Scoping Requirements
Scoping can be defined as "the procedure whereby the range of environmental issues and the level of detail to be included in the Environmental Report are decided upon, in consultation with the prescribed environmental authorities".
The purpose of scoping is to identify the likely extent (geographic, temporal and thematic) and level of detail for the assessment and the information to be included in the SEA and Environmental Report. Scoping, in particular should identify those issues that are of most importance so that these can be addressed in most detail. Scoping should ensure that all relevant issues are identified and addressed in an appropriate manner. The scoping process identifies the issues that are likely to be important during the SEA process and eliminate those that are not of significance.
While scoping is primarily focused on identifying the impacts to be assessed and which of these are the most important, scoping should also address other issues including:
- Types of reasonable alternatives which ought to be considered
- Information and studies needed to characterise the existing environment
- Methods used to predict the magnitude of environmental effects
- Criteria against which the significance of effects should be evaluated
- Any further consultations to be carried out
- Environmental objectives and targets
Where it appears to the Competent Authority that a plan or programme, or modification to a plan or programme, might have significant effects on fisheries or the marine environment, the Competent Authority must notify the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources of the preparation of a plan or programme, or modification to a plan or programme, and indicate that under the Planning and Development (Strategic Environmental Assessment) Regulations 2004, [or the European Community (Environmental Assessment of Certain Plans and Programmes) Regulations 2004], a submission or observation in relation to the scope and level of detail of the information to be included in the environmental report may be made to the Competent Authority within a specified period which shall not be less than 4 weeks from the date of the notification. These consultations, when carried out at an early stage in the development of the plan or programme, can identify potential issues and problems, which may be overcome by modification of the plan or programme.
When consulting with the Minister for Communications, Marine and Natural Resources it is important that the Competent Authority provide enough information about the plan or programme for the Environmental Authority, as well as all other consultees, to understand what is proposed.
An evaluation of the information to be contained in an environmental report as detailed in the regulations, or a draft scoping report, that has taken the following issues into account, should also be provided.
In determining the likely significant effects of the plan or programme regard should be had to the need for the sustainable development of the inland and marine fisheries resource (including the conservation of fish and other species of fauna and flora, habitats and the biodiversity of inland and marine water ecosystems).
Consideration should be given to potential significant impacts on:
- Water quality
- Surface water hydrology
- Fish spawning and nursery areas
- Passage of migratory fish
- Areas of natural heritage importance including geological heritage sites
- Designated marine protected areas
- Biological Diversity
- Ecosystem structure and functioning
- Seabirds and marine mammals
- Fish and shellfish cultivation
- Sport and commercial fishing and angling
- Amenity and recreational areas
- Mineral and aggregate resources
- Sediment transport and coastal erosion
- Navigation
- Other legitimate use of the sea
