The role of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is a system of placing environmental considerations into plans and programmes at an early stage of plan development.

The European SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) obliged all member states of the European Union should have ratified the directive into their country's laws by July 21st 2004

This was done so in Northern Ireland through 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
• 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 made the Department of the Environment (DOE) the consultation body for the SEA process in Northern Ireland. Responsible authorities should submit their plans and programmes for consultation to the Northern Ireland Environment Agency(NIEA), through the SEA Coordination Unit.

Other documentation is also available including:

• Practical Guide to the SEA Process(.PDF 776Kb)
• Services and Standards for Responsible Authorities(.PDF 528Kb)

Directive's goals

The aim of the directive is to provide a high level of protection of the environment and to help the integration of environmental considerations into specified plans and programmes to promote sustainable development.

Eleven sectors have been identified as areas where the relevant authorities must  submit specific plans and programmes for environmental assessment.

These sectors include:

• agriculture
• forestry
• fisheries
• energy
• industry
• transport
• waste management
• water management
• telecommunications
• tourism
• town and country planning

This assessment means the preparation of an environmental report, carrying out consultations, taking account of these consultations in decision making. These decisions must be reported publically.

The consultation body must (by reason of their specific environmental responsibilities) be consulted by plan and programme makers, as well as the relevant authorities.

Water Quality Data

• Water Quality Information
• Water Policy
• The Register of Protected Areas
• Managing the Water Environment in Northern Ireland 2000 Report(.PDF 2.5Mb)
  

SEA for Water Framework Directive

The DOE and the Department of the Environment, Heritage and Local Government (Dublin) have jointly commissioned SEA Environmental Reports for River Basin Management Plans and associated programmes of measures. This is a requirement outlined in the EC Water Framework Directive.

The environmental reports have been prepared and assess the likely environmental impacts of implementing the draft plans and programme of measures.

Habitats Directive assessments under Article 6 of the Habitats Directive have also been undertaken to see if the draft plans and programme of measures could impact on any site designated for conservation.

• Neagh Bann SEA of River Basin Management Plan
• North Eastern SEA of River Basin Management Plan
• North Western SEA of River Basin Management Plan

Contact Details

If you require further information on SEA you can email the SEATeam@doeni.gov.uk or write to;

The SEAT Unit
Klondyke Building
Cromac Avenue
Lower Ormeau Road
Belfast
BT7 2GA
or telephone 028 9056 9370