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UNIVERSITY OF CAPE TOWN

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL AND GEOGRAPHICAL
SCIENCE

UNIVERSITY EXAMINATIONS: JUNE 2009

EGS 4006F: INTRODUCTION TO ENVIRONMENTAL
ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT




Set time: 2.5 hours *

Exam duration: 08h00 to 11h00

Marks: 150



Instructions:

This examination paper consists of THREE pages.

Answer ALL of the short questions in Section A, and
answer TWO essay questions from Section B.

* You should aim to answer a mark a minute, which will allow you to finish in
2.5 hours. The extra 30 minutes is for reading the paper and planning your
essay answers.

Please write Section A and each essay question in a separate answer book.

No books, notes or other aids may be used in this examination.




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SECTION A:

Answer ALL the questions from this section, for a total of 50 marks.
Answers may be in point form where appropriate.

A.1
a) Define the meaning of the term screening as it is used in an early stage
of the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process. (2 marks)
b) Explain how screening works under the South African EIA regulations of
2006. (6 marks)

A.2
Draw and explain the concept of the development environment circle,
giving one practical example to illustrate each side of the circle.
(4 marks)
A.3
Describe examples of the environmental goods and services that South
Africas coastal zone provides to coastal communities and resource users.
(6 marks)
A.4
Environmental issues should be an important consideration in the land
restitution process in South Africa. Provide a brief rationale for this statement.
(4 marks)
A.5
Identify a threat to sustainable development in southern Africa;
list THREE indicators that could be used to determine the extent of the threat,
and briefly describe how each indicator could be measured.
(7 marks)
A.6
Explain how large constructed dams change the physical properties of the
entrapped water.
(6 marks)
A.7
Identify any four types of alternatives that can be considered in an EIA and
illustrate each type with a practical case or a hypothetical example.
(8 marks)
A.8
Sociology provides principles that should guide the process of public
participation. Define the principle of social differentiation, (2 marks)
and illustrate what it means using examples from the Epupa Falls EIA in
Namibia. (5 marks)

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SECTION B:

Answer TWO questions from this section, in essay form, for a total of 100 marks.

B.1
Discuss the objectives and key elements of the four main methods of environmental
management, from Strategic Environmental Assessment to Environmental
Management Systems, with reference to a labelled diagram that shows the
sequencing of these methods in the project life cycle.
In each section of your essay, indicate briefly the extent to which these methods
have played a significant role in South Africa in the last decade, and explain how
this should change to improve environmental management in future.
(50 marks)
B.2
Discuss the respective contributions of the concepts of assessment and evaluation
towards achievement of the objectives of the Environmental Impact Assessment
process. Your essay should include (but should not be limited to):
the definition of assessment and evaluation
the stages of the EIA process in which each concept applies, and
the roles and responsibilities of the range of persons involved.
(50 marks)
B.3
In an essay on the role of methods in Environmental Assessment, discuss the use
of:
(i) a method for the identification of alternative sites / routes
(ii) methods for impact prediction, and
(iii) a method for the evaluation of alternatives.
(50 marks)
B.4
Describe the evolution of the concept and ideals of sustainable development, and
discuss the difficulties of implementing sustainable development in engineering
projects.
(50 marks)
B.5
A proposal to develop a new 80 unit townhouse complex, approximately 100 m from
the high water mark at the mouth of a South African river, is being challenged by
local residents.
Discuss the characteristics that make estuaries and the coastal zone sensitive to
development, and the principles and guidelines that should inform planning and
development of the proposed townhouse complex.
(50 marks)