European Directive 2001/42/EC (also known as the SEA Directive) was adopted into UK law in July 2004 through the Strategic Environmental Assessment Regulations. SEA is a tool to integrate environmental considerations into planning and decision making. The stages of the SEA are outlined below:

Stage A – Setting the context and objectives, establishing the baseline and deciding on the Scope

Stage B – Developing and refining alternatives and assessing effects

Stage C – Preparing the Environmental Report

Stage D – Consulting on the draft plan or programme and the Environmental Report

Stage E – Monitor the significant effects of implementing the plan or programme on the environment

By undertaking the SEA it is possible to look at a plan or programme during its development and examine how it will contribute to the aims of sustainable development. Opportunities to enhance the contribution of the plan or programme to sustainable development can be identified, for example by recognising aspects where the strategy may compromise sustainable development, and possible amendments to the strategy to resolve any problems.

There are three major reports that accompany the SEA process of a plan or programme. Initially a Scoping Report is produced to consult on the SEA appraisal framework and objectives.

An Environmental Report is then produced for wider public consultation on the potential environmental effects of the plan.

Finally an Environmental Statement is produced which documents how the recommendations and comments from the Environmental Report have been incorporated into the plan or programme. The Environmental Statement also demonstrates how the consultation responses to the Scoping Report and Environmental Report have been considered in both the SEA process and in the plan or programme.

Currently there are two Strategic Environmental Assessments underway, one for the Local Transport Plan 2 and one for the Municipal Waste Management Strategy

The Local Transport Plan 2 SEA Scoping Report was circulated for consultation from 30 September 2005 to 28 November 2005.

The Local Transport Plan 2 SEA Environmental Report was circulated for consultation from 28 February 2006 to 31 March 2006.

The Environmental Statement for the LTP2 SEA is now available. The Environmental Statement documents how the recommendations and comments from the Environmental Report have been incorporated into the LTP2. The Environmental Statement also demonstrates how the consultation responses to the Scoping Report and Environmental Report have been considered in both the SEA process and in the LTP2.

The Municipal Waste Management Strategy SEA Scoping Report was available for consultation from 24 February 2006 to 07 April 2006

The SEA Environmental Report is available for public consultation alongside the second draft of the Municipal Waste Management Strategy, from 19 October 2007 to 30 November 2007.

The SEA reports are available on the Municipal Waste Management Strategy webpage (see Related Pages).