ENVM 8006A Environmental Impact Assessment

Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)

1. Introduction
2. SEA in Hong Kong
1. Introduction
Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
The main purpose is to ensure the early
consideration of environmental and social
aspects in decisions about policies, plans, and
programmes.

• Above and before project level

• Becoming more and more important
1. Introduction

SEA = EIA of Policies, Plans and Programmes

Policy = an inspiration and guidance for action

e.g. population policy
Plan = a set of coordinated and timed objectives
for the implementation of the policy

Programme = a set of projects in a given area

1. Introduction
PADS – Port & Airport Development Strategy

Source: http://www.info.gov.hk/

Policy? Plan? Programme?

1. Introduction
Objectives of SEA:
a. To provide environmental information at the very
early or critical stages of the decision making process
b. To facilitate the identification of sustainable
development options or alternatives
c. To address cumulative environmental impacts that
cannot be fully assessed in individual project EIA
d. Inform the public and decision makers the
environmental implications of policies, plans and
programmes.
1. Introduction
Why do we need SEA?
➢ Project EIA has many limitations:
• usually comes too late
• reactive, not anticipatory
• inadequate in assessing cumulative impact
• unable to account for changes in policies, plans and
programmes
• limited by time availability and spatial scale
➢ Environmental problems best resolved/avoided at
the planning stage
➢ Can speed up project level EIAs
➢ Achieve sustainable development
1. Introduction
SEA is currently or potentially applied to:
• International treaties e.g., signing the CBD
• Privatization e.g., Malls and car parks in public housing
• Transboundary corporations e.g., HK-Zhuhai-Macau
Bridge
• National budgets e.g., military expenses
• Legislative proposals e.g., Town Planning Ordinance
• Land-use Planning e.g., Sectoral and territorial planning
studies in HK; new town development
• Transboundary impacts e.g., pollution in Deep Bay
• Global issues e.g., Global warming
1. Introduction
Tiering
- environmental impacts considered at the most
appropriate levels: Policy → Plan →Programme
→ Project
- each level refers to the level above
Problems
- extremely complex
- policy, plans & programmes can be very vague and
political

 legal or standardized system very difficult

1. Introduction
The SEA process
- similar to project EIA but at a broader scale
- screening
- scoping
- baseline description
- impact prediction and evaluation
- impact mitigation
- public consultation
- reporting
- decision
- monitoring and audit

No single universal methods, vary between places!!!

1. Introduction
SEA Performance Criteria (IAIA 2002) http://www.iaia.org/uploads/pdf/sp1.pdf
a.Integrated
o Cover all strategic decisions for achieving sustainable development.
o Integrate biophysical, social and economic aspects.
o Tiered to policies and transboundary issues, where appropriate, to project
EIA and decision making.
b.Sustainability led
o Facilitates identification of development options and alternative proposals
that are more sustainable.

c.Focused
o Provides sufficient, reliable and usable information for development
planning and decision making.
o Concentrates on key issues of sustainable development.
o Customized to the characteristics of the decision making process.
o Cost- and time-effective.
1. Introduction
SEA Performance Criteria (IAIA 2002) http://www.iaia.org/uploads/pdf/sp1.pdf

d.Accountable
o The responsibility of the leading agencies for making the strategic decision.
o Carried out with professionalism, rigor, fairness, impartiality and balance.
o Subject to independent checks and verification
o Documents and justifies how sustainability issues are made in the decision making
process.

e.Participative
o Informs and involves interested and affected public and government bodies
throughout the process.
o Explicitly addresses their inputs and concerns in documentation and decision making.
o Has clear, easily-understood information and ensures sufficient access to all relevant
information.

f. Iterative
o Completed early enough to influence the decision making process and inspire future
planning.
o Provides sufficient information on the actual impacts so as to judge whether this
decision should be amended and to provide a basis for future decisions.
2. SEA in Hong Kong
> 15 years of experiences
Administrative requirements:
• 1988 - major landuse/ development plans need to be
subject to EIA process.
• 1992 – include environmental implications arising from
all proposals to be approved by the Executive Council.
• 1999 - all Policy Bureaus need to carry out Sustainability
Impact Assessment for major policy proposals.
• 2002 – All major government proposals need to do
sustainability assessment and sustainability implications.
2. SEA in Hong Kong
SEA under EIA Ordinance: Designated projects in
Schedule 3
1. Engineering feasibility study of urban development
projects with a study area covering more than 20 ha
or involving a total population of more than 100,000.
2. Engineering feasibility study of redevelopment
projects with a study area covering more than
100,000 existing or new population.

