Azura-Edo Independent Power Plant Environmental Impact ... - IFC

Table 7.3
Socio-economic and Health Sensitivity Criteria
Sensitivity Low Medium High
Criteria Those affected able to
adapt with relative ease
and maintain pre-impact
status
Able to adapt with
some difficulty and
maintain pre-impact
status but only with a
degree of support
Those affected will not be
able to adapt to changes and
continue to maintain-pre
impact status
7.2.5 Mitigation Measures
One of the key objectives of an EIA is to identify and define socially,
environmentally and technically acceptable and cost effective mitigation
measures. These should avoid unnecessary damage to the environment;
safeguard valued or finite resources, natural areas, habitats and ecosystems;
and protect humans and their associated social environments.
Mitigation measures are developed to avoid, reduce, remedy or compensate
for any negative impacts identified, and to create or enhance positive impacts
such as environmental and social benefits. In this context, the term
“mitigation measures” includes operational controls as well as management
actions. These measures are often established through industry standards and
may include:
• changes to the design of the project during the design process (eg
changing the development approach);
• engineering controls and other physical measures applied (eg waste water
treatment facilities);
• operational plans and procedures (eg waste management plans); and
• the provision of like-for-like replacement, restoration or compensation.
For impacts that are assessed to be of Major significance, a change in design is
usually required to avoid or reduce these. For impacts assessed to be of
Moderate significance, specific mitigation measures such as engineering
controls are usually required to reduce these impacts to ALARP levels. This
approach takes into account the technical and financial feasibility of mitigation
measures. Impacts assessed to be of Minor significance are usually managed
through good industry practice, operational plans and procedures.
In developing mitigation measures, the first focus is on measures that will
prevent or minimise impacts through the design and management of the
Project rather than on reinstatement and compensation measures. A
‘hierarchy’ of mitigation measures for planned activities and unplanned
events is outlined in Box 7.4 and Box 7.5.
AZURA EDO IPP
7-10
DRAFT EIA REPORT