Environmental Impact Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 4500 words

Environmental Impact - Essay Example This paper illustrates that in making the judgments on the various broad impacts identified in the preceding section, it was considered that two major impacts – that on human beings and on the flora and fauna – were of equal importance: the first, because of their direct impact on humans at present, and the second, because of their protracted impact well into the future that will affect succeeding generations of humans and the ecology and biosphere of the broader environment. The significance criteria employed in the following discussions were adapted from the United Nations University EIA Significance Criteria. The subsequent explanation based on the criteria, the mitigation measures, and the residual impacts follow thereafter. a. Effects on human beings, buildings and man-made features Significance Criteria 1) Disturbance to human settlements 2) Adverse effects on safety 3) Adverse effects on human health 4) Loss of areas or environmental components that have cultural , recreational or aesthetic value; 5) Disturbance to economic activities 6) Increase in ambient and peak noise levels. Disturbance to human settlements Traffic is expected to increase significantly in five major areas, but there currently is a good amenity for the Gipsy Lane (180% increase in traffic) while Thurmaston Lane (105% increase) passes through the industrial environment. Sandhills Avenue, where traffic is expected to increase most (695% increase) has good amenity with adjoining free space which may later be factored in to accommodate the increase in traffic. For these three areas, and therefore the negative impact is not expected to be substantial.