StrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentSheenaWurthmanniswu@gcal.ac.ukStrategicEnvironmentalAssessIntroductionwhatSEAisandwhyitisneededhowitcanbeusedasaplanningtoolhowitlinkstosustainabledevelopmentandprojectenvironmentalimpactassessmentlimitationsofSEAwhereSEAisbeingused.

IntroductionwhatSEAisandwhWhatisSEATherearemanydefinitionsofstrategicenvironmentalassessment(SEA).SadlerandVerheem(1996)callit:"asystematicprocessforevaluatingtheenvironmentalconsequencesofproposedpolicy,planorprogrammeinitiativesinordertoensuretheyarefullyincludedandappropriatelyaddressedattheearliestappropriatestageofdecisionmakingonparwitheconomicandsocialconsiderations."

Theriveletal.(1992)defineitas:"theformalised,systematicandcomprehensiveprocessofevaluatingtheenvironmentaleffectsofapolicy,planorprogrammeanditsalternatives,includingthepreparationofawrittenreportonthefindingsofthatevaluation,andusingthefindingsinpubliclyaccountabledecision-making."

PerhapsthesimplestdefinitionofSEAisthatitistheenvironmentalimpactassessmentprocessappliedtopolicies,plansandprogrammes,keepinginmindthattheprocessofevaluatingenvironmentalimpactsatastrategiclevelisnotnecessarilythesameasevaluatingthemataprojectlevel.WhatisSEATherearemanydefiSEAismeanttobeacontinuoussourceofenvironmentalinformationthroughoutallthestagesofdecision-making,asshownbelow.

Notethatthestagesdonotnecessarilyfollowsoneanother:forinstance,theidentificationofalternativesmayshowthatotheraspectsoftheenvironmentalbaselineneedtobeanalysed.

SEAismeanttobeacontinuouStagesinSEAPlan-makingstageSEAstagePurposeofSEAstageEarlyintheplan-makingprocessDecidewhetherSEAisneeded“Screening”ContextsettingDescribetheenvironmentalandpolicycontextthataffectstheplanEstablishhowtheplanisaffectedbyoutsidefactors,provideanevidencebaseforimpactpredictionandmonitoring;helpfocustheSEAandstreamliningsubsequentstages;suggestideasforhowanyconstraintscanbeaddressedandhelptodeveloptheSEAframeworkIdentifyotherrelevantplans,programmesandenvironmentalprotectionobjectivesProvideameansbywhichtheenvironmentalperformanceoftheplanandalternativescanbeassessCollectbaselineinformation.EarlyconsultationsaboutscopeofSEAEnsurethattheSEAcoversthelikelysignificantenvironmentaleffectsoftheplan.StagesinSEAPlan-makingstagePlan-makingstageSEAstagePurposeofSEAstageAstheplanevolvesAssessmentandmitigationPlanobjectives:testtheplanobjectivesagainsttheSEAframework;suggestmitigationIdentifypotentialsynergiesorinconsistenciesbetweentheplanobjectivesandSEAobjectivesandhelpindevelopingplanalternatives.Planalternatives:informthedevelopmentofplanalternativesandtesttheplanalternativesagainsttheSEAframeworksuggestmitigation.Developandrefineplanalternatives;predictthesignificantenvironmentaleffectsoftheplanalternatives;andhelpinchoosingthepreferredoption.Draftplan:testthedraftplan(preferredoption)againsttheSEAframeworksuggestmitigationPredictthesignificantenvironmentaleffectoftheplanincludingalternativesConsultation:preparingtheSEAreport,includingproposingmonitoringmeasuresPresentthepredictedenvironmentaleffectsoftheplanincludingalternativesGivepublicandothersopportunitytoexpressopinionsPlan-makingstageSEAstagePurpPlan-makingstageSEAstagePurposeofSEAstageAfterplanDocumentationandmonitoringProvideinformationonhowtheSEAreportandconsulteesopinionsweretakenintoaccountindecidingthefinalformoftheplanAdoptionProvideinformationondecisionsTracktheenvironmentaleffectsoftheplantoshowwhethertheyareaspredicted;andhelptoidentifyadverseeffects.DevelopaimsandmethodsformonitoringPlan-makingstageSEAstagePurpSEAprocessAsaveryminimum,theSEAprocessinvolves:predictingtheenvironmentalimpactsofastrategicaction;andusingthosepredictionsindecision-making.Ifthosetwobasiccriteriaarenotfulfilled,itisnotanSEA.SEAprocessAsaveryminimum,StrategicassessmentSeveralothertermsarealsousedtorefertoenvironmentalassessmentatthestrategiclevel,including:policyenvironmentalassessment;policyimpactassessment;sectoralenvironmentalassessment;andprogrammaticenvironmentalimpactstatement.ThetermSEAreportreferstoareportthatdescribesthemethodsandfindingsoftheSEAprocess.PreparationofanSEAreportispartofmostSEAprocesses.StrategicassessmentSeveralotWhatistheaimofSEA?

