Quantitative analysis of environmental impact assessments of hydroelectric power plants on the IBAMA database and evaluation of the hydrological parameters used

ABSTRACT Environmental impact assessment is a determining tool for the implementation or not of all types of developments that can cause some imbalance in the surrounding environment. Brazil is known for its strict environmental legislation, requiring detailed projects that provide sustainable development at the site of implantation. Thus, Brazilian hydroelectric power plants are required to issue an Environmental Impact Assessment. In this study, environmental studies related to 30 Brazilian hydroelectric plants, available at the database of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), were evaluated in order to temporally assess how many and which hydrological parameters were addressed in the environmental impact assessment. The hydroelectric plants are inserted directly into waterways, interfering or being directly influenced by rainfall, flow and sediment deposits. The results showed a tendency of adopting the same parameters. The creation of legislation that requires studies of certain variables may facilitate future comparison of the environmental impacts generated after the construction of hydroelectric plants.

摘要：环境影响评价（Environmental Impact Assessment）是决定各类开发项目能否实施的核心判定工具，此类项目可能对周边环境造成一定程度的失衡影响。巴西以其严苛的环境立法体系著称，要求项目方提交详尽的实施方案，以保障项目选址区域的可持续发展。据此，巴西境内的水力发电厂必须编制环境影响评价文件。本研究针对巴西环境与可再生自然资源研究所（IBAMA）数据库中收录的30座巴西水力发电厂的相关环境研究报告展开评估，旨在从时间维度分析环境影响评价中涉及的水文参数的数量与具体类别。此类水力发电厂均直接依托河道布局，其运行直接受降雨、径流与泥沙沉积的影响，或对上述水文过程产生干扰。研究结果显示，当前评价工作存在采用同质化水文参数的趋势。制定要求针对特定变量开展研究的立法规范，将可为后续对比分析水力发电厂建成后产生的各类环境影响提供便利。