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3.4 Step 2: Requirements of
the technology intervention, and the resulting environmental pressures
Completion of this step requires reasonably detailed information on the
environmental pressures resulting from:
- Providing material and energy inputs and meeting other resource
requirements;
- Production, storage, transportation, use and disposal of wastes and of any
hazardous products;
- Changes in human resources requirements;
- New or modified infrastructure requirements; and
- New or modified requirements for supporting technologies.
At the conclusion of this step the assessment team will have a comprehensive
understanding of the inputs, outputs and other requirements generated by the
technology intervention, the resulting pressures imposed on environmental
systems and the hazards for public and occupational health.
Background
In this step the environmental pressures and human health and safety hazards
that might arise from the technology intervention are identified. The resource
and other requirements will typically fall into the following broad categories:
- Input materials;
- Land;
- Energy;
- Human resources;
- Supporting technologies; and
- Infrastructure
All may be considered in the assessment, as appropriate.
With reference to material inputs, the aim should always be to have the
lowest possible requirements. In other words, material resource productivity
should be maximised wherever possible. Similarly, the energy intensity of
processes should be the lowest possible. Likewise, land use per unit of
production or service should be minimised.
The aim should always be to maximise the service intensity of processes,
products and services. Similarly, the material and energy intensity of products
and services should be the lowest possible, including enhancing the longevity
and recycling potential of any products.
Non-valued outputs of the technology intervention include tangible but
undesired products, the generation of which would be avoided if alternative
socially acceptable, technically feasible and economically viable methods were
available. Examples include waste products that are discharged to air, water or
land. Such disposal will incur at least indirect (i.e. uninteralized) costs (see
Section 2.14), as well as reflecting the inefficient use of energy and
materials.
Completing Step 2
a. List the raw materials, land and energy resources required by the
technology, and identify the associated environmental pressures
In addition to providing a descriptive list of these requirements, each of
the resource demands is characterised in terms of the level of demand relative
to total demand for the resource at national, sub-national/regional or another
appropriate level. Relative demand is used to avoid the need for precise
quantitative information, and as an indicator of the likely pressures and
impacts created by the incremental demand for the resource. The
"consequences of concern" can also be helpful in identifying possible
pressures on each of the environmental outcome categories.
Worksheet A provides a check list to assist in this aspect of the assessment.
These findings provide background to the subsequent assessment of impacts on
human health and safety, the local natural environment, the global environment,
sustainability of resource use and impacts on society and culture (Step 3).
b. List the wastes and any hazardous products produced by the technology,
and identify the associated environmental pressures
All wastes and products are characterized in terms of their potential to produce
hazards or impose significant pressures on valued environmental and related
systems.
The wastes and potentially hazardous products are assessed in terms of the
level of production relative to total amount produced at national,
sub-national/regional or another appropriate level. Relative production is used
to avoid the need for precise quantitative information, and as an indicator of
the likely pressures and impacts created by the additional waste or hazardous
products that will be generated. The "consequences of concern" can
also be helpful in identifying possible pressures on each of the environmental
outcome categories.
Worksheet A provides a check list to assist in this aspect of the assessment.
These findings provide background to the subsequent assessment of the impacts
on human health and safety, the local natural environment, the global
environment, sustainability of resource use and impacts on society and culture
(Step 3).
c. List the infrastructure required by the technology, and identify the
associated environmental pressures
It is important to assess the ability of the infrastructure and services to
meet the incremental demands generated by the technology intervention. Both
additional infrastructure demands, and the capacity of existing systems to meet
these requirements in reasonable ways, should be considered. The environmental
pressures arising from these demands can then be identified. Worksheet A
provides a check list to assist in this aspect of the assessment.
An indicative list of possible infrastructure requirements is provided in the
worksheet. Those that are not applicable can be ignored, while there is space to
specify additional requirements. When assessing environmental pressures the
capacity of the economic, environmental, social and other relevant systems to
meet these demands should be taken into consideration.
These findings are intended to provide background to the subsequent
assessment of the impacts on human health and safety, the local natural
environment, the global environment, sustainability of resource use and impacts
on society and culture (Step 3).
d. List the supporting technologies required, and identify the associated
environmental pressures
Typically a technology intervention will generate requirements for supporting
technologies and associated services. This step involves identification of any
additional requirements, over and above those previously considered in Steps 2a
through 2c.
Additional technologies and associated services required to establish and
maintain the technology should be listed, along with information on their
availability and the associated environmental pressures. Worksheet A provides a
check list to assist in this aspect of the assessment. When assessing
environmental pressures the capacity of the economic, environmental, social and
other relevant systems to meet these demands should be taken into consideration.
These findings are intended to provide background to the subsequent
assessment of the impacts on human health and safety, the local natural
environment, the global environment, sustainability of resource use and impacts
on society and culture (Step 3).
e. List the human resources demands of the technology, and identify the
associated environmental pressures
This step identifies the various skills and other abilities required to
establish and maintain the technology. This step considers only those skills and
other abilities directly required to implement and maintain the technology.
Where additional technologies, expertise and other supporting services are also
required, they will be considered in Step 2f.
Two key issues to be addressed in this step are whether the necessary
expertise could be sourced locally, and whether in reality the new human
resource requirements would be met by either recruiting the individuals with the
requisite skills from other labour markets, or by retraining local people. Such
information will assist recognition of the environmental pressures resulting
from meeting the requirements for human resources.
These findings are intended to provide background to the subsequent
assessment of the impacts on human health and safety, the local natural
environment, the global environment, sustainability of resource use and impacts
on society and culture (Step 3).
f. Identify where there are environmental pressures associated with any other
aspects of the technology intervention
This step allows for the recognition and assessment of environmental
pressures arising from aspects of the technology intervention not already
identified. In this respect, it is important to recognise any environmental
pressures that may occur when the technology is decommissioned, and any such
pressures that might remain after the decommissioning. Other aspects not already
considered might include nuisance effects (such as continuous but low level
noise), pressures on intrinsic and amenity values and degraded aesthetic
conditions.
These findings are intended to provide background to the subsequent
assessment of the risks to human health, the local natural environment, the
global environment, sustainability of resource use and impacts on society and
culture (Step 3)
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