Questions: What are the differences between SEAs under EIAO and
other SEAs in Hong Kong?
 Schedule 3 Examples
Project Approval date
Pak Shek Kok Development Aug-98
Tsuen Wan Bay Further Reclamation - Area 35 Nov-98
Planning & Engineering Feasibility Study for Development of Anderson
Road Mar-99
Planning & Engineering Feasibility Study for Development near Choi Wan
Road and Jordan Valley Apr-99
Planning & Development Study of Potential Housing Site in Area 54 Tuen
Mun Sep-99
Northshore Lantau Development Feasibility Study Apr-00
Comprehensive Feasibility Study for the Revised Scheme of the South
East Kowloon Development Sep-01
Yau Tong Bay Development Engineering Feasibility Study for the
Comprehensive Development at Yau Tong Bay Apr-02
Feasibility Study for Housing Development at Whitehead & Lee On in Ma
On Shan, Shatin Dec-02
Further Development of Tseung Kwan O Feasibility Study Dec-05
Kai Tak Development Mar-09
 2. SEA in Hong Kong
Evolution of SEA in Hong Kong
Types Plans / Programme + major plans/ strategies + Some policies
+ Strategic follow-up
Issues EIA issues some sustainability issues more sustainability driven

Trying Out Phase Methodology Wider Application Phase to

Development and Other sectors
Building success
stories

1988 1992 1995/96 1998 2002

EPD 2008
2. SEA in Hong Kong
When should SEA be Conducted
To tie in with the Critical Juncture of Decision Making

SEA Process in TDSR

TDSR: Territory Development Strategy Review

EPD 2008
2. SEA in Hong Kong
How does SEA relate to the Project Life Cycle?
Detailed assessment of significant impacts,
identification of mitigation needs,
Input to cost/benefit analysis (EIA Stage)

Detailed Design of
Pre-feasibility
Mitigation
Site selection, environmental Feasibility
measures
screening, initial assessment,
scoping of significant issues
(PER Stage)

Project concept Design and Construction

Implementation
SEA of mitigation
measures and
environmental
Implementation
strategy
Monitoring and evaluation

Monitoring and audit

Rectify adverse impacts
Lessons for future projects
EPD 2008
2. SEA in Hong Kong
Common Applications of SEA
Interaction Between Planning, SEA and EIA

Project Planning & EIA

Planning & SEA
EIA Implementation

Strategic Planning or
Sectoral Policy Studies Strategic Environmental
Assessment Project Level EIA
Scenarios
Development Assessing
Options Environmental
Designated Impact
Preferred Option Projects Against
Established
Project Planning and
Criteria
Development Design
Strategy
Developing
Detailed
Broad Land Technical
Sub-regional Plan
Use Patterns Prevention &
Environmental Controls Mitigation
during Construction and Measures
Designated Operation
Statutory Projects
Plans
Environmental
Monitoring &
Planning
Environmental Audit
Approval
Controls during
Decommissioning
Plan Implementation and
Local Disposal

Source :
“EIA Training and Capacity Building Program for Government Works Departments – EIA Training Manual” EPD 2008
 Step 1

2. SEA in HK Step 2

Generic Step 3

Steps of SEA
Step 4

Step 5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

EPD 2008
2. SEA in Hong Kong
Generic Steps of SEA
Step 3: Screening and Scoping
Propose of Screening
To identify aspects of the policy, plan and programme having
major and long-term environmental implications to facilitate
informed decision and to pre-empt major environmental
problems, while balancing the need of efficiency and avoid
unnecessary assessments

Purpose of Scoping
To define the issues to be assessed, to what levels of detail
and by what kind of methodologies

EPD 2008
Step 3: Screening and Scoping - checklist
EPD 2008
Step 4 : Assemble Relevant Baseline or Background
Studies
Territory Development Strategy Review (TDSR) - environmental baseline study

Identified a range of
environmental
constraints and
environmentally
sensitive areas

To protecting these
areas free from
development

EPD 2008
Step 6: Identify Possible Options and their Environmental
Implications
Example:
In TDSR, the option of
reclaiming Rambler
Channel to the east of the
Tsing Yi Island was
eliminated and excluded
for further study after
consideration of SEA
results.
EPD 2008
Step 8: Determine follow up action,
monitoring requirements
Require future follow-up actions such as
environmental issues, mitigation measures and
major assumptions.
Example : 3rd Comprehensive Transport Study
(CTS-3) EM&A
Task group was set up.
Regular update of EM&A findings and
results.

