The previous assignments have focussed on the conduct of risk assessments and the necessity to consider whether the process is always the most preferred. Issues such as risk perception, identification of stakeholders and communication were also addressed. For the final assignment, you will need to undertake the following.
For this assignment, you are assuming that you have been engaged by an organisation to provide them with a project scoping document for the conduct of an ecological risk assessment.
Select an environmental issue that is of interest to you. This could be something to do with climate change, a particular species or ecosystem, a waste management issue for a specific material or treatment type, managing of resources such as water etc. For this identified issue you will need to develop the scoping document for them to approve the commencement s of the risk assessment. This scoping document should detail what is included and/or excluded from the project:
1. The scope of the project - including stakeholders
2. Outline of the proposed methodology to conduct the ecological risk assessment
3. Details on the project team - what specialisations/professions would you include when and why
4. What data would you need to collect/collate and how would this be undertaken (eg., timeframes and equipment needs)
5. Where would other data sources be located in order to fully identify the hazards and to develop a risk rating for them
6. What would be the process for validating data obtained
7. Summarise the use of any other decision making tool that may be used (eg., life cycle assessment, health risk assessment), and explain why these tools (if at all), would be used
8. Describe the process for prioritising the risks to the issue9. Outline a participation/communication strategy for identified stakeholders to ensure they fully understand the rationale for the risk management approach as well as them being provided with the opportunity to input into the decision making process
10. Describe the media influences to both the stakeholders and the ultimate risk management approach
11. Describe a monitoring and review program that would be used following development and adoption of the risk management strategy (note that you are not developing the risk management strategy)