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Strategic Environmental Assessment

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What is Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)?

SEA is a key component of sustainable development, establishing important new methods for protecting the environment and extending opportunities for participation in public policy decision making.

SEA is a process to ensure that significant environmental effects arising from the development of strategies, plans and programmes are identified, assessed, mitigated, communicated to decision-makers, monitored and that opportunities for public involvement are provided.

SEA in Scotland

As part of the preparation or modification of plans, programmes and strategies, local authorities have been undertaking SEA since 21 July 2004.  The process is regulated by the EU Directive 2001/42/EC, the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulation 2004 and the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

SEA seeks to provide high level protection to the environment; integrate the environment and sustainable development into planning processes; promote sustainable development; and promote a more open, transparent and evidenced-based planning culture.

Statutory Notices

In order to provide information to the public some notices have to be published on the council's website.

This section of the page will therefore host notices such as Screening Determinations, Environmental Reports and Post Adoption Statements.  Screening Reports are also available to view where Determinations have been made.

Screening Reports

Screening Determinations

 Environmental Reports

Post Adoption Statements

 

What does it apply to?

SEA applies to virtually all public sector strategies, programmes and plans likely to have significant environmental effects, regardless of whether they are required by legislative, regulatory or administrative means, or whether they set a framework for future development consents.

SEA applies to the sectors of agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism, transportation, telecommunication, waste management, water management, industry, energy and land use.

The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004 and the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 does not permit adoption or approval of plans, programmes and strategies before a SEA is carried out, if required.  The Regulations should be used for plan, programmes whose ‘first formal preparatory act’ was before 20 February 2006. The Act should be used where that preparation commenced on or after 20 February 2006. The Act exceeds the requirements of the Directive in terms of the breadth of plans, programmes and strategies to which it applies.

How does SEA work?

SEA is a process of environmental assessment that leads to an environmental report which should help inform policy choices.  The process of producing a report should work in parallel with the preparation of the plan to which it relates.  This process will vary depending on the exact nature of the strategy, policy or plan itself.  However there are five important stages of the SEA process which always need to take place.

  1. Pre-Screening/Screening is the stage at which it is established whether SEA will be required on a particular plan etc.
  2. Scoping sets out in more detail the areas of likely significant impacts and requires a formal consultation with the "Consultation Authorities" to identify the scope and level of detail to be reflected in an "Environmental Report".
  3. Consultation on the draft plan and Environmental Report is required.
  4. Post-Adoption is the point at which a statement is required to set out how the Environmental Report and consultation responses have been taken into account.
  5. Monitoring the significant effects of the plan on the environment

SEA requires consultation with consultative authorities and the general public at varying degrees throughout the entire process.  In Scotland, SEA process involves consulting with the Public and with Scottish Natural Heritage, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency and Historic Scotland throughout the process. 

Where can I find out more information?

The Scottish Government's SEA Database offers a means to examine all SEA activity that has taken place in Scotland since July 2004. The Database holds all formal submissions, including pre-screening, screening, scoping, environmental report and post adoption statements from Responsible Authorities. It also holds the Consultation Authorities (Historic Scotland, SEPA & SNH) responses to these formal submissions:

The Scottish Government’s SEA Gateway can also be contacted directly:

SEA Gateway, Mailpoint 13, Area 2 - H Bridge(Car Park), Victoria Quay, Edinburgh EH6 6QQ
Tel: 0131 244 1704 (helpdesk)
Email: SEAGateway@scotland.gsi.gov.uk

 

This information is provided by the Corporate Division Department

 
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