ThemainaimofSEAistoincorporateenvironmental/sustainabilityissuesinstrategicdecision-making.SecondaryaimsofSEAareto:improvethestrategicactionbymakingitclearer,moreinternallyconsistentetc;involvethepublicoritsrepresentativesinthedecision-makingprocess;andeducatedecision-makersabouttheenvironmentalimpactsoftheirdecisions.

WhatistheaimofSEA?ThemaPPPsandTieringSEAnormallyappliestopublicsector(government)decisions.

The(government)bodythatmakesthedecisioniscalledthecompetentauthority.

SEAscanbeproducedbythecompetentauthority,independentconsultants,non-governmentorganisations(NGOs),othergovernmentbodiesoracombinationofthese,butitisthecompetentautoritythatmakesdecisionsonthestrategicaction.Althoughpolicies,plansandprogrammes(PPPs)aregenerallyalldescribedasstrategicactions,theyarenotthesamethings,andmayrequiredifferentlevelsandtypesofanalysisinSEA.

PPPsandTieringSEAnormallyapolicyInspirationandguidanceforactionwhetherornottopromotethedevelopmentofnuclearpowerincountryAwhethertoinstituteacarbonorCO2taxwhethertopromotegeneticallymodifiedorganismsincountryA'sagriculturePlansetofcoordinatedandtimedobjectivesfortheimplementationofthepolicyHowmuchnuclearpowertoproduceby2035whoshouldbechargedhowmuchcarbontaxstartingwhenAstagedapproachtotestingandintroducinggeneticallymodifiedfoodsprogrammesetofprojectsinaparticularareafournewnuclearpowerstationswithXcapacityinareaYby2025aseriesoftestsitesforgeneticallymodifiedfoodspolicyInspirationandguidancePPPsHoweverthisterminologyisnotconsistentlyusedinpractice:forinstanceasetofprojectsmightbecalleda'plan'orguidanceforactionmightbecalleda'strategy'.

Andno,itisNOTpossibletogetoutofdoingSEAbyrenamingaplanasastrategy!PPPsHoweverthisterminologyiWhatisclearfromthedefinitionsisthatsome("higher-tier"orstrategic)decisionsinfluenceandsetthecontextforother("lower-tier"ormoredetailed)decisions.

Thisiscalledtiering.

Normally,policiessetthecontextforplans,andplansinturnsetthecontextforprogrammesandthenprojects.National-levelPPPsoftensetthecontextfor,inturn,regionalandlocal-levelPPPs.

