Navigating Urban Growth: Why Environmental Assessments Matter
Introduction
Overview of Urban Development
Urban development is the process by which cities and towns expand and make improvements in infrastructure. This is often due to an increase in population. However when cities expand, they do not just become larger without taking away from something else. Unfortunately, it is usually land used for farming or land that has been mostly left in its natural state that ends up the new part of the urban area. As you can imagine, this comes with its fair share of issues.
Importance of Environmental Assessment
Before urban development can fully take over a new undeveloped area, there must be a great deal of effort put into looking into what is already there. Like mentioned above, this is usually some sort of natural land with its own ecosystem. Residential environmental assessments are required to be conducted before new home builds can take place. Commercial environmental assessments also exist prior to the construction of business structures like warehouses or stores. This is so that the risks can be weighed against the rewards of building on this land. It also allows for better planning in the area to minimize the negative impact on the immediate ecosystem.
Understanding Environmental Assessment
Definition and Scope
An environmental assessment allows experts to give their educated opinions on the amount of harm a construction or development project will have on a given area. Environmental assessments are one of the first steps in an urban development process, and can include research into the land’s historical and cultural relevance as well as its natural aspects.
Types of Environmental Assessments
3 Kings Environmental is an experienced team when it comes to conducting environmental assessments with a combined 45 years of experience. Whether it is for a residential, commercial, or industrial site, 3 Kings can provide fast and detailed assessments that follow local and federal regulatory guidelines. Typically a phase I assessment is done to determine the history of a potential development site in order to identify any and all specific contamination risks to be on the look for. Then, a phase II assessment is done that actually tests samples of the local soil and water as well as the building materials for the project to ensure that no hazardous substances are present.
The Process of Environmental Assessment in Urban Development
Pre-Assessment Planning
We begin doing our research and gathering information before the job even begins. Part of the planning that goes into a project before the formal assessment is done involves making sure that dates are in check and giving ample time to conduct a thorough assessment that follows regulations. Assessment jobs can take days or hours depending on the scale of the job and the access to information and cooperation from the client.
Conducting the Assessment
When we conduct our environmental assessments, there are two goals that we are continuously keeping in mind. The first is the cooperation with all local and federal regulations when it comes to environmental management, the other goal is delivering our comprehensive assessment quickly with advice on how to handle any particular issues that we foresee with the development project.
Post-Assessment Actions
After the assessment, we can offer advice on how to deal with any potential problems we uncovered during our investigations. Some of the services we offer after the assessment include hazardous waste disposal, emergency spill responses, investigation remediation and more.
Benefits of Integrating Environmental Assessment in Urban Planning
Environmental Protection
The chief benefit of environmental assessments being a required step in urban planning and development is the fact that we can build what we need to for our society while limiting the negative impact that we have on the land and our resources. Sustainable urban development is important since our population is continuing to grow.
Sustainable Development Goals
As that population expands and we need more and more land for housing and food production, sustainability will likely only become more important. If expansion is unavoidable, then we must ensure that we are able to do so in the most efficient and environmentally responsible way we can to ensure that we will continue to coexist with our natural surroundings.
Economic Benefits
Besides improving the quality of life for the future inhabitants, environmental assessments play an important role in benefitting that population economically. A properly planned urban development can work in tandem with what has already been built and the land. Building things alongside certain geographic features can make a positive impact on energy efficiency which saves money as well.
Challenges and Solutions
Common Challenges in Conducting Environmental Assessments
Many of the challenges that present themselves in the environmental assessment are related to a lack of information. Whether it is a lack of background information for a property or the inability to access certain areas can slow down the process.
Strategies for Overcoming These Challenges
Hiring an experienced environmental assessment company can save a lot of headaches, time, and money. 3 Kings has a wide variety of experience to pull from in all major sectors.
Conclusion
Summary of Key Points
To summarize, environmental assessments are an important step in the beginning of an urban development project. These assessments are meant to discover the historical and cultural relevance of a piece of property as well as identify any potential hazards to human or natural life in the area. Environmental assessments include taking physical samples of the land and water in an area to have tested to make sure that the area is and remains safe. Environmental assessments are required by many different governing bodies with the hope of sustainable growth.
Future Outlook on Environmental Assessment in Urban Development
As our society continues to expand in numbers, needs, and wants, it is almost undoubtedly certain that there will be a continued and increased need for environmental assessment in urban development. There will also likely be more and more regulations, especially in areas that are more environmentally conscious and/or the areas with fewer resources to begin with. The idea is that we can continue to develop places to live that will keep us safe, happy, and healthy all while limiting the harm we do to the natural world around us.
