This item was published during the term of a previous administration that ended in April 2007
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Environmental Management
23/07/2004
Draft guidance on measures which will put environmental
considerations at the core of public plans and programmes
were today published jointly by the Executive, Office of
the Deputy Prime Minister (ODPM) and other Devolved
Administrations.
Strategic Environmental Assessment regulations, which
came into effect on July 21, oblige authorities to consider
and consult on the environmental impact of programmes and
plans covering agriculture, forestry, fisheries, energy,
industry, transport, waste management, telecommunications,
tourism, and town and country planning and land use.
In Scotland these regulations will be enhanced by
legislation expected to be introduced later this year.
Further guidance for Scottish bodies to be published in
due course will supersede the draft document published
today.
Ross Finnie, Minister for Environment and Rural
Development said:
"The Scottish Executive is committed to putting the
environment at the heart of all we do in developing policy
and programmes.
"The regulations introduced on July 21 mark the start of
that process. These regulations and the guidance now
issuing for consultation take us some way forward, however
we are committed to taking SEA further in Scotland and we
will be introducing a Bill and associated Scottish specific
guidance in due course.
"By requiring all public bodies to produce a report on
the environmental impacts of their proposals and consulting
on that report, the SEA process offers the opportunity to
better protect our environment, to bring the public closer
to the policy making and planning process and to improve
the work of all public bodies."
SEA Regulations - The Environmental Assessment of Plans
and Programmes (Scotland) Regulations 2004 - that ensure
compliance with the European Directive on SEA have been
introduced following a comprehensive consultation exercise
and came into force on July 20.
These regulations will be revoked once the Bill is in
force and the European Directive provisions included in the
Bill.
The Environmental Assessment of Plans and Programmes
Scotland Regulations 2004 (SSI 2004/258) implement
Directive 2001/42/EC on the assessment of the effects of
certain plans and programmes on the environment (known as
the Strategic Environmental Assessment or SEA
Directive).