WhatisclearfromthedefinitTieringTieringOutcomesofSEASEAcanhelpto...1.Identifyareasthatareenvironmentallyrobustandcancopewithdevelopment;andareasthatareenvironmentallysensitiveandwheredevelopmentshouldbeavoided.Typicallythisisdonethroughoverlaymapping,forexampleBalticSeaOutcomesofSEASEAcanhelptoOutcomesofSEASEAcanhelpto...1.Identifyareasthatareenvironmentallyrobustandcancopewithdevelopment;andareasthatareenvironmentallysensitiveandwheredevelopmentshouldbeavoided.Typicallythisisdonethroughoverlaymapping,forexampleBalticSeaDrainageBasin–layersincludepopulationdensity,arableland,wetlandsandlanduse.OutcomesofSEASEAcanhelptoOutcomesofSEA2.Identifyalternativestoastrategicactionthataremoreenvironmentallysoundand/ormoresustainable.AnexamplebasedontheSEAofaUKlocaltransportplanis:BeforeSEAAfterSEADraftplanproposesLocalTransportPlannersalsoconsider4majorroadschemesFewerroadschemes:thosethatarelesssustainabledropoutoftheplan￡100mroadmaintenanceprogrammeover5yearsDifferentratiosofexpenditureonroadmaintenancevwalking,cyclingandpublictransport￡50minvestmentinwalking,cyclingandpublictransportDifferentratiosofexpenditurebetweenwalking,cyclingandpublictransport.OutcomesofSEA2.IdentifyaltOutcomesofSEA3.Identifyapreferredalternativeorrejectalternatives.Tablecompares3alternatives(A,BandC)usingarangeofsustainabilitycriteria.Aisclearlyleastsustainable.Thiswasdroppedfromfurtherconsiderationandtheplan-makingprocessthenfocussedonvariouscombinationsofalternativesBandC.OutcomesofSEA3.IdentifyapComparisonofEvaluationAlternativesAlternativesABCMaximalAccess.MinimaldetrimentalimpactsXX0**Qualitybuiltenvironment.EfficientlanduseX***Qualityhousingavailabletoeveryone0*BiodiverseattractivenaturalenvironmentXX0**MinimalpollutionlevelsX**OverallX**ComparisonofEvaluationAlterOutcomesofSEA4.Identifyconstraints/problemsandsuggestionsofwaysofdealingwiththemForexample,urbanareaXalreadyhadlittleopenspace(e.g.playingfields,parks).Thiswasrestrictingpeople'sabilitytogetinformalexercise,andbiodiversitywasdeclining.Theemerginglanduseplanwasrequiredtoaccommodate20%morepopulationwithinareaXover20years.Thiswouldrequiremorebuildingwhichwouldexacerbatepressureonopenspace,andmorepeoplewouldbeusingtheremainingopenspace.OutcomesofSEA4.IdentifyconTheSEAidentifiedthisproblem.Theplannerssuggestedarangeofinnovativesolutionstothisproblem:improvedrecreationalprovisionatexistingopenspacesrooftopterracesontopofnewandexistingbuildingsuseofthewaterfrontalongadjacentRiverYasrecreationalspaceincreaseduseofRiverYforboating,surfingetc.TheSEAshowedthatexistingopenspacesandthewaterfrontcouldonlyaccommodatealimitedamountofadditionaluse;thatrooftopterraceswereintheprivaterealmandnotpubliclyaccessible;andthatuseofRiverYforrecreationrequiredafinancialoutlay(rentalorpurchaseofboatetc.)thatmanyresidentsofXwouldnotbeabletoafford.Thefinalplanalsoincludedrequirementsfornewdevelopmentstobeaccompaniedbyprovisionoffree,publiclyaccessibleopenspace:2.5hectaresforevery1000newresidents.TheSEAidentifiedthisprobleOutcomesofSEA5.Identifymitigationmeasurestominimiseoravoidnegativeimpacts.Forinstance,foraregionalplaninanareawherewaterabstractionalreadyexceedswatersupply,amitigationcouldbe:"Requireallnewdevelopmentsof10ormorehousestobe'waterneutral':totalwateruseintheregionafterthedevelopmentmustbelessthanorequaltototalwateruseintheregionbeforethedevelopment.

Fordevelopmentsoflessthan10houses,waterefficienciesof40%overexistinglevelsmustbeachieved".

