Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world Application of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to the BDP Environmental Resources.

Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world

Application of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to the BDP Environmental Resources Management (ERM)

Friday 17th October 2003


Outline

• What is SEA

• Why is it needed in the BDP

• How could it be applied to the BDP

• When & what tools

• Next Steps

• Update on RAOM


What is SEA?


Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• Developed to make sure that projects do not cause unnecessary damage to environment & people

• LMB countries all have legislation requiring that EIA studies be completed for certain projects (e.g. Hydropower Dams)

• BUT: legislation only covers assessment of impacts once a project is chosen


Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA)

• EIA legislation does not help in selecting the most suitable TYPE and LOCATION of development

• And what about the impacts that might arise from several small projects?

• E.g. one 10,000 ha irrigation scheme may not cause significant impacts

• BUT – 6 x such schemes in a watershed or sub-basin, could cumulatively have considerable impacts


Strategic Environmental Assessment

• Many countries worldwide are now seeing the need to think about environmental impacts earlier in the decision-making process:

• When developing programmes, plans and policies

• Many countries have passed legislation on “Strategic Environmental Assessment” (SEA)

• International institutions also require the consideration of environmental impacts at programme and plan levels


Strategic Environmental Assessment

• Same purpose and concept as EIA

• To identify potential environmental impacts and recommend ways to prevent or minimise impacts to acceptable levels

• BUT – is applied to programmes, plans & policies (PPPs)

• Because detail on developments is less at PPP level, SEA is less detailed than EIA


Value of SEA

• Identifies potential impacts EARLY

• Enables cumulative impacts to be taken into consideration

• Ensures that PPPs – and later the projects they generate, are compatible with, and compliment each other


Examples of applying SEA

• UK: Selection of river basin management options

• Pakistan: National Drainage Plan

• Nepal: National medium-sized hydropower programme

• Argentina: Flood protection programme

• Belgium / Holland: Master Plan for the Scheldt Estuary


Why is SEA relevant to the BDP


Why is SEA needed for the BDP

• Sustainable Development of the basin

• Existing tools do not take full account of environmental and social impacts e.g.

• Water pollution

• Loss of livelihoods

• Increased disease

• Many small national-owned projects could generate major cumulative & transboundary impacts


“Environment”

• Taken in widest sense to mean:

• Physical environment

• Biological environment

• Human environment


How could SEA be applied to the BDP


SEA & the BDP Cycle

4 Project long-listing

3 Strategy formulation

5 Shortlisting: Classification & ranking

Implementation

Development, promotion

1-2 Analysis (and, later on, monitoring)

RAOM, DSF, etc.

DSF, SEA (level 2), etc.

CEA, EIA

SEA (level 1)


Application of SEA within the BDPLevel 1 SEA Level 2 SEA CEA / EIA

When • Formulation of BDP Strategy

• Selection of short-listed projects

• Feasibility studies of projects / programmes

Purpose • Identify Env risks associated with development

• Ensure safeguards to prevent / minimise risks are included in Strategy

• Develop checklists to screen & rank long-list

• Ensure short-list projects compatible with Strategy

• Screen long-list projects for their potential to cause Env impacts (and therefore require EIA / CEA)

• Make recommendations for projects suitable for short-list

• Detailed predictions of Env impacts of projects, and combinations thereof, & evaluation for their “acceptability”

• Define ways of preventing or minimising identified impacts

Outputs • Recommended long list projects

• Strategic development “principles”

• Checklists for long-list screening

Recommendations for:

• projects suitable for short-list

• environmental assessment requirements for these projects (including likelihood of cumulative effects)

• An impact assessment report

• Recommended mitigation, management & monitoring measures


Existing Environmental Conditions &

Trends

National policies & strategies for environment, SD, poverty

reduction etc.

Objectives for Sustainable

Development of the Basin

?_______

?_______

?_______

?_______

?_______

Description of impacts &

suggested mitigation

Intervention

Intervention

Intervention

Intervention

Suggestions for Long-List Projects

that have transboundary /

basinwide significance

Illustrative Criteria

Objectives & Principles for

the BDP Strategy

Scoping MatrixLikely

impacts identified

Broad Description of types of development intervention

Requirement for EIA / CEA studies identified (screening) & what those

studies should cover (scoping)

Short List Projects

CEA / EIA

Feasibility Studies

Project Execution

The SEA Process in BDP

Level 1 SEA

Long-list Projects

Level 2 SEA


Level 1 SEA: During Strategy Formulation

• Propose, define & agree assessment criteria

• Identify & describe types of development intervention

• Scope the SEA (Scoping Matrix)

• Describe each impact & suggest mitigation measures (Impact Description & Mitigation Table)

• Analyse trends & refine strategy (objectives & principles)

• Develop Level 2 SEA Checklists

• Report results


Example Scoping Matrix

Types of Strategic Intervention occurring WITHIN the LMB

Level 1 SEA: Scoping Matrix (Example)

Criteria Hyd

ropo

wer

Dev

elop

men

t

Expa

nsion of irrig

ated

agric

ulture

Urban

isatio

n

Indu

strial

dev

elop

men

t

Bank

protec

tion

Nav

igati

on

impr

ovem

ents

Ports

& H

arbo

urs

EnvironmentalDeforestation X X X

Protected Areas / species X

Habitat conservation X

Delta X X

Water pollution X X X

Aquatic resources X X X

Sedimentation X X

Bank erosion X X


Example Impact Description & Mitigation Table

Intervention Type: NAVIGATION IMPROVEMENTS

Criteria Impact Description NATIONAL Mitigation / Mgmt / Monitoring

REGIONAL Mitigation / Mgmt / Monitoring

Deforestation # Increased river traffic and access by larger vessels to currently inaccessible areas could encourage greater exploitation of forest resources and trade thereof

