C7.5.1 Context, Baseline and Scoping
This process should identify the existing environmental circumstances, policy framework and existing environmental protection objectives; identifying their relevance to the proposed plan. The availability of background information should be considered and the objectives and indicators should be determined.
The scope of the report and the required level of detail will also be decided. It is important that a full range of environmental issues are included so the policy implications can be properly assessed at the later stages.