public participation in environmental authorization
DESCRIPTION
Public participation in Environmental Authorization. Erika du Plessis Golder Associates Africa (Pty) Ltd. Session 1 - Introductions. Name Organisation / country One thing you’d like to learn today Favourite food. COURSE OUTLINE. 08:00Arrival 08:15Introduction - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
Public participation in Environmental Authorization
Erika du PlessisGolder Associates Africa (Pty) Ltd
Session 1 - Introductions
NameOrganisation / countryOne thing you’d like to learn
todayFavourite food
COURSE OUTLINE
08:00 Arrival08:15 Introduction08:45 Changing role of the public09:30 International guidelines for good p210:00 Tea10:30 Public participation: What it is and is not11:00 Appropriate public participation: Good practice12:00 Tailoring public participation to project requirements12:30 Lunch13:30 Designing the process14:30 Group work – Case studies16:00 Wrap-up16:30 One last thing
INTRODUCTION
P2 partial solution to environmental problems and decision making. Which stakeholders to involve when and to what degree – debate,
argument, disagreement Trade offs between economic growth, social equity and environmental
integrity. Lay people and experts see things differently. Public perception of risk differs from experts Intuitive perception of risk amongst lay people reflects far more concern
for perceived inequitable solutions Misconceptions, fear of losing control, previously inadequate processes,
pervasive mistrust. No silver bullet, process must be designed with these challenges in
mind.
Session 2 - The Changing Role of the Public
Drivers for changing role of the public
Community empowerment Democracy Increased access to information Increased access to international pressure
groups Increased awareness of rights Declining political acceptance of repressive
government/other practices Ability to challenge Changed power relations at the site
Changed the nature of relationship between company and stakeholders
Drivers for changing role of the public
Internationalization of civil society Expectations for international
companies to be ‘global citizens’ Demonstrate corporate social
responsibility International public opinion Increasing awareness and
participation International financial, legal and
environmental standards
Drivers for changing role of the public
Aarhus Convention on Public Participation - Europe Agenda 21 Equator Principles IFC Operational Directive 4.01– Environmental
Assessment IFC Operational Directive 4.30 – Involuntary Resettlement. IFC Disclosure Policy (1998); Stakeholder Engagement
(2007). Business Action for Sustainable Development (BASD) World Bank Extractive Industries Review Country laws – environmental and social; access to
information
Drivers for changing role of the public
Role of the State
In most developing regions of the world….. Inability to effectively apply legislation and regulations
- lack of resources, inadequate staff training Inability to improve social conditions
- companies to act as surrogate governments Inability to maintain and guarantee rights Tendency to model laws on those of developed countries
- lack of legitimacy
World Bank and IFC (many) International Hydrologic Programme, UNESCO US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) US Departments of Energy, Defense, Transport, etc Commonwealth Foundation World Water Vision Project US Army Corps US President’s Council on Sustainable Development Canadian Standards Association Superfund Correctional Service, Canada European Bank The Intel Corporation, other companies International Association for Public Participation
P2 source books, guides, toolkits, manuals etc
Check out the SAIEA Calabash site
DRIVERS FOR CHANGING ROLE OF THE PUBLIC (4)
Session 3 - Public participation in law
Environmental rights
Laws, regulations, how decisions will be made
Legal requirements and standards
Legal requirements in-countryLaws International conventions signed by
country International standards (donors and
funders like IFC)Equator Principles IFC Performance Standards
Course participants page 5-7
IFC Performance Standards on Social and Environmental
Sustainability
2. Labor and Working Conditions
3. Pollution Prevention & Abatement
4. Community Health, Safety &
Security
5. Land acquisition and Involuntary Resettlement
6. Biodiversity Conservation &
Sustainable Natural Resource
Management
7. Indigenous Peoples
8. Cultural Heritage
1. Social and Environmental Assessment & Management
Systems
Components of Performance Standard 1
a) Social and Environmental Assessment
b) Management Program
c) Organizational
Capacity
d) Training
e) Community Engagement
f) Monitoring
g) Reporting
Social & environmental impact assessment
Avoidance, mitigation, compensation measures
Action Plans (Resettlement, Biodiversity, etc.)
Roles, responsibilities, authority to implement management program
Incl. regulatory requirement, IFC Performance Standards & Action Plans
Disclosure
Consultation
Grievance
Recording of information, inspections, audits, etc.
Internal reporting
External reporting on Action Plans
Indicators for Ascertaining Free, Prior and Informed Consultation
1. Company strategy, policy or
principles on Engagement
2. Stakeholder identification &
analysis
3. Community engagement
Affected communities involved in:
Identifying potential impacts
Assessing consequences of
impacts
Development of mitigation measures
New impacts that have come to light have been consulted upon
4. Information disclosure
5. Consultation
Free (support of project notelicited by coercion, etc.)
