Ambatovy eBooks - page 139

Environmental Assessment Volume A-7
Introduction EA Methods and Study Area
Table 7-1 Screening System for Environmental Consequences
Magnitude
(Severity) Geographic Extent Duration Environmental
Consequence
negligible all all negligible
low local short-term negligible
low local medium-term low
low local long-term low
low regional short-term low
low regional medium-term moderate
low regional long-term moderate
low beyond regional short-term low
low beyond regional medium-term moderate
low beyond regional long-term moderate
moderate local short-term low
moderate local medium-term low
moderate local long-term moderate
moderate regional short-term moderate
moderate regional medium-term moderate
moderate regional long-term high
moderate beyond regional short-term moderate
moderate beyond regional medium-term high
moderate beyond regional long-term high
high local short-term moderate
high local medium-term high
high local long-term high
high regional short-term moderate
high regional medium-term high
high regional long-term high
high beyond regional short-term high
high beyond regional medium-term high
high beyond regional long-term high
Prediction Confidence
Although not explicitly included in the impact criteria, uncertainty regarding the
effects described is inherent, due to the predictive nature of the analytic process.
The certainty of an impact analysis depends on several factors including:
• the understanding of natural/ecological processes at work now and in
the future; and
• the understanding of present and future properties of the potentially
affected resources.
Ambatovy Project 63 January 2006