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Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a system of incorporating environmental considerations into certain plans and programmes at an early stage of the programme or plan development.

The European SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) (PDF 128 Kb ) requires that all member states of the European Union should have ratified the Directive into their own country's law by 21 July 2004, and this was done so in Northern Ireland through the The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (Northern Ireland) 2004 legislation.

The Directive defines 'environmental assessment' (Article 2(b)) as a procedure comprising:

preparing an Environmental Report on the likely significant effects of the draft plan or programme;
carrying out consultation on the draft plan or programme;
taking into account the Environmental Report and the results of consultation in decision making; and
providing information when the plan or programme is adopted and showing how the results of the environmental assessment have been taken into account.

Regulation 4, designated the Department of the Environment (DOE) as the Consultation Body for the SEA process in Northern Ireland and Responsible Authorities should submit their plans and programmes for consultation to the Department's Environment and Heritage Service, through the SEA Coordination Unit.

Other relevant documentation is also available including, the Practical Guide to the SEA Process ( pdf - 776 KB ) and Services and Standards for Responsible Authorities ( pdf - 285 KB )

The objective of the Directive is to provide for a high level of protection of the environment and to contribute to the integration of environmental considerations into the preparation and adoption of specified plans and programmes with a view to promoting sustainable development.

Eleven sectors i.e. agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy, industry, transport, waste management, water management, telecommunications, tourism and town and country planning or land use, are designated where Responsible Authorities must subject specific plans and programmes to an environmental assessment. This assessment means the preparation of an environmental report, the carrying out of consultations and the taking into account of these consultations in decision making that must then be reported on publicly. Monitoring of the significant environmental effects of the implementation of plans/programmes must be provided.

The Consultation Body must (by reason of their specific environmental responsibilities) be consulted by Responsible Authorities (plan/programme makers).

SEA Info about Natural Heritage on EHS website

Designated Areas: Includes: Areas of Special Scientific Interest, Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation, Nature Reserves, Marine Nature Reserves, Ramsar Sites, and Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, World Heritage Site, Countryside Parks and Centres :

Access to the Countryside, Landscape Character Areas, And Protected Landscapes:

Biodiversity: Includes: Northern Ireland Biodiversity, Habitats and Species

Earth Science:

Includes: Geology of Northern Ireland , Earth Science Conservation Review, Areas of Interest

Digital Data: Includes: Access to digital datasets.

Research:

Includes: Research Projects

Grant Aid:

Includes: Grant Aid Projects