STUDIES AND PROCEDURES FOR ENVIRONMENT IMPACT
- Overview
- Assessment methods
- Learning objectives
- Contents
- Full programme
- Delivery method
- Teaching methods
- Contacts/Info
No prerequisites are required
The examination is organized in a written test, lasting about one hour, concerning the different procedures for the environmental compatibility and the connections that may exist between them. The students are called to provide descriptions of the content of the technical documentation to support of the administrative procedures of environmental compatibility. The test will be carried out on paper or, possibly, using the e-learning platform. To every correct answer is assigned a punctuation. The examination is successful with 18 points (18/30). During the exam, get out of the class is not allowed, as well as the use of mobile phones or other electronic devices. In case of written test, all the sheets provided before the exam should be devolved at the end of the test, with name, surname and matricula. Parts wrote in pencil and colors which are not blue or black will not be corrected. All the topics of the exam will be introduced within the platform e-learning. The students allowed to attend the exams should be registered regularly at the on-line platform and should provide the university card before starting the exam. In case of refusal of the final score, the student should communicate it within 5 days after the publication of the vote in the ESSE3 platform.
AIM OF THE COURSE
The course aims at providing basic knowledge of the regulatory elements, methodological and technical procedures for the various environmental compatibility of plans and projects. In particular, it describes the actors and stakeholders involved in the decisional process regarding the environmental compatibility, the requested technical documentation (i.e. Environmental Impact Assessment) in support of the procedures, the technical contents of such documents, the timing and mode for developing the various technical and administrative procedures such as the Environmental Impact Assessment, Strategic Environmental Assessment, Integrated Environmental Authorization, the Assessment of plans and projects significantly affecting Natura 2000 sites.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
At the end of the course, the student will be able to:
1. address a critical evaluation process of a plan or project in relation to potential environmental criticalities
2. manage the required information related to the contamination issues of different ecosystems (air, water, soil)
3. identify the main environmental issues necessary for the development of technical documentation in support of applications for environmental compatibility
4. analyze design or plan alternatives that aim to reduce environmental pressure
5. know the regulatory references and be able to consult them
6. participate in the environmental monitoring of real systems
The contents of the course are listed below:
• Regulatory elements at national and European level
• Environmental management systems, ISO 14.001, EMAS
• Ecolabel trademark
• The procedure of screening of subjection to Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)
• The procedure of EIA
• IPPC
• AUA
• The Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
• Incidence Assessment and connection between the different procedures
• Structure and contents of an Environmental Impact Report (EIR)
• Simulation models and application fields
• Indicators and indexes
• Matrices and critical evaluation of impacts
• Mitigation and compensation systems
• Environmental Monitoring
• The use of Decision Support Systems (DSSs)
• Monographic lessons about the impacts in different environmental compartments (lectures-tutorials)
All the items above listed will have a similar importance and duration in terms of time for presentation, except for the procedure for the environmental impact assessment and the structure of the environmental impact study, where more time is dedicated. The part of theoretical lessons will last 36 hours, while the practical part will last 18 hours. In the latter, some topics will be explored such as, for example, the environmental pressures generated by a treatment plant and the characteristics of the technical documents necessary to support an environmental compatibility request.
Regulatory aspects (evolution of European and National legislation)
Principles on sustainable development and environmental compatibility criteria Introductory elements on the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedure The procedure for verifying eligibility for the EIA
The EIA procedure
Integrated Environmental Authorization (IEA)
Links and overlaps between EIA and IEA
Environmental Authorization (AUA)
The Environmental Assessment Strategy (SEA): meaning and application procedure The Incidence Assessment (VINCA): meaning and development of the procedure EMAS and ECOLABEL
EMS environmental management systems
Structure and contents of an Environmental Impact Study (EIS): programmatic, planning and environmental frameworks
Indicators and indices, characteristics, methods of use and operational meaning Fields of application and use of simulation models to quantify the impacts
Life Cycle Analysis - LCA
Impacts in the construction phase
Mitigation and compensation systems
Environmental monitoring: methods and functions
The course is based on frontal theoretical lessons.
Students can meet with the professor in his office by previous phone or email appointment (e-mail: vincenzo.torretta@uninsubria.it, phone number: 0332218782).