Back to Environmental Management

Environmental Planning

5 minutes 5 Questions

Environmental Planning refers to the process of facilitating decision making to carry out land development with appropriate consideration given to the natural environment, social, political, and economic factors, and the governance that will guide sustainable outcome. Environmental planning helps project managers understand the environmental impact of their projects, and plan for how to minimize these effects. This includes taking into account local aspects such as biodiversity, ecosystems, climate, and other environmental factors.

Environmental Planning Guide: PMBOK 7th Edition

Environmental Planning is a key component in any project and is highlighted in the PMBOK Guide Seventh Edition.

It is the process of documenting, in a written plan, the decisions about how a project or an organization will address environmental management aspects. It includes procedures, roles and responsibilities, tools, and techniques to manage environmental aspects during the entire project life cycle.

Why is Environmental Planning important?
It helps to ensure that the environmental impact is kept to a minimum, and that the project complies with relevant environmental laws and regulations. It also provides an opportunity to identify ways to use resources more efficiently and reduce waste.

How does Environmental Planning work?
It begins with an environmental review, which identifies the potential environmental impacts of a project. Then an Environmental Management Plan (EMP) is created to manage these impacts. The EMP includes mitigation strategies for each impact, as well as monitoring and reporting procedures.

How to answer questions on Environmental Planning in an exam?
Understand the key components of an Environmental Management Plan and the steps involved in creating one. Be familiar with environmental laws and regulations and their relevance to project management. Also know the benefits of minimising environmental impact.

Exam Tips: Answering Questions on Environmental Planning
Read the question carefully and look for keywords that indicate what the question is asking. Use your understanding of the environmental planning process to eliminate incorrect answers. Remember, the correct answer is the one that best fits within the PMBOK Guide's framework.

Test mode:
Start practice test
PMP - Environmental Management Example Questions

Test your knowledge of Amazon Simple Storage Service (S3)

Question 1

You are managing a construction project that involves building a new residential complex with a focus on sustainability. During the environmental planning phase, what is the critical document you should develop to identify and evaluate potential environmental impacts of the project?

Correct Answer: Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

The correct answer is Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA). An Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) is a critical document that should be developed during the environmental planning phase of a construction project. The purpose of an EIA is to identify, predict, and evaluate the potential environmental impacts of a proposed project, and to propose measures to mitigate or minimize any negative impacts. An EIA typically includes a detailed description of the project, an analysis of the existing environmental conditions, an assessment of the potential impacts of the project on various environmental factors (such as air and water quality, wildlife, and natural resources), and a plan for managing and monitoring those impacts throughout the project lifecycle. The other answers, while related to environmental planning, do not accurately describe the specific document needed in this situation: - An Environmental Analysis Report is a more general term that could refer to various types of environmental studies or assessments. - An Environmental Risk Evaluation focuses primarily on identifying and assessing potential risks, rather than comprehensively evaluating all potential impacts. - An Environmental Impact Statement is a document that is typically required for certain projects under specific regulations, such as the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) in the United States, but it is not the most precise term for the document needed in this scenario.

Question 2

The project you are working on will produce considerable waste. As the project manager, what is the best way to manage this?

Correct Answer: Develop a waste management plan as part of your environmental planning efforts

The best approach to manage considerable waste produced by a project is to 'Develop a waste management plan as part of your environmental planning efforts'. This method elaborates a proactive manner where potential wastage is addressed at the initial stages itself, ensuring lower risks and better resource utilization. It falls under the responsibility of a project manager to tackle any issue that might come in the way of the project's goals, including waste management. The option 'Ignore it as waste management is not part of the project scope' is incorrect because waste management is an integral part of the project scope if it affects the project's outcome. 'Let your stakeholders worry about the waste' is not a suitable approach, because as a project manager, your goal is to ensure that all project aspects, including waste management, are handled efficiently, minimizing the burden on stakeholders. Lastly, 'Hire a third-party company at the end of the project to deal with the waste' might not be the best plan, because it could result in huge amounts of waste getting accumulated by the end of the project, causing more environmental issues, inconvenience, and also possible breaches of environmental laws and regulations.

Question 3

During the environmental planning process of a project, a resource constraint is identified which could potentially impact the project timeline. What is the best course of action to address this issue?

Correct Answer: Prioritize project activities based on environmental impact.

The best course of action is to prioritize project activities based on environmental impact. This approach allows the project team to focus on the most critical environmental aspects while still progressing with the project. Engaging stakeholders without environmental expertise for decision-making is not advisable as it may lead to uninformed decisions that could further complicate the issue. Allocating additional budget for environmental studies may help in understanding the constraint better, but it does not directly address the impact on the project timeline. Focusing solely on environmental regulations compliance may not be sufficient, as the identified resource constraint could have broader implications beyond just compliance.

Go Premium

Project Management Professional Preparation Package (2024)

  • Earn 35 PDUs needed for your PMP certification
  • 9524 Superior-grade Project Management Professional practice questions.
  • Accelerated Mastery: Deep dive into critical topics to fast-track your mastery.
  • Unlock Effortless PMP preparation: 5 full exams.
  • 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed: Full refund with no questions if unsatisfied.
  • Bonus: If you upgrade now you get upgraded access to all courses
  • Risk-Free Decision: Start with a 7-day free trial - get premium features at no cost!
More Environmental Planning questions
17 questions (total)
Start 17 question test