Prior (sufficient time to interpret information, etc.)
Informed (based on adequate disclosure)
6. Informed participation
Incorporating community views on required mitigation, etc.
7. Vulnerable groups
8. Grievance mechanism
9. Feedback to affected
communities
Consultation
Mitigation
Structure, procedure & application
The Equator Principles
1. Review and categorisation – magnitude of impacts2. Social and Environmental Assessment – address risks, propose
mitigation3. Applicable Social and Environmental Standards – eg IFC Performance
Standards, compliance with host country laws and regs4. Action Plan and Management System – addresses management of
impacts5. Consultation and Disclosure – structured and culturally appropriate –
free, prior and informed consultation6. Grievance Mechanism – ensuring continued consultation throughout
construction and operation.7. Independent review – expert not directly associated to review
assessment.8. Covenants – compliance, process, report, decommission9. Independent monitoring and review – during operation10. EPFI Reporting – publicly, annually re implementation of principles.
Law and pp guidelines
Southern African Institute for Environmental Assessment (SAIEA)
Calabash project – all the resources you need
www.saiea.com click on CalabashCheck out the new handbook on
environmental law in Southern African countries
EIA Process (Chapter 4 in Guide)
FEASIBILITY STUDY
TECHNICAL FINANCIALENVIRONMENTAL/
SOCIAL
Where the EA fits into the developer’s feasibility study
Course participants page 9
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
DECISION-MAKING
INTEGRATION & COMPILE REPORT
IMPACT ASSESSMENT
(Specialist studies)
SCOPING(issues by stakeholders, authorities, specialists)
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
PLAN
Identify stakeholdersProvide info (capacity building)Get issues concerns and suggestions for benefitsGet local knowledgeVerification that issues captured
Objectives of public participation during an EA
To provide sufficient and accessible information to stakeholders in an objective manner to assist them to:During the Scoping Phase: Identify issues of concern, suggestions for
enhanced benefits and alternatives Verify their issues were recorded / captured Agree on the scope of the EADuring the Environmental Assessment Phase: Verify their issues were considered Comment on findings of EADuring / after the Decision-making Phase: Understand reasons for and conditions to
decision Opportunity to appeal decision
Course participants page 10
To achieve this one must:• Identify
stakeholders• Announce
opportunity to participate and
• Provide information
TEA TIME – 30 MINUTES
Session 4 - PP – What it is and is not
Public participation
A process leading to a joint effort by… stakeholders technical specialists the authorities the proponent…who work together to produce betterdecisions than if they had actedindependently
WHAT IS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION?
“They can help us think”“They can give us an up-front
indication of environmental (social, economic, environment) issues
which may cause future difficulties”“Capitalizing on the collective wisdom of people representing
various perspectives of society”
BENEFITS OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
· Builds public understanding of need for proposed policy, program, plan or project and leads to better and more durable decisions
· Creates trust in decision-makers and processes, leading to stable policies and enduring decisions
· Provides an early warning of issues that require mitigation· Builds public ownership and stronger stake in initiatives leading to
participants carrying out their responsibilities during implementation · Identifies local customs or institutions that could be barriers to
implementation, with opportunities to adapt activity before implementation begins
· Creates opportunities for stakeholders to discuss their differences directly, often leading to creative new solutions
· Manages single-issue viewpoints through interactive process which allows a broad range of balancing perspectives and values
· Enriches decision-making through diversity of opinion and the local and traditional knowledge and collective wisdom of stakeholders
· Builds legitimacy for decisions that allows them to withstand changes in government or company policy and leadership
RESULT OF NO COMMON GOAL
GovernmentP
roponent
EIA Team
Soci
alEn
viro
nmen
t
advocacyanimosityconflicting needsmistrust
= 2m3/a/xx2ab/ml/s
*&&!!**
&&!!**!*?!!&&$$
!!&?11**
COMMON GOAL – SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
StakeholderStakeholderAgriculture
Developer
StakeholderSocial
GovernmentLocal
EIA Specialist
StakeholderLabour
GovernmentCentral
EIA Specialist
StakeholderEnvironment
StakeholderMining Industry
Developer
GovernmentProvincial
Can we achieve...
sustainability?
