Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) Development of alternatives for environmental planning in Ireland Dr Margaret Desmond EPA Postdoctoral Research Fellow Department of Geography University College Cork, Ireland

Presentation outline  Alternatives in SEA  Development of SEA alternatives methodology  SEA alternatives criteria  Decision support framework  Conclusion

Development of alternatives in SEA  Legal requirement to identify, describe and evaluate ‘reasonable alternatives’ to the plan  No guidance on how alternatives should be identified/developed  Knowledge gap exists in relation to: criteria for identifying/developing alternatives Decision support framework

Methodology used for criteria & decision support framework 1.Establish current alternatives development criteria 1. Directive/legislation 2. Guidelines 3. Sample set of SEA’s in Irish context 2.Determined initial list 1. Introduce SEA specific criteria 3.Engage with practitioners,statutory consultees, consultants, academics 1. : questionnaires, interviews, workshop 4.Work on decision support framework

Focus of criteria  Criteria must: Address existing problems Anticipate potential problems  Shift focus from problem solving to providing solutions More strategic

Suggested SEA specific criteria (1.1)  SEA Criteria Sustainability criteria (e.g. sustainability of water supply, social acceptability of plan) Tier of decision making (what influences have flowed from higher levels of decision making) Had a policy dependency path been set? Hierarchy of options what options are available appropriate to the tier of decision making

Suggested SEA specific criteria (1.2) Existing environmental issues for P/P Water quality, loss of biodiversity Potential environmental issues as a result of implementing P/P Development pressures-impacts on water quality Environmental protection objectives (e.g. water, biodiversity) Set at international, national, regional levels Timing Has it been ‘early and effective? Consultation Who was consulted on alternatives?

Decision support framework for developing SEA alternatives  Framework based on criteria  Movement through framework based on yes/no answers  Developed with a view to generating ‘reasonable’ alternatives with land use planning in Ireland Reasonable- capable of being implemented Within statutory scope of authority and plan  Sets out what might be done within scoping exercise, and within environmental report preparation  Use of advice notes to provide explanation

Discussion  Application of criteria vary according to level of decision, sector, timing of SEA, degree of SEA integration into Plan making Not prescriptive  Will not give rise to specific types of alternatives Plans vary, institutional, judicial frameworks vary  Decision support framework Guide best practice in the development of ‘reasonable’ alternatives’ Can be used in quality review of alternatives identification

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