Strategic EIA Flashcards
Strategic EIA (SEA)
formalised, systematise and comprehensive process of evaluating the envt impacts of POLICY PLAN OR PROGRAMME including the preparation of a written report of the findings of that evaluation and using the findings in publicity accountable decision making
Policies
governments objectives and preferred means of achieving them
Plan and programmes
set of related actives and expenditures which give effect to policies
moving towards SEA
nertherlands set yo statutory SEA system in 1987
New zealand authorities have required SEA since 1991
Uk via changed in policy also SEAs of the MoD strategic defence review and the DTIs proposals for future oil and gas production
European Union directive in 2001: implementation 21st July 2004
project EIA reacts
it cannon direct applications to appropriate locations or away from sensitive areas it merely aids the process of acceptance or rejection
project EIA fails to adress cumulative impacts of several
additive effects of several small projects (A+A+A=3A)
interactive (A+B=C) or synergistic effects of several projects (A+A>2A)
(sunlight +NOx+ hdrocradbons—> Smog_
thresholds - i.e. level of pollution a water course can tolerate
induced impacts- secondary infrastructure around airports to motorways
alternatives only receive limited attention at project tlevel
often considered as an add on (similar problems with mitigation measures)
timescales
project EIA is financially and temporally contrasted: advanced planning should be less so
public consultation
limited by time and money in project EIA more immediately accountable if carried out by government
project EIA vs Strategic EA
Project EIA largely reactive and constrained
strategic EA (SEA) is proactive and should be less constrained
Objectives of SEA
consider alternatives fully- early
consistency across policy sectors
cumulative secondary impacts
anticipate adverse impacts and prevent them
save time and money at project level- dealing in advance
intergrate principals such as sustainability into policies
Difficulties
decision making at PPP level is often made incrementally
compexitity:
- high level decisions lead to potentially huge numbers of lower tier decisions
- system boundaries: not always clear
lack of information about bother proposal and future envt conditions therefore hard to quantify impacts
political considerations
Temporal and spatial scales
is 10 year impact significant in a 100 year plan?
1000 acres impact significant in a 200000 acre projecT?
lack of established criteria for significance
data used often speculative: lack of information can lead to incorrect assumptions
Scale
temporal
- generational- decades?
- decisionsal- weeks, months, years
(both at mercy of data getting out of date, policy changed, resources or finance running out)
How big an area? Local authority County Region Country catchment/ sediment cell. landscape unit
UK experience
1980s policy reviews - ad hoc reviews of operational efficiency with a primary focus on costs
Policy appraisal and environment (1991)
aimed at central government
set out podecdues and techniques
heacy emphasis on coast/benefit approach
little requirement for public involvement
sectoral approach leads to lack of intergration
Planning policy guindace Note (1992)
linked local council development plans with the objective of SD
required local authorities to have regard for envy considerations
by 1996 180 appraisals of development plans had been carries out but quality of the appraisal was variable
EU directive 2001/42
original draft- applied to planning strategies
would apply to PPPs
Final versino- restrictive to plans and programmes within town and country planning system and specifically names actors
mainly aimed at local governments but also operates on EU policies
includes mandatory scoping, consultation review and monitoring
limited but s step in the right direction (not much on sustainability, carrying capacity of envy monitoring of effects)
UK guidance
1 setting context/ establishing baseline
2 establish scope and developing alternatives
3 assess effect of the plan (incl transboundary)
4 consult on result
5 monitor effects of implementing the plan
gneral principles of sustainability appraisal
full environmental appraisal of the development plan
extend appraisal so that it covers all four sustainable development objectives
4 pillars -social progress environetal protection prudent use of natural resources economic growth
Therivel and Walsh 2006
limited experience 56% of LPA have only produced one report
19% delegated entirely to consultants (mixed effectiveness)
evidence- based approach not always happening. expert opinion used most rather than data driven methods
mixed views on effectiveness of consultation and low response rates
costly 70-80 days
but 84% left to changed to plans
Test Valley Borough council local plan
plan submitted to a sustainability appraisal
itemised so each policy is assessed individually
overall aim of local plan 2006:
provide a framework for making decisions about development in the Borough which
- respects the envy
- meets need of community
- and enhances quality of life
policy tested against 8 local plan objectives
concentrate development in and around existing settlements and protecting the countryside
protect and conserve the natural and build went incl wildlife, landscapes, natural resources and cultural heritage
avoid hazards, meet housing needs, reduce overall travel needs, enhance built envt, quality of life
Method - Test Valley council
public consultation (notices, exhibitions, consultees)
expert evaluation
Scoring from potentially v positive to potentially severe negative/ adverse impact
strategic gaps
maintain areas of open and undeveloped land between settlements, in order to keep indiivusal settlements separate and distinct
provide clear visual and physical breaks in an otherwise continuous built up area with a population of over one mil people
developers have to demonstrate why it wouldn’t be more suitable in another location
not permit development that would physically or visually diminish the strategic gaps
Scottish marine renewables SEA
commissioned by the Scottish executive
SEA to assess the envy effects of harnessing up to 10% of Scotland electricity need from marine renewable energy sources by 2020
help develop renewables policy and provide information to help developers with individual projects
potential for energy generation within the study area (W coast of scotland, peatland girth, orkney and shetland) considerable
new tech are being developed to convert waves and tides into energy (floating, partially submerged, on sea bed)
individual and cumulative environmental impacts were assessed
ISSUES: marine mammals, seas- common seal 40% decline in the study area since 2011
cetaceans
otters
diving birds- black throated divers amber list species
other seabirds most declining
fisheries- declining traditional industry but over 2000 fishing boats in scotland
importanct employer in coastal towns
awaculture also important
Marine archaeology and coastal landscape
- cost and sea of high cultural value
- wrecs of boats, ships, submarines, aircraft
- munitions
- submerged settlements and historic landscapes
- toursit resource- 3000 visitors each year dive on the wrecks of German high seas fleet scuttled in scope flow, orkney.
main deliverables of SEA
baseline situation
consultation
assessment of the effect
mitigation measures
documentation of the findings from SEA
advice and support to the scottish executive in the prepariation and implementation of its strategy for marine energy
monitoring requirements and web based information resource
conclusion
like early days of project EIA has come as challenge to planners
UK- uncle whether it will have much effect in achieving SD -early signs is that will lead to improvements to plans
sustainable appraisal is employed to local plans, SEA to emerging strategies
OECD 2006- Applying Strategic EA - good practice guidance for development co-operation
Developing countries: ensure envt considerations taken into account, establish envt assessment tools at the project level, complimented by approaches fully adapted to policies, plans and programmes. SEA= meets needs.
SEA practical and direct means of progressing MDG 7-envt sustainability
paris declartation on aid effectiveness (2005) -develop and apply common approaches for strategic envy assessment at sector and national levels
SEA allows to apply to policy, plans and programmes more easily than EIA.- compliments EIA rather than substitutes
SEA ensures management of natural resources and provide the foundations for sustainable economic growth - intern support political stability.
EIA and sustainable development
Key concepts and tools
SEA is much more likely to promote sustainable development than project level EIA- most strategic decision have already been taken one a proponent begins articulating the need of a specific project.
