This course summarizes the state of professional practice regarding cumulative effects assessment (CEA) within IA processes, demonstrates fundamental requirements for a case study project in Québec, illustrates determination of significance of cumulative effects, discusses adaptive management (and monitoring) as follow-up for large-scale proposals, and reviews policy choices and collaboration approaches for developing cumulative effects mitigation and management initiatives. A special presentation will be made on Indigenous approaches to the assessment and management of cumulative effects.
The course premise is that CEA should be an integral part of, and not separate from, both in-country and international IA processes. Fundamental requirements are presented through stepwise procedures with incorporation of international best practice principles. These procedures identify key valued components (VCs); delineate spatial and temporal boundaries; describe historical baselines and future trends; establish cause-effect linkages between past, present, and future actions and VCs; determine significance of cumulative effects; and support adaptive management, project mitigation, and regional management programs.
Practical processes for preparing, reviewing, and managing CEA-related documents will be emphasized, along with presentations on international case studies and interactive workshops. Group discussions will allow participants to share perspectives and present outcomes to the class—an approach highlighted as a strength in past course evaluations.
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Prerequisites: Foundation training on IA or CEA (professional-level short course or University-level specific course or program); and/or minimum of 2 years in professional experience in planning and conducting IA or CEA for environmental impact studies. (Note: these prerequisites do not apply to student participants.)
Language: English
Duration: 2 days (17-18 May)
Min/Max: 10-50
Price: $485
Instructors: Bill Ross, Emeritus Professor of Environmental Design, University of Calgary (Canada); Miles Scott-Brown, Consultant (Canada); Michael D. Smith, Director, Environmental Process and Policy, WSP (USA)
Dr. Bill Ross
Dr. Bill Ross is an emeritus Professor of Environmental Design in the Faculty of Environmental Design, University of Calgary (since January 2009). He has a BSc degree from the University of Manitoba, and a PhD degree in physics from Stanford University. His main academic interests are in the professional practice of IA and CEA. He has been a member of eight Canadian Environmental Assessment panels, and he has been a member and chair of the Independent Environmental Monitoring Agency for the Ekati Diamond Mine, Northwest Territories, Canada.
Dr. Ross is also the author or co-author of numerous peer-reviewed articles, including several related to CEA. Further, he was a co-author of the highly respected “Cumulative Effects Assessment Practitioners Guide” (Canadian Environmental Assessment Agency, 1999). In addition, he was the Founding President of the Western and Northern Canada Affiliate of IAIA. Dr. Ross also received IAIA’s Rose-Hulman Award at the 2009 annual conference held in Accra. In 2018, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Western and Northern Canada Affiliate of IAIA.
Miles Scott-Brown
Miles Scott-Brown has over 30 years’ experience in the assessment and management of infrastructure project risks and impacts around the globe. His focus is on energy and linear development projects including renewables such as hydropower, geothermal, wind and solar, oil and gas development and pipelines, electrical transmission lines, refineries, ports, roads and railways. He is a Certified Assessor of the sustainability protocol and gap analysis tools for hydroelectric projects (IHA September 2018), a certified auditor and a professional biologist.
Miles is very familiar with World Bank Group (IBRD OPs and ESF and IFC Performance Standards), IDB, EBRD, ADB and other International Lenders safeguard standards and has worked on both sides of the project spectrum – developing ESIAs and approval strategies for clients while assessing and monitoring project compliance with Lender Standards. Miles also specializes in cumulative impact (effects) assessment on international projects. He is both an experienced practitioner and trainer in environmental assessment and has delivered courses in Vina del Mar, Durban and Brisbane.
Dr. Michael D. Smith
Dr. Michael D. Smith is a leading IA practitioner with over 30 years of experience in environmental impact assessment, social impact assessment; cumulative effects assessment; project and program management, technical analysis, policy development, and training/education for a wide range of public and private sector clients. He is currently a Senior Vice President and the National Practice Leader for WSP USA’s Environmental Policy and Process Group. WSP USA is an arm of one of the world’s leading professional services firms with over 65,000 strategic advisors, environmental specialists, engineers, scientists, technicians, architects, and planners located globally in more than 550 offices in 40 countries. He has managed and provided compliance support for IA reviews for dozens of large, highly complex and highly controversial projects both in North America and internationally, including major energy, water, and transportation infrastructure projects, military facilities and operations, regulation of genetically engineered plants, commercial space transportation operations, and approval of new fuel economy standards for all vehicles operated in the U.S.
Dr. Smith has taught over two hundred IA workshops including cumulative effects assessment for professional associations and universities and has been a previous co-instructor for the cumulative effects course at the IAIA 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 Conferences. His technical areas of expertise include cumulative impact analysis; GHG emissions and climate change analysis; socioeconomics and environmental justice analysis; and designing strategies for streamlining IA processes and reviews. He holds a Ph.D. in Environmental and Natural Resources Sociology from Utah State University, an M.A. in Geography from the University of Wyoming, and a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.