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.
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
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.
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.