Integrated Biodiversity Impact Assessment: Streamlining AA, SEA and EIA - Best Practice Guidance

The purpose of this report is to provide guidance on how best to integrate the methodological processes for Appropriate Assessment (AA) under the Habitats Directive (CEC, 1992)1 and other environmental assessment, including both the Strategic Environmental Assessment – SEA Directive (CEC, 2001)2 and Environmental Impact Assessment – EIA Directive (CEC, 1985)3, as amended, with regards to biodiversity impact assessment. Where relevant, reference is also made to the requirements of the Water Framework Directive – WFD (CEC, 2000)4, the Flood Risk Directive – FRD (CEC, 2007a)5 and the Environmental Liability Directive – ELD (CEC, 2004)6. It is not intended as an interpretation of the law and does not represent a legally binding document. The guidance sets out a methodological approach to Integrated Biodiversity Impact Assessment (IBIA) that aims at integrating SEA with AA at plan/programme level, and EIA with AA at project level. It is intended to inform practitioners, plan/project proponents and consent authorities in integrating the requirements for biodiversity impact assessment as part of SEA, EIA and AA. It is not the purpose of this guidance to develop a new assessment process with discrete biodiversity impact assessment outputs. The purpose of IBIA is rather to ensure that the relevant processes required under the different EU directives and national law connect effectively and efficiently in order to provide a holistic approach to biodiversity impact assessment, optimise time and resources, and avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts (sections 1.4.2, 1.4.4, 1.5 and 2.8). It should not be seen as a replacement of existing procedures but rather as a framework for coordinating them. Similarly, it should not be seen as a mechanism to promote the application of rigid methods and suppress the development of flexible and context-relevant approaches. Its objective is to inform the scope and outcomes of the different processes in a timely manner and encourage best practice. In this context, a thorough review of current practice has been undertaken in chapter 2 to highlight critical issues in current SEA/EIA and AA practice and opportunities for integration. The identification of commonalities and divergences between SEA/EIA and AA procedures, as well as the identification of best practice for data collation, GIS applications and consultation have contributed to the development of the step-by-step recommendations provided in chapter 3. Therefore, end-users with sufficient knowledge on SEA/EIA and AA should directly refer to chapter 3. In all cases, note that these recommendations reflect current best practice but are not intended as statutory requirements. Given that the large majority of SEAs prepared in the Republic of Ireland relate to land-use planning and that EIAs commonly deal with onshore transport, industry, infrastructural and housing developments, the guidance makes particular reference to spatial planning, but it is equally applicable to other onshore and offshore plans, programmes and projects, including river basin management plans associated with the WFD. The guidance acknowledges the variability in the legislative time-frames allocated to the drafting, consultation and approval of plans, programmes and projects. In this context, it is proposed that the guidance be piloted (under strict terms of reference to ensure reporting of process integration) to ascertain its applicability and highlight any procedural steps where timing or resource constraints may act as barriers to its effective implementation.