You will be evaluating an existing Environmental Impact Study Report for a new 27-hectare
Southwest Park Subdivision in Ontario completed by McIntosh Perry Consulting Engineers
(Consultant) for Melanie Construction (Proponent). The project will include the construction
of 516 homes-single family homes, 100 semi-detached units, 52 townhouses, 90 condo units,
and some supporting infrastructure. Assume you have taken the position of an
environmental assessor (EA)/consultant who will be assessing and critiquing this EIA for a
local stakeholders’ group that does not want the project to proceed.
Methodology
To complete each section, you will use the Environmental Impact Assessment Training
Resource Manual created by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to evaluate
the assessment. Specifically, the Procedures for Reviewing EIA Reports, Topic 9 (pg. 347-381)
should be read and understood before conducting your evaluation. The template to follow
for the test is on pages 373-381.You will be expected to rate each criterion point in each table
(Areas 1-4 and their subpoints) using a scale of A-F (pg. 373 of Procedures for Reviewing EIA
Reports document). At the end of each table and each section you will give an overall grade
and discuss accordingly. A grade from A-C is considered satisfactory. Please attach your
completed project tables in an Appendix to your assignment. Note that this assessment
mainly includes the biophysical aspects of the environment. For your critique, ignore the
missing socio-economic aspects and stakeholder participation of the EIA and confine your
comments to only the aspects of the biophysical assessment.
Answer the Following Questions in the main Text Portion of Your Test:
1. What are the strengths and weaknesses of the overall site description, approach, and
baseline conditions?
2) Did the proponent met all criteria components as well as our framework steps for
assessing project impacts? What were areas of strength? What were areas of
weakness? Were any steps missing?
3) Discuss whether the impacts (project on environment, environment on project, and
cumulative effects) were accurately identified and will be appropriately managed and
are residual impacts appropriately identified?
4) What overall grade would you give the whole report? Provide a brief explanation of
the factors that determined this rating. What were its general strengths and
weaknesses?
5) Are specified EIA limitations clearly explained and their consequences understood?
6) Would you recommend: accept project and EIA as is? Accept project with
modifications to project and EIA? If this project were redesigned and the EIA were to
be reconducted, what are the main three parts of this assessment you would
recommend be altered? Or do you suggest: Reject project with no further
assessment? Explain you answer in detail.
Last Completed Projects
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