the significant environmental impacts is required for plans and programs, which are affected by SEA-regulations. Research shows that follow-up is neglected, both practically and theoretically. This study aims to compile experience and knowledge to build understanding of follow-up of municipal plans, specifically land use plans (översiktsplan, detaljplan). Follow-up is important as feedback and to integrate environmental concerns into the municipal planning process. Based on the aim, four questions were raised concerning: the occurrence of follow-up of plans in municipalities (1), organizational and responsibility issues (2) how well suited the existing environmental monitoring in the municipalities is for follow-up (3), and what is important when working with follow-up in a municipality (4). Various stakeholders were interviewed, in which municipalities were the main source. The study shows that follow-up work is still only in its infancy in the surveyed municipalities, and that adjustments to the existing environmental monitoring systems are needed for use in follow-up of plans. Existing problems are uncertainties in responsibility questions and lack of methods to follow-up. Key conditions are to clarify responsibilities within municipalities and with landowner/developer and decide occasions where follow-up is handled. Another tool is the development of a follow-up program. Such program is also proposed to include environmental measures and other activities in the building phase. A common program could ensure a comprehensive management of environmental concerns in the municipal planning process.

I en miljökonsekvensbeskrivning, MKB ska en beskrivning av planerade åtgärder ges för att undvika, minska eller avhjälpa skadliga verkningar, då projektet antas medföra betydande miljöpåverkan. Eftersom det upptäckts allvarliga brister för skadeförebyggande åtgärder i forskningsrapporter utomlands, var det intressant att undersöka åtgärdskvalitén i några svenska MKB. Svagheter och styrkor i skadeförebyggande åtgärder i 6st MKB för 2st markkabelanläggningar i Sverige undersöktes. Metoden för undersökningen var två fallstudier som jämfördes mot varandra och analyserades mot teorier. Resultatet visade att kvalitén på det undersökta materialet var övervägande bra, jämförelsevis mot de forskningsrapporter som visat på bristfälliga åtgärdsförslag utomlands. Det var väl beskrivna åtgärder där identifiering och implementering av skadeförebyggande åtgärder skedde i ett tidigt skede, enligt Mitchells åtgärdshierarki. Det fanns dock brister som stämde överens mot nämnda forskningsrapporter i uppsatsen: Otydlighet i beskrivningen om hur en särskild miljöaspekt skulle åtgärdas samt avsaknad av åtgärder för denna specifika miljöaspekt, var en stor avvikelse mot de annars välbeskrivna åtgärdsförslagen mot betydande miljöpåverkan i föreliggande undersökning. Otydlighet om åtgärderna bara var förslag eller om de skulle användas, var den brist som ansågs allvarligast för att en MKB skulle vara verkningsfull. Denna allvarliga brist var gemensam för miljökonsekvensbeskrivningarna i föreliggande undersökning och för nämnda forskningsrapporter i uppsatsen. / In an environmental impact assessment, EIA there must be a description of planned measures to avoid, minimize and repair consequences that are damaging, when a project is presumed to bring significant environmental impact. Since detecting serious lack of failure for mitigation measures in science rapports abroad, it was interesting to investigate the quality for mitigation measures for some Swedish EIA. The weakness and strengths in mitigation measures in 6 EIA for 2 ground cable structure in Sweden was examined. The method for this study was two case studies that was compared against each other and analysed with theories. The results showed that the quality of the test material was considered good, comparatively to the research that demonstrated the lack of proposals for action abroad. It was well described measures in which the identification and implementation of mitigation measures were made at an early stage, according to Mitchell's mitigation hierarchy. However, there were deficiencies that were consistent with the mentioned research in this paper: Opaque in the description of how a particular environmental aspect would be addressed and the lack of action for this particular environmental aspect, was a major deviation from the otherwise well described action proposals for significant environmental effects in this study. Opaque if the measures were just proposals or if they would be used, where the shortage was most serious for an EIA would be effective. This serious deficiency was common for the environmental impact assessments in the present study and that research reports in the paper.