THE GEOLOGY OF SEA-FLOOR MASSIVE SULPHIDES
31
Figure 10. Environmental Impact Assessment and Environmental Permitting Process Considerations – an example of a permitting
process for a proposed SMS project.
approve the development and, if so, under what conditions. The
EIS is assessed by the relevant government agencies, and/or
reviewed externally. A workshop held by the International Sea-
bed Authority in collaboration with SPC and the Fiji Government
in Nadi Fiji in 2011 developed a template for an EIS (ISA 2011).
4. Public Hearings: The public hearings process involves a se-
ries of meetings that allow the public and local communities a
chance to provide comments and raise concerns regarding the
EIS and the development proposal.
5. EIS Review: The results of the assessment along with the
outcome of the public hearings allow the relevant authorities
to make a recommendation on the EIS.
6. Environment Permit: Following the EIS approval and sub-
mission and approval of an environment permit application,
an environment permit is awarded. Note that a common con-
dition of the permit is for an environmental management plan
(including monitoring plans) to be approved prior to the com-
mencement of operations.
resources, whilst maintaining the biological richness and
ecological processes necessary to sustain the composition,
structure and function of the habitats or ecosystems con-
cerned.” Inherent in EAM is the application of ecological,
economic, and social information, and the underlying accep-
tance that humans are an integral part of many ecosystems.
The approach requires integration of information from a wide
range of disciplines, across different levels of ecological and
socio-economic organization, and on a range of temporal and
spatial scales.
A second important concept in the exploitation of any resource
is the precautionary approach. One of the primary foundations
of the precautionary approach, and globally accepted defi-
The road from exploration to exploitation
PERMITS
and
REQUIREMENTS
TYPE
OF
ACTIVITY
3
2
LEVEL
1
Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental Impact Assesment
Environmental Impact Assesment
Environmental Impact Assesment
Environmental Permit for Level 3
Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental Impact Statement
Environmental Permit for Level 2
Environmental Permit
Exploration activities
and scienti c research
with drilling <2500
cumulative metres
Mining activities
Exploration activities with
drilling >2500 cumulative
metres
Required Not required