Foralocalplanthatcouldaffectthehabitatofararebat,amitigationcouldbe:"UntilmoreinformationexistsontheforaginghabitsoftheBarbastellebatsatSiteZisavailable,anydevelopmentthatcouldaffectanytrees,hedgesorwaterbodieswithin6kmoftheboundaryofSiteZshouldrequireassessmenttoensurethatBarbastellebatforaginggroundsarenotnegativelyaffected.Ifmoredetailedinformationbecomesavailable(e.g.ifabatforagingsurveyiscarriedout)thenthiscouldreducetheneedforprojectlevelassessment".OutcomesofSEA5.IdentifymitTheexamplesaboveshowsometypicallyusedSEAtechniques:mapstodescribethebaselineenvironment,identifyproblems,andpredictimpactsmatricesthattestalternativesorsub-sectionsofthestrategicactionagainstenvironmental/sustainabilitycriteriauseofred/amber/green(trafficlightcolours)toallowkeyimpactstobeeasilyidentifiedqualitative,+/-,'expertjudgement'typeofappraisalwheredetailed,quantitativeassessmentisnotpossibleThelastexamplealsorepresentstwotypicalSEAprinciples:Tiering.

Inthiscase,intheabsenceoffullinformationattheplanlevel,project-levelmitigationmeasuresareused.Theprecautionaryprinciple:wherethereisuncertaintyabouttheimpactsofastrategicaction,oneshouldassumethatnegativeimpactswilloccur,andmitigateforthem,unless/untilonecanshowthattheseimpactsareunlikelytooccur.Inthiscase,alltreesandhedgesaretobeprotecteduntilstudiesshowthatsomeofthemdon'tneedtobe.

TheexamplesaboveshowsometEIAofProjectsSEAofpolicies,plansandprogrammesTakesplaceneartheendofdecision-makingcycle:aimstominimiseimpactsTakesplaceatearlierstagesofdecision-makingcycle:aimstopreventimpactsReactiveapproachtodevelopmentproposalPro-activeapproachtodevelopmentproposalsConsiderslimitednumberoffeasiblealternativesConsidersbroadrangeofpotentialalternativesLimitedreviewofcumulativeeffectsCumulativeeffectsassessmentiskeytoSEAEmphasisonmitigatingandminimizingimpactsEmphasisonmeetingenvironmentalobjectives,maintainingnaturalsystemsNarrowperspective,highlevelofdetailBroadperspective,lowerlevelofdetailtoprovideavisionandoverallframeworkWell-definedprocess,clearbeginningandendMulti-stageprocess,overlappingcomponents,policyleveliscontinuing,iterativeFocusesonstandardagenda,treatssystemsofenvironmentaldeteriorationFocusesonsustainabilityagenda,getsatsourcesofenvironmentaldeteriorationEIAofProjectsSEAofpoliciesSEAaddressesthelimitationsofprojectEIABecauseEIAtakesplaceoncemanystrategicdecisionshavealreadybeenmade,itcanoftenaddressonlyalimitedrangeofalternativesandmitigationmeasures:thoseofawidernaturearegenerallypoorlyintegratedintoprojectplanning.ConsultationinEIAisalsolimitedandthecontributionofEIAtotheeventualdecisionregardingtheprojectisunclear.SEAaddressesthelimitationsAlthoughprojectEIAiswidelyusedandacceptedasausefultoolindecision-making,itlargelyreactstodevelopmentproposalsratherthanproactivelyanticipatingthem:"Atthis[EIA]stage,thepriorquestionsofwhether,whereandwhattypeofdevelopmentshouldtakeplaceareeitherdecidedorlargelypre-emptedbyearlierpolicymakingprocesses.Often,thesedecisionswillhaveoccurredwithlittleornoenvironmentalanalysis.ThisforeclosureoftherangeofchoiceispartiallycounteredbyprovisionstoaddressingprojectjustificationandalternativesinEIA.Inreality,however,priorpolicy,technologicalandlocationaloptionsarenotopentoseriousenvironmentalreexamination;neitherisproject-by-projectEIAaneffectivewayofdoingso.FarpreferableistheuseofSEAoranequivalentapproachtoincorporateenvironmentalconsiderationsandalternativesdirectlyintopolicy,planandprogrammedesign."(SadlerandVerheem1996)

