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FUNDAMENTALS OF ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT
STEFANIA GORBI

Seat Scienze
A.A. 2016/2017
Credits 6
Hours 48
Period 1^ semestre
Language ENG
U-gov code SM02 5S013

Prerequisites

Knowledge of ecological processes, biology and marine sedimentary environment

Development of the course

The course includes lectures and laboratory practical activities in the computer laboratory; the course will aimed to prepare students for defining general criteria for the environmental impact assessment, both in industrialized and developing countries, and to develop conceptual and methodological criteria for the formulation of the quality standards. 
Students will study some example of environmental impact assessment according to the main European directives; a practical activity will carried out through the presentation of an environmental impact study. 

Learning outcomes

Knowledge:
The course enables students to acquire the fundamental knowledge of the theoretical and methodological basis for the environmental standard quality assessment (with particular concern to the marine environment), to define the complexity between development of productive activities and environmental protection, management options and environmental impact assessment

Ability to apply the knowledge:
At the end of the course, the student should have the capability to describe fundamentals and general principles of environmental impact assessment, to apply criteria for environmental management of coastal areas, dredging, remediation and coastal erosion, to know the main European policies regarding the environmental management and marine pollution prevention, to apply criteria for the study of the impact assessment in marine and coastal environment.

 

Program

Prevention of marine environmental pollution: economic and political issues.
Resources definition, resource use, economic value of the resources.
Environmental Quality Standard (EQS); formulation, technical aspects and critical points in setting limits for quality standards. Determination of the Quality Standards for the marine environment.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA): main normative guidelines, administrative and technical procedures; screening and scooping.
The Environmental Impact Study (EIS): main normative guidelines, definition of an environmental impact study, alternatives and mitigations. 
EIA and SIA: main differences between the environmental and strategic impact assessment. 
REACH regulation: Registration, Evaluation, Authorization and Restriction of Chemical substances.
Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive and procedure for the Environmental Authorization (EA).
Marine Strategy Framework Directive 2008/56/CE for a Good Marine Environmental Status.
Management of contaminated marine sediment: analytical procedures to characterized their quality. Economy and normative restrictions to prevent, limit, monitor and remediate environmental pollution in marine environment. Practical examples on management options and technical approaches in dredging and disposal of sediments.
Remediation of contaminated marine area.

PRACTICAL ACTIVITY. Practical activity will carried out in the computer lab where students will use the main web sites concerning the Environmental Impact Assessment; the will learn to consult all the information on the EIA procedures and EIS. A PPT presentation will be prepared on a EIS, chosen among those available on the web site:  http://www.va.minambiente.it/it-IT

Development of the examination

Methods for assessing learning outcomes
Oral examination in which the students have to answer to the questions (almost 3) concerning the issues of the lectures and the practical activities. 

Criteria for assessing learning outcomes:
During the oral exam, the students must demonstrate that they have acquired basic knowledge about the main issues concerning the lessons and practical activities.

Criteria for measuring learning outcomes:
The final mark is assigned in a scale of thirty. The exam is passed when the score is equal or greater than 18. It is expected to be awarded the highest marks with honors (30 cum laude).

Criteria for conferring final mark:
The final score is based on the result of the oral examination 

Recommended reading

Lecture notes and slides https://servizi.scienze.univpm.it/moodle
«Biochimica Applicata» M. Stoppini,  V. Bellotti EdiSES.

Courses

• Biologia marina