EIA vs SEA: Definitions, When to Use

EIA Definition and Advantages

• EIA is a study to predict the effect of a proposed activity/project on the environment
• EIA is a decision-making tool that compares project alternatives and aims to identify the best option with economic and environmental costs and benefits
• EIA is a policy tool used to evaluate new proposals
• Advantages of EIA are early consideration of compensation, mitigation, and helping save the environment

SEA Definition

• SEA is an environmental assessment at the strategic level, such as policy, plan, or program
• SEA is part of the environmental assessment family but operates at a higher level
• SEA is a systematic process of environmental impact assessment for policy, plan, or program

When to use EIA and SEA

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) is needed for policies, programs, and plans (PPP)
• Project Level Procedure (EIA, CIA, SIA) is used for projects

Policies, Plans and Programs

• Policies are a deliberate plan of action to guide decisions and achieve rational outcomes
• Policies are determined by politicians and influenced by stakeholders but have no predetermined shape, budget, or time horizon
• Programs are a policy delivery tool providing goods and services
• Programs have well-defined procedures, budgets, timing, and target populations, but no specific beneficiary is identified
• Plans provide a comprehensive course of action for achieving a specified end result
• Plans are re-evaluated as goals and milestones are accomplished or as new information arises
• Project level has sharp costs, identified beneficiaries, timing and output/outcome

Differences Between EIA and SEA

• EIA operates on a Small Scale, and SEA operates on a Wider Scale
• EIA is reactive to a development proposal, and SEA is proactive and informs development proposals
• EIA assesses the effect of a proposed development on the environment, and SEA assesses the effect of the environment on development needs and opportunities
• EIA addresses a specific project, and SEA addresses areas, regions, or sectors of development
• EIA has a well-defined beginning and end, and SEA is a continuous process
• EIA assesses direct impacts and benefits, and SEA assesses cumulative impacts and identifies implications for sustainable development
• EIA focuses on the mitigation of impacts, and SEA focuses on maintaining a chosen level of environmental quality
• EIA has a narrow perspective and a high level of detail, and SEA has a wide perspective and low level of detail
• EIA focuses on project-specific impacts, and SEA creates a vision and overall framework against which impacts and benefits can be measured

Importance of Assessment at the Policy Level

• Increases the level of analysis of environmental and social concerns
• Proactively guides development in sustainable ways, incorporating sustainability considerations into decision-making
• Encourages consideration of environmental objectives within all government agencies
• Provides genuine consideration of a broad range of alternatives often ignored in project EA
• Facilitates improved analysis of cumulative, large-scale, and non-project impacts
• Increases consultation between different government agencies
• Provides an opportunity to identify views of the public

Cumulative Impacts

• Cumulative impacts may include transmission lines, proposed power plants, or logging
• Other examples include distribution lines and pylons
• Sharm El Sheikh exemplifies the cumulative development impacts on coral reefs
• Resorts like Sahl Hashish Serrenia can also have cumulative impacts

Application of SEA

• SEA can be applied to sectors like energy, and tourism
• SEA can be applied to geographic areas at various scales such as local, regional, national, international, and global
• Applies to actions that do not give rise to projects but may result in significant environmental impact, like new technologies or privatization
• SEA occurs at all different scales like local, regional, and global
• All SEAs address cumulative impacts
• The most common application of SEA has been the assessment of environmental impacts of land use plans at the municipal and regional level.

Concluding Thoughts

• Project-level EA does not provide enough information for environmental decisions on a regional, national or larger scale
• SEA offers a systematic process for evaluating the environmental consequences of PPP at an early stage of decision making

Types of SEA

• Type 1 SEA can be done once a draft P/P/P is ready, and includes initiation, drafting, screening, scoping, consultations, and adoption
• With Type 2 SEA, SEA is parallel to P/P/P elaboration and includes initiation, drafting, consultations and adoption
• Type 2 SEA involves SEA experts working separately but concurrently with planners
• Various assessments/inputs are presented to the planning team during P/P/P elaboration.
• Type 2 SEA does not necessarily prolong elaboration of the P/P/P, but requires effective communication between planning and SEA Teams and summarizes key open issues for decision-making
• Type 3 SEA is fully integrated into P/P/P formulation where SEA experts are an integral part of the planning team
• Experts jointly conduct various assessments with planners, requiring review systems and communication within the planning team and documents the assessment process.

SEA Process & Stakeholders

• Key stakeholders are proponent authority, planning team, assessment team, review authority and the public
• Basic principles of SEA include transparency and public participation by involving different stakeholders from the early stages of SEA

Example: Strategic Development of Mariout Lake

• The national level stakeholders are Ministries of Irrigation, Agriculture, Transport and Environment
• Local level stakeholders include the Governorate of Alexandria, Alexandria Waste Water & Sewage Authorities
• Other local stake holders include industrial projects, fish traders and fishermen, the scientific community, and the environment and Water Police

SEA Process Steps

• The planning authority should be screening, deciding if SEA is needed
• The SEA process includes Scoping and impact Assessment/reporting, and review

Contents of the environmental report:

• The contents include, the State of the environment and Description of the likely development without the plan/program
• Includes Relevant existing environmental problems. as well as International or national environmental objectives relevant to the plan or program
• Includes Possible significant effects like primary, secondary, cumulative, short and long term, positive and negative effects
• Also includes, Measures to mitigate and to compensate impacts and Checked alternatives as well as explanation of the decision and tradeoff and Method and tools
• Includes a Non-technical summary of all information contained

Methods and Tools Used in SEA

-SEA methods can be classified into two major categories; - Quantitative methods which includes Cost-benefit analysis (CBA), Multi-criteria analysis (MCA), Computer modelling, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) - Qualitative methods which includes Checklists, Matrices, Workshops, Surveys

• Categorized SEA methods according to SEA process,

• As tools that used in scoping are for example different than tools that used in impact analysis step

• Phase/Category Screening scoping, definition of objectives includes methods of Checklists, Case comparison, Literature survey, Model mapping, Consultation of experts and Formal procedures.

• Phase/Category - Impact analysis the methods includes Impact prediction, such as As in the screening, Scenario development, Computer modeling, Geographic info systems and Project EIA as case study