CVL300

ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & IMPACT

ASSESSMENT
Lecture 18:
STRATEGIC ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (SEA)
 Problems of Current EA
• EA process has been practised more than
20 years.
• Environment is still not improving.
• Project EA is not working as promised.
• Need to move up the decision chain.
 Strategic EA
• Assessment of the environmental
consequences of policies, plans, and
programs before project EA.
• Decision hierarchy: policy, plan, program.
• Policy is the intention of government.
• Project is the means to carry out the
policy, plan, and program.
 Strategic EA
• non-spatial aspect in which key policy
decisions affect environmental quality
• spatial aspect in which plans decide on
water quality, air quality, and ecosystem
goals
Ontario Source Water Protection
• Similar to watershed plan, it highlights the
regional water resources that can be
affected by various pollution sources.
• City of Toronto has developed a source
water protection plan to protect water
quality near the water treatment plant
outfalls from point (wastewater, industries,
nuclear plant outfalls) and nonpoint water
pollution sources (stormwater, CSO,
spills).
 How EA should work?
• Guided by a regional policy of ecological
quality.
• Moves environmental decision making to
higher policy level.
 Ontario Initiatives in SEA
• 1995, Environment Commissioner’s Office
(through B of Rights), called for statement
of environmental values for each ministry.
• No SEA, only EA.
 Federal Initiatives in SEA
• 1999 Federal Cabinet Directive on EA of
policy, plan, and program proposals
• Commitment to SEA and consideration of
environmental factors for all policy and
program initiatives submitted to cabinet.
• E.g. DFA’s “Framework for Conducting EA
of Trade Negotiations” guides negotiators,
encourage early policy and program.
• Not many federal agencies commit to
SEA.
 Need to Convince Cabinet
• Future perspective.
• Objectives, criteria and indicators of
sustainability.
• Proactive approach in protecting the
environment.
• Multi-applications of SEA
• Integrated approach to environmental
protection.
• Policy to guide project EA.
 Future of EA
• Move towards SEA.
• Improve access of public in EA process
• Allow a transparent and open process for
everyone to participate in EA.
 EA as a public process
• Essentially a value-laden decision.
• Unwilling to rely on government to protect
public interest.
• Trust democratic decision making.