Environmental Assessment
Volume A-7
Introduction
EA Methods and Study Area
7.2.1
Air
The air quality study area for each project component was selected based on the
following criteria:
•
it must encompass the entire project component and all the emission
sources associated with that component (e.g., mine footprint and ore
processing facility);
•
it must encompass any sensitive receptors near the site which may be
influenced by air emissions such as individual homes and communities;
and
•
it must encompass a certain percentage of predicted air concentrations
resulting from project component emissions. This ensures that all areas
potentially affected are included.
For coastal components that are near each other, the study area was adjusted to
include all components (process plant, port and tailings facility at Toamasina).
7.2.2
Noise
The noise study area for each project site was selected based on the extent of
project activities, the expected sound level emissions and locations of sensitive
receptors. In general, they cover an area that extends at least 5 km from the
limits of project activity. A single study area was delineated to cover plant site,
tailings facility and port.
7.2.3
Visual Aesthetics
The visual aesthetics study areas are based upon the viewshed of each project
component. In other words, the area from where the current landscape or the
future landscape plus project facilities (e.g., plant stacks) can be seen. Because
of the effect of distance on diminishing impacts of visual changes, the visual
aesthetics study area is also limited to the region within 5 km of each project
component.
7.2.4
Groundwater
The groundwater study areas were defined based on the extent of the potentially
affected aquifers, determined through field studies and modelling. These more
complex areas are not illustrated in the figures of this section, but are described
in Volume I, Appendix 7.1.
Ambatovy Project
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January 2006
