Do you know what a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is?
SEA is a formalized, systematic and comprehensive process of evaluating the environmental implications of policy, plan or program and its alternatives, including the preparation of a written report on the findings of that evaluation, and using the findings in publicly accountable decision-making.
SEA has the following objectives :
- Promote full considerations and integration of environmental implications at the early planning stage of major strategic policies or plans; and
- Avoide environmental problems and identify environmentally-friendly options
How Does SEA Relate to the Project Life Cycle?
How to use information in SEA or Planning Studies?
A SEA or planning studies usually would have recommendations, environmental and alternative considerations. A Project Proponent can apply them in project specific EIA to demonstrate that alternative proposals have been considered and positive environmental outcomes, such as impact avoidance and minimization, have been achieved.
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The Use of SEA or Planning Studies in EIA
- Existing database or other best available information from the strategic planning studies, sectoral policy studies and other sub- regional plans can be used to identify environmental constraints for specific projects, and
- Alternative scenarios or development options can then be developed to avoid environmental problems through applying the "avoidance-minimization-mitigation" principle.
If a project is a Designated Project (DP), a project proponent has to get through the statutory procedure under the EIA Ordinance.
The list of DPs is listed out in Schedule 2 and 3 of the EIAO
- Schedule 2 - Designated Project Requiring Environmental Permit
- Schedule 3 - Major Designated Projects Requiring EIA Reports
Statutory Procedure under EIAO
![Chart of Environmental Impact Assessment Proces](images/chapter3_2_table.png)
Environmental Impact Assessment Process
Examples of Designated Projects are provided below.
Project: Reprovisioning of Diamond Hill Crematorium
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A crematorium is a Designated Project under N.4, Schedule 2 of the EIAO. An application for an EIA Study Brief was submitted on 25 March 2002 with a Project Profile (No. PP-166/2002). |
Project: Stanley Waterfront Improvement Project - Construction of Boardwalk
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A dredging operation which is less than 500m from the nearest boundary of an existing or planned coastal protection area is a Designated Project under C.12(a)(vii), Schedule 2 of the EIAO. A Project Profile (No. DIR-084/2003) was submitted on 2 July 2003 for permission to apply directly for Environmental Permit under S.5(11) of the EIAO. |
Key Information in a Project Profile
The specified information to be included in a Project Profile for DPs is Listed in Annex 1 of the Technical memorandum on the EIA process.
Basic Information
- Purpose and nature of the Project, Proponent's contact information, location/scale/history of site, number and types of DP covered in project profile
Outline of Planning and Implementation Programme
- Project time-table
Possible Impact on the Environment
- Outline any process involved
- Describe environmental impacts/issues arose during construction, operation or decommissioning of the Project
Major Elements of the Surrounding Environment
- Outline existing and planned sensitive receivers which might be affected by the Project
- Outline major elements of the surrounding environment and/or relevant past land use(s) on site which might affect the Project
Environmental Protection Measures
- Describe measures to minimise environmental impacts
- Comment on possible severity, distribution and duration of environmental effects
Use of Previously Approved EIA Reports
A Project Profile can be used for:
- Application of Study Brief for the EIA study; or
- Application for permission to apply directly for Environmental Permit (EP)
Examples of project profile for permission to apply directly for EP are given below.
Project: 132 kV Submarine Cable Installation for Wong Chuk Hang - Chung Hom Kok 132 kV Circuits
A dredging operation less than 500m from an existing or planned bathing beach is a Designated Project under C.12(a)(iii), Schedule 2 of the EIAO. A Project Profile (No. DIR-063/2002) was submitted on 21 Jan 2003 for permission to apply directly for an Environmental Permit under S.5(11)of the EIAO. |
Project: Design and Construction of Causeway Bay Flyover
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A primary distributor road is a Designated Project under A.1, Schedule 2 of the EIAO. A Project Profile (No. DIR-082/2003) was submitted on 23 April 2003 under S.5(10) of the EIAO for permission to apply directly for an Environmental Permit for a material change to an exempted designated project. |
Project: 10-Year Extended Landslip Preventive Measures Project, Phase 2
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Projects within a country park are Designated Projects under Q.1, Schedule 2 of the EIAO unless they fall into exceptions. A Project Profile (No. DIR-070/2002) was submitted on 22 Aug 2002 for permission to apply directly for an Environmental Permit under S.5(11) of the EIAO. |
Merits of a Good Project Profile
- Early identification of environmental issues
- Early awareness of potential implications to both to the environment and the community; and
- Facilitate preparation of an EIA study brief.
A study brief is a key document in an EIA process sets out, among other:
- purposes and objectives of the EIA study;
- assessment scope;
- requirements to be fulfilled; and
- necessary procedural and reporting requirements.
A project proponent shall fully understand requirements of a study brief and what environmental issues need to be covered, assessed and addressed in an EIA study.
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Scoping Checklist for Proponent
A scoping checklist can be used to help a project proponent to familiarize with the potential interactions between a project and the environment and the likely environmental impacts of the project during construction, operation and/or decommissioning stage.
An example of a simplified Scoping Checklist is given on the left.