2021, Vol.30, No.6

Journal of Environmental Impact Assessment 2023 KCI Impact Factor : 0.51

pISSN : 1225-7184
https://journal.kci.go.kr/kseia

The purpose of this study is to provide valuable information and data by analyzing the environmental status and potential forrenewable energy projects (or plans) based on environmental assessment (EA) data, so that more objective and scientific environmental assessments can be conducted. The study also suggests regional directions that could satisfy the goals of nature conservation and renewable energy. Based on the analysis of EA data that was conducted up until June 2019, the study analyzed the size, location and characteristics of both onshore wind power and onshore photovoltaic. The environmentally available potential by region was also derived by considering the main constraints and requirements related to the potential siting ofrenewable energy projects at the EA. Based on EA data, 63 out of 80 (79%) onshore wind power projects are shown to be located in mountainous areas. For onshore photovoltaic projects, a total of 7,363 projects were subjected to environmental assessment over the country. The environmentally potential area for onshore wind power, considering all the environmental regulatory factors, is 2,440 km2. For onshore photovoltaic, the environmentally available area estimated as idle farmland is 2,877 km2. The distribution and characteristics of the environmentally available potential of the region may be the most important factor that local governments should bear in mind in terms of promoting renewable energy development projects in the region. Based on the results of this study, even if we consider the national energy plan including the expected future increase, as well as environmental goals and socio-economic acceptance through an environmental assessment, the available resources forrenewable energy projects are not insufficient. It is possible to examine the adequacy of the target distribution rate of renewable energy sources by region taking into consideration the quantitative and scientific results such as the environmentally available potential data derived from this study.

As the domestic water management policy shifted from concentration-oriented water management to load management-centered Total Maximum Daily Load (TMDL), water quality and aquatic ecosystems brought changed. However, it was difficult to determine whether the water quality and the health of the aquatic ecosystem improved after the implementation of the TMDL due to changes in pollutant sources and discharge fluctuations ect, so the effect was analyzed using a log-linear model and biological indicators (Benthic Macroinvertebrates). As a result, BOD and T-P concentrations in the Jinwi River Watershed were reduced by 30% and 35%, showed the effect of improving water quality, however the benthic macroinvertebrates index (BMI) downgraded from grade D to grade E. Therefore, efforts to cultivate ecologicalrivers are necessary to upgrade the health of the aquatic ecosystem in the river watershed.

About 10% of trees damaged by the development projects are to be transplanted when conducting the Environmental Impact Assessment. However, various problems have been raised during transplantation. In this study, we confirm the stakeholder’s perceptions of the problems that occur during transplantation. The survey was conducted from October 9 to 25, 2020. Among the stakeholder groups, 36 respondents participated in the consulting institute group, 44 from the review institute group, and 83 from the developer·agency group (total of 163). All three groups responded that it was necessary to transplant some of the damaged trees even if the development charge increased because the damage caused by the development project was serious. The most serious problem was ‘high mortality’. The response rate was high that all three groups should plant the same species with the same quantity as an alternative method in case of withering. In order to reduce the mortality rate, small-sized trees were transplanted and transplanted trees were expanded to include planted species and landscape trees. In addition, the number of transplanted trees was high in response to calculating the transplantratio to the number of native tree damaged. The percentage of respondents who said that it was necessary to allocate a separate manager was also high. The results will be used as basic data to improve problems that occur during transplantation of damaged trees.