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3 Methodology
3.1 Introduction
As discussed in section 2 above, the methodology used in the preparation of the Environmental Report broadly follows that laid out in the guidance produced by the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister 16 and Guidance produced by the Scottish EXecutive 17 This methodology is summarised briefly below.
3.2 Identification of alternative options for the implementation of the SRDP
Regulation 16(2)(b) requires that the likely significant environmental effects of the programme and its reasonable alternatives to be identified, described and evaluated. As well considering the implications of a ' do nothing' option, the following alternatives were proposed in the Scoping Report: and have been considered during the undertaking of the strategic environmental assessment in light of feedback from the Consultation Authorities who considered that these were acceptable options to assess. In addition the Consultation Authorities made reference to other issues which would require consideration, although not necessarily a full environmental assessment, at least at this stage, and these are discussed in sections 6 and 7 of the SEA Environmental Report.
The options were determined in light of the requirements of the SRDP Regulation which requires a minimum spend on each of the three axes (Axis 1: 10%, Axis 2: 25%; and Axis 3: 10%). For each option the minimum spend in each option was included with the rest of the funding being assigned to Axes 1 - 3 respectively while for option 4, the finding was split equally between the three axes. Table 3.1 below summarises each of the options while further information relating to these options was presented in section 2.3.
Table 3.1: Summary of the four alternative options being assessed
Option | Description of option | Percentage funding/theme |
|---|
Option 1 | While this option considers all axes identified in the RDR, the emphasis of the SRDP under this option is on 'Theme 1 - Underpinning performance and quality in the agriculture, food processing and forestry sectors' discussed in section 2.3.1 of this report | Axis 1: 65%
Axis 2: 25%
Axis 3: 10% |
|---|
Option 2 | While this option considers all axes identified in the RDR, the emphasis of the SRDP under this option is on 'Theme 2 - Enhancing rural landscapes and the natural environment' discussed in section 2.3.2 of this report | Axis 1: 10%
Axis 2: 80%
Axis 3: 10% |
|---|
Option 3 | While this option considers all axes identified in the RDR, the emphasis of the SRDP under this option is on 'Theme 3 - Promoting a more diverse rural economy and thriving rural communities' discussed in section 2.3.3 of this report. | Axis 1: 10%
Axis 2: 25%
Axis 3: 65% |
|---|
Option 4 | Under this option, all three themes identified in section 2.3 of the report are considered with equal weighting being given to each | Axis 1: 33%
Axis 2: 33%
Axis 3: 33% |
|---|
3.3 Determining the Scope of the SRDP
The scope of the SRDP was identified in the Scotland Rural Development Programme SEA Scoping Report which was sent to the Consultation Authorities in April 2006 (Section 1.2.2 refers). The Scoping report identified a range of relevant polices and plans which could be influenced by, or which could influence the SRDP. During the consultation process a number of additional polices and plans were provided by the Consultation Authorities and a comprehensive list of all relevant polices, plans and legislation, and their relationship to the SRDP are contained in Appendix 2.
The scoping report also contained an initial assessment of the key environmental issues which were identified and reasons for their inclusion in the scoping report were provided. This initial list was reviewed and expanded upon during the undertaking of the full SEA as a result of comments from the consultation process at the scoping stage, and these key issues and justification for their inclusion of the relevant issues is contained in section 5.2. Section 5.3 of this report details the environmental objectives against which the differing SRDPs options were assessed and details potential indicators against which the effectiveness of the SRPD in achieving these objectives will be assessed. Again the objectives and the potential indictors were amended in light of comments during the consultation process associated with the scoping report.
3.4 Assessment process
The nature of the SRDP is such that it is not possible to predict the exact location, nature and impact of the actions or, at this stage, the delivery mechanisms for the strategy. Therefore the SEA does not assess the exact environmental impacts of the programme, rather it provides an indication of that impact and suggests ways that negative impacts can be mitigated.
The SEA process has provided the start of the 'green thread', having identified: potential environmental impacts which could result from the implementation of specific actions or strategies detailed in themes 1 - 3; various mitigation strategies and measures which could be used to minimise or negate the impacts of these actions; and a number of future areas or activities for which further environmental assessments may be required before and during the implementation of the SRDP.
Detailed information relating to the assessment process undertaken during the strategic environmental assessment is detailed in section 6.
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