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Scottish Executive SEA Templates
Template 2: Scoping (without integrated guidance notes)
SEA Scoping Template - Cover Note
Contents of Scoping Report
Introduction
Key facts about [ name of plan, programme or strategy ( PPS)]
Description of PPS contents
Context of [ PPS]
- Relationship with other PPS
- Relevant aspects of the current state of the environment (baseline)
- Environmental problems
Scope and level of detail proposed for strategic environmental assessment
- Alternatives (if known)
- Scoping in/out of SEA issues
- Methodology for assessing environmental effects
Next steps
- Proposed consultation timescales
- Anticipated milestones
Introduction
The purpose of this Strategic Environmental Assessment Scoping Report is to set out sufficient information on the [ insert PPS name] to enable the Consultation Authorities to form a view on the consultation period and scope/level of detail that will be appropriate for the Environmental Report.
This report has been prepared in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.
Key Facts
The key facts relating to this PPS are set out below:
- Name of Responsible Authority
- Title of PPS
- What prompted the PPS ( e.g. legislative, regulatory or administrative provision)
- Subject ( e.g. transport)
- Period covered by PPS
- Frequency of updates
- Area covered by PPS
- Purpose and/or objectives of PPS
- Contact point
Description of PPS Content
Provide information, where available , on:
- Aims and objectives
- Policies
- Proposals
- Measures
Plan, Programme or Strategy Context
Relationship with other plans, programmes or strategies ( PPS) and environmental objectives
Table 1 lists the plans, programmes, strategies and environmental objectives that we propose to analyse for their relationship with [ name of PPS].
Table 1. Plans, programmes, strategies and environmental objectives to be analysed in the Environmental Report for their relationship with [ name of PPS]
Name of PPS/ environmental protection objective | Legislation giving rise to environmental protection objective | Explanatory notes on any environmental protection objectives listed |
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NOTE- list PPS to be analysed | | |
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Table 2. Framework of analysis proposed for relationship with other PPS and environmental objectives listed in Table 1
Name of PPS objective | Title of legislation and main requirements of PPS objective | How it affects, or is affected by [ name of PPS] in terms of SEA issues referred to in Schedule 3 of the Act |
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Relevant aspects of the current state of the environment
Environmental problems
Environmental problems that affect the PPS were identified through discussions with [ name organisations with whom discussions were had] and an analysis of the baseline data. Relevant environmental problems are summarised at Table 3.
Table 3. Environmental problems relevant to[name of PPS]
Problem | Supporting data (where available at this stage) | Implications for PPS |
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NOTE
e.g. large numbers of cars on school run | School journey mode in district X 45% foot, 32% car, 12% public transport; compared with 40%, 30%, 17% nationally (source: X local residents survey, 2005). One-third of peak time traffic is school related (Local Residents' Survey, 2004). | Increase emphasis on school travel plans, Safe Routes to School and other ways of reducing car journeys to school. |
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Scope and Level of Detail Proposed for the Environmental Assessment
Alternatives
Alternatives to this PPS have been considered [are under consideration]. Alternatives are outlined here in order to set the context for the following two sections of this report, i.e. scoping of SEA issues and consideration of a framework for the assessment of environmental effects of the alternatives.
Scoping in/out of SEA issues
In accordance with Schedule 2 of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005 [ name of RA] has considered whether the environmental effects (positive and negative) of [ PPS name] are likely to be significant. A summary of our conclusions is given in Table 4.
Table 4. Scoping of SEA issues
SEA issues | Scoped in | Scoped out | If scoped out, why |
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biodiversity, flora, fauna | | | |
population | | | |
human health | | | |
soil | | | |
water | | | |
air | | | |
climatic factors | | | |
material assets | | | |
cultural heritage (including architectural and archaeological heritage) | | | |
landscape | | | |
Framework for assessing environmental effects
Guidance note: see Appendix A to this template which offers examples
Next Steps
Proposed consultation timescales and methods
Anticipated milestones in the SEA and planning processes related to this PPS
Post Scoping - Summary record of scoping outcomes
| Guidance Note |
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| 1 This section of the scoping template is not a statutory requirement. However, on receipt of comments arising from scoping, the Responsible Authority may find it useful to prepare a summary record of the outcome and any associated action. This will help to ensure transparency and provide a comprehensive record. |
SEA Template 2 - Scoping - Appendix A
Four options for assessment framework
(Tables 1-3 were sourced by Levett-Therivel (Sustainability Consultants)
Guidance Note |
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1 A key purpose of scoping is to set out sufficient details about the proposed methodological framework for assessment of environmental effects to allow the Consultation Authorities to form a view. The Responsible Authority should provide an explanation of the method/sources of expertise that will be used to reach each assessment decision. 2 If the Responsible Authority selects an assessment method whereby the PPS ( i.e. policies/proposals and alternatives) is assessed against the SEA issues at Schedule 3 of the Act, they may find one of the following tables to be a useful presentation method. 3 Other methods and presentation frameworks are equally acceptable. 4 See Chapter 11 of the Tool Kit for an example of an assessment framework for effects on human health. |
Guidance Note - Table 5 Option 1 |
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This table is completed using the symbols in the key below. This approach gives a quick overview of the PPS, and is thus good for non-technical summaries. However it does not comprehensively cover short, medium, long term; permanent, temporary; secondary, cumulative, or synergistic effects and to cover these additional notes are required in the comments box. 
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Notes:
[insert any brief additional notes here] |
Guidance Note - Table 5 Option 2. |
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This approach is effective in clarifying why some alternatives are not being considered. However it has the same limitations as Option 1. 
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Guidance Note Table 5 Option 3. |
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This approach provides more detail regarding characteristics of environmental effects (Schedule 2 of the Act). As it is more comprehensive, it necessarily takes longer to complete and lengthens the Scoping Report. The cells could be filled in with symbols or text. 
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Guidance Note Table 5 Option 4 |
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This option is very comprehensive. You may need to fit more than one symbol in a box, e.g.v LT = significant positive environmental effects, long term 
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