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Improving effectiveness of mitigation measures in EIA follow-up: The case of a highway construction in Brazil

Amarilis Lucia Casteli Figueiredo Gallardo (Department of Hydraulic and Environmental Engineering at Escola Politécnica of University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil AND Department of Environmental Management and Sustainability of Uninove, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.)
Caio Pompeu Cavalhieri (Centro de Tecnologias Geoambientais, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.)
Sofia Julia Alves Macedo Campos (Centro de Tecnologias Geoambientais, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.)
Omar Yazbek Bitar (Centro de Tecnologias Geoambientais, Instituto de Pesquisas Tecnológicas do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil.)

Management of Environmental Quality

ISSN: 1477-7835

Article publication date: 8 June 2015

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Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effectiveness of mitigation measures adopted in a scheme of EIA follow-up by examining their performance in reducing geo-environmental impacts in earthwork activities during the Rodoanel southern section construction in São Paulo, Brazil. This environment is fragile in terms of affected watersheds because the highway crosses two important reservoirs that supply most of the metropolitan water demand. Therefore, this research also aims at promoting water quality control.

Design/methodology/approach

This study combines complementary sources as evidences in the literature and field checks, tests and monitoring. The methodology was supported by criteria for evaluating the effectiveness of mitigation measures in the case study approach.

Findings

The EIA follow-up activities contributed to the maintenance of environmental conditions in the majority of the control points at the end of the construction phase. Water quality parameters were not statistically different before and during the construction of the highway. The choice and arrangement of mitigation measures were successful in ensuring water quality control by avoiding siltation.

Practical implications

A robust scheme for designing and evaluating mitigation measures contributes to the improvement of their effectiveness and is pivotal to the success of the EIA follow-up.

Originality/value

This case study serves as an example for extending EIA follow-up practice in special to the improvement of the design and evaluation of mitigation measures in similar contexts.

Keywords

Acknowledgements

This paper is based on a study sponsored by the Road Development Agency of São Paulo State (Dersa), which constructed the southern section of the peripheral metropolitan highway named Rodoanel in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. The authors also thank the careful review of the references made by the colleague Edna Gubitoso who works at the Institute for Technological Research.

Citation

Gallardo, A.L.C.F., Cavalhieri, C.P., Campos, S.J.A.M. and Bitar, O.Y. (2015), "Improving effectiveness of mitigation measures in EIA follow-up: The case of a highway construction in Brazil", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 26 No. 4, pp. 518-537. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-04-2014-0052

Publisher

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Emerald Group Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2015, Emerald Group Publishing Limited

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