Strategic Environmental Assessment in Action

Abstract

Strategic Environmental Assessment in Action, Riki Therivel, London, Earthscan, 2004, xii + 276 pp. £22.95 (p/b) This book by one of the best known pioneers of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) aims at providing support for those who wish to set up SEA systems, helping them to run effective and efficient SEAs. In this context, it draws mainly on the materials produced by two projects: the development of guidance for the UK Office of the Deputy Prime Minister on how to apply the European SEA Directive to English regional and local land use plans (ODPM, 2002) and two pieces of work for the UK South West Regional Assembly on existing UK SEA practice and techniques as well as approaches for implementing the Directive in South West England (Levett-Therivel, 2002; 2003). Strategic Environmental Assessment in Action is organised into three main parts and some extensive appendices, providing the reader with an overview of what has been happening in the process leading towards formal SEA implementation in England in 2004. The first part provides a brief overview of SEA along with a description of the European SEA Directive, the (UNECE) SEA protocol and a summary of the SEA process. The second part, which makes up the main body of the book, provides a detailed description of the various parts of the SEA process. Thus, the author makes suggestions on how practitioners should set the context for SEA, describe the environmental baseline, identify problems, consider the links to other strategic actions, identify alternatives, predict, evaluate and mitigate impacts as well as document, implement and monitor SEA. The third part, finally, consists of a chapter on SEA quality assurance. The appendices consist of the SEA Directive, the UNECE SEA protocol and a range of SEA prediction and evaluation techniques. Focusing on the implementation of the SEA Directive in England, the main interest for the book will probably be raised among practitioners here. It will be particularly useful for those who wish to obtain some initial ideas on how to approach and conduct SEA. In addition, readers from elsewhere will find the book useful in that it provides an overview of techniques and methods applied in the UK particularly the much favoured 'matrix assessment approach' - that may inspire them in their own quest to find tailor-made and systems-specific SEA solutions. However, nonUK readers should probably also consult a book on the UK planning system, in order to appreciate, for example, what land use 'policies' mean in a UK context. Practitioners need guidance that is easy to understand, not providing confusing and complicated background explanations and analysis. With respect to this aspect, Therivel's book is at its best. It succeeds in providing clear and concise proposals on how to apply SEA in a simple and efficient manner. Throughout the book, Therivel manages to come straight to the point, writing in an easy-to-understand and non-tedious manner. Furthermore, she provides a range of tips that are very useful, particularly for practitioners with little SEA experience, such as 'SEA can be an educational process, not just an administrative procedure' or 'where good alternatives are not within the competent authority's remit, it may be worthwhile negotiating with the authority whose remit they are to try to get them implemented'. …