AlthoughprojectEIAiswidelyProjectEIAsarealsogenerallylimitedtotheproject'sdirectimpacts.Thisapproachignoresawiderangeofimpacts,including:cumulativeimpacts:theenvironmentalimpactsofmultipleplans,projectsandotheractions;globalimpacts:impactsthatgobeyondthelocal,projectlevel,forinstanceclimatechange;indirect,secondaryorinducedimpacts:impactsthatoccurseveralstepsawayfromtheoriginalaction,forinstancenewhousesthatgeneratemorevehiclemovementsthatincreaseairpollutionthataffecttheflorainanarea;synergisticimpacts:whereimpactA+impactBhaveatotalimpactofmorethanA+B:forinstanceNOxemissionsandozoneemissionswhichtogethercausesmog,whichhasimpactsoverandabovethoseofjusttheNOx+ozone.ProjectEIAsarealsogenerallNeedforSEA:

promotionofsustainabledevelopmentThesecondmainreasonforSEAisthatitcanenhancetheintegrationofenvironmentalconcernsinpolicyandplanningprocesses,therebyhelpingtoimplementsustainabledevelopment.

Itcanhelptoensurethatenvironmentalandsustainabilitycriteriaarefullyconsideredthroughouttheplanningprocess,forinstanceintheidentificationofsuitable(orunsuitable)locationsfordevelopment,andintheassessmentofalternativestrategicactions.

NeedforSEA:

promotionofsuSEAascurrentlypractisedreflectstheBrundtlandCommission'sapproachtosustainabledevelopment,whichsuggeststhatenvironmentalprotectionandeconomicdevelopmentcanonlyprogresshandinhand.

Underthismodel,SEAisusedtofine-tunestrategicactionsandmitigatetheirmostnegativeenvironmentalconsequences.

Cynicallyviewed,itallowsdecision-makerstoentertheheavenofenvironmentalrighteousnessafterhavingsurvivedthepurgatoryofwritinganSEAreport.Onthescalefromlighttodarkgreen(wheredarkgreenwouldallowdevelopmentonlywithinecologicalconstraints),SEAascurrentlypractisedisnearthelight-greenend,althoughithasthepotentialtobedarkgreen.SEAascurrentlypractisedrefAspartofthedevelopmentofastrategicaction,SEAcan:interpretandimplementsustainabilityprinciplesfrompolicytolowerdecision-makinglevels;helptoensurethatenvironmentalandsustainabilityconsiderationsareincorporatedintotheobjectivesofastrategicaction;identifyenvironmentalandsustainabilitytargetsbywhichtheeffectsofastrategicactioncanbetested;andappraisewhethertheimpactsofastrategicactionarelikelytobeinaccordancewithsustainabilityobjectives..AspartofthedevelopmentofUltimately,asaresultoftheinfluenceofsustainabilityinstrategicdecision-making,awiderframeworkof"sustainability-led"SEAscouldinclude:commitmenttotheprincipleofsustainability;determinationofcarryingcapacity;SEAofallrelevanttiersofPPPsandtheiralternatives;EIAofspecificprojectswithintheconstraintssetbySEA;andmonitoringanditerativefeedbacktostages2-4.Ultimately,asaresultoftheSEAisinmanywaysaprototypeofthenewapproachtoenvironmentalissues.Itrequiresinstitutionstoconsidertheconsequencesofarangeofactionsearlyonintheplanningprocess,tochoosethemostappropriateactiononenvironmentalaswellassocio-economicgrounds,andtominimiseanyremainingenvironmentalimpacts.Itisthuscharacterisedbyitsstrategicnatureanditsemphasisonpreventingenvironmentaldamage.

SEArequiresinstitutionalcooperationtocollectdataandtomakeconsistentpredictions.

