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2.4 EnTA and other assessment tools
EnTA is not intended to replace other assessment tools already
in use, including Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Environmental Risk
Assessment (ERA) and Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). EnTA has a different focus
since it is totally oriented to identifying and evaluating both specific and
broader environmental impacts, is predominantly qualitative and comparative, and
examines the wider technological process over its entire life cycle. Table 3
compares EnTA with some other commonly used environmental assessment and
management tools.
EnTA can in fact complement these other tools, helping to focus the initial
assessment, and thereby promoting a better understanding of the effect a
technology has upon the environment. EnTA provides a particularly valuable tool
for determining whether a technology will meet specific performance criteria. It
highlights steps in the process where Cleaner Production techniques (such as
Pollution Prevention (P2) and Toxic Use Reduction (TUR)) and tools such as
Cost-Benefit Analysis and Social Impact Assessment may be applied with
advantage.
2.5 Overview of EnTA
Technologies do not exist in isolation, but are affected by the
environment within which they function. And in turn they affect their
surroundings. Therefore, the approach taken in this Manual is to identify, in a
systematic and transparent manner, both the external demands and pressures
generated by a technology, subsequently the likely implications for the
environment.
Each demand a technology generates has an impact upon aspects of
the wider environment. Some of these impacts will be beneficial and some will
not. The procedures described in this Manual focus on the detrimental aspects of
a technology intervention - i.e. the factors that determine if a technology is
"unsuitable" for a particular application. Unsuitable technology
interventions should be avoided. However, an opportunity to identify and assess
any positive impacts is also provided. These may be important in the eventual
decision to accept or reject a proposed technology intervention.
Within the Workbook several impact 'end-points' (or
environmental outcome categories) have been defined. These are Human Health,
Local Natural Environment, Global Environment, Social and Cultural Disruptions
and Resource Consumption. The use of such end-points assists in assessing the
potential impacts of a technology on the wider environment.
2.6 Steps in the EnTA process
To help ensure the success of an EnTA it is appropriate to
develop an action plan for undertaking the assessment. Such preparations will
help guarantee an orderly and effective progress through the five linked steps
of the assessment. Completion of the five steps is followed by reporting and
other appropriate follow-up activities. An outline of each of the activities is
presented below, and in Figure 1.
Preparation for the assessment:
Preparations for an EnTA include the assessment team establishing the
assessment goals, developing an appropriate framework for meeting the goals,
securing the commitment of key players, and identifying the resources that are
available to the team. Consistent with the scale of the assessment, this phase
might also involve establishing the tasks, responsibilities, timetable and a
detailed budget.
Table 3. Comparisons between EnTA and selected other environmental
tools
|
|
Environmental Technology Assessment
(EnTA)
|
Environmental Impact Assessment
(EIA)
|
Environmental Risk Assessment
(ERA)
|
Life Cycle Assessment
(LCA)
|
|
Purpose
|
Assesses implications of a technology and guides
choices of technology |
Identifies and predicts the environmental impacts
of a project, policy or similar initiative; provides basis for decision on
acceptability of the likely impacts |
Risks to the environment and public health are
estimated and compared in order to determine the environmental consequences of
the initiative under consideration |
Evaluates the environmental burdens associated with
a product, process or activity, explicitly over the entire life cycle |
|
Scope
|
Implications for human health, safety and
wellbeing, and for natural resources and ecosystems; costs of the technology
intervention and the monetary benefits |
Impacts on natural resources, ecosystems human
health, safety and well being |
Assessment of risks to the environment and human
health |
Implications for human health, safety and
wellbeing, and for natural resources and ecosystems |
|
Initiator
|
Proponent of technology; investor; stakeholders who
may be impacted |
Applicant for regulatory approval |
Proponent of project or other initiative; investor;
stakeholders who may be impacted |
Proponent of project or other initiative; investor;
stakeholders who may be impacted |
|
Approach
|
A systematic, comprehensive and qualitative
comparison of the pressures on the environment and the resulting impacts |
Requirements often prescribed by regulatory
authority, including identification of impacts, mitigation and monitoring
measures and consultation |
Hazard identification, dose-response and exposure
assessments, risk characterisation |
Life cycle inventory of energy and material
requirements and wastes produced; impact analysis and improvement analysis |
|
Timing
|
Scoping tool at the idea stage, before the
development of a formal/full proposal |
Prior to decision whether or not the initiative
should proceed |
At any time, as determined by the initiator |
At any time, as determined by the initiator |
|
Regulatory Status
|
None -often used to screen options before more
detailed assessment |
Often required under environmental protection
legislation, especially for larger projects or for proposed projects in
environmentally sensitive areas |
None -may be used to give support to conclusions of
assessments required by law |
None -typically used by producers or consumers to
assess the environmental merit of the product, process or activity. |
Figure 1. Overview of the EnTA Process
Step 1. Describe the Technology:
This step includes describing the proposed technology by defining the
technology options being considered, identifying the goals the technology is
intended to satisfy, identifying the stakeholders and characterising the
operation and development of the technology. Consultation with stakeholders and
other key players is an important part of this step.
Step 2: Resource and other requirements, and their pressures:
This step involves identifying the raw materials, land, energy, labour,
infrastructure and supporting technologies required for the technology to
operate, and the wastes and any hazardous products generated by the technology.
The potential environmental and related pressures associated with each of these
components are also characterised in this step. The inputs and outputs are
considered over the life cycle of the technology, including decommissioning.
Step 3: Preliminary Judgement:
The significance of the potential pressures identified in Step 2 are
elaborated in this step, leading to an overall assessment of the environmental
impacts. Information gaps and uncertainties are also characterised in this step,
ultimately leading to a decision whether there is sufficient information to
reach a conclusion regarding the impacts, and hence the appropriateness of the
technology intervention.
Step 4: Comparative assessment of alternative technologies:
An important part of EnTA is consideration of alternative technologies that
may also achieve the goals of the proposed technology investment. Other
technologies are considered in this step in order to determine if they are
indeed capable of achieving the same goals, but with lower overall environmental
impact.
Step 5: Decide if a consensus can be reached:
The fifth step uses all of the previously acquired information to determine
if it is possible to reach a consensus as to the comparative suitability of the
proposed technology, and its alternatives. This step also involves
identification of any gaps and uncertainties in the assessment process that may
prevent development of a consensus regarding the final recommendations.
Post assessment activities:
Completion of the preceding five steps should not be considered the end of the
assessment. Important follow-up actions include reporting the findings and
recommendations to the interested parties, monitoring the use of the assessment
findings and identifying where subsequent assessments might be strengthened on
the basis of the recent experience.
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