Strategic Environmental Assessment: Implementation in Practice

Date for 2012 to be confirmed

Course Content

Day 1 - Introduction to the course and the SEA process

Led by: Bill Sheate and Ric Eales

The first day will cover the basics of SEA and the Directive, giving participants an understanding of the Directive and its requirements. In addition, the participants will be introduced to the framework of appraisal that will be used throughout the course together with the current context for environmental and sustainability appraisal within the UK with respect to the different sectors outlined in the Directive (e.g. water, transport, waste and planning). Specifically, there are issues around the relationship between SEA and Sustainability Appraisal. For example, under the planning system in England, Sustainability Appraisal incorporating the requirements of the SEA Directive is mandatory for regional spatial strategies and certain development plan documents and national policy statements. We will consider these and what the key issues are (e.g. baseline data collection for social and economic issues). Participants will also have the opportunity to discuss their experience of SEA and what they hope to gain from the course

The Directive is largely procedural in nature and sets out a number of steps which must be undertaken as part of any assessment. These steps include scoping, the provision of baseline information, the consideration of alternatives, mitigation, reporting, consultation and monitoring. The generic SEA process, regulations and guidance will be considered on the first day and the key challenges presented by the Directive that will be considered on the subsequent days will be introduced, namely:

• integration of the assesment with the plan making process
• participation and involvement of stakeholders and
• assessment of cumulative effects

Day 2 - Integration of plan making and strategic assessment

Led by: Ric Eales, Bill Sheate and Clare Twigger-Ross/Paula Orr

ntegration of the assessment with the plan making process is a key challenge for implementing the SEA Directive, yet it is vital if the SEA is to fulfil its potential for improving the plan while minimising the potential resource burden. In the past, assessment has sometimes been seen as an "add-on" to the plan making process, taking place after the plan has been completed and viewed simply as a procedural hurdle to be overcome.

However, effective SEA should promote an iterative approach to assessment, where it begins at the same time as the plan making process and progresses as it evolves. A key part of that integration is the co-ordination of participation and involvement of both the statutory authorities and the public in the plan making and appraisal process. The SEA Directive is explicit about the consultation of both environmental authorities and the "public" and the Directive's requirements will be explored. A further context in considering participation and involvement in environmental decision-making is that of the UNECE Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-making and Access to Justice in Environmental Matters.

This day will examine the basic steps in plan making, the relationship with SEA, plan and SEA objectives and how the two can be integrated in practice. In addition, participants will gain an understanding of the principles of participation and involvement and how these can be applied at the strategic level together with practical advice on how to undertake a stakeholder analysis at the strategic level. Finally, there will be information on the variety of methods that can be used to engage stakeholders at different stages and examples provided from recent SEAs.

Day 3 - Assessment of effects, reporting and follow-up

Led by: Ric Eales, Bill Sheate and Owen White

Key to a successful SEA process are several important stages: scoping, consideration of alternatives, baseline, and assessment of effects and especially cumulative effects. There are challenges to carrying out an assessment at the strategic level for all these aspects. There is a need at the strategic level to ensure that the scoping work is carried out in a robust and thorough manner. Given the scale of many of these plans, it is important to tease out the key environmental issues and focus on those. The scoping report sets the framework for the detailed assessment and care at this stage will save time further on in the process.

A further issue is the consideration of alternatives which gives the SEA its robustness and its critical quality. However, development of alternatives needs creative thinking within realistic parameters so that they can be appraised.

Linked to the consideration of alternatives is the collection of baseline data. The SEA Directive requires that baseline data is collected to ensure that the assessment of effects is robust. However, care has to be taken that collection and analysis of data is focussed and useful and that there is openness about areas of uncertainty.

SEA is often se en as providing a mechanism to better address the potential cumulative effects of development, and indeed offers an important opportunity to take these issues into account early on in decision -making. The SEA Directive requires cumulative effects to be considered in plan and programme assessment, which poses a challenge for the effective implementation of the Directive.

Participants will have an opportunity to analyse and discuss the key challenges for SEA in terms of scoping, consideration of alternatives, baseline and cumulative effects. They will also undertake practical exercises in scoping and cumulative effects assessment.

In addition, we will also explore the challenges and opportunities presented when an authori ty chooses to commission consultants to carry out the SEA. Participants will be given advice on the key issue s which may arise when commissioning assessment work. Th ere will be a chance to review and discuss any key lessons from the course and how the various elements of SEA can be delivered within time and resource constraints.

Finally, SEA will be examined from the different perspectives of key stakeholders. As part of this guest speakers will be invited to put the case from a number of those different viewpoints. The course will end with an opportunity for further informal discussion among participants, course leaders and guest speakers.