Strategic Environmental Assessment

 

Strategic Environmental Assessment

What is Strategic Environmental Assessment?

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is SEA is a key process that contributes towards achieving sustainable development by establishing important new methods for protecting the environment and extending opportunities for participation in public policy decision making.

How is this achieved?

SEA achieves this by:- systematically assessing and monitoring the significant environmental effects of public sector strategies, plans and programmes; ensuring that expertise and views are sought at various points in the process from SNH, SEPA, Historic Scotland and the public; and requiring a public statement as to how opinions have been taken into account. 

Have you undertaken any SEAs that I can look at?

We have completed a number of Environmental Reports and these can be viewed using the links on this page.

Can you tell me more about the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005?

The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force on 20 February 2006. The Act repealed the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004, which was in force prior to the Act.  

What tools are available to help?

Amongst the assessment tools available are Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA). Collectively known as Environmental Assessment, these procedures are designed to ensure that the environmental implications of certain actions can be taken into account before they are carried out.

What sorts of developments are covered?

For example, before undertaking an individual project such as a dam, motorway, airport or factory, an EIA may be required, or for plans and programmes, an SEA would be carried out.

Why is SEA important?

One of the main reasons why Strategic Environmental Appraisal evolved is that Environmental Impact Assessment only enters the decision-making process once decisions at policy or planning level, that could influence project environmental planning and design, have already been taken.

What does the process involve?

The process of Environmental Assessment involves:

• an analysis of the likely effects on the environment of a proposed activity recording those effects in a report
• undertaking a public consultation exercise on the report
• taking into account the comments resulting from the consultation and the contents of the report when making the final decision on how or whether to proceed with the proposed activity
• informing the public about that decision

What is the difference between SEA and EIA?

Strategic Environmental Assessment generally applies to high level plans and programmes, and allows the identification, comparison and adoption of feasible options or alternatives (to mitigate against potential environmental impacts). Environmental Impact Assessment applies to individual construction or development projects. 

How did SEA come about in Scotland?

The European Directive 2001/42/EC, known as the 'Strategic Environmental Assessment' or 'SEA Directive', came into force on 21 July 2004. The aim of this is to ensure that the strategies being pursued by local authorities meet sustainable development objectives. In line with the commitment to the Partnership Agreement "A Partnership for a Better Scotland", Scottish Ministers introduced a Bill to further widen the scope of SEA and this became the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 which came into force on 20 February 2006.

What is the purpose of the Act?

The purpose of the Act is to ensure that the cumulative and synergistic environmental consequences of plans, programmes and strategies and alternatives to these are identified and assessed during their preparation and before adoption.

The general public, local authorities and environmental bodies can give their opinion and all results are taken into account in the course of the policy making process.

SEA aims to promote sustainable development and transparent planning by integrating environmental considerations and involving the public at a higher level of decision making.

What does the Act apply to?

The Act applies to almost all plans, programmes and strategies produced by public bodies in Scotland that are likely to have significant environmental effects. This includes most development plans under the existing Town and Country Planning (Scotland ) Act, Local Transport Plans and Community Strategies etc.

Early assessment, supported by an evidence base of local information will be used to consider alternatives and their impacts, to promote the most sustainable options for meeting the plan's objectives and to suggest mitigation measures for any chosen alternatives.  

Do you need to consult anyone?

The Act requires early consultation with the public and environmental bodies. The following must then be published in an Environmental Report:  

• Methods and limitations of the process
• Information used
• An explanation of the likely significant effects of the plan 
• Reasonable alternative strategies
• Suggested monitoring  

Who is the environmental report submitted to?

The Environmental Report is to be submitted along with the plan for consideration by the 'consultation bodies'. The consultation bodies are

• the Scottish Ministers (including Historic Scotland)
• the Scottish Environment Protection Agency; and
• Scottish Natural Heritage

What role does each organisation play?

Scottish Environment Protection Agency will provide advice on soil (land), water and air. In addition, SEPA may provide  information on climatic factors, material assets, biodiversity and health where appropriate and where information is held.

Scottish Natural Heritage  will provide advice on the natural environment including biodiversity, landscape and geological features, access and recreational use of the natural heritage and where relevant, the soil, water, and material assets that are necessary to support these environmental features.

Historic Scotland  will provide advice on the cultural heritage which includes historic buildings and townscapes, parks and gardens, designed landscapes, ancient monuments, archaeological sites and landscapes, protected wrecks, and underwater archaeology. It also includes the wider setting of these features as well as places important for their historic associations.

Where can I get more information?

You can get more information on SEA from a variety of sources some of which are included in the Quick Links on this page.

I'm confused about some of the terms used. What do they mean?

CONSULTATION AUTHORITY: - This a specialist body with environmental expertise that can consider plans and programmes submitted by a Responsible Authority. The consultation Authorities are; Scottish Ministers (Historic Scotland), Scottish Environmental Protection Agency and Scottish Natural Heritage.

ENVIRONMENTAL REPORT: - This document is required by the SEA Directive [Directive 2001/42/EEC] on the assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment as part of an environmental assessment, which identifies, describes and evaluates the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing a plan or programme and reasonable alternatives. Section 14 and Schedule 3 of the Act sets out the information required in an Environmental report.

PLAN OR PROGRAMME: - The term "plan or programme" covers any plans or programmes to which the Act applies and specifically includes strategies.

PRE-SCREENING: - Where a plan as described in section 5(4) of the Act is considered, in the opinion of the Responsible Authority, to have no or minimal effect on the environment they may exempt the plan from SEA. To reach such a decision the Responsible Authority must consider the significance of the environmental effects against the criteria set out in Schedule 2 of the Act. Under section 7 of the Act, Responsible Authorities have statutory obligation to notify Scottish Minister of their pre-screening decisions and a register of decision is available for public inspection.

RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY: -  This is any person, body or office holder exercising functions of a public character. If such an authority prepares a strategy, plan or programme which requires an SEA then that authority js responsible for the SEA. Where more than one authority is responsible for a strategy, plan or programme they should reach an agreement as to who is responsible for the SEA. Where an agreement cannot be reached, he Scottish Ministers shall make the determination.

SCOPING: - The process of deciding the scope and level of detail to be included in the environmental report.

SCREENING: - The process of determining the likely significance of effects on the environment of a strategy, plan or programme. Schedule 2 of the Act sets out criteria for determining the likely significant effects on the environment.

STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA): - This is a generic term used to describe environmental assessment as applied to strategies, plans and programmes. The term "SEA" is used to refer to the type of environmental assessment required under the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT: -  This is a concept with many interpretations.  Put simply it is about securing the future, acknowledging that achieving economic growth has to be done in such a way that it does not harm the environment or squander the natural resources we depend on, and having to distribute the wealth it creates to improve quality of life and to eradicate poverty.

You can get more information on SEA from a variety of sources some of which are included in the Quick Links on this page.