Economicindustry
Ecologicalintegrity
Socialequity
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION : WHAT IT IS NOT
Not public relations Not the DAD principle Does not promote project or developer Cannot practically consult with every individual or
organisation Not the developer’s neighbour or community
relations Cannot on behalf of developer enter into
negotiations Not intended to satisfy grievances; rather to
record issues of concern Not environmental dispute resolution
Difference between PR and P2
ongoing
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
PUBLIC RELATIONS
health
business safety
finances
shareholding
environment
other
PUBLIC PARTICIPATIONSpecific project or
activity. Finite.Decision-orientated
Neighbour relations programme
8
2002
social
project progressproduction
Session 5 - Appropriate PP – Good practice
Background Information Document and comment sheet
Posters PowerPoint presentations
at meetings Small group and Focus
Group meetings Site visits to existing mine Media releases Radio Three-monthly 4-page
newsletter
A mix of written, visual and verbal methodologies
was used to share information
Information provision
A mix of written, visual and verbal methodologies
was used to share information
Information provision
Comprehensive public consultation at the start of the EIA for the proposed new mine:
Methodologies consisted of a mix of personal contact, written and visual information in lay person’s language.
Senior company personnel were present at most meetings to ensure that stakeholders perceived the company as being committed to public consultation, and to ensure that relationships were being built.Personal interviews, small group meetings and focus group meetings (maximum 25 people) with different sectors of society were held in preference to large, emotive public meetings.
Information provision
Documents that were available for stakeholder comment:
Full EIA and RAP reports (for more technically minded people), English and French
Summary of EIA report (in lay person’s language), English, French and Swahili
Comment sheets
Summary reports distributed in advance through- Personal delivery- Mail- Email- Web
Information provision
According to ability
modern mining, mitigation of its impacts and benefits
Ghanaian legislation international lender and
good practice requirements
Substantial effort was put into building stakeholder capacity of:
Information provision
Building capacity to participate
Explanatory posters
Background Information Document
Small group meetings
Information provision
Not forgetting the process information
ScopingGetting issues and
suggestions
Impact assessment
Specialists evaluate and recommend
Environmental Report
Presents findings
Authority decision
May project proceed and what conditions?
Environmental Management Plan
Measures
EIA process
Environmental rights
Laws, regulations, how decisions will be made
Building capacity to participate
Getting issues
Comment boxes at notice boards and Information Centres
Site visits to the hill that will be mined
Getting issues
Company personnel always sat in between stakeholders, never at a speakers’ table in the front. This created a feeling of working together, rather than “Us and Them.”
Getting issues
Getting issuesOpen Houses included seating for Focus Groups where senior company personnel assisted to explain proposed project and members of the EIA team assisted to explain impacts and mitigation.
Open houses
Senior company personnel met with smaller groups of stakeholders during Open Houses to build trust and show commitment. As these two photos show, initially angry
stakeholders relaxed and entered into discussion with the
company
Getting issues
Giving feedback
Issues and response reportIssues and response postersSummary document
COMMENTS/RESPONSE REPORT: REFLECTING STAKEHOLDER ISSUES BACK TO THEM
ISSUE RAISED COMMENTATOR RESPONSEIssues related to water allocation
That crop farmers in this water management area have always had the major share of water, leaving little for other interprises
Mr Ben Hefer, Hernic Ferrochrome
In order to prevent the new plant from contributing to pollution, there has to be total assurance that the new plant is a closed system. WMB therefore thoroughly reviewed and confirmed that the designs put forward by the client are rigorous and is confident that it remains a closed system
Issues related to water quality
That the plant will use onemillion litres of water per day; that it be indicated whether there will be enough water for residential purposes and the plant
Ms Selinah Motha, Name Community, date
The residential areas of Brits will not experience decreased availability of domestic water as a result of the plant, as confirmed by the Local Council during the public meeting on 25 July
Giving feedbackSummary document including issues and responses
Full Issues and Response Report (over 100 pp) was available
Emphasis was placed on potential impacts and how these could be mitigated during modern mining
Giving feedback
Notice Boards, Information Points and
Comment Boxes
Respect cultural diversity
Session 7 - Designing the process
Chapter 8 of Guide
Session 6 - Tailoring PP to suit project requirements
Design considerations Previous processes Degree of trust in authorities and
