ABSTRACT
Although trans-boundary environmental effects such as greenhouse gas emissions may need consideration, environmental assessment is fi rst of all site-based. The obvious study area is the project area itself, which comprises all areas expected to undergo physical changes due to project activities. In the case of mining, these areas include the ore deposit, mine infrastructure, and waste rock and tailings disposal areas. Since impacts extend beyond the areas of physical changes, the geographic boundary of an environmental assessment study is almost always larger than the actual project area. It can be based, among other possibilities, on the natural landscape, such as a watershed area or specifi c types of ecosystem, downwind ‘air-shed’ area, or on social and political boundaries.
