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 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
- requiring a public statement as to how opinions have been taken into account
Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005
The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 came into force on February 20 2006. The Act repealed the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004, which was in force prior to the Act. Responsible Authorities who had already started preparing plans and programmes on or before the 19 February 2006, are able to continue following the provision set out in the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004. Responsible Authorities in this position should refer to the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 (commencement and savings) order 2006 (SSI No. 19 (C.2)).
The link to the Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004 is provided below, under useful links.
SEA Toolkit, including Templates
The Toolkit has been produced in line with our commitment to produce comprehensive guidance on SEA. Guidance, including revised SEA Templates has been published and is available on the Publications section of the Executive's website.
Copies of these Templates, which can be populated by Practitioners, can be accessed below;
Pre-screening opinions - exemption notifications
The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 allows Responsible Authorities to exempt those strategies, plans and programmes with no or minimal effect, in relation to the environment. To permit public access to these notifications the Scottish Ministers have arranged for the following register to be retained.
SEA Annual Report to the Scottish Parliament
The first SEA annual report was published in March 2007.
The second SEA annual report published in June 2008.
SEA training opportunities
You should note that the list may not identify every SEA training course available within the UK, nor should it be viewed as an endorsement of the quality or comprehensiveness of the training course on offer.
SEA Event
Monday 20 October 2008, St Andrew's in the Square, Glasgow
Scotland and Northern Ireland conference on Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
In Scotland, since the introduction of the SEA Regulations and subsequently the SEA Act, increasing numbers of public sector bodies are coming to terms with the implications of assessing the environmental effects of their plans and programmes. A variety of perspectives on SEA - from environmental lawyers, local authority officers and academics - are brought together for this event.
Those wishing to attend this University of Strathclyde event can use the following link -
www.ce.strath.ac.uk/events
Contact details
Technical or informal enquiries may be directed to the Consultation Authorities, however all other enquiries, including those queries relating to Screening and Scoping procedures should be directed to the SEA Team at:
SEA Team
2-H (South)
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
E-mail - SEA.Gateway@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Telephone - 0131 244 5094 (helpdesk)
Fax - 0131 244 7555
Consultation Authorities and contact details
The Consultation Authorities ('Consultation Bodies' under UK Regulations) designated by the Government are:
Historic Scotland
Historic Scotland can provide advice on the cultural heritage as it relates to the historic environment. This comprises the tangible built heritage - 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 and areas as well as places important for their historic associations.
SEA Secretariat
Longmore House
Salisbury Place
Edinburgh
EH9 1SH
Telephone - 0131 668 8898
E-mail - hssea.gateway@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
Scottish Environment Protection Agency
SEPA can provide advice on a range of topics in relation to the environment, primarily in relation to soil (land), water and air. In addition, SEPA may provide advice in respect of climatic factors, material assets, biodiversity and health where appropriate and where information is held.
Scotland and UK wide enquiries should be directed to:
SEA Gateway
Environmental Strategy
SEPA Corporate Office
Bremner House
The Castle Business Park
Stirling
FK9 4TR
Telephone - 01786 452431
E-mail - sea.gateway@sepa.org.uk
Local or regional enquiries should be sent to:
- for Glasgow, Clyde Valley, Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway
South West Planning Unit Manager
SEPA East Kilbride
Redwood Crescent
Peel Park
East Kilbride
G74 5PP
Telephone - 01355 574200
- for the Lothians, Borders, Stirling, Fife, Tayside and Clackmannanshire
South East Planning Unit Manager
SEPA Edinburgh
Clearwater House
Heriot Watt Research Park
Avenue North
Riccarton
Edinburgh
EH14 4AP
Telephone - 0131 449 7296
- for Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, Moray, Highlands and Islands
North Planning Unit Manager
SEPA Dingwall
Graesser House
Fodderty Way
Dingwall Business Park
Dingwall
IV15 9XB
Telephone - 01349 862021
Scottish Natural Heritage
SNH can provide advice on a wide range of topics in relation to the natural environment and will normally give particular attention to biodiversity, landscape and geological features (indicating if appropriate where these are the subject of national or international protection), 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.
Scottish Natural Heritage
Silvan House
3rd Floor East
231 Corstorphine Road
Edinburgh
EH12 7AT
Telephone number 0131 316 2675 (direct dial)
E-mail - sea.gateway@snh.gov.uk
Useful links
Other devolved departments
National Assembly for Wales
Northern Ireland Office
Planning circulars (including SEA)
http://www.scotland.gov.uk/about/Planning/circularlist.aspx
Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004
http://www.scotland-legislation.hmso.gov.uk/legislation/scotland/ssi2004/20040258.htm
Europa web page
http://ec.europa.eu/environment/archives/eia/home.htm
Other helpful web pages
A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive
www.communities.gov.uk/planningandbuilding/planning/
UK Regulations - Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/si/si2004/20041633.htm
Definitions
CONSULTATION AUTHORITY
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
Document 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
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)
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
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.