proponent Level of understanding of stakeholders Degree to which s/h are already organised Sectors of society in area Number of languages Degree of previous (or other) problems Local circumstances
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING SCALE OF IMPACTS AND SENSITIVITY
Scale and significance of impacts Size of footprint of impacts Greenfields vs Brownfields Aggregate and cumulative impacts Scale of impacts: national, provincial, local Number of issuesSensitivity of receiving environment Important water catchment areas Major drainage lines Proclaimed nature reserves, National Parks Heritage Sites Areas of archaeological, cultural or historic value
CRITERIA FOR DETERMINING SCALE OF IMPACTS AND SENSITIVITY (2)
Sensitivity of public perceptions Linked to sensitivity of receiving environment Areas with a “sense of place” Areas with a spiritual sense Fear of contamination Perceived past environmental neglect by government
or proponent Emotive issues (hazardous waste, relocation) Time pressure Recent negative press Tarnished neighbour relations
LOW
HIGH
HIGHPublic sensitivity
Ris
ks /
impa
cts
Sensitive environment; hazardous materials; relocation; people’s pockets; people’s health; company reputation …
High risks / ImpactsHigh public Sensitivity
(Long complicated EIA)
Low risks / impactsHigh public Sensitivity
(“Standard” EIA)
High risks / impactsLow public Sensitivity
(“Standard” EIA)
Low risks / impacts
Low public Sensitivity
(Basic assessment)
HIGHCOST, HIGH PUBLICITY, LONG TIME
‘Pitching’ your process
DETERMINING THE SCALE / PITCHING YOUR PROCESS
SCALE OF ANTICIPATED IMPACTS AND PUBLIC
SENSITIVITIESPUBLIC PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
UP TO DSR COMMENT
VERY LOW • Advert, local paper• Letters and phone calls to immediate neighbours• DSR in local library
LOW • Advert, local paper• Letters and phone calls to neighbours,perhaps interview
neighbours• DSR to neighbours• DSR in local library
MEDIUM • Advert, local paper• Letters and phone calls to stakeholders• Background Information Document• Individual consultations/interviews• Letter announcing availability of DSR• DSR to stakeholders• DSR in public places• Stakeholder workshop
DETERMINING THE SCALE (2)
SCALE OF ANTICIPATED IMPACTS AND PUBLIC
SENSITIVITIESPUBLIC PARTICIPATION REQUIREMENTS
UP TO DSR COMMENTMEDIUM TO HIGH • Adverts, local and regional papers
• Letters to stakeholders in footprint• Background Information Document, 2 languages• Community meeting/s• Individual consultations/interviews/focus groups• Letter announcing availability of DSR• DSR to stakeholders• DSR in public places• Public meeting
HIGH • Adverts, local, regional, national papers• Letters to stakeholders, broad range• Background Information Document, 3 languages• Community meetings• Individual consultations• Stakeholder/authority workshop• Proceedings as discussion document• Letter announcing availability of DSR• DSR widely distributed• DSR in public places• Public meeting
Identify stakeholders (8.5 in Guide)
Use three dimensions of sustainability (Fig 15) Determine sectors of society according to Key
Stakeholder Figure (16) Use maps (Google Earth) Ask questions (p50 of Guide) Referrals – one farmer knows other neighbours Walk the area where practical Who plays big role in community? Chief, clergy,
women, youth?
GENERIC OPEN HOUSE VENUE SET-UP
Registration Table
Tabl
es fo
r Doc
umen
t dis
play
an
d ta
ke-h
ome
mat
eria
l Posters: Who is Company?
Posters: Environmental and Social Issues
Posters: Project Description
Tea Station
Posters: Com
pany Policy / principles / Procedures
RegistrationLists, commentSheets, spare
documents
Small tables for impromptu focus group meetings
Open Houses
Poster displays on walls, focus group
seating in centre of hall
Document display table and take-home materials
Open Houses
Document display table and take-home materials
Registration table
Full versions of documents available to those that want them
Open HousesRegistration lists, comment sheets and documents on tables
Recording issues during Open House
Open Houses
Company personnel conduct small-group briefings
Company personnel at hand to help stakeholders record issues
Open Houses
Simple catering at most meetings
Sometimes just water or minerals
Dry run before Open Houses
Open HousesVery organised packing
Working in teams
Open Houses
Security
Setting up the venue
Session 8 - Case study – pp for an EIA
“Pitch your process” Identify stakeholders – just sectors, not organisations or individuals Design the pp process up to getting comment on the Draft Scoping
Report Identify stakeholders How will you announce the opportunity? How will you provide initial information? How will you get issues? How will you get comment on the Draft Scoping Report?
Process design – sectors of stakeholders
Process design – announce opportunity
Process design – provide initial information
Process design – get issues
Process design – get comment on Draft Scoping Report
Process design
Was this course useful? Why?Three things I learned todayTwo things I will use in my workOne question I still haveIf you could take this course again,
what would you change?
One last task…..
Contact details
Erika du Plessis Associate Golder Associates Africa (Pty) Ltd Regional Manager, West Africa Stakeholder Engagement Specialist [email protected] Tel. +27 82 802 1309
33 A Senchi Street, Airport Residential, Accra, Ghana