A baseline study is prepared by a project proponent and their hired consultants to describe the current physical, biological and human environment conditions at a project site and surrounding area prior to project development.
Baseline studies describe the physical conditions and characteristics in the defined study area at and around the Project site. These studies document air quality, noise, hydrology (lakes, rivers, etc.) and climate, hydrogeology (groundwater), geochemistry and geology and surface and groundwater quality.
Baseline studies describe the socio-economic conditions in the defined study area at and around the Project site. These studies document land and resource use, Indigenous traditional knowledge and land use, archaeology, visual aesthetics, and socio-economic
Baseline studies describe the biological conditions and characteristics in the defined study area at and around the Project site. These studies document the soils, vegetation, and wildlife and aquatic biology of the area, estimate the area’s biodiversity, and describe any nearby protected areas
The Marban Alliance study area includes the Project site and the surrounding area that may be affected by the Project, as well as additional selected areas as they apply to the Project.
Baseline studies support the environmental assessment process. Understanding the current conditions, challenges and future plans of an area related to the Project provides a basis against potential effects of the Project that can be assessed. These assessments assist in decisions on the design and management of the Project to reduce its potential effects.
As of 2018, a multitude of environmental baseline studies have been conducted in the project’s target area to establish an environmental portrait and to constitute a knowledge base of the pre-project conditions for this sector. In this context, the following environmental baselines studies were produced:
Additional baseline studies have been completed in 2021 and 2022.
The knowledge gained from the previous studies remains valid and is enhanced or refined by the findings of the complementary studies. While some of these studies remain valid, others have been produced or updated in 2021 and 2022.
These additional studies include: