Chapter 6: Environmental Report
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Contents
Part 1 - Introduction to the Environmental Report
- Background
- Purpose of the Environmental Report
Part 2 - Legislative requirements for the Environmental Report
- Requirement to prepare an Environmental Report
- What should you send to the Consultation Authorities?
- Where do you submit reports to?
- Public consultation on the Environmental Report
Part 3 - Environmental Report guidance
- What should you include in an Environmental Report?
- What environmental issues should be covered?
- What methods should be used to undertake the assessment?
- SEA and Sustainability Appraisal
- How long should the Environmental Report be?
- What happens after consultation on the Environmental Report?
Part 4 - Useful Contacts
Chapter 1 - Introduction to the Environmental Report
Background
6.1.1 The scope and level of detail of the environmental assessment is considered by the Responsible Authority during the scoping stage ( Chapter 5). The Responsible Authority then builds on this work in the course of undertaking the environmental assessment itself, which is the next stage in the SEA process. The Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 ('the Act') specifies the outcome of this process through its outline of the Environmental Report (Section 14 and Schedule 3), but not the details of the process or the methods by which the assessment is to be undertaken.
6.1.2 The primary purpose of an SEA is to provide objective, transparent information to the decision-makers, members of the public and interested organisations. The Responsible Authority should take this into account when undertaking the assessment and reporting the results in the Environmental Report.
6.1.3 The Environmental Report is the main reporting mechanism for describing and evaluating the significant effects, both positive and negative, on the environment of implementing the plan, programme or strategy ( PPS). The effects of alternatives to the PPS are also outlined and evaluated in the report, as well as actions to prevent, reduce and, as fully as possible, offset any significant adverse effects.
6.1.4 The Environmental Report is thus the key consultation document and is prepared for publication with a draft PPS. It assists decision makers, by setting out clearly the environmental impact of the draft PPS and the alternatives, allowing this information to be taken into account when coming to a decision on the PPS. In deciding the style, length and the level of detail to be provided in an Environmental Report, the Responsible Authority should bear in mind its ultimate purpose as a consultation tool. It has to be comprehensible to members of the general public.
6.1.5 It would be helpful if the Responsible Authority could identify within the Environmental Report whether the PPS qualifies under Section 5(3) or Section 5(4) of the Act. This is to enable the Scottish Executive to monitor SEA activity, fulfilling its reporting commitments under both the Act and the Directive.
Purpose of the Environmental Report
6.1.6 The purpose of the Environmental Report is to report the results of the environmental assessment. It identifies, describes and provides an evaluation of the likely significant effects, negative and positive, on the environment of implementing a PPS and its reasonable alternatives, and sets out measures to prevent, reduce and as fully as possible offset any adverse significant environmental effects that have been identified.
Part 2 - Legislative requirements for the Environmental Report
Requirement to prepare an Environmental Report
6.2.1 The legislation has the following key requirements:
6.2.2 Section 14 makes it clear that an Environmental Report shall be prepared for all qualifying PPS. Although the Act refers to plans and programmes, it includes plans, programmes and strategies (which include policies).
Requirements to prepare an Environmental Report in the Act |
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Section 14(1) states that in relation to any qualifying plan or programme, the Responsible Authority shall secure the preparation of an Environmental Report. |
Section 14(2) states that the report shall identify, describe and evaluate the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing- (a) the plan or programme; and
(b) reasonable alternatives to the plan or programme, taking into account the objectives and the geographical scope of the plan or programme. |
Section 14(3) states that the report shall include such of the information specified in Schedule 3 (see figure 1) as may reasonably be required, taking account of- (a) current knowledge and methods of assessment of environmental matters;
(b) the contents of, and level of detail in, the plan or programme;
(c) the stage of the plan or programme in the decision making process; and
(d) the extent to which any matters to which the report relates would be more appropriately assessed at different levels in that process in order to avoid duplication of the assessment. |
Section 14(4) states that - information referred to in Schedule 3 may be included in the report by reference to relevant information obtained at other levels of decision making or through Community legislation. |
Section 14(5) states that Scottish Ministers may by order modify Schedule 3. |
6.2.3 Sections 14(2) and (3) of the Act set out the basic matters that must be included within the Environmental Report, including the information specified in Schedule 3. The information required by Schedule 3 is set out in Figure 1. All the information set out in Figure 1 has to be included, taking into account those matters outlined in Section 14(3).
