C7.6.2 SEA and EIA
Strategic Environmental Assessment and Environmental Impact Assessment
There are obvious links between SEA and EIA. Both are processes designed to identify environmental impacts and to take action to mitigate them. The key differences are in the subject matter the assessment is conducted on and who conducts the assessment.
To understand the link between EIA and SEA, it is useful to compare the two:
| SEA | EIA | |
| Aim | Ensure environmental effects are identified and mitigated | Ensure environmental effects are identified and mitigated |
| Legislated | Directive and UK regulations | Directive and UK regulations |
| Issue being considered | Polices, plans and programmes | A specific project |
| Process completed by | Responsible Authority | The developer (or someone on their behalf, e.g. consultant) |
| Screening | Yes | Yes |
| Scoping | Yes | Yes |
| Assessment of environmental effects | Yes | Yes |
| Mitigation | Yes | Yes |
| Report or Statement | Yes – Report | Yes – Statement |
| Consultation with relevant Authorities | Yes | Yes |
| Consultation with the public | Yes | Not specifically |
| Monitoring | Yes | Not specifically |
| Timescale (as a guide) | 10 years | 1 year |
| Geographical scope | Very wide | Local |
| Assessment of Impacts | Predictive and uncertain | Reasonably accurate |
| Cost | Higher than EIA | Less than SEA |
If an EIA is required for a project, the EIA will still be required regardless of whether an SEA has been completed. However, the information contained within an SEA might be of use when completing an EIA.
EIA is discussed in further detail in Module C6.