2 Introduction
2.1 Purpose of the Environmental Report
As part of the preparation of "The Future of Flood Risk Management in Scotland - A Consultation Document" the Scottish Government is carrying out a Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA). SEA is a systematic method for considering the likely environmental effects of certain plans, programmes and strategies ( PPS). SEA aims to:
- integrate environmental factors into PPS preparation and decision-making;
- improve PPS and enhance environmental protection;
- increase public participation in decision making; and
- facilitate openness and transparency of decision-making.
SEA is required by the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. The key SEA stages are:
Screening | determining whether the PPS is likely to have significant environmental effects and whether an SEA is required |
Scoping | deciding on the scope and level of detail of the Environmental Report, and the consultation period for the report - this is done in consultation with the statutory environmental bodies (Scottish Natural Heritage, The Scottish Ministers (Historic Scotland) and the Scottish Environment Protection Agency) and through public consultation. |
Environmental Report | publishing an Environmental Report on the PPS and its environmental effects, and consulting on that report |
Adoption | providing information on: the adopted PPS; how consultation comments have been taken into account; and methods for monitoring the significant environmental effects of the implementation of the PPS |
Monitoring | monitoring significant environmental effects in such a manner so as to also enable the Responsible Authority to identify any unforeseen adverse effects at an early stage and undertake appropriate remedial action. |
The purpose of this Environmental Report is to:
- provide information on the sustainable flood management proposals in the "The Future of Flood Risk Management in Scotland - A Consultation Document"
- identify, describe and evaluate the likely significant effects of the PPS and its reasonable alternatives;
- provide an early and effecting opportunity for the Consultation Authorities and the public to offer views on any aspect of this Environmental Report.
2.2 Key facts
The key facts relating to "The Future of Flood Risk Management in Scotland - A Consultation Document" are set out in Table 2-1.
Table 2-1 - Key facts relating to the proposals
Name of Responsible Authority Scottish Government |
Title of PPS "The Future of Flood Risk Management in Scotland - A Consultation Document" |
What prompted the PPS (e.g. legislative, regulatory or administrative provision) The sustainable flood management proposals contained within "The Future of Flood Risk Management in Scotland - A Consultation Document" are based on work undertaken by the Flooding Issues Advisory Committee ( FIAC) to define sustainable flood management (" SFM") within the meaning of Section 2 of the Water Environment and Water Services (Scotland) Act 2003 ("the 2003 Act"). |
Subject Flood risk management |
Period covered by PPS The definition, objectives and principles of SFM contained in the consultation document do not relate to a defined period and will be updated as policy and regulation require. |
Frequency of updates The definition, objectives and principles of SFM contained in the consultation document are not subject to scheduled regular updates and will be updated as policy and regulation require. |
Area covered by PPS Scotland |
Purpose and/or objectives of PPS The purpose of the proposals is to define SFM and to offer objectives, principles and indicators by which progress in implementing SFM might be measured. |
Contact point Debi Garft (Scottish Government) - 0131 244 4950 Debi.Garft@scotland.gsi.gov.uk |
2.3 SEA activities to date
The SEA process has been carried out in conjunction with the development of the proposals on sustainable flood management. A flow diagram of the development of the proposals, the SEA stages and their interaction is shown in Figure 2-1.
Figure 2-1 Process for development of proposals and the SEA
As part of the SEA a detailed scoping process was carried out to establish an appropriate environmental baseline, to identify and review which plans and programmes were of relevance to the SEA, to identify environmental issues and problems and to develop and agree an SEA framework for assessment. A scoping workshop was carried out on 29 August 2007 with representatives of the Consultation Authorities and other stakeholders. A list of attendees is contained in the appendix of the Scoping Report.
The scoping report was issued via the SEA Gateway on 25 September 2007 for a 5-week consultation period. A summary of the consultation responses, and the actions taken to address them, is included in Appendix 1.
Table 2-2 summarises the SEA activities to date in relation to the proposals.
Table 2-2 - SEA activities to date
SEA Action/Activity | When carried out | Notes (e.g. comment on data availability, particular issues or any advice from the Consultation Authorities that has now been taken into account) |
|---|
Screening to determine whether the plan is likely to have significant environmental effects | | Formal screening report was not submitted; however advice was obtained from Consultation Authorities and SEA Gateway on requirement for SEA under Section 5(3) of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005. |
Scoping workshop | 29 August 2007 | A scoping workshop was held with the Consultation Authorities and other stakeholders. |
Scoping the consultation periods and the level of detail to be included in the environmental report | August - September 2007 | The Scoping Report was submitted to the Consultation Authorities on 25 September 2007. |
Outline and objectives of the plan | | |
Relationship with other plans, programmes and environmental objectives | September -November 2007 | Work was undertaken in the development of the Scoping Report with further documents being added after the scoping consultation. |
Environmental baseline established | September-October 2007 | Main development of environmental baseline was presented in the Scoping Report which was further updated after consultation. |
Environmental problems identified | September-October 2007 | Main issues were identified in the Scoping Report which were further updated after consultation. |
Likely future of the area without the plan assessed | October 2007 | Developed after the scoping consultation. |
Alternatives considered | September 2007 | Alternatives were discussed during scoping in consultation with Consultation Authorities and stakeholders and the viability and usefulness of considering alternatives was considered minimal. |
Environmental assessment method established | September-October 2007 | |
Selection of plan alternatives to be included in the environmental assessment | October 2007 | Proposals that there were no reasonable alternative for consideration as discussed in Scoping Report were accepted by Consultation Authorities. |
Identification of environmental problems that may persist after implementation and mitigation methods | November 2007 | |
Monitoring methods proposed | November 2007 | |
Consultation timescales - Timescale for Consultation Authorities
- Timescale for public consultation
| September 2007 | Consultation Authorities in agreement with proposed 12 week consultation period presented in the Scoping Report. After further discussion this was amended to 10 weeks. |