6.2.4 Ministers have the powers to modify Schedule 3 by order where changes are required (for example, to take account of new environmental issues or to reflect changes to the SEA Directive).
6.2.5 Section 16 of the Act requires Responsible Authorities to send a copy of the Environmental Report and the PPS to which it relates to the Consultation Authorities and to notify the public.
What should you send to the Consultation Authorities?
6.2.6 Responsible Authorities are required to send the Consultation Authorities a copy of the Environmental Report and the PPS to which it relates (known in the Act as the "relevant documents") within 14 days 1 of preparing the Environmental Report. What should be included in the Environmental Report is set out in Figure 6.1 and further guidance is provided in Figure 6.2.
6.2.7 At this stage of the SEA process the Consultation Authorities have expressed a preference for both electronic and hard copies, especially if the PPS contains maps or complex illustrations. If hard copies are to be issued to the Consultation Authorities, the Responsible Authority should confirm the contact details with the SEA Gateway.
Figure 6.1
Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 - Schedule 3
Information for Environmental Reports |
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1 An outline of the contents and main objectives of the plan or programme, and of its relationship (if any) with other qualifying plans and programmes. 2 The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the likely evolution thereof without implementation of the plan or programme. 3 The environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected. 4 Any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan or programme including, in particular, those relating to any areas of a particular environmental importance, such as areas designated pursuant to Council Directive 79/409/EEC on the conservation of wild birds and Council Directive 92/43/EEC on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild flora and fauna (as last amended by Council Directive 97/62/EC). 5 The environmental protection objectives, established at international, Community or Member State level, which are relevant to the plan or programme and the way those objectives and any environmental considerations have been taken into account during its preparation. 6 The likely significant effects on the environment, including- (a) on issues such as- (i) biodiversity; (ii) population; (iii) human health; (iv) fauna; (v) flora; (vi) soil; (vii) water; (viii) air; (ix) climatic factors; (x) material assets; (xi) cultural heritage, including architectural and archaeological heritage; (xii) landscape; and (xiii) the inter-relationship between the issues referred to in heads (i) to (xii); (b) short, medium and long-term effects; (c) permanent and temporary effects; (d) positive and negative effects; and (e) secondary, cumulative and synergistic effects. 7 The measures envisaged to prevent, reduce and as fully as possible offset any significant adverse effects on the environment of implementing the plan or programme. 8 An outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt with, and a description of how the assessment was undertaken including any difficulties (such as technical deficiencies or lack of expertise) encountered in compiling the required information. 9 A description of the measures envisaged concerning monitoring in accordance with section 19. 10 A non-technical summary of the information provided under paragraphs 1 to 9. |
6.2.8 The Act places no duty on the Consultation Authorities to respond to Environmental Report consultations. However, they are likely to do so. The Consultation Authorities state in their Information Note 2 that comments are likely to cover (but are not limited to):
- the adequacy of the Environmental Report in recording the likely significant environmental effects of the PPS and its reasonable alternatives; and
- the approach adopted to prevent, reduce and offset adverse effects.
Comments from the Consultation Authorities on the draft PPS will normally be separate from those on the Environmental Report.
Where do you submit reports to?
6.2.9 The Act states that Responsible Authorities must submit the relevant documents to the Consultation Authorities. In practice, and to ease administration, Responsible Authorities are asked to submit Environmental Reports and associated draft PPS via the Scottish Executive SEA Gateway. Contact details are set out in Part 4 of this chapter.
Public consultation on the Environmental Report
6.2.10 The Act is clear about the need for wide consultation on the relevant documents and sets out basic requirements for notifying the public about the opportunity to express opinions on the Environmental Report and the accompanying PPS. Details of the consultation requirements and guidance on how to meet them are set out in Chapter 13.
Part 3 - Environmental Report guidance
What should you include in an Environmental Report?
6.3.1 Schedule 3 of the Act (see Figure 1) outlines the information that should be included within an Environmental Report. Environmental Reports do not have to be structured to follow Schedule 3, but the required information has to be included, taking into account the caveats included at Section 14(3) of the Act. Commitments made at the earlier scoping stage should also be fulfilled.
