SEA IN THE CONTEXT OF LANDTUSE PLANNING

- Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on the scope. Includesidentification of other relevant plans, plan or programme or other environmental protectionobjectives, collecting baseline information, identifying environmental problems, developing SEAobjectives and consulting o the scope of SEA.- Developing and refining alternatives and assessing effects. Includes testing the plan or programmeagainst SEA objectives, developing strategic alternatives, predicting the effects of the plan orprogramme, evaluating the effects of the plan or programme, mitigating adverse effects andproposing measures to monitor the environmental effects or plan programme or programmeimplementation- Preparing the Environmental Report- Consulting on the draft plan or programme and the Environmental Report. Includes consulting thepublic and consultation bodies on the draft plan or programme and the Environmental Report,Assessing significant changes and making decision and providing information.- Monitoring the significant effects of implementing the plan or programme on the environment.Includes the development of aims and methods for monitoring and responding to adverse effects.FIGURE 6.2. MAIN STAGES OF THE ASSESSMENT PROCESS AS PROPOSED IN THE PRACTICAL GUIDE (ODPM, 2005)6.3.1 ScopingWhen deciding on the scope and level of detail of the information that must be included inthe report, the responsible authority shall consult the Consultation bodies according toparagraph 12(5) of the regulation. The advice regarding the scope and level of detail of theinformation to be included in the Environmental Report must be provided within 5 weeks,but is not binding for the plan-maker.6.3.2 The Environmental ReportThe requirements on the contents of the Environmental Report are addressed in paragraph12(3) of the Regulations (Statutory Instrument 2004 No. 1633). Detailed list of the requiredcontents of the Environmental Report are listed in Schedule 2 of the regulations. Thoseinclude that the report shall identify, describe and evaluate the foreseeable significant effectson the environment of the implementation of the plan or programme and the reasonablealternatives taking into account the objectives and the geographical scope of the plan orprogramme. The requirements of the report’s contents listed in the regulations included thatthe report shall take account of the current knowledge and methods of assessments; thecontents and level of detail in the plan or programme, the stage of the plan or programme inthe decision-making process; and the extent to which certain matters are more appropriatelyassessed at different levels in that process in order to avoid duplication of the assessment.Moreover the guidance refers to Annex 1 of the directive 2001/42/EC for more detailedguidance on the information to be presented in the environmental report. The PracticalGuide stresses that the Environmental Report may be included in the draft plan orprogramme, but it must however be clearly distinguishable and show that the Directive’srequirements have been met. The guidance also stresses that role of the EnvironmentalReport as a public consultation document, and that it shall be made accessible andunderstandable for a wide variety of readers and should include a non-technical summary.Below the possible structure and contents of the Environmental Report is presented(from ‘A Practical Guide to the Strategic Environmental Assessment Directive’, ODPM2005a).82