Practitioner survey of the state of health integration in environmental assessment: The case of northern Canada

Journal Article · Mon May 15 04:00:00 EDT 2006 · Environmental Impact Assessment Review

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eiar.2005.11.001· OSTI ID:20783337

Noble, Bram ^[1]; Bronson, Jackie ^[2]

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1. Department of Geography, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, S7N 5A5 (Canada)
2. Stantec Consulting Ltd., 100-75-24th Street East, Saskatoon, SK S7K 0K3 (Canada)

Based on a case study of health integration in Canadian northern EA, this paper further demonstrates the lack of consistent integration of health in EA practice. A survey was administered to northern EA and health practitioners, administrators and special interest groups to assess current northern health assessment practices, the scope of health in EA, EA performance with regard to health assessment and the perceived barriers to health integration. Results suggest that health is currently recognized as an important component of northern EA and is addressed in the majority of cases; however, health is addressed primarily during the pre-decision stages of EA and less often during post-decision follow-up and monitoring. Moreover, when health is addressed, attention is limited to the physical components of health and health impacts due to physical environmental change, with considerably less attention given to the social aspects of health. Results also suggest dissent between EA practitioners, health practitioners and other interests concerning the overall state of health in EA; however, there is consensus on the key challenges to improved integration, namely differences in understanding of the scope of health and expectations of EA to assess health impacts; limited coordination between EA and health practitioners; limited scope and requirements of current EA legislation for health assessment; and the lack of supporting EA methods and frameworks.

• OSTI ID: 20783337
• Journal Information: Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Journal Name: Environmental Impact Assessment Review Journal Issue: 4 Vol. 26; ISSN 0195-9255; ISSN EIARDK
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
CANADA
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENTS
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY
ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
LEGISLATION
MONITORING
PERFORMANCE