6.3.2 As general principles, Environmental Reports should:
- be focussed on the relevant significant environmental effects (positive and negative) of implementing the PPS;
- be concise and easy to use, using maps, diagrams and tables rather than text where possible and written in accessible language;
- be clear, setting out the assessment findings, in particular the adverse environmental effects identified and the ways in which these can be prevented, reduced and as fully offset as possible;
- identify any difficulties, including deficiencies, that have been encountered;
- identify where other PPS, particularly those lower in the plan hierarchy, that may need to undertake a more detailed assessment where it has not been possible in this assessment, including who would be responsible for undertaking the assessment; and
- demonstrate how the views of the Consultation Authorities at scoping have been taken into account.
6.3.3 Further guidance on how to comply with the requirements of Schedule 3 and an example of the structure for an Environmental Report is provided in Figure 6.2.
Figure 2: Contents of the Environmental Report
Schedule 3 Requirement | Description |
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Schedule 3 (10) - Non-technical summary (including consultation timescale and address for comments) | The purpose of the non-technical summary ( NTS) is to provide, in non-technical language, a summary of the findings of the Environmental Report. A summary of the information specified at paragraphs 1-9 of Schedule 3 of the Act has to be included, but it is good practice for the NTS to cover the whole Environmental Report. It is also good practice for the NTS to set out details of the consultation and the address to which comments may be sent. The NTS is normally located at the start of the Environmental Report. |
Schedule 3 (1) - An outline of the contents and main objectives of the plan, programme or strategy and of its relationship with other qualifying plans, programmes and strategies. Schedule 3 (5) - Environmental protection objectives set at international, Community or Member | The outline should set out what the PPS is aiming to achieve. The Environmental Report must include an outline of the relationships with other qualifying PPS ( if any) and what environmental protection objectives, 'established at International, Community or Member State level', have been taken into account. This helps to set the Environmental Report in context. This requirement also effectively establishes the policy framework within which a PPS must operate. At this point it is also appropriate to refer to a PPS place in the PPS hierarchy. Figure 9.7 in Chapter 9, part 6 - Prediction and Evaluation of Environmental Effects - provides a helpful visual representation of a hierarchy of PPS. |
Schedule 3 (2) and (3) - The relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected. (Baseline) | This part of the report should provide a description of the existing environmental characteristics of the area likely to be affected by the PPS, outlining the current constraints and what is likely to happen if the PPS is not implemented. This can be informed by data on past trends and on likely future developments in the absence of the PPS ( e.g. increasing traffic levels or water abstraction). The Environmental Report has to offer a description of the relevant aspects of the current state of the environment and the environmental characteristics of areas likely to be significantly affected, in light of the caveats set out in Section 14(3) of the Act. To establish this, a Responsible Authority should identify what organisations hold data relevant to the PPS being developed. It is anticipated that the effort required to gather information will gradually reduce with collation of data, experience and accrual of data resources by public bodies and as Responsible Authorities establish processes and systems to cope with this recurring need for baseline information. Chapter 8 of this guidance offers advice on gathering baseline data and includes a useful list of known data sources, who may be approached by Responsible Authorities when developing an SEA. This list will be developed through experience and as new data sources are identified. Responsible Authorities may of course develop their own lists, which reflect their unique environmental characteristics and circumstances, and which will be common to a number of their PPS. |
Schedule 3 (4) - any existing environmental problems which are relevant to the plan, programme or strategy. | The Environmental Report has to include a description of existing environmental problems which are relevant to the PPS, in particular those relating to areas of particular environmental importance, such as those designated under the Habitats and Birds Directives (Natura 2000 sites). The purpose of this section is to explain how existing environmental problems will affect or be affected by the PPS and whether it is likely to aggravate, reduce or otherwise affect existing environmental problems. This summary should be relevant to the scale of the PPS. For example, a national-level PPS would not normally require to identify every environmental problem in the country, but rather a strategic overview of those most relevant problems with regard to the PPS content and scope. |
Schedule 3 (6), (7) and (8) - Assessment of environmental effects of the plan, programme or strategy, including reasonable alternatives and proposed mitigation measures | (6) Assessment This part of the Environmental Report reports the assessment of the draft PPS and its alternatives. The significant environmental effects are described and evaluated in terms of short, medium and long-term effects; permanent and temporary effects; positive and negative effects; and secondary, cumulative and synergistic effects. The assessment should cover the 12 environmental factors set out in paragraph 6(a) of Schedule 3, unless they have been judged not likely to have significant environmental effects at the scoping stage. Further guidance on what might be covered for each of these environmental receptors is provided in paragraphs 3.5 to 3.17 below. Assessing and presenting cumulative, synergistic and secondary effects can be complex and further guidance is provided in Chapter 12. Methods used must provide a transparent assessment of the impacts on the individual components of the environment. A Responsible Authority would typically select an approach relevant to the scale and nature of the PPS and/or the current state of the environment, in order to assess the likely significant effects. Assessment is often presented through