EPD 2008
2. SEA in Hong Kong
Application of SEA Processes to Different Types of
PPPs in HK

a. Sectoral strategies and policies

b. Transportation strategies and policies

c. Territorial land use planning

EPD 2008
2. SEA in Hong Kong
a. Sectoral strategies and policies
i. Nature and Scope
• Usually for very major infrastructure / facilities ;
• Usually high profile and restricted access during the
course of SEA ;
• Timely environmental inputs are important, especially
for alternative sites.
ii. Considerations
• Identify “no-go” areas at the onset;
• Carry out site search process in stages;
• Consider alternative approaches & sites over the
territory;
• For decisions required within very short-time frame
professional judgment based on best available
information. EPD 2008
2. SEA in Hong Kong
b. Transportation Strategies and Policies
i. Nature and Scope
Facilitating a “win-win” strategy/ policy to meet
transport (social), environmental, and economic
requirements.
ii. Considerations
• mode of transport ;
• alternatives and needs ;
• rail or road ;
• alignment options ;
• integration with environmental and landuse planning ;
• traffic management and control ;
• use of advance vehicle technologies;
• demand management EPD 2008
2. SEA in Hong Kong
c. Territorial land use planning
i. Nature and Scope
• Population Growth & strategic growth areas
• Transport & Other Supporting Infrastructure e.g., HK 2030+
https://www.hk2030plus.hk/
• Ecologically Important Areas
• Spatial and Temporal Cumulative impacts

ii. Considerations
• Detailed evaluations at various levels should be carried out.
• Environmental & Planning objectives should be fully integrated.
• Use best estimates and predictions available.
• Undesirable elements should be screened out at each stage.
• Adopt different scenario for analysis and comparison.
• Analysis should focus on implications of “worst-case” scenarios.
• Define mitigation measures & follow-up review
EPD 2008
2. SEA in Hong Kong
How to conduct SEA in HK?
• Scenario Analysis
• Life Cycle Assessment
• Environmentally Extended Input/ Output Analysis (IOA)
• Risk Assessment
• Impact Pathway Approach
• Ecological Impact Assessment
• Multiple Attribute Analysis (MAA)
• Environmental Objectives
• Economic Valuation
• Surveys
• Valuation Methods based on Mass, Energy and Area
2. SEA in Hong Kong - Challenges
Major Trends and Issues affecting SEA
• Huge demand for rapid decision-making and simplicity
• Requirement for comprehensive, reliable and affordable
environmental information of proposals and alternatives
• Need clearer ecological criteria and a conservation policy
• Need an energy policy

Obstacles to SEA Development

• Lack of ownership from proponents
• Lack of win-win development alternatives
• Conventional assessment techniques not suitable
• Lack of knowledge and experience by consultants
• Administrative SEA lacks legal provisions
Should a SEA be conducted in the north Lantau waters?

/ third
runway
Lantau Development Advisory Committee 2016
https://www.devb.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_872/LanDAC_First_term_Work_Report_(Synopsis).pdf
 Lantau Development Advisory Committee 2016
https://www.devb.gov.hk/filemanager/en/content_872/LanDAC_First_term_Work_Report_(Synopsis).pdf

Is an SEA needed?
The Revised Concept Plan for Lantau 2004
http://www.pland.gov.hk/pland_en/lantau/en/images/revised/booklet.pdf
Lantau Tomorrow Vision

SEA needed?

https://www.lantau.gov.hk/filema
nager/content/lantau-tomorrow-
vision/leaflet_e1.pdf
 Northern Metropolis Development Strategy

SEA needed?

https://www.policyaddress.gov.hk/2021/eng/pdf/publications/Northern/Northern-Metropolis-Development-Strategy-Report.pdf
2. SEA in Hong Kong - Future
How Can Quality be Improved?
• Informed discussion on scoping and process
• More ownership & accountability from proponents (sticks &
carrots)
• Early public consultation on key issues and criteria
• Integrate environmental considerations when options are being
formulated by others
Recommendations on Ways & Means to Improve SEA
• SEA Guideline being prepared in HK to provide a concise
framework for proponents/consultants to follow
• SEA examples and past SEA reports available and easily accessible
by public, proponents, consultants
• Strategic follow-up & monitoring framework as a key feature of SEA
• Knowledge and experiences sharing across the globe
• More practical pragmatic research towards efficient, effective
processes
Reference
Partidário, M.R. (1999). Strategic Environmental Assessment: Principles and
Potential. In: J. Petts (Editor), pp. 60-73. Handbook of Environmental Impact
Assessment Volume 2 EIA in Practice: Impact and Limitations. Blackwell
Science: Oxford.
Thérivel, R. and Lexbrown A. (1999). Methods of Strategic Environmental
Assessment. In: J. Petts (Editor), pp.441-464. Handbook of Environmental
Impact Assessment Volume 2 EIA in Practice: Impact and Limitations.
Blackwell Science: Oxford.
Au, E.W.K. 2000. Environmental Planning and Impact Assessment of Major
Development Projects in Hong Kong. In: Wong, W.S. & Chan, E.H.W. (Editors).
Building Hong Kong: Environmental Considerations. Hong Kong University
Press: Hong Kong., pp. 257-271.
EPD. 2008. HK SEA Manual. Interactive edition.
http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/SEA/eng/sea_manual.html

EPD SEA Web site: http://www.epd.gov.hk/epd/SEA/eng/index.html