Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a formal process, involving the systematic evaluation of the likely significant environmental effects of implementing the new County Development Plan before a decision has been made to adopt it. It is being carried out as a parallel process to the County Development Plan review process.
SEA is a valuable tool that will influence decision-making at each stage in the CDP review process; to improve the environmental sustainability of the new Plan and to raise awareness of the potential environmental consequences of its implementation so that these consequences may be mitigated or avoided altogether. It also gives the public and other interested parties an opportunity to comment and to be kept informed on decisions that may impact on the environment and how they were made.
Steps in the process
8.1 Consultation
As part of the SEA process it is necessary to consult with various individuals and agencies to ensure that the process is meaningful. In line with the Plan review processes, the public will be consulted in order to help ascertain the environmental issues relevant to the County. In accordance with the legislation, a 'scoping' exercise is carried out to determine the range of environmental issues and level of detail to be contained in the Environmental Report. This involves consultation with the relevant Environmental Authorities:
- The Environmental Protection Agency
- The Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government
- The Department of Communications, Marine and Natural Resources
8.2 Preparation of an Environmental Report on the Draft Plan
The Environmental Report details the findings of the SEA process. The required contents of an Environmental Report are set out in Appendix 2B of the Planning and Development (SEA) Regulations, 2004 and will include:
- The contents and main objectives of the Draft Plan and an assessment of alternatives
- Environmental baseline data detailing the current state of the environment,
- The significant environmental issues and vulnerabilities facing the County,
- Our Environmental Protection Objectives,
- The likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the Draft Plan; (based on an assessment of the policies against whether or not they are likely to meet our environmental protection objectives)
- Measures to prevent or reduce any significant adverse effects
- Measures for monitoring the significant environmental effects of implementing the plan, including appropriate indicators to be used
- A non-technical summary
The Environmental Report is made available at the same time as the draft Plan and a public consultation on it with the general public and the Environmental Authorities also takes place at this time.
8.3 Alterations to the draft Plan
If subsequent alterations to the draft Plan are proposed, information on the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing these amendments will also be made available and there will be a further opportunity for submissions.
The contents of the Environmental Report and opinions expressed by the Environmental Authorities and the public must be taken into account during the preparation of the Plan before its adoption. Once submissions are reviewed, a decision must be made on whether any of the predictions regarding significant environmental effects need to be revised, and whether any of the proposed policies and objectives should be amended. Outcomes relating to issues arising from any subsequent material alterations to the draft Plan must also feed into this decision-making process. Once the Development Plan is adopted, a statement must be made available demonstrating how SEA influenced the outcome of the Plan.
8.4 Adopted Plan
Once the Development Plan is adopted, a statement must be made available demonstrating how SEA influenced the outcome of the Plan.
8.5 Monitoring
The significant environmental effects of implementing the Plan must be monitored to identify at an early stage unforeseen adverse effects and if necessary take action. This will be carried out as part of the two year review process.
8.6 Statutory Background for SEA
The assessment of the effects of certain plans and programmes on the environment is required by Directive 2001/42/EC of the European Parliament and Council of 27th June 2001 (commonly known as the SEA Directive). The SEA Directive is transposed into Irish law by
European Communities (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 435 of 2004), and
Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004 (S.I. 436 of 2004), which can be viewed at the Irish Statute Book website http://www.irishstatutebook.ie