# Improved regulation of timber exploitation & trade including customs

# Regional timber tracking mechanisms # Monitoring & certification of timber production

Protected Areas / species

# Enhanced access could encourage an increase in trade in endangered and other species

# Improved regulation of trade in species# Monitor stock of endangered species

# Regional tracking of trade in species# Regional inventory of endangered species within the basin at risk from exploitation

Habitat conservation # Removal of barriers within the river system could reduce habitats important to fisheries

Water pollution # Increased shipping has the potential to cause a decrease in water quality (associated with dumping of ballast water, leakages, accidents etc.)

# Formal registration of river craft over a certain size and enforcement of strict maintenance requirements# Regulation and enforcement of pollution control legislation for shipping# Establishment and enforcement of national waterway navigation rules (t

# Coordination of craft registration to ensure compatibility throughout the region# Establishment of regional waterway navigation codes

Impact Description & Mitigation Table

Environmental

These activities could be considered for the BDP Long-List


Level 2 SEA: For selection of short-list

• Use Level 2 SEA Checklist of each Long-List Project

Project Name

Proponent Name

Other Critical Information XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

PART 1: Does the Project meet the Objectives set out in the BDP Strategy?

1.1 Describe how the project will contribute to the BDP's Strategic Objectives & Indicators

Objective 1

Objective 2

Objective 3

Objective 4

etc.

1.2 Describe any risks associated with achievement of these Objectives

PART 2: Does the Project have the potential to cause environmental impacts of concern?Could the proposed project:

YES NO ? Explain your answer (continue on new sheet if necessary)2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

LEVEL 2 SEA: Environmental Assessment Checklist

Increase the exploitation of natural forests?

Threaten or cause harm to any protected areas or species?

Threaten or cause harm to any habitats that are important for wildlife or fisheries?

Threaten or cause harm to the Mekong Delta?


Level 2 SEA Checklist

Part 1: Confirms whether project meets BDP’s strategic objectives

Part 2: Screening projects to determinewhether they could cause impacts

and therefore require EIA or CEA

Part 3: Recommends whether project issuitable for short list on

environmentalgrounds


“Develop” further to

include costs

Yes NoDo you know

how significant these

cumulative impacts are?

No

Yes

Could the project cause cumulative

impacts with other

existing or planned devels?

Have transboundary impacts been

studied following the

MRC’s Transboundary

EIA “Principles”?

YesNo

Do you know how

significant impacts are?

Could the project cause transboundary impacts?

Complete Preliminary

EIA

No or Not Sure

Yes

NoComplete a

transboundary EIA

Yes

Are the resources needed

to mitigate impacts known and included in

the project budget?

Complete a CEA

Yes

No

Long-list projects

?_______

?_______

?_______

?_______

?_______

“Promote” or “Fast Track” on

short-list (on env. grounds)

(A) Will cause major environmental impacts OR

(B) Will cause some medium – large impacts

Part 2 “Screening”

(C) Will not cause significant environmental impacts

Level 2 SEA Results


Next Steps


Timing & Responsibilities

BDP Process

Oct 03 ----------------------------------------> Mar 04 --------------------------> Jul 04

SEA Process

SEA Responsibility

BDP Strategy Formulation

Level 1 SEA

MRC EP & BDP Teams & SEA Consultant

Early 05 ----------------------------------------> Jun 05 Aug 05 ---------------------------------------->

Long-Listing Short-Listing Feasibility & Project Execution

Level 2 SEA EIA & CEA

BDP or EP team EP & External Consultants


Next Steps

2003 2004 Activity Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Selection of Assessment Criteria Describe Development Types Scope, describe impacts & mitigation Analyse results and trends Develop Level 2 SEA Checklist Report results of Level 1 SEA Draft Final

Further recommendations and refinement may be required following submission of BDP Strategy to JC in

March 2004

Submission of Final Level 1 SEA Report on submission of Draft Final BDP

Strategy to JC in July 2004


Discussion Points

• Relevance of application

• Relevance of Tools

• Types of intervention

• Value of Checklist

• Environmental + Social Criteria – or Sustainable Development?

• Responsibilities

ERM

Environmental Resources Management (Vietnam)16F, Saigon Tower, 29 Le Duan, District 1, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Figure 2 SEA process within the BDP

Scoping Matrix

InterventionIntervention

InterventionIntervention

Description of impacts &

suggested mitigation

Existing Environmental Conditions &

Trends

National policies & strategies for

environment, SD, poverty reduction

etc.

Broad Description of types of development intervention

Objectives for Sustainable

Development of the Basin

Illustrative Criteria

Objectives & Principles for

the BDP Strategy

?_______

?_______

?_______

?_______

?_______

Suggestions for Long-List

Projects that have

transboundary / basinwide

significance

Requirement for EIA / CEA studies identified

(screening) & what those studies should cover

(scoping)

Likely impacts

identified

Long-list Projects

Short List ProjectsCEA

/ EIA

Feasibility Studies

Project Execution

Delivering sustainable solutions in a more competitive world Application of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) to the BDP Environmental Resources.

Documents

bdp description of impacts

sustainable development

bdp strategyabuiasah

broad description of

eia cea studies

poverty reduction

sea process