Level 4 -Strategic Environmental Assessment
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A Strategic Environment Assessment (SEA) considers the likely impacts that a plan or policy will have on its receiving environment. It also explores ways of promoting any positive impacts, and managing and monitoring any potentially negative impacts a plan or policy may have on its environment.
This assessment procedure is closely linked to the Sustainability Appraisal process, where a high level of protection of the environment is required. In some cases, an SEA may required for an area in addition to, or instead of a sustainability appraisal.
Relevance to Runnymede Borough Council ............................................................................
The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations 2004 requires an SEA be undertaken to produce an Environmental Assessment that meets the requirements of EU Directive 2001/42/EC documents determined under Regulation 9.
The Council is conducting an in-house Sustainability Appraisal and Strategic Environment Assessment (SA/ SEA) of its Local Development Framework. This framework will guide future spatial development in Runnymede, while the SA/SEA will offer direction on the most sustainable options for development.
Level 4 of the SA/SEA process can be summarised as follows:
1. A Level 4 assessment can be triggered as a result of a Level 1 by virtue of Regulation 9 determination from a statutory authority.
2. A Level 4 assessment can also be triggered as a result of a Level 2 assessment that has triggered Regulation 9 significance criteria and adverse or strongly adverse effects have been determined.
3. Where the effects described are sufficiently well understood, through data and/or precedent, it can quantitatively evaluated using quantitative threshold assessments. A statement recommending measures of mitigation would be produced. Where impacts evaluated have the potential for significant negative effect on the Borough a scenario development and or multi criteria decision analysis tools would be used to clarify the negative effect and the potential for focused mitigation to all audiences for consultation.
4. If the impact evaluated has no potential for significant negative impact on the Borough, and the impact could be monitored through the state report and AMR (annual monitoring report), then no recommendations for further monitoring will be produced.
5. If the impact evaluated has no potential for significant negative impact on the Borough and will not be monitored accurately through the state report and/or AMR then a recommendation that a risk assessment be carried out looking at the impact of the lack of data and / or monitoring needs.
6.In the event where the impacts or effects are not sufficiently well described or understood through data and/or precedent the assessment using qualitative data analysis techniques will be used. Where this is not the case or not possible a recommendation that research is conducted to allow impact evaluation.
*Definitions Drawn from Draft Sustainability Report September 2005*
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