Environmental Impact Assessment of Industrial Complexes Using AN-AM Case Study: Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex

Environmental impact assessment is one of the acceptable methods for achieving sustainable development. It is considered as a planning tool for managers and decision makers. Based on the potential effects that could occur as a result of project construction and development it is reasonable to eliminate or reduce the adverse effects. Today, the activities of the copper industry in providing the country's copper requirements and the growing importance of environmental compliance issues affecting various industries, especially the copper industry, make it necessary by the need for better and more efficient methods to identify and control the effects of the industrial complex activity. In this study, the environmental impacts of Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex were studied. In this regard, by use of experts opinion, and a check list for assessment of the environmental and socio-economic factors that are affected by the project, the assessment data is gathered. Then, using rapid impact assessment matrix (RIAM) which weighted by ANP Method (Method AN-AM), and with the help of experts, the impact assessment were done. Results show that 12 environmental factors, and 3 social factors are moderate and less affected by the project and 5 socio-economic factors are benefited very positively by the project. As a result, given the strategic situation of the copper industry in the country and with the improvement plans and corrective options, continuation of the works of Sarcheshmeh Copper Project is suggested.
Introduction
Environmental impact assessment is a proper tool to ensure project implementation and it can be a way to specify, predict and interpret the social and environmental impacts of a proposed project's. Also considering environmental impact assessment is a systematic identification and evaluation of projects, programs and proposals on physical, biological, cultural and socio-economic elements of environment. its purpose is to ensure that all of the development options consistent with sustainable development and environmental impact at the design stage of any project should be identified and considered. Background of plans and projects in the country shows that in the past planning, like many developing countries, the importance and the value of natural resources and social environment are hidden from view of decision makers. Many of them without considering environmental and socio-economic considerations, design and exploitation have led to the consequences of such actions including incidence of pollution and resource degradation and social problems in a wide area of the country. However, in many areas of expertise, commitment to studies of impact assessment is not legitimacy in the national or international scale, but implementation and dedication to these issues in the deployment stage or implementation of systems have become integral part of these studies. Since the method of operation and management of multi-criteria model analysis of the environmental impacts assessment for industrial complexes projects have not been studied in a codified method, this research aims to propose a multi-criteria analysis to environmental impact assessment of industrial complexes in the country.
Material & Methods
Sarcheshmeh Copper Complex: Copper Mining coordinates is "20'52° 55' east longitude and "40'56° 29 north latitude. The mine is connected by asphalt road to Rafsanjan and Sirjan. The average height from sea level is 2620 meter, and its highest point above sea level is 3280 meters high. The mine is located 160 kilometers southwest of Kerman and 50 km south of Rafsanjan and in the central region of the Zagros Mountain Range.
 
Figure 1: Location of Copper Complex
Methods: In this study, in order to assess environmental impacts of Sarcheshme cooper complex, rapid impact assessment Matrix Method (RIAM) is used, except that the changes and parameters of the matrix have been weighted using the ANP,  and  so called "Weighted rapid matrix (AN-AM)" method.
Analytic Network Process(ANP): The method offered by Tomas Saaty for determining multi rate, named Analytic Network process method.  After many years ANP method is used for solving the problems. Analytic Network process method makes a large frame that it is connected to their elements. The results with real world and people decision is more complicated, in the Analytic Network process method there is complicated relations between the original elements that is from substituting respective building with network construction.
This model is developed to improve the lack of connection between the elements and criteria in the hierarchy models. ANP is categorized into two sections: 1) the criteria and sub-criteria of the hierarchy models or the controlling network which control the transactions and, 2) a network including the effectiveness of clusters and elements.
Table1. the Saati’s pair-wise comparison model





Linguistic variables


Numbers




Equal


1




Interval


2




Moderate


3




Interval


4




Strong


5




Interval


6




 Very strong


7




Interval


8




Extreme


9





Rapid impact assessment matrix: Sharafi et al. express that the concept of rapid matrix has been developed by Pastakya in 1998. The method has been evaluated on a standard definition of important criteria. Rapid Impact Assessment Matrix tool is applied to organize, analyze and display the results of a comprehensive assessment of the environmental effects.
Results
In order to analyze the results of rating, the rapid matrix weighted method (AN-AM), the "Final Score" in Table Pastakya domains, are compared. Then, in Table 2 the number of environmental and human factors is identified in various domains.
Table 2. Number of parameters in various Domains





Domains
Environment


-E


-D


-C


-B


-A


N


A


B


C


D


E




Environmental


-


-


1


4


7


-


-


-


-


-


-




Socio-economical


-


2


-


-


1


-


2


1


-


2


-




Total


-


2


1


4


8


-


2


1


-


2


-





 
With regard to the fact that copper mining project is strategic for economy of the country, therefore, the project should be implemented and expanded, but it is better to reduce damages to the environment. For each of the environmental and socio-economic factors that are affected by the project, options for reform and improvement projects have been done.
Discussion & Conclusion
Use of ANP model to environmental impacts assessment and provide "weighted rapid matrix" to assess the effects of various projects can be investigated in two dimension. On one side these methods to eliminate many of the problems and costs of other methods of assessment can be useful; on the other hand, ANP method in Multi Criteria Decision Making model can be a better model.