Technical Definitions
Technically, Mitigation (as defined by CEQ and DOI) includes avoidance, minimization, and compensatory mitigation.
The mitigation hierarchy also adopts an inclusive definition of mitigation that includes a range of mitigation options. The mitigation hierarchy is a framework that was formalized by IFC in 2012. While there are many complexities in implementation, at its core the hierarchy offers a conceptually simple range of mitigation strategies, ranging from preventive (avoiding and minimizing) to remediative (restoring and offsetting).
 |
| Mitigation hierarchy framework.(Source: Exponent) |
Popular Usage
However, many professional resources, including the USFWS webpage on Mitigation, simply define Mitigation as "projects or programs that help offset negative impacts to natural resources, such as a stream, wetland, and species-at-risk." This definition excludes by omission any preventive mitigation.
Clarification
As usual, EPIC has a great resource summarizing the different types of mitigation, as well as synonyms that are often used. According to EPIC, avoidance and minimization are called "conservation measures". Only if a project is likely to cause take are compensatory mitigation measures proposed under 7(a)(2) consultation. Compensatory mitigation, which is usually simply called "mitigation" in popular usage, is also called offset measures.
 |
| Table from EPIC report linked above. |
In conclusion, mitigation can be a confusing concept, even for professionals. Government agencies are trying to specify compensatory mitigation when that is the subset of mitigation they mean, but even in official publications they often use the simple term mitigation. When someone says Mitigation they are usually talking about compensatory mitigation, or offsets. However, when talking about the mitigation hierarchy, other preventive conservation measures such as avoidance and minimization could also be included.
No comments:
Post a Comment