The Scottish Government

« Previous | Contents | Next »

Listen

2. Introduction

2.1. The Environmental Report

This Environmental Report presents the findings of the Strategic Environmental Assessment ( SEA) that was carried out to assess the likely environmental consequences of Scotland's NAPs.

This introductory chapter provides some key facts regarding the NAPs. It also provides some background regarding SEA, including SEA activities carried out to date.

Following this introductory chapter, the Environmental Report discusses the environmental context for the NAP; including the environmental baseline, existing environmental problems and the relationship with other relevant strategies, plans and programmes. A summary of the assessment method is provided, followed by the results of the environmental assessment. Proposed measures to monitor environmental effects are set out at the end of the report.

This report has been prepared in accordance with the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005.

2.2. Strategic Environmental Assessment

2.2.1. Background

SEA is a systematic process for identifying, predicting, reporting, mitigating and monitoring the environmental impacts of public sector plans, programmes and strategies.

The requirement to carry out SEA is underpinned by European legislation. EU Directive 2001/42/EC ¹, more commonly referred to as the ' SEA Directive' came into being in 2001. This is applied in Scotland through the provisions of the Environmental Assessment (Scotland) Act 2005, which requires SEA to be undertaken for all public sector plans, programmes and strategies that are likely to have significant environmental effects.

2.2.2. SEA Activities to Date

No formal screening process has been undertaken to determine the requirement for this SEA. However an SEA was deemed necessary following discussions between the plan authors and the Scottish Government's SEA Gateway.

A Scoping Report was compiled and issued to the Consultation Authorities ² via the SEA Gateway in May 2008. Responses were received and taken into account in the assessment.

2.3. NAPs

2.3.1. Legislation and Noise Mapping

The requirement to develop NAPs originates with the European Parliament and Council Directive for Assessment and Management of Environmental Noise 2002/49/EC, more commonly referred to as the 'European Noise Directive' ( END). The three main objectives of the directive are:

• To determine the noise exposure of the population through noise mapping;
• To make information available on environmental noise to the public; and
• To establish Action Plans based on the mapping results, to prevent and reduce environmental noise where necessary, and to preserve environmental noise quality where it is good.

The Directive was transposed into Scottish legislation with the Environmental Noise (Scotland) Regulations 2006. These regulations set out two key tasks for managing environmental noise:

• Production of strategic noise maps for major roads, rail, airports and industry; and
• Development of NAPs to manage noise.

The Noise mapping phase was completed in June 2007 and is available to view on the Scottish Government's Noise Mapping website: http://www.scottishnoisemapping.org/public/view-map.aspx

The noise maps show coloured contour bands within defined geographical areas. Variations in noise levels will occur throughout the day and year. The strategic maps show annual average noise levels based on computer modelling. Details of how these average annual noise levels have been calculated can be viewed on the aforementioned website.

2.3.2. NAP

Noise Action Planning is the process which enables environmental noise to be managed. This comprises the following four key stages:

• Analysis of strategic noise maps;
• Further investigation and analysis;
• An evaluation of existing Policies, Strategies, Plans and Programmes; and
• An evaluation and implementation of existing and potential noise mitigation measures where appropriate

2.3.2.1. Candidate Noise Management Areas

The purpose of the initial analysis of noise mapping is to identify areas where noise management is required. This stage requires areas to be prioritised and a consistent method for prioritising was therefore developed. This involves the use of a Prioritisation Matrix and the assignment of calculated Source Prioritisation Scores ( SPS) to indicate the areas where action maybe required. The assigning of SPS takes the following into account:

• Predicted noise contours at each building;
• The number of people assumed to live in each building; and
• The annoyance response relative to the transportation source in question.

Statistical analysis was undertaken to identify the top 1% of the SPS. These areas were then designated as Candidate Noise Management Areas ( CNMAs). The locations of the CNMAs are provided in the relevant parts of the Draft NAPs.

Technical Guidance is currently being prepared by the Scottish Government in association with SENSG to assist in the CNMA to NMA process. This will be available later in 2008. Following the adoption of the NAPs, further analysis will be undertaken using the Technical Guidance currently under preparation. This analysis will examine the CNMAs in detail to determine if original input data and resulting SPSs were sufficiently accurate and therefore if action is indeed required for these locations.

Please note that industrial noise will be covered by the NAPs at the request of the relevant lead regulatory authority; i.e.SEPA or the Local Authority. Legislation exists to address individual noise pollution incidents and SEPA and local authorities have powers to resolve these issues. The NAPs are intended to address cumulative increases in transport-related noise which is not covered by existing legislation.

2.3.2.2. Candidate Quiet Areas

Like CNMAs, Candidate Quiet Areas ( CQAs) have been identified through strategic noise mapping. Candidate Quiet Areas are locations over a certain size, within urban agglomerations, where certain threshold values are met in terms of overall size of area, land use and noise level. The purpose of identifying these locations is to encourage local authorities and other relevant bodies to protect them through inclusion in relevant central, regional and local development control processes and plans.

CQAs will be subjected to further analysis using the aforementioned Technical Guidance currently under preparation and declared within NMAs.

2.3.3. Geographical Scope of NAPs

NAPs have been developed for the following:

• Glasgow Agglomeration;
• Edinburgh Agglomeration;
• Glasgow Airport;
• Edinburgh Airport;
• Aberdeen Airport; and
• Transportation (covering road and rail corridors outwith the above areas).

The two agglomerations cover a number of Local Authority areas. Those within the Glasgow and Edinburgh Action Plans are as follows:

Glasgow Agglomeration:

• East Dunbartonshire Council;
• East Renfrewshire Council;
• Glasgow City Council;
• North Lanarkshire Council;
• Renfrewshire Council;
• South Lanarkshire Council;
• West Dunbartonshire Council.

Edinburgh Agglomeration:

• City of Edinburgh Council;
• East Lothian Council;
• Midlothian Council.

The geographical scope for the Airport NAPs is determined, under the terms of the Directive, by the location of airports with over 50,000 movements a year; Scottish airports falling within this criteria are:-

• Glasgow;
• Edinburgh; and
• Aberdeen

The geographical scope of the Transportation Action Plan is determined, under the terms of the Directive, by the location of roads with more than six million vehicle passages a year and places near major railways which have more than sixty thousand train passages per year; however, the following organisations are key stakeholders:

• Local Authorities not in agglomerations for local road issues;
• Regional Transport Partnerships;
• Transport Scotland;
• Network Rail.

Key facts regarding the NAPs are set out below:

Table 2.1 Key Facts

« Previous | Contents | Next »