BSM8310 - INTRODUCTION TO EIA, ENVIRON. MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS & AUDITING

Module Identifier	BSM8310
Module Title	INTRODUCTION TO EIA, ENVIRON. MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS & AUDITING
Academic Year	2002/2003
Co-ordinator	Dr John Scullion
Semester	Available all semesters
Assessment	Semester Assessment	Course Work: course work only - 2000 word report

Learning outcomes

Enabling objectives:

After studying this module you should be able to:

demonstrate an understanding of environmental management systems.

identify the different phases associated with an environmental management system.

understand where environmental management fits in with quality systems and total quality management.

understand why commitment from the senior management within an organisation is essential for the success of the programme.

describe the Environmental Impact Assessment process

understand how EIA fits into the planning system

to understand both the need for and operation of Environmental Management Systems and Environmental Impact Assessment.

Aims

The main aims of this module are to provide you with an understanding of environmental management systems and the procedures associated with their adoption, and to give you a detailed understanding of the phases of Environmental Impact Assessment.

Content

The aim of the first part of this module is to provide you with an in-depth understanding of environmental management systems, how they operate and what they entail. the second part of the module aims to give you an understanding of the development of Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). We will study the process in some depth and examine each of the phases in the EIA process. We will discuss the implementation of EIA.

Rather than surveying formal management systems, for example, the British Standard on Environmental Management, BS7750, The International Standard, ISO 14001, or the European Union's Eco-management and Audit Scheme, we will look at a generic or standardised system which is based upon best practice.

As an introduction to the module we will examine management systems in general, focusing on quality assurance and total quality management systems. These will then be related to environmental management systems. The rest of this section will concentrate on the different phases of an environmental management system.

We will then go on to define the key terms in EIA and give a brief history of the subject before studying each phase of EIA in detail. Finally, we will discuss the implementation of EIA.