savills.com Mitigation in Environmental Statements: developing a structured approach Peter Traves 17 April 2012

Aim Introduction IEMA 2011 – The State of EIA Practice in the UK The influence of EIA on scheme design Presenting mitigation in ESs Developing a briefing note for EIA Quality Mark practitioners Discussion

Mitigation  Avoid  Reduce  Compensate  Enhance  Remediation

EIA Practice in the UK: Special Report by IEMA 2011  EIA integrated into the design process  66% indicated that EIA influences project design  53% said EIA contributes to significant modifications  IEMA notes examples of impacts presented in topic chapters as mitigated where design had altered so as to avoid significant effect Source: The State of Environmental Impact Assessment Practice in the UK. IEMA 2011.

The influence of EIA on scheme design  An ES should assess the significant effects of the development as proposed  How to ensure the role of EIA in improving a development is not underplayed?  Defined by the planning application, the ES scheme description and EIA parameter plans  Presentation of the alternatives studied – scheme design

Mitigation of likely significant effects  LPA need to understand the implications of the development and the control required to be imposed by conditions or legal undertaking  ES should identify potential effects prior to mitigation  Actions required to be implemented post-consent  Predict residual effects  DMRB approach – residual effects only

Avoidance - at the design stage – inherent mitigation Categories of mitigation Reduction - in response to potential effects identified as significant. Requires specific action to be taken post-consent Management - standard construction practice for avoiding and minimising effects

IEMA draft approach to presenting mitigation

Developing a guidance note  Common approach to presentation in EIA  Clarity  Highlights the benefits brought by involving an experienced EIA coordinator  IEMA propose that a guidance note is developed as an EIA Quality Mark member led activity – a small author group is sought

Discussion  Format - a 2-page e-briefing?  Issues on which clarification is required?