A proposed development, whether it is a factory or other industrial facility, is always the focus of great interest. People are prepared to sink massive sums of money into it and work hard on establishing it. This necessitates large-scale planning and examination of the relevant factors before a sod can be turned. One of the main areas of assessment is Phase I Environmental Site Assessments (ESAS), which examines the natural environmental in order to understand whether the site is acceptable for the development, or if not, why not.
People may not always realize how important this environmental assessment is. The attitude that the natural environment does not matter or that pollution does not make any difference to it is not acceptable these days, since present governments and society are more aware of the environment and how it operates. An environmental assessment is therefore important.
The overarching philosophy of developers should therefore be that the environment should be protected and conserved. The public and the authorities will not tolerate the approach that environmental questions can be ignored or that pollution is something that people should simply live with. In extreme cases, opposition to a development can actually lead to official sanction and termination, or at least the intervention of the authorities.
The ESAS looks at several factors in the natural environment that are of extreme importance in determining the safety of the area. These factors are related to aspects of the environment that can potentially have an influence on human health and the ability of the area to sustain the development or planned activities.
One of the most important is the water in the area. Water is a good indicator of other conditions because it may contain any toxins that are present. Toxins in the soil and plants are probably also going to be present in the water.
Alien species are not allowed by law and should be eradicated. This is because they do not naturally form part of the food chain or ecosystem in the area and they disrupt it. They either draw too many nutrients from the soil or they choke out other (endemic) species by using too much surface area. They also sometimes cause the soil to deteriorate, which in turn leads to erosion. Another problem with vegetation, any vegetation, is that plants draw toxins into their structures from the soil or water, which they then pass on to the animals and insects which use them as a food source. Also, there are plant diseases which are a threat to agriculture.
The plants themselves pose another examination entirely. They need to be assessed on the basis of two properties - their species and their health.
The water in the area also needs to be assessed. This is an easy assessment because the water harbors the toxins that are present in the soil and plants.
The ESAS is too important for developers to ignore or to leave aside. These aspects of the natural environment are all essential in the assessment and should all be taken into account.
People may not always realize how important this environmental assessment is. The attitude that the natural environment does not matter or that pollution does not make any difference to it is not acceptable these days, since present governments and society are more aware of the environment and how it operates. An environmental assessment is therefore important.
The overarching philosophy of developers should therefore be that the environment should be protected and conserved. The public and the authorities will not tolerate the approach that environmental questions can be ignored or that pollution is something that people should simply live with. In extreme cases, opposition to a development can actually lead to official sanction and termination, or at least the intervention of the authorities.
The ESAS looks at several factors in the natural environment that are of extreme importance in determining the safety of the area. These factors are related to aspects of the environment that can potentially have an influence on human health and the ability of the area to sustain the development or planned activities.
One of the most important is the water in the area. Water is a good indicator of other conditions because it may contain any toxins that are present. Toxins in the soil and plants are probably also going to be present in the water.
Alien species are not allowed by law and should be eradicated. This is because they do not naturally form part of the food chain or ecosystem in the area and they disrupt it. They either draw too many nutrients from the soil or they choke out other (endemic) species by using too much surface area. They also sometimes cause the soil to deteriorate, which in turn leads to erosion. Another problem with vegetation, any vegetation, is that plants draw toxins into their structures from the soil or water, which they then pass on to the animals and insects which use them as a food source. Also, there are plant diseases which are a threat to agriculture.
The plants themselves pose another examination entirely. They need to be assessed on the basis of two properties - their species and their health.
The water in the area also needs to be assessed. This is an easy assessment because the water harbors the toxins that are present in the soil and plants.
The ESAS is too important for developers to ignore or to leave aside. These aspects of the natural environment are all essential in the assessment and should all be taken into account.
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