25. Cumulative effects assessment impact thresholds: myths and realities

Abstract

A cumulative impact has been commonly defined as: ""...the impact on the environment which results from the incremental impact of the action when added to other past, present, and reasonably foreseeable future actions regardless of what agency or person undertakes such other actions. Cumulative impacts can result from individually minor but collectively significant actions taking place over a period of time."" (U.S. Council on Environmental Quality 1978). A threshold is defined in Webster’s as ""the point at which a physiological or psychological effect begins to be produced."

Citation

Ziemer, Robert R. 1994. 25. Cumulative effects assessment impact thresholds: myths and realities. Pages 319-326, in: Kennedy, Alan J., ed. Cumulative Effects Assessments in Canada: From Concept to Practice. Alberta Association of Professional Biologists. Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 333 p.