Small Decentralized Hydropower Program National ... - Cd3wd.com
Small Decentralized Hydropower Program National ... - Cd3wd.com
Small Decentralized Hydropower Program National ... - Cd3wd.com
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Impactss Ambientales de la<br />
Energia Hidroelkctrica<br />
en Pequefia Escala<br />
David Zoellner<br />
Cuando quiera se tome action para alterar el medio<br />
ambiente fkico, hay que confrontar consecuencias,<br />
a&was positivas, algunas negativas. la hidroelec-<br />
tricidad a pequefia escala es generalmente menos<br />
destructiva que muchos otros proyectos de servicio<br />
ptiblico. No obstante hay problemas potenciales y<br />
oportunidades sinergeticas que 10s planificadores<br />
deben considerar en el desarrollo de pequefias cen-<br />
trales hidro. David Zoellner 10s bosqueja asi <strong>com</strong>a<br />
tambikn algunos de 10s mbtodos que se pueden<br />
utilizar para efectuar analises sobre el impact0<br />
Introducci6n<br />
Al planificar es necesario considerar tantos<br />
impactos de un desarrollo determinado <strong>com</strong>a sea<br />
posible. De este modo, 10s impactos de todo tipo<br />
pueden ser factoreados en el proceso de planificaci6n<br />
antes de tomar la decision de si se ha de seguir<br />
adelante con el proyecto o no. En este proceso se<br />
realizan esfuerzos para considerar tanto 10s impactos<br />
positivos <strong>com</strong>a 10s negativos. Este metodo se aplica<br />
tanto a proyectos especificos de un sitio <strong>com</strong>a a un<br />
esquema de desarrollo regional o a un plan national.<br />
El objective basic0 de1 asesoramiento de 10s impactos<br />
es el de determinar si 10s impactos positivos pesan<br />
m&a que 10s negativos. La decision titima de si se ha<br />
de proseguir o no con un proyecto o programa<br />
especifico es de carkter politico.<br />
Quienes tomen la decision final deben factorear<br />
todos 10s impactos significativos tales <strong>com</strong>a el social,<br />
institutional, ambient-al, econ6mico y ticnico en una<br />
vista de conjunto. Hay muchos m&odos y ticnicas<br />
disponibles para asistir a quienes deban tomar deci-<br />
siones en la evaluaci6n de 10s impactos, riesgos de<br />
asesoramiento, opciones de desarrollo, para<br />
finalmente tomar una decisi6n.<br />
El asesoramiento de1 impact0 ambiental es uno de<br />
dichos metodos. Es un mbtodo de planificacidn que<br />
con frecuencia resulta en la multiplicaci6n de 10s<br />
beneficios que se puedan derivar de un proyecto<br />
determinado. El control de las inundaciones y el<br />
desarrollo de la pesca son beneficios ambientales que<br />
se derivan con facilidad de 10s proyectos de peque-&as<br />
77<br />
nvironment Assessment of<br />
<strong>Small</strong> Scale ydropower<br />
David Zoellner<br />
Whenever action is taken to alter the physcial<br />
environment, there are consequences: some<br />
positive, some negative. <strong>Small</strong>-scale hydropower<br />
is generally less destructive than many other<br />
public works projects. Wowever, there are poten-<br />
tial problems and synergistic opportunities that<br />
planners should consider in developing small<br />
hydro. David Zoellner outlines these and some<br />
of the methods that may be used in environ-<br />
mental impact analyses.<br />
Introduction<br />
In planning it is necessary to consider as many<br />
of the impacts of a given development as pos-<br />
sible. That way, the impacts of ail possible out-<br />
<strong>com</strong>es way be factored into the planning process<br />
before a decision is made on whether or not to<br />
proceed. In this process, efforts are made to con-<br />
sider both positive and negative impacts. This<br />
holds true for a site specific project, a regional<br />
development scheme, or a national plan. The<br />
basic objective in impact assessment is to deter-<br />
mine whether the positive impacts outweigh the<br />
negative ones. The ultimate decision of whether<br />
or not to proceed with a particular project or pro-<br />
gram is a political one.<br />
The decision-maker must factor all of the<br />
significant social, institutional, environmental,<br />
economic and technological impacts into an<br />
aggregated picture. There are many tools and<br />
techniques available to assist decision-makers in<br />
evaluating impacts, assessing risks, developing<br />
options and in finally reaching a decision.<br />
The environmental impact assessment is one<br />
of these tools. It is a planning tool that often<br />
results in multiplication of the benefits derivable<br />
from a given project. Flood control and fisheries<br />
development are environmental benefits that are<br />
readily available from small hydroelectric pro-<br />
jects. The essence of an environmental assess-<br />
ment is that it is an opportunity to take a broad<br />
perspective on a given project. Rather than an