Byrequiringplanningdecisionstobemadeinamorerationalandopenway,SEAislikelytopromotebothequityandpublicparticipation.SEAisinmanywaysaprototypIsSEAjustadressed-upEIA?

Theanswertothatquestionis"No".

IntegrationofSEAintothePPPformulationprocesswillnotbeachievedbyattemptingtotranslateexistingproject-basedEIAlegislation,proceduresandformat,upstream.

Newmethodologiesandproceduralrequirements,specificallyforSEA,willberequired.

Particulareffortsareneededtoconsiderindirect,secondaryandcumulativeimpactswhicharenotcoveredadequatelyatproject-levelEIA.

Theeffectsofstrategicactionsareoftenmuchmoreuncertainthanthoseofprojects,soSEAmethodsneedtobeabletocopewiththisuncertainty.

ThetimeframeforSEAs,theevolutionarynatureoftheformulationofstrategicactions,andtheirsynergieswithotherstrategicactions,arealsoverydifferenttosite-specificprojects,andneedtoberecognisedinthedevelopmentandadoptionofSEAmethods.However,someprinciplesandconceptsfromproject-basedEIAareequallyrelevantinSEA:theseincludetheconsiderationoftheneedforthestrategicaction,alternatives,meanstoameliorateadverseimpacts,involvementofarangeofdisciplinesintheassessmentprocess,andstakeholderparticipation.IsSEAjustadressed-upEIA?Aren'twealreadycarryingoutSEA?

Theanswertothisquestionisalso"No".Withincreasingawarenessofenvironmentalandsustainabilityissuesatapolicylevelingovernment,andthedevelopmentofEnvironmentalManagementSystems(EMS)ingovernmentandindustry,thereisoftenatleastsomeconsiderationofthesematterswithinmanydecision-makingprocesses.

ThesemayalreadyconstituteeffectiveSEAor,morelikely,representelementsofSEA.

Forexample,theformulationofintegratedcatchmentmanagementplans,regionalenvironmentalplans,andurbanconservationprogrammesmayalreadyincludeSEA-likemethodologies,eventhoughtheymaynotberecognizedassuch.EnvironmentalassessmentpractitionersdevelopingSEAmethodologiesmustrecognisewhereexistingprocessesincludesomeelementsofSEA,supplementthemwheretheyaredeficient,orprovidethecompleteframeworkforSEAwherenoneispresent.

SEAproponentshavetobeawareofanyenvironmentalandsustainabilityconsiderationsthatarealreadytakenintoaccountinexistingstrategicactiondevelopmentactivities.Aren'twealreadycarryingoutThistendencyforconvergenceofSEAandotherplanningmethodologiesintheirconsiderationofenvironmental,socialandsustainabilitydimensionsisclearlyabenefit,butitisalsoasourceofconfusion,andcanleadstrategicactionproponentstosuggestthat"wearealreadydoingSEAbutjustnotcallingitthat".

Thisisoftenpartlytrue,butSEAmayprovidetheframeworktobringthesetechniquestogetherinamoreconscious,structured,andcomprehensivemanner,movingtowardsamoreholisticsustainabilityanalysis.

Evenwhereexistingtechniquesincludeanemphasisontheenvironment,SEAprovidesanopportunitytobroadenthisfromtoonarrowabiophysicalemphasisinsomeinstances,ortoonarrowasocialemphasisinothers.

Thisbreadthisparticularlyappropriateforstrategicactionformulationanddecision-making,whereenvironmentalcostsatonetiercouldbecounterbalancedbybenefitsatanothertier,andwhereastrategicactionformulationdecisionwouldmoreappropriatelybebasedonawiderangeofsocial,economicandenvironmentalfactors.ThistendencyforconvergenceSummarySEAisbasicallyenvironmentalimpactassessmentofstrategicactions:policies,plansandprogrammes;SEAisaprocess,notasnapshot;SEAshould(beexpectedto)changethestrategicaction;Thereisadifferencebetween,andhowSEAisconductedfor,policies,plansandprogrammes;andAkeyreasonforSEAisthatprojectEIAhasmanylimitations.SummarySEAisbasicallyenviroStrategicEnvironmentalAssessmentSheenaWurthmanniswu@gcal.ac.ukStrategicEnvironmentalAssessIntroductionwhatSEAisandwhyitisneededhowitcanbeusedasaplanningtoolhowitlinkstosustainabledevelopmentandprojectenvironmentalimpactassessmentlimitationsofSEAwhereSEAisbeingused.

