Environmental Assessment
Volume E-3.11
Tailings Facility
Visual Aesthetics
Ambatovy Project
151
January 2006
consequence for visual effects is low for the construction, operation and closure
phases.
The presence of buildings will have an impact negligible in magnitude, since
such facilities will be relatively small and difficult to see from surrounding key
viewpoints. Effects are local in extent, medium-term in duration (during
construction and operations only) and are reversible. Viewing frequency is
expected to be low due to the low number of viewpoints from which the facilities
will be visible. The overall environmental consequence of buildings for visual
aesthetics will be negligible.
Light release will have an impact negligible in magnitude, due to mitigation and
the use of fully shielded lighting fixtures that will not release a great deal of light
upward or toward nearby houses or villages. Effects are local in extent, medium-
term in duration (during construction and operations only) and are reversible.
Viewing frequency is expected to be low. The overall environmental
consequence of lighting for visual aesthetics will be negligible.
Dust and visible emissions will be negligible in magnitude. Effects are local in
extent, medium-term in duration and are reversible. Viewing frequency is
expected to be low. The overall environmental consequence of emissions is low.
An overall residual impact classification for visual aesthetics for each key issue
and each phase of the project is presented in Table 3.11-4.
Table 3.11-4 Residual Impact Classification for Visual Aesthetics
Phase
Direction Magnitude Geographic
Extent
Duration Reversibility Frequency
Environmental
Consequence
Issue: Effect of Tailings Facility Landforms on Visual Aesthetics
construction /
operations
negative
moderate
local
medium-
term
no
low
low
closure
negative
low
local
long-term
no
low
low
Issue: Effect of Buildings at Tailings Facility on Visual Aesthetics
construction /
operations
negative
negligible
local
medium-
term
yes
low
negligible
Issue: Effect of Light Pollution on Visual Aesthetics
construction /
operations
negative
negligible
local
medium-
term
yes
low
negligible
Issue: Effect of Visible Emissions and Dust on Visual Aesthetics
construction /
operations
negative
negligible
regional
medium-
term
yes
low
negligible