the use of a matrix which assesses each part of the PPS and each alternative against the assessment criteria ( e.g.SEA objectives) used for the SEA. These matrices are normally presented as appendices and their results summarised as findings. The findings of the assessment should be clearly set out in a concise and easy to understand way. In particular, any adverse environmental effects that have been identified should be clearly stated. Examples of assessment methods are outlined in the SEA templates. As experience grows, case study examples will be made available through the Scottish Executive SEA website. This part of the Environmental Report should also include a concise description of how the assessment was undertaken and of any difficulties experienced ( e.g. data gaps, lack of expertise). (7) Alternatives Responsible Authorities will normally have considered a range of alternatives when preparing PPS. Under the Act it is now necessary to be clear about the alternatives that have been considered (including where appropriate the "business as usual" option) and what environmental effects they may have. Accordingly, reasonable alternatives to the PPS must be identified, described and evaluated in the Environmental Report. Guidance on how to identify and evaluate alternatives is provided in Chapter 9. Alternatives may include those to the PPS, and also those within the PPS. Alternatives should be realistic, practicable and relevant. In some cases alternatives may be limited in the light of policies set in a higher tier of PPS. There is no expectation of Responsible Authorities to assess options that would be incompatible with the law or national policy, nor is there any expectation that options or alternatives must be generated merely for the sake of assessment. However, all alternatives spanning the range of reasonable options should be identified and assessed, even those rejected at an early stage because they were considered feasible but inappropriate. The Environmental Report should include an outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt with so there is the opportunity to indicate why some apparently reasonable options were not included in the assessment. (8) Mitigation Measures which are envisaged to prevent, reduce and as far as possible offset any adverse environmental effects that have been identified in the assessment should be presented in the Environmental Report. Such measures are often referred to as mitigation and in the context of this guidance is taken to include all measures that may prevent, reduce or offset adverse environmental effects from occurring. Good practice would include acting to enhance environmental benefits. Such measures might include: - changes to the PPS subject to SEA ( e.g. to avoid sensitive sites);
- measures that need to be enacted in lower or higher tier PPS;
- measures that need to be enacted through other actions ( e.g. through project EIA); or
- compensation measures ( e.g. replacement habitats).
One of the more important mitigation measures to consider in the report will be the way in which the PPS itself has been modified as a result of the environmental assessment process. It is important in this context to appreciate that the requirement is not to mitigate every conceivable adverse effect but to focus mitigation on any significant adverse effects. The Environmental Report should provide an indication of the anticipated effectiveness of the measures in achieving the mitigation. The likely significant environmental effects of the identified mitigation measures, where these would occur, also have to be assessed and set out in the Environmental Report. When identifying mitigation measures, Responsible Authorities should also where possible identify bodies or agencies that will be responsible for ensuring that they happen. This is important to ensure that mitigation actions are implemented effectively. |
Schedule 3 (9) - Monitoring | The Responsible Authority must monitor the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the PPS. This must be done in such a way as to also identify unforeseen adverse effects on the environment and enable the Responsible Authority to take the appropriate remedial action. The Environmental Report should describe the monitoring measures envisaged to comply with this requirement. Monitoring measures are ideally linked to targets, objectives or indicators established in the Environment Report. Chapter 14 provides guidance on monitoring of significant environmental effects, following adoption of the PPS. |
Additional Information - These items are not required by the Act, but may be appropriate for inclusion in some Environmental Reports | 1. Responsible Authorities may wish to include a section in the Environmental Report which indicates how the views of the Consultation Authorities at the scoping stage have been taken into account. The Consultation Authorities have indicated that summarising this in the Environmental Report would be very helpful. It is a useful way to demonstrate how the Consultation Authorities' views have been taken into account, in accordance with the requirements of Section 18(3) of the Act. 2. Some Responsible Authorities may find it helpful to provide a revised Environmental Report to take account of views expressed upon it during consultation or to assess changes made to the PPS as it progresses from consultation to adoption. This is not a requirement of the Act and is not expected (unless there are changes to the PPS which may result in significant environmental effects), but Responsible Authorities may find such an approach useful. Where such an approach has been adopted, an indication of how and where it has been revised ( e.g. "tracked" changes) would be helpful. 3.Where an Environmental Report makes recommendations for further assessment or mitigation in other PPS, it would be useful if these were grouped together in order to be clear to other plan owners where such work is required. 4. Next Steps - It may be helpful to inform the public of key dates such as the closing date for comments, period during which comments will be scrutinised, any further planning/ SEA activities, and adoption and post adoption SEA activities such as notification and monitoring. |
6.3.4 Further guidance on the ways in which this information can be provided is set out in the SEA templates. You may also wish to refer to examples which have been submitted by other Responsible Authorities which will be made available through the Scottish Executive SEA web site. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/SustainableDevelopment/14587
What environmental issues should be covered?