IntroductionwhatSEAisandwhWhatisSEATherearemanydefinitionsofstrategicenvironmentalassessment(SEA).SadlerandVerheem(1996)callit:"asystematicprocessforevaluatingtheenvironmentalconsequencesofproposedpolicy,planorprogrammeinitiativesinordertoensuretheyarefullyincludedandappropriatelyaddressedattheearliestappropriatestageofdecisionmakingonparwitheconomicandsocialconsiderations."

Theriveletal.(1992)defineitas:"theformalised,systematicandcomprehensiveprocessofevaluatingtheenvironmentaleffectsofapolicy,planorprogrammeanditsalternatives,includingthepreparationofawrittenreportonthefindingsofthatevaluation,andusingthefindingsinpubliclyaccountabledecision-making."

PerhapsthesimplestdefinitionofSEAisthatitistheenvironmentalimpactassessmentprocessappliedtopolicies,plansandprogrammes,keepinginmindthattheprocessofevaluatingenvironmentalimpactsatastrategiclevelisnotnecessarilythesameasevaluatingthemataprojectlevel.WhatisSEATherearemanydefiSEAismeanttobeacontinuoussourceofenvironmentalinformationthroughoutallthestagesofdecision-making,asshownbelow.

Notethatthestagesdonotnecessarilyfollowsoneanother:forinstance,theidentificationofalternativesmayshowthatotheraspectsoftheenvironmentalbaselineneedtobeanalysed.

SEAismeanttobeacontinuouStagesinSEAPlan-makingstageSEAstagePurposeofSEAstageEarlyintheplan-makingprocessDecidewhetherSEAisneeded“Screening”ContextsettingDescribetheenvironmentalandpolicycontextthataffectstheplanEstablishhowtheplanisaffectedbyoutsidefactors,provideanevidencebaseforimpactpredictionandmonitoring;helpfocustheSEAandstreamliningsubsequentstages;suggestideasforhowanyconstraintscanbeaddressedandhelptodeveloptheSEAframeworkIdentifyotherrelevantplans,programmesandenvironmentalprotectionobjectivesProvideameansbywhichtheenvironmentalperformanceoftheplanandalternativescanbeassessCollectbaselineinformation.EarlyconsultationsaboutscopeofSEAEnsurethattheSEAcoversthelikelysignificantenvironmentaleffectsoftheplan.StagesinSEAPlan-makingstagePlan-makingstageSEAstagePurposeofSEAstageAstheplanevolvesAssessmentandmitigationPlanobjectives:testtheplanobjectivesagainsttheSEAframework;suggestmitigationIdentifypotentialsynergiesorinconsistenciesbetweentheplanobjectivesandSEAobjectivesandhelpindevelopingplanalternatives.Planalternatives:informthedevelopmentofplanalternativesandtesttheplanalternativesagainsttheSEAframeworksuggestmitigation.Developandrefineplanalternatives;predictthesignificantenvironmentaleffectsoftheplanalternatives;andhelpinchoosingthepreferredoption.Draftplan:testthedraftplan(preferredoption)againsttheSEAframeworksuggestmitigationPredictthesignificantenvironmentaleffectoftheplanincludingalternativesConsultation:preparingtheSEAreport,includingproposingmonitoringmeasuresPresentthepredictedenvironmentaleffectsoftheplanincludingalternativesGivepublicandothersopportunitytoexpressopinionsPlan-makingstageSEAstagePurpPlan-makingstageSEAstagePurposeofSEAstageAfterplanDocumentationandmonitoringProvideinformationonhowtheSEAreportandconsult