Eia Landfill Research Paper

Environmental Impact Assessment Research Investigation

An Environmental Impact Assessment, otherwise known as an EIA, is a critical component to the development of any plan or project prior to its completion. The purpose of the EIA is to make sure that all possible environmental impacts are taken into account prior to the development of major projects, programs, plans, and so forth.

I decided to investigate an EIA report on the development of a specific landfill/recycling program that took place in Perth, Western Australia in the year 1991. The Proposed landfill site was located in a large open area, and was proposed to be formed over a 25 year period. The proposal of the project led to a multitude of comments and suggestions from members of the surrounding community as well as environmental exports and governmental representatives, which in turn resulted in large portions of the initial proposal to be cut from the project and a multitude of changes to be made to reduce the overall impact of the landfill.

Major issues that were raised by the public and the EPA included possible increase in danger on already dangerous roads, extreme noise disturbances, length of the project, potential air and ground water pollution, affect on surrounding property values, and the impact the project activity would have on the residential and educational area. These specific issues were taken into account by the developers of the project and these changes were made: reduction of the amount of trucks used for transports from 884 to 350 trucks to reduce traffic, as well as use of

streets outside of the surrounding residential area, implementation of a silenced loader and a solid fence for noise control, completion of the project within seven years of starting the proposal instead of 25 years, and seeding and watering of quick growing grasses in areas not being filled to prevent dust and pollution.

After revisions were made to the proposal of the landfill, it was concluded by the EPA that the proposal for the landfill could be developed without resulting in substantial environmental impacts. Along with the implementations of the altered proposal, control of the project through licensing under the EPA was also an important factor in the continuation of the landfill’s environmentally