Impact Assessments

A Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) and a Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA) have been carried out for the Plan and these can be viewed at:

• Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA)
• Habitats Regulations Assessment (HRA)
• SEA Environmental Statement
• Departmental Statement on Determination on HRA

Strategic Environmental Assessment

The SEA Directive (2001/42/EC) requires that certain plans and programmes prepared by statutory bodies, which are likely to have a significant impact on the environment, be subject to the SEA process.

An integrated environmental assessment of options took place as part of the Plan assessment process. An HRA was also undertaken as part of the environmental assessment process and the outcomes were incorporated into the SEA Environmental Report.

Habitats Regulations Assessment

The Habitats Directive (Council Directive 92/43/EEC) on the conservation of natural habitats and of wild fauna and flora obliges member states to designate, protect and conserve habitats and species of importance.

Article 6(3) of the Habitats Directive requires that:

“Any plan or project not directly connected with or necessary to the conservation of a site but likely to have a significant effect thereon, either individually or in combination with other plans or projects, shall be subject to appropriate assessment of its implications for the site in view of the site’s conservation objectives.”

Both the SEA and HRA assessment processes have been developed and undertaken in integration with the development and assessment of the Plan process. The Plan has been guided by the wider environmental objectives which have been integrated with the water management objectives, to ensure more sustainable water management.

Other Impact Assessments

The impact of the proposed Plan was assessed in terms of regulatory and rural needs and on equality of opportunity and the need for an Equality Impact Assessment (EQIA) was screened out. A copy of the screening form can be viewed on the Equality Section of the Department’s website at: Integrated Plan Drainage and Wastewater Management Greater Belfast - screening form