| CODE | SPI2102 | ||||||||||||
| TITLE | Environmental Assessment for Spatial Planning 1 | ||||||||||||
| UM LEVEL | 02 - Years 2, 3 in Modular Undergraduate Course | ||||||||||||
| MQF LEVEL | 5 | ||||||||||||
| ECTS CREDITS | 4 | ||||||||||||
| DEPARTMENT | Spatial Planning and Infrastructure | ||||||||||||
| DESCRIPTION | The study-unit will provide an introduction to environmental assessment and its role within the spatial planning and decision-making process, focusing on the role of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). During the first part of the study unit, a detailed overview of the Environmental Impact Assessment process will be provided, including: - The historical development of EIA; and, - The basic components in the EIA process, including: screening, scoping and the drafting of the Terms of Reference (ToRs), baseline studies, the assessment of impacts, the assessment of alternatives, the identification of mitigation measures, the monitoring of impacts and EIA follow-up. The second part of the study unit will discuss the process of Strategic Environmental Assessment within the role of spatial planning and decision-making. A brief overview of other miscellaneous environmental assessment tools, such as Appropriate Assessment and Sustainability Appraisals, amongst others, will also be provided. The study-unit will also discuss the important role of legislative tools in the EIA and SEA process, including the European EIA and SEA Directives and the Maltese EIA and SEA Regulations. Case studies from the local context will be utilised to discuss specific issues related to environmental assessment. Study-unit Aims: - To familiarize students with different environmental assessment procedures, and their important role within the spatial planning and decision-making processes; - To enable students to understand the way in which Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment procedures are carried out and managed in Malta, and to understand the different stages of the processes in question; - To provide students with direct experience of conducting an EIA, through local case studies, and the various stages required for the processes involved. Learning Outcomes: 1. Knowledge & Understanding: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - List and describe the various stages of the Environmental Impact Assessment process and the Strategic Environmental Assessment process; - Distinguish between Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment, and explain their scope and function; - Explain the role of environmental assessment (EIA, SEA, other environmental assessment processes) within the spatial planning and decision-making processes; - Describe the legal framework associated with environmental assessment, at EU and Maltese level. 2. Skills: By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to: - Identify the different stages of the Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment processes; - Identify the reasons as to why a proposed development/project or plan is subject to environmental assessment (EIA/SEA/other); - Explain the procedural and substantive aspects of environmental assessment processes. Main Text/s and any supplementary readings: - Carroll, B. and Turpin, T. (2009). Environmental impact assessment handbook - A practical guide for planners, developers and communities, Second Edition. London, Thomas Telford Ltd. - Glasson, J., Therivel, R. and Chadwick, A. (2005). Introduction to Environmental Impact Assessment, Third Edition, London and New York, Routledge. - Morris, P. and Therivel, R., Eds. (2009). Methods of Environmental Impact Assessment, Third Edition, London and New York, Routledge. - Therivel, R. (2010). Strategic environmental assessment in action (2nd ed.). Earthscan. |
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| STUDY-UNIT TYPE | Lecture and Seminar | ||||||||||||
| METHOD OF ASSESSMENT |
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| LECTURER/S | Charlene Smith |
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The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints. Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice. It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2025/6. It may be subject to change in subsequent years. |
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