6.3.5 Schedule 3(6) lists 12 environmental factors that should be included in the assessment, which includes their interactions. The Schedule does not set out what is covered by these headings. The following list sets out the 12 environmental factors and the sorts of issues which it may be appropriate to consider within Environmental Reports.
6.3.6 This list is indicative and the range of issues will always vary from PPS to PPS. Consideration will depend on the level of detail of the assessment and whether certain issues have been scoped in or out, for example. Other environmental issues not listed here may be appropriate to include in some assessments. Accordingly, coverage of the issues in this Chapter is not intended to imply compliance.
6.3.7 Biodiversity, Flora and Fauna
- Areas designated or proposed for their international (Special Protection Areas, Special Areas of Conservation and Ramsar sites), national (Sites of Special Scientific Interest, National Natural Reserves) or local nature conservation importance and a description of the relevant interests, including earth heritage interests;
- Species, including migratory species, characteristic of the area or likely to be encountered in development that are protected by law;
- Species and habitats identified as priorities in national or local biodiversity action plans.
6.3.8 Population and Human Health
- Areas of particular amenity value, cultural associations, or sensitivity to development including those of importance for tourism or outdoor recreation;
- Access to National, Regional and Country Parks;
- Urban and rural areas of degraded environment needing restoration or enhancement;
- Operational and closed waste disposal and management sites and any particular environmental problems associated with them;
- Noise;
- Odour;
- Proximity to other potential sources of pollution from industrial sites and other sources;
- Access to recreational opportunities and open space.
6.3.9 Soil
- Areas affected by former mineral working and requiring restoration or environmental improvement;
- Prime quality agricultural land;
- Relevant aspects of geology;
- Contaminated land;
- Derelict land;
- Unstable land;
- Land vulnerable to erosion e.g. from the sea;
- Nitrate Vulnerable Zones (also connected to groundwater quality).
6.3.10 Water
- River basins and catchments;
- Pressures and impacts on ecological status of waterbodies;
- Water pollution from point or diffuse sources;
- Morphological impacts on waterbodies from engineering and other works;
- Impacts on waterbodies from abstraction;
- Groundwater quality and quantity;
- Lochs, ponds, standing waters and other wetlands including peat lands;
- The coastal environment, including bathing waters, transitional waters and estuaries;
- The marine environment;
- Areas of fluvial or coastal flood risk;
- Private water abstractions;
- Drinking water quality.
6.3.11 Air
- Locations where air quality thresholds of pollution have been exceeded;
- Air Quality Management Areas;
- Dust;
- Ambient air quality;
- Odour;
- Release of specific emissions from specific sites which may be causing problems in the PPS area;
- Industrial emissions generally.
6.3.12 Climatic Factors
- UKCIP national and regional climate change scenarios;
- Greenhouse gas emissions;
- Effects of future climate change, at large scale and at local scale and particularly those areas most sensitive to future changes;
- Flooding and predicted sea level rises;
- Climate change adaptation .
6.3.13 Material Assets
- Quality of housing stock;
- Environmental infrastructure ( e.g. flood defences, dams);
- Public transport infrastructure;
- Road infrastructure;
- Rights of Way;
- Existing land use e.g. recreation;
- Minerals e.g. coal, sand & gravel.
6.3.14 Cultural Heritage
Historic environment features including:
- World Heritage Sites;
- Scheduled ancient monuments and their settings;
- Listed Buildings and their settings;
- Gardens and designed landscapes included on the Inventory of Gardens and Designed Landscapes, and their settings;
- Protected wrecks;
- Conservation Areas;
- Other areas or concentrations of historically interesting buildings.
- Sites of regional or local archaeological importance
- Maritime and underwater archaeology
- Historic landscapes and/or townscapes
- Areas with a concentration of archaeological and other cultural heritage interests
- Areas where the archaeological interest is uncertain but potentially significant.
6.3.15 Landscape
- Landscape character including any particularly rare or distinctive features or associations;
- National Parks and a description of the special qualities of the area which were the reasons for designation (also includes biodiversity and cultural heritage issues);
- Other areas designated for their national (National Scenic Areas) or local landscape importance ( e.g. Areas of Great Landscape Value);
- Areas valued for their wild land character;
- Urban parks and open spaces of recreational, amenity or wildlife value;
- Green belts;
- Green corridors or wedges of green land important because they penetrate or separate urban areas;
- Important open areas which contribute to the distinctive setting or identity of settlements.
6.3.16 Interaction between these factors
- Areas sensitive to the cumulative effects of different development types e.g. single houses in the countryside, mineral workings or windfarms;
- Areas sensitive to an accumulation of different environmental effects, e.g. noise and visual intrusion;
- The coastal zone, including areas of particular sensitivity or under particular pressures for change.
What methods should be used to undertake the assessment?
6.3.17 The method used to undertake the assessment will vary from PPS to PPS, depending upon its scale, nature, content and place in the PPS hierarchy. The Act does not prescribe the assessment method and Responsible Authorities are free to determine a method that suits their needs, so long as the information required by Schedule 3 is provided.
6.3.18 Examples of assessment methods are outlined in Chapter 9. Further examples of Environmental Reports will be posted on the Scottish Executive SEA website. http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/SustainableDevelopment/14587
SEA and Sustainability Appraisal
6.3.19 There is no requirement under the Act to consider social or economic factors as part of what is commonly referred to as "Sustainability Appraisal". Responsible Authorities are not precluded from undertaking Sustainability Appraisal so long as the full requirements of the Act are met. Where a Sustainability Appraisal is the preferred approach, Responsible Authorities should:
- Demonstrate how the requirements of the Act have been met;
- Ensure that the Environmental Report is a discrete and easily identified component;
- Be aware that the Consultation Authorities will only comment on the environmental components, in line with their competencies; and
- Be aware that statutory timescales only apply to the components relevant to the Act.
How long should the Environmental Report be?
6.3.20 The length of an Environmental Report cannot be prescribed and will, to a large extent, depend upon:
- the nature, complexity and scale of the PPS;
- its geographic scope,
- its content; and
- its position in any PPS hierarchy.
6.3.21 The SEA templates provide a framework for the Environmental Report. The size of the sections and boxes in the template is not a guide to the amount of detail required, as that will depend on the nature and complexity of the PPS. Section 14 and Schedule 3 of the Act make provision for the purpose and content of the Environmental Report.
6.3.22 The guiding principle to length and level of detail is that, it should be proportionate to the PPS. Typically, an Environmental Report will comprise up to 50 pages. Additional information may be provided in appendices, although these too should be kept concise and summarise information, while remaining comprehensible to the general public.
What happens after consultation on the Environmental Report?
6.3.23 The Responsible Authority must take account of the Environmental Report and of any opinions which are expressed upon it as it prepares the PPS for adoption.
6.3.24 Further guidance about the adoption stage is provided in Chapter 7.
Part 4 - Useful contacts for this stage
6.4.1 Responsible Authorities are asked to submit Environmental Reports via the Scottish Executive SEA Gateway:
Contact details:
SEA Gateway
1-H (Bridge)
Victoria Quay
Edinburgh
EH6 6QQ
email address: SEA.Gateway@scotland.gsi.gov.uk
SEA Gateway (helpdesk) 0131 244 5094
6.4.2 The Consultation Authorities have produced an Information Note 3 for SEA practitioners, which provides advice about the role of the Consultation Authorities and the type of information Responsible Authorities should include in Environmental Reports.
6.4.3 The Consultation Authorities welcome early discussions with Responsible Authorities regarding SEA. They can be contacted through their SEA gateways at the